Design
21st Century solution
Combining the expertise of Fibre Mechanics and Multiplast with that of VPLP, under Gunboat’s reputation for design, build quality and finish... it’s no wonder that the new Gunboat 80 offers such a breathtaking package
Imagine sailing faster than the wind while cruising with your family in just six knots of breeze, when all other yachts are motoring. Now imagine racing that same boat with your team, with boatspeeds reaching 30kts. Welcome aboard the Gunboat 80. After the success of the Gunboat 68, the next step was to go bigger – and a lot more hi-tech. More than ever before, this new flagship model brings Gunboat into the world of grand prix sailing technology. The CFD modelling, structural engineering, prepreg carbon construction and rig optimisation of the Gunboat 80 are on the same level of sophistication as an Imoca or Ultime build project, with the same fanatical focus on weight reduction. ‘When you’re building high- performance cruising catamarans, being on weight is just as important as being on time and on budget, ’says Gunboat’s managing partner Benoît Lebizay. ‘When someone puts their faith in us we deliver.’ Like a grad prix raceboat project, some of the solutions developed for the Gunboat 80, such as a system that effectively allows the daggerboards to be lifted under full load at speeds over 20kts – have pushed the boundaries of design and engineering.
60 SEAHORSE
There are, however, some crucial differences. First, unlike any stripped- out raceboat the Gunboat 80 has to achieve its grand prix level of performance as well as high-end cruising comfort and quality of finish. Second, it has to work equally well as a safe, versatile, reliable world cruising platform and family home as it does in line-honours racing mode. And third – a key differentiator for the Gunboat brand – it needs to deliver all of the above in a semi-custom package that avoids the inherent risks, budget overruns and delays of a full custom build while still offering owners a huge scope for customisation. It wouldn’t be a Gunboat if each owner couldn’t place the cursor exactly where they want it to be on the performance-cruising continuum and tailor the boat to precisely fit their own personal style and sailing ambitions.
The innovation without the risk At the cutting edge of sailing, high- performance design and engineering move forward in leaps and bounds, sometimes in good directions and other times down blind alleys or worse. Gunboat’s close partnerships with some of the industry’s leading innovators, like VPLP Design and
Top: a huge and highly configurable living space with a world class quality of finish and uninterrupted panoramic views out in all directions. This is cruising, Gunboat style. Above: the spectacular silhouette of the new
Gunboat 80 is bound to turn heads in any anchorage
North Technology Group, allow them to take full advantage of the latest developments while maintaining the boundaries of safety and structural integrity that are equally crucial elements of Gunboat’s ethos, and among the widely admired qualities of its boats.
Most sailors develop strong opinions and ideas about their ideal boat as they gain experience, and they often assume that a full custom build is the only way to achieve it. The downside is that full custom projects are inherently fraught with risk. They typically take twice as long to design and build, and they often end up costing 50 to 100 per cent more than was originally envisaged. While a racing yacht builder can deliver a high-quality hull, deck and structure, they very rarely have the knowledge and experience to install and integrate the immensely complex and sophisticated hotel systems of a high-end cruising yacht while maintaining the crucial focus on both weight reduction and reliability. Some owners still prefer to go their own way in every aspect of a project. For them, that element of risk is part of the thrill and is worth the inevitable delay, hassle and expense. But for most owners,
HENRIK TRYGG
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