Seductive
sedan
,!3BD0A6-a cbaj!:K;N
MARITIMO’S TIMELESS S51
DISCOVER
Shark Bay, WA
SUNREEF 80
a classier cat ISSUE 513
E L WOODEN WONDERSP ! Hobart’s heroes M G SA MA $ 1 2 .95
IT’S THE MOTION IN THE OCEAN
A megayacht manufacturer tries its hand at something smaller and the result is making big waves.
26 |
TRADEABOAT.COM.AU
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
O
cean Alexander has unveiled its first foray into the sub-superyacht category with the aptly named Divergence 45. Measuring in at a touch over 45 feet, it's worth noting that this is still not a small boat by any standard. Nevertheless, its clever design and functional build leave this boat with a bigger-on-the-inside kind of feel.
One particular feature we're glad to see included in the brand's new offering is the fold-down gunwales. Not only do they extend deck space and provide easy access to the water, from a visual perspective they up the coolfactor exponentially – the nautical equivalent of gullwing doors. The opportunity for Ocean Alexander to produce a smaller hull came out of the growth of
its Merritt Island production facility in FloridaUSA, which has been fulfilling orders for its previous smaller model, the 70E, for the last few years. Thanks to the increased popularity of the 70E, the facility has expanded and the staff have fine-tuned their skills. Thus, the big-wigs thought they'd have a crack at what they perceived to be a growing market; the 40- to 50-foot part sportsyacht part centre console style. Since it was unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November, the svelte young vessel has proved a big success and gained plenty of attention. As we've come to expect from any OA model, the Divergence is available with loads of customisable features and a multitude of cosmetic treatments. The company offers
|
OCEAN ALEXANDER 45 DIVERGENCE
variations suited to fishing, diving, island hopping and entertaining, all of which are done in the highest style. Quad Mercury Verado outboard engines provide plenty of get up and go, putting out a combined 1400 horses of aft-strapped power. By opting for this setup, Ocean Alexander has been able to maximise the use of space below decks, and thanks to those folding gunwales you won't feel like you've sacrificed your swim platform. All in all, it appears to be a remarkable wellconsidered boat, fingers crossed we get the chance to take one for a spin when they hit Aussie waters towards the middle of the year.
Quick Specs OCEAN ALEXANDER 45 DIVERGENCE PRICE POA
LENGTH (OVERALL) 14.45m
(47ft5in)
BEAM 4.19m to 5.82m WEIGHT 13.1t FUEL 2298lt
WATER 379lt
ENGINE 4 Ă— 350hp Mercury Verado WEB www.alexandermarineaust. com.au
TRADEABOAT.COM.AU |
27
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW
Sunreef 80
THE DUALITY OF CANNES The Sunreef 80 is ultramodern but it has a classic and sensible design that should appeal to both hands-on owners and others who simply want to enjoy its opulence. STORY
68 |
TRADEABOAT.COM.AU
Kevin Green PHOTOS Kevin Green, Supplied
TRADEABOAT.COM.AU | 69
S
ailing catamarans are arguably the best cruising vessels for several reasons: fast offthe wind performance, economy under power and they don't heel over to spill your drinks as you glide along. This 80-footer is from the Polish yard (under French ownership) that specialises in large vessels from 50 to 165 feet. The privately owned company, under the management of Founder and CEO Francis Lapp, has produced more than 100 vessels in both power and sailing varieties since 2002 and is well versed in what a semi-custom cruising catamaran should be.
Lapp, an award winning entrepreneur and keen catamaran sailor, first came to Poland as a rally car driver before discovering the quality of the workmanship available in the port city of Gdańsk, which had shipbuilding as its lifeblood. Talking with the quietly spoken Frenchman was an interesting experience for me and it was
heartening to hear of his strong desire to supply the Asia Pacific region with these elegant craft – the first Australian-owned Sunreef 80 launches in March of 2019, according to dealer Brendan Hunt at Vicsail. Of course, elegance and aesthetics are often emotive subjects, reflecting the struggle faced by designers within the dichotomy of form versus function. As I stood alongside the towering hulls of the first Sunreef 80 in Cannes, I was struck by their duality. The fine entry of the tall bow is aimed at reducing drag while the beam rapidly increases to create inside volume and most importantly the nacelle is well above the water to reduce wave drag. Overhead, the flybridge creates that third level of living space while also containing all the navigation, leaving the rest of the boat for relaxation.
