Fountaine Pajot Owner’s Rendezvous

24 Catamarans in Tuscany

Owner gatherings continue to be successful events: no fewer than 22 sailing multihulls (from the Isla 40 to the Samana 59) and two powercats attended the 11th edition of the Fountaine Pajot Owner’s Rendezvous held in Tuscany, across from the island of Elba.

Whether at anchor in Elba or tie up in Punta Ala, the Fountaine Pajot fleet certainly attracted attention!

The skippers eagerly await the wind... which would eventually arrive in the Gulf of Follonica.

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Published 01/08/2025

By Emmanuel van Deth

Subscribers Only

Issue: 203

Published: oct. / nov. 2025

Here we are in Punta Ala, the marina located at the southern end of the Gulf of Follonica; this vast expanse is an ideal spot for regattas and for cruising, as the area is fairly windy while being protected from the waves coming in from the open sea by the nearby island of Elba. In the background, Corsica also acts as a buffer against the strong westerly swells... In the sun you can even make out some patches of snow on Monte Cinto, the island’s highest peak.
From the quays, it was impossible to miss the Fountaine Pajot fleet; 24 catamarans ranging from 40 to 59 feet do not go unnoticed in a chic marina mostly occupied by monohulls. From the Isla 40 to the Samana 59, it was a veritable brand catalogue moored alongside. Compared to the 2022 edition in Croatia, where charter boats were largely grouped together, the owners here were overwhelmingly represented aboard their own catamarans. Even more surprising: nearly a quarter of the participants were flying the Swiss ensign! There were no fewer than five Swiss crews: La Pinta (Helia 44), Lillesol (Elba 45), Maona and Blue Mandarin (Tanna 47) and finally Kapowai (Aura 51).
The highlight of the event was the “race” to Elba Island: this wonderful trip, with a lovely 15-knot breeze and calm seas, took the fleet to Porto Azzuro in less than three hours. The crew of the Isla 40 Terre, led by Richard and Dorothée, fought hard until they were overtaken at the finish line by the Astréa 42 Migaloo 2, because of the unpredictable winds caused by the topography at the bottom of the bay. The finish line was not that easy to reach under sail, prompting some participants to finish the course under motor. The third catamaran to cross the line was the Astréa 42 from the Fountaine Pajot team – an honorable finish considering that this chartered multihull had neither a gennaker or a spinnaker.
For the return leg to the Gulf of Follonica, the downwind sails were set again as the wind shifted to the left. This time, it was Maona, a Tanna 47, that took the lead, powered by its red and white gennaker. Halfway through the race, Lillesol, boosted by its large blue asymmetrical spinnaker, tried to regain the lead, but to no avail. Despite its smaller size, Terre once again demonstrated the advantages of having a clean hull... and folding propellers, finishing in third place on the podium.
On land, there was a succession of feasts and tastings of local products in the dreamlike settings that Tuscany has to offer. Due to strong northerly winds, the grand parade around the mysterious island west of the port and the scheduled “sunflower raft-up” in the Gulf of Follonica were replaced by sailmaking and electronics workshops, much to the delight of the 120 participants.

From Isla to Samana...

22 Sailing Catamarans Ranging from 40 to 59 feet, Registered in 6 Countries
Countries represented: Australia, China, United States, France, Italy, Switzerland
Helia 44: the oldest multihull
Astrea 42: the most represented one with 6 vessels
Isla 40: the smallest one (2 multihulls)
Samana 59: the largest one

Terre: The Determination To Win!

Just because we’re one of the two smallest multihulls in the fleet doesn’t mean we don’t want to compete with the big boys! Richard, skipper of the Isla 40 Terre, didn’t give up; supported by his wife and two pairs of friends, he fought to cross the line at the head of the fleet and even held the lead for a long time under gennaker before being overtaken by an Astrea 42 on the very last stretches before the finish line at the end of Azzuro Bay, on the island of Elba. On the return leg, with stronger winds, a Tanna 47 and an Elba 45 managed to pull away (slightly) thanks to their greater waterline length...
Terre’s plan? “First, sail the length and breadth of the Mediterranean,” enthuses Richard, “And then, why not a round-the-world trip? That’s our dream…”

Kapowai: Ready To Discover The Mediterranean

Christian and Michaela have owned their Aura 51 since 2024. Last season, they sailed their catamaran around Portugal, Spain, France and Italy.
“We had quite a bit of wind, often head-on, but it was ultimately an excellent opportunity to discover and get to know our catamaran. Today, we are delighted to share this enjoyable moment with other Fountaine Pajot owners in Tuscany, especially as this region of Italy is a fantastic place to sail. We are going to sail to Elba and then stay here in Port Azurro for a month to finalize the preparation of our catamaran. Then we will head to Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Turkey – and why not Malta?”