Catamaran Charters: Comfortable, Efficient, and Green

Improve your green yacht charter credentials and get ready for the summer season by choosing one of Boatbookings’ many catamarans.

With the approaching summer season, Boatbookings discusses why chartering a catamaran is better for the health of our oceans and picks out some favourite, more sustainable options.

Catamarans continue to become increasingly popular choices for yacht charters. It is no wonder why – a catamaran provides so many benefits.

Whether it be crewed or bareboat, power or sail, you can enjoy their voluminous open-plan living and comfortable accommodation areas, their increased stability, and smoother cruising to that of a monohull.

Recent years have seen the multihull charter market evolving with its offerings, and most importantly, they highlight a significant move toward a greener and low-carbon agenda. We take a look at the ways they are better for our oceans.

Improved efficiency

The efficient hull design of a catamaran drastically reduces its resistance through the water, improving fuel efficiency. Boasting lighter hulls, they also have a lower displacement than monohulls. Power catamarans have a lower overall fuel burn and a steadier rise in speed while sailing catamarans can combine this advantage with nature’s wind power.

Fewer emissions

With overall reduced fuel consumption, there will be fewer emissions into our atmosphere; therefore, a catamaran will boast a lower carbon footprint. The benefit of a sailing catamaran is the overall fuel reduction, lessening emissions even more so than a power catamaran. Our emissions calculator can determine the exact footprint of any charter yacht.

Reduced impact

Another characteristic of a catamaran is its shallow draft, resulting in less impact on marine life while enabling more choices for better anchorages. With more out of the water, they have less disruption of the area’s marine ecology and the added benefit of less vibration and, therefore, noise. Their drafts also make them popular for specific cruising itineraries, such as the Bahamas and the BVIs.

Renewable opportunities 

The wider beam of a catamaran provides more space for renewable energy alternatives. Their exterior can be outfitted with solar panels, perfect for soaking up the Caribbean and Pacific sunshine while also enabling the yacht to operate on less power from the generators and engines. There are also plenty of catamarans that run off electric power, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.

Choose a greener catamaran today 

Catamarans are part of a fast-growing segment of the charter industry. One that, thanks to innovative technology, is ever-evolving and improving its sustainability credentials.

Today there is a vast selection of eco-friendly catamarans that run on wind, solar, batteries and electric motors. As well as these greener technologies, many catamaran builders, such as Sunreef, implement a holistic sustainability process, using naturally-sourced materials throughout the build.

Boatbookings offers some of the best, greener catamaran options available for charter:

Sunreef, E Supercat 60:

This crewed Sunreef sailing catamaran, with nearly zero carbon emissions, boasts electric motors and rechargeable batteries while sailing; her eco-electric propulsion enables six hours of electric cruising.

Silent 64:

This Silent 64 power catamaran results in cleaner, electric cruising with zero emissions. 

Lagoon 420: 

This bareboat Lagoon 420 catamaran offers low fuel consumption and minimal emissions through her two electric motors and power by two sets of six batteries. 

Fountaine Pajot, Aura 51: 

This Fountaine Pajot 51 bareboat catamaran offers maximum space, that doubles up to provide renewable energy through its integrated solar panels. 

With our oceans facing increasing environmental pressures, considering your next choice when chartering is more important than ever. Not only do catamarans offer a range of benefits, but they are also better for our oceans. Contact the Boatbookings team about your next, greener summer charter and our range of available catamarans.

Catamarans For Your 2020 Yacht Charter

As most people within the yachting industry do, I was sailing in Devon in the summer and sailed past a late 1990’s Fountaine Pajot catamaran. It looked old, battered but well-loved, painted bright yellow with a hand-painted tiger on the side. I sailed towards this boat and instantly wanted to be on board. This struck me that the basis of this catamaran is how the charter and yacht design market has come into play.

People bought catamarans for maximisation of space and for comfort, it took the rest of the world 10 years more to figure out that catamarans were an excellent choice for families and first-time sea-goers. Over the course of the last 10 years, catamaran popularity has gone beyond expectations. Catamaran charters are both popular in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Bareboat catamaran charters allow for a taste of luxury without a superyacht price tag.

Catamarans are well known for their maximisation of space, sleek interiors and stable sailing. Catamarans are becoming more commonly regarded as the perfect charter vessel across the world. I would recommend a catamaran charter for exploring either the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the Greek Saronic Islands, Croatia or the Amalfi Coast.

Catamarans to choose from for a 2020 yacht charter:

The last few years have witnessed the release of a lot of different catamaran models, the models are getting bigger and better by the year. After having travelled across the global boat shows and reviewed the yachts in person, the below are my favourite catamarans for a 2020 yacht charter across the globe.

The Lagoon 46

Brand new for 2020, the Lagoon 46 promises to bring harmony onboard and is considered to be the next stage of yacht charter. The exterior has a new design and combines modular front and aft cockpits a cooking area at the back and safer access to the bow. The Flybridge is larger and is dedicated to manoeuvring and relaxation. The interior has also had a refresh, the design is more elegant than the previous Lagoon 450 and the cabins maximise space more efficiently than previous Lagoon models. This is the most renowned catamaran brand in the world and has kept up with their reputation via the release of the Lagoon 46.

The Saona 47 (Fountaine Pajot)

This Saona 47 model catamaran was launch to celebrate Fountaine Pajot’s 40th anniversary. She was launched in April 2017 and boasts, safety, comfort, space maximisation and strong performance in heavy winds. Her lines are distinctive and the Fountaine Pajot aesthetically French touch is obvious throughout. Her saloon boasts natural light and the storage onboard is unrivalled. She is a great choice for a family charter and puts safety above all.

The Dufour 48

Dufour 48 is my personal favourite catamaran for a 2020 yacht charter. This catamaran encompasses innovation and beautiful interiors. Her features are spacious, light and gripping. She is the perfect family 2020 charter boat both in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. If you want to sit back and relax, add a skipper and a hostess for your yacht charter. If you are looking for a catamaran with style, the Dufour is the best choice possible.

To conclude, from the three new models choose the Lagoon 46 for quality and comfort, the Saona 47 for value for money, space and safety and importantly the Dufour 48 for unrivalled catamaran style. Her design is chic and modern, if you want to sip on a glass of rose with canapés on a gorgeous bow, this is the boat to choose for your next catamaran bareboat or skippered yacht charter.

Find out more about the Boatbookings team or contact broker Alice directly to help you plan your 2020 charter experience on one of the best catamarans!

How To Get to the BVI Paradise!

We are now very nearly into the second month of the year… Christmas and New Year have long gone and at this time of the year, a little sunshine can work wonders for the soul. Perhaps a trip to a tropical island seems far, far away from the monotony of everyday life, but it might just be the medicine you need to re-fuel. How about a charter in the British Virgin Islands this winter? But ‘how do you actually get there?!’ you might be wondering.

Tortola boat charters in the British Virgin Islands
Tortola Island

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Foxy’s Halloween Catfight Regatta – October 31, 2015!

What better way to spend Halloween than in the beautiful BVI on a catamaran, while attending the Catfight BVI Multi-hull Regatta and Halloween Party at the famous Foxy’s! One legged cats (monohulls) are also welcome to join in the race. Save the date and have the most memorable halloween you have ever experienced! What is your fancy dress to be, a cute pumpkin or spooky dracula?

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