The meeting point was Baotic Marina in Trogir. This vast modern port has the advantage of being very close to Split international airport - only 10 minutes by cab. An important detail for the whole Fountaine Pajot team, the journalists, but also many crew members. Not everyone came with their own catamaran, as many crews hadn’t hesitated to charter one so that they could join the party. The staff of the shipyard chartered two, and this is the second advantage of Boatic marina, which is home to large fleets of rental catamarans. Beyond these practical aspects, Croatia proved to be a smart destination for this tenth edition of the Fountaine Pajot event. This sailing area located on the Adriatic Sea is still as attractive as ever, with its 600 islands, its vast bodies of water protected from the swell, its turquoise waters, and its remarkable historical heritage. These are the reasons why Fountaine Pajot catamaran owners are so keen to take part in the festival. The only unknown factor for such a gathering is, of course, the weather: it was late May. The sun was shining, even though the water temperature was still cool - it was the beginning of the season.

First anchorage: The Blue Lagoon! The water here is a particularly attractive turquoise color - time for that first swim…

From 40 to 50 feet

When I arrived, the warm wind and clear skies made for a beautiful sunset - so at least the weather appeared to be cooperating! The shipyard team had set up a tent to welcome the crews, offer them a drink and present the program. Everyone was free to dine where they wished. Within reach of the dinghy, Trogir, with its medieval city and its marble quays, is well worth a visit, and is a logical choice for strolling and eating: shuttle buses were organized from the marina. Before nightfall, I couldn’t resist a tour of the pontoons to get an idea of just who was there. From a Lucia 40 to a Saba 50, numerous models were represented. I spotted an Astrea 42, an Elba 45 and a nice fleet of Saona 47s. Overall, the fleet was quite recent. The oldest multihull was undoubtedly the Salina 48 which belonged to Yves Pajot - co-founder of the shipyard. This model, with its carbon mast extended by 6½ feet (2 meters) compared to the standard sail plan, stood out amongst all the aluminum... If a dozen of the catamarans present had sailed from their home port - sometimes far away - to be at the meeting, the 108 crew members present represented even more diverse nationalities - South Africa, Germany, Australia, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Mexico... The purpose of these meetings which are organized by the shipyard is for the owners, and the 12 Fountaine Pajot staff members present, to share their experiences. From the very first evening, there was lots of interaction. One suggestion would be for the shipyard to set up a “catamaran workshop” staffed by technicians who could help with after-sales service details or diagnostics. Other builders already ...