Catan55. The futuristic design comes from Christophe Barreau
The new Catan55 is supposed to swim in spring 2012 and both conceptually and optically follow its smaller sister Catan50 (test in YACHT 20/2007). "Essentially, the hulls are a little longer and the boat is a little wider. This means that there is more volume available, especially inside, and the cabins can be much more spacious," explains dealer Jürgen Jacobs (Jacobs-Yachts, Neustadt) of the new boat and its positioning in the shipyard's program. The general layout provides for two expansion variants with three or four cabins, each with its own bathroom.
With the ship, Catandie wants to close the gap between the 50 and 59 and at the same time offer a format that is often in demand on the market for large blue water cats. The Catan concept also has a sporty and performance-oriented focus. At the innovative shipyard based in Canet-en-Roussillon on the French Mediterranean coast, particular emphasis is placed on lightweight construction. Since this year, all new builds, including the older models, have been manufactured using carbon fiber composites and using the infusion process, including the new Catan55, of course. A carbon fiber rig is also available as an option.
The construction and design come from the French catamaran specialist Christophe Barreau. Its tulip-shaped cracks in the frame are known. The Kats from Catan are also equipped with additional side swords as standard. They ensure more course stability and less drift, especially on courses close to the wind.
The price for the Catan55 is not yet known. According to the dealer Jacobs, however, it should settle only slightly above the price of the smaller 50s. This currently costs 1.02 million euros including VAT. The shipyard plans to water the prototype of the Catan55 in spring 2012.