Gunboat 80 - The catamaran of every superlative

Highland Fling XVIII, as she is called, has genuine racing ambitions, and is due to take part in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo (Sardinia, Italy) in September. The Gunboat 80 is clearly one of the fastest cruising catamarans in her class - if not to say the most powerful. Calculations carried out by the naval architects, VPLP, promise boatspeed greater than the windspeed as soon as the latter exceeds 6 knots... The performance of the Gunboat 80 offshore in big seas promises to be excellent, given the work that’s gone into weight centering and the fact that the bridgedeck clearance is 3’9” (1.15 m). The construction is ultra-light and particularly stiff, thanks to the use of prepreg carbon cloth over a Nomex honeycomb core. Also, count on deep retractable rudders and daggerboards (L-shaped to give lift).
As for the sail plan, which measures some 4,380 square feet (407 m²) upwind, it is rigged on a 100-foot (30-meter)-plus rig. In addition to the traditional crash-boxes in the bows and sterns, the boat has been fitted with watertight compartments in the stern, coachroof and deck.
The layout has not yet been publicly unveiled, but we do know that it has been designed using virtual reality and built to aeronautical industry standards. The design proposed by Chedal Anglay Design is airy and minimalist, with soft curves and neutral-toned furniture. The central living area occupies the deck saloon, offering 360-degree visibility along a galley with bar seating. The saloon/dining area can seat six to eight people. The spacious owner's cabin has a private companionway for added privacy. The number of guest cabins and en-suite bathrooms can be customized, and separate accommodation for three full-time crew.
The aft cockpit is extended by large sugarscoops and is linked to the saloon by large sliding doors to form a vast open area. The mainsheet track is secured to the aft beam, and maneuvers are distributed between this area, the two aft corners of the coachroof and the forward cockpit. There are two helm stations - one aft on each hull - but the 3D images also suggest a helm station forward in the nacelle.
Construction of a second Gunboat 80 is already under way, and due to splash in the summer of 2024 for sailing in a “family cruising” mode.

Specifications
Builder: Gunboat
Architect: VPLP
Design: Chedal Anglay Design
Length overall: 80’10” (24.65 m)
Waterline length: 78’7” (23.95 m)
Beam: 33’8” (10.25 m)
Daggerboard draft: 4’3”/7’3” (1.3/2.2 m)
Draft daggerboards down: 19’1” (5.82 m)
Air draft: 113’6” (34.6 m)
Mast length: 101’5” (30.9 m)
Light displacement: 59,500/61,700 lbs (27/28 t)
Sail area: 4,380 sq ft (407 m²)
Fuel: 2 x 185 US gal (2 x 700 l)
Water: 2 x 185 US gal (2 x 700 l)

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