Designer Andrew Trujillo has released this 35 metre twin-masted catamaran superyacht concept, Solstice.
She follows a 45 metre concept cat produced by Trujillo called Equinox and as with that idea, features strong environmental credentials and a layout planned to provide maximum privacy and quiet for the guests, within a 21 metre beam. The starboard pontoon is dedicated solely for guests, whilst the port pontoon is for use by crew for accommodation, laundry and the galley. Solstice has been designed to carry eight guests and between seven and 14 crew.
Trujillo, based in Shrewsbury in England, was inspired by talking to a naval architect friend who was testing a small twin mast leisure cat. He said, “The conversation fired my imagination and brought to mind an old university project. I had designed a catamaran and quite early on realised that the conventional central placement of masts on the majority of catamarans, although practical for most applications, is not ideal from a structural point of view.
“I have had the chance and privilege to be involved in a catamaran project with a very respected production catamaran manufacturer of late and I thought it would be fun to try something a little experimental for myself. Naturally, twin rig catamarans are not new, with many racing and performance examples available, but I thought a cruising cat would be an interesting conceptual challenge, hence Solstice.”
The 115ft sailing superyacht is conceived to be built in aluminium or GRP, said Trujillo. He said among the benefits of having two masts was that any twin-masted boat was able to carry shorter spars than a Marconi-rigged rival. “I understand that having smaller masts confers a number of advantages, in terms of handling and from a structural point of view,” Trujillo said. “Each mast is sited on a pontoon. This means that they are mounted on very rigidly and the compression loads are channeled on a part of the vessel that has plenty of structure and strength. A further advantage is that the vessel can sail effectively with rigging on just one of the masts, so she has an element of redundancy, which can be a definite bonus on a vessel designed to be capable of long-distance and global cruising.”
Cruising speed is estimated at 25 knots and the big cat features electric pod drive units which enhance maneuverability and create more space inside the hull. Two generators create the necessary electrical power to drive the boat when not under sail and will also cover the likely heavy energy consumption of the cat with a full compliment on board. The configuration would allow the vessel to work as a hybrid and if a suitable battery bank was installed, the boat could operate as an electrically powered vessel. She would also have the potential to use the prop as a generator when under sail, boosting her environmental credentials and extending her range.