Debuting in Europe for the first time, Sunreef is showcasing the Ultima 55 at the Cannes Yachting Festival as the first model in its hotly anticipated new line-up of performance catamarans, setting forth in a bold new direction with more contemporary, sporting aesthetics & 36-knot top speeds maximizing the thrill of performance yachting. Making its global premiere at the Dubai International Boat Show, it was without a doubt one of the show’s key stars and even attracted members of the Emirati royal family to step aboard & explore. The yachting world at large has given no less of a rapturous welcome either, with seven catamarans already in build & another four on order.
Even at a glance, the Ultima 55 is immediately recognizable as a member of the Sunreef family with familiar exterior design cues including the aft hull’s elegantly sweeping curves & gently chamfered edges; plus a contrast between the superstructure’s dark glass & numerous hull lights. Yet its design has also been completely reconceptualized from the heel up as something all of its own, with much more aggressive lines, a deep chine and dramatic reverse bow. Forward raked saloon windows give it a sense of dynamic motion & athleticism even at rest, while a robust foil adds lift while cutting drag beneath the twin hulls.
More familiar features from Sunreef’s bigger yachts can be found in the on-deck facilities, including twin stern wings that fold down to form a 7.6m-wide platform for sunbathing or watersports. This is flushed all the way into the main saloon, providing a generously proportioned space for lounging furniture or an optional bar area and icemaker. The broad foredeck features another lounging area where guests can more fully enjoy the breeze.
Boasting a high degree of flexibility, the Ultima 55’s sleek superstructure can be completely opened right up to seamlessly integrate its indoor & outdoor spaces, or closed off to form its interior into a cocoon via the elegantly sliding glass doors. The saloon’s galley and helm station can even be connected to the cockpit, so that more sporting owners can stay in touch with their guests while taking the wheel up to 36 knots or cooking up a storm.
Two distinctive interior styles have been curated by Sunreef’s 100 member strong design team, including one that beautifully contrasts grained oak with gleaming carbon fiber & naturally toned upholstery. Owners can and will engage in their own bespoke commissions however, to specify a craft that meets their own unique tastes in terms of materials, colours and finishes.
Sunreef will maintain its famously high levels of comfort even belowdecks here, with steps leading down to access each hull’s double cabins, with the port side ones each featuring a king-size bed while another double cabin is housed starboard. Each hull features a dedicated longitudinal bathroom; while there is also flexible scope for a separately accessible single cabin for a guest or crew member.
Smart green technology also plays its part here to sustainably enhance yachting life on board the Ultima 55, just as with all Sunreef yachts: high-performance solar panels integrated into its coach roof keep its batteries charged by generating ample kilowatts of renewable energy. The choice of main propulsion power can also be determined by each individual customer, with the first vessel boasting twin Volvo Penta IPS800 drives for optimal power & manoeuvrability. As for the second boat, already in its advanced build stages, it will be driven by hybrid diesel-electric propulsion with twin 350 kW motors fitted between its main engines and propellers. These will provide silent electric running at low speeds and while maneuvering, or alternatively fast battery charging when underway with the 600 hp main engines running.
Both versions have an on-board fuel capacity of 1,500 liters, giving enough range to cross from Capri to Porto Cervo among other adventurous jaunts. That efficiently formed foil spanning the twin hulls beneath the waterline generates enough lift to massively reduce the boat’s effective weight & drag, thereby increasing range while reducing fuel consumption. All Ultima 55 decks will be fully constructed using carbon fiber composite, with six models ranging in length from 44 to 111 feet.