“elegance and aesthetics are often emotive subjects, reflecting the struggle faced by designers within the dichotomy of form versus function. As I stood alongside the towering hulls of the first Sunreef 80 in Cannes, I was struck by their duality.”
ABOVE The hydraulic platform can be used for tender storage or to extend living space RIGHT Wide walkways allow maximum light into the lower living areas LEFT Sunken lounges at the bow convert to day-beds
70 |
TRADEABOAT.COM.AU
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW |
SUNREEF 80
TRADEABOAT.COM.AU | 71
SALOON WITH BOW ACCESS
Stepping up to the stern from the swim platform, one is confronted by a vast aft deck, a feature that only is found on large catamarans. Quite rightly a major selling point, it allows the enjoyment of open air dining beneath the protective overhang of the flybridge, with transom bench seating in addition to the side benches. Sun worshippers may choose to bake on the equally vast foredeck cockpit which has two sunken lounge areas with low slung table. The saloon in our review boat, hull number one, was devoted to entertaining as the galley and crew quarters are below in the aft part of the hull. Most striking in the saloon are the large windows, created by upright bulkheads that maximise volume in this vast open-plan area. Perhaps too open-plan for a bumpy seaway, but
that is the price you pay for this loft-style space, with convenient access to the bows via a large (and strongly built) front door. The saloon is dominated by L-shaped lounges, ahead of which is a wet bar to port and navigation console to starboard. The console includes the autopilot and throttle so despite lacking a steering wheel, course adjustments can be made here, along with navigation via the B&G 16-inch screen. Most usefully, the ship management screen gives control of many services as well. Furnishings included some unfixed chairs – which, again, aren't good in a seaway, now is the lack of significant fiddles to prevent food sliding off tables. The mood is ultra modern with smart use of traditional teak combined with brushed metal and lacquered laminates; all credit to the in-house Sunreef
“it uses nearly half the hull to create an opulent space with vanity desk opposite a king sized bed”
72 |
TRADEABOAT.COM.AU
design team. The Sunreef 80 comes with two main accommodation layouts that have four double en suite cabins as standard, with crew quarters and galley aft (in port quarter). Alternatively, with the galley-up version, a fifth cabin is aft on starboard with crew quarters and storage in the port aft quarter. Accommodation access is neatly hidden in an alleyway behind the steering console on starboard and similarly on port, while the back of the saloon has two more stairways to each hull. The standard layout on our review boat is a versatile arrangement that should suite owners who may also do some chartering, as the four double-cabins are spacious; especially the master cabin. Located in the ideal spot – midships and on the starboard side – it uses nearly half
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW | SUNREEF 80
Facts & Figures SUNREEF 80 SAILING CATAMARAN PRICED FROM
€4,500,000 (ex- factory Poland)
GENERAL
CONSTRUCTION Composite LOA 24.4m
(80’) (37.7’) DRAFT Undisclosed MAINSAIL 200m sq GENOA 155m sq BEAM 11.5m
CAPACITIES
FUEL 2400-6000L
Water: 1600L
DISPLACEMENT Undisclosed
ENGINE MAKE/MODEL
2x John Deere 280HP 6068AFM85 6-cylinder turbo (or 2x 225HP as standard)
AVAILABLE FROM www.vicsail.com
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE The size of the saloon impresses; The galley features full-size appliances; A study fits neatly in the Master suite; One could be forgiven for thinking the Master was a high-end apartment
TRADEABOAT.COM.AU |
73
SUBSCRIBE to trade-a-boat and save!
P R 1 0, 2 0 1 9 ISSUE 513 MAR 14 – A
sedan
I S S U E 5 1 3 M A R 1 4 – A P R 1 0, 2 0 1 9
Seductive
MARITIMO’S TIMELESS S51
Seductive
sedan MARITIMO’S TIMELESS S51
Shark Bay, WA
SUNREEF 80
a classier cat ISSUE 513
,!3BD0A6-a cbaj!:K;N
,!3BD0A6-a cbaj!:K;N
tradeaboat.com.au
tradeaboat.com.au
DISCOVER
DISCOVER
WOODEN WONDERS
Shark Bay, WA
Hobart’s heroes
SUNREEF 80
a classier cat
WOODEN WONDERS
Hobart’s heroes
ISSUE 513
$ 1 2 .95
TAB 513 001 Cover.indd 1
$ 1 2 .95
1/03/2019 11:27:23 AM
1/03/2019 11:27:23 AM TAB 513 001 Cover.indd 1
CLICK HERE
Digital
CLICK HERE
visit www.tradeboats.com.au/subscribe