TWIN PEAKS
French builder Fountaine Pajot knows a thing or two about twin-hulled sailing, as demonstrated by its new flagship. Steeve Reaching set sail in the South of France on the Thíra 80 and found a yacht that sings a perfect harmony of style and luxury.
The arrival of a new flagship is always special, even more so when it comes from Fountaine Pajot. The La Rochelle-based brand is well known for its multihulls, but the Thíra 80 is the largest and most luxurious catamaran it has yet produced. We sailed her from Monaco to Saint-Tropez, two icons of luxury yachting chic, and a setting where the Thíra 80’s many facets and innovations blend in perfectly.
There’s a clear family resemblance spanning the yard’s current range, from the New 41 right through to the Alegria 67, and you can see the similarities in the Thíra 80, which maintains slender, elegant lines while offering unprecedented levels of space and luxury. The distribution of volume between the hulls and the central living area is well proportioned, giving a sleek yacht that doesn’t sacrifice silhouette for sublime five-star comfort. Two key stats highlight the lithe-luxe balance – 340 square metres of living space to make the most of life on board, neatly mirrored in 340 square metres of upwind sail area to tempt you to sail as often as possible.
“The Thíra 80 is a natural progression for Fountaine Pajot, and one that aligns with the growing demand for larger luxury cruising catamarans,” begins Greg Boller, General Manager of New Yacht Sales at The Yacht Sales Co., Fountaine Pajot’s Asia-Pacific dealer. “A stand-out aspect of all their catamarans – and a direct result of their nearly five decades of experience – is their commitment to designing cats that have a striking appearance, incredible use of space and a focus on maintaining true sailing ability, compared to some competing brands that have taken their focus off sailing performance.”
Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design, in collaboration with the yard’s design office, was responsible for the naval architecture, exterior styling and interior design. The unusual dimensions of the platform led to a highly innovative approach to the spaces. No fewer than 15 bench seats, designed as soft, comfortable loungers, are spread across the main deck and flybridge to create up to nine independent deck areas ranging from cosy to convivial. Two of them form terraces overlooking the sea on either side, thanks to fold-down bulwarks. These areas are delicately shaded by semi-transparent solar panels that are integrated into deckhead wings.
There’s a beach club at the stern with a sundeck and a full-width bathing platform, and there’s also a spa-tub club forward with large mattresses. Coolboxes and minibars are spread across both areas and the flybridge. For further on-water entertainment, a garage houses an electric water scooter, while two forward lockers conceal paddleboards and other water toys. Two alfresco dining tables, one on the flybridge and one in the cockpit, complete the multifaceted deck areas.
“The Thíra 80 boasts incredible features, including multiple living spaces in the aft deck area as well as a huge foredeck with ample seating, bar, kitchenette, spa and the like, and a spacious and functional flybridge,” Boller enthuses.
“While there are several zones for sunbathing, for sun-sensitive sailors in our region the well-ventilated and shaded deck areas are exceptional, and the integrated solar arrays create a unique ambience. “There are huge storage areas for toys and jetskis, plus generous access to the engine and machinery spaces – we expect our region’s owners, who typically don’t over-crew their yachts, will likely not fit out the forepeaks for extra crew accommodation, meaning even more storage space in these cavernous areas.” The interior of the Thíra 80 offers grandiose volumes by bringing together a range of high-end features, while still remaining within the realistic framework of series production, which is also the basis of the brand’s reliability.
There’s a choice between an open-plan galley in the saloon or a more discreet one on the lower level. In both cases, a crew mess area and crew cabins have been installed in the port hull – ideal for those who want to relax while cruising and those looking to charter their yacht out.
“The dedicated crew area will be really helpful in attracting a quality skipper,” offers Boller, “and as buyers in the Asia-Pacific region don’t like having the crew on top of them, the Thíra 80 is a perfect platform. “We also think regional buyers will love the galley-up arrangement with its amazing alfresco style. Also unique is that all the huge refrigeration volumes are set below the benchline, meaning there’s nothing to impede the saloon’s panoramic views.”
In both galley-up and -down layouts, an island counter located at the entrance to the saloon welcomes guests, and the saloon itself is generous at more than 50 square metres. In the galley-down layout, a smaller private space for more intimate gatherings lies to port. Cabins can be specified from four to six to suit different operational needs. That said, the four- or five-cabin layouts mean the cabins offer unusual private spaces – the starboard hull offers private access to a VIP suite with separate head and large walk-in shower, and a master of over 20 square metres that includes an office space, a saloon and a walk-in robe giving access to a double washbasin ensuite with a whirlpool bath.
Some interior customisation is offered, with a choice of three woods for the furniture and soles, and four colours for the leather upholstery on the drawers and chart table. With the upholstery coming directly from the Pierre Frey catalogue in Paris, the combinations are endless and the level of refinement is extraordinary.
The Thíra 80’s crew gave us a warm welcome in Monaco. Once the Williams 525 tender had been lifted, we set sail in a light breeze of 7 to 10 knots. A short run under power gave proof of the care taken to insulate the engine rooms and bulkheads. Equipped with the largest engine option, we slid along at 9 knots, hearing only a faint hum. Once clear of the harbour, we hoisted the mainsail and gennaker, which with a combined sail area of over 400 square metres, was well suited to the light Mediterranean breezes.
Sail handling is undertaken from the forward area of the flybridge using electro-hydraulic systems, with the aft area clear for novices or those who are content to sit back and enjoy. “The sails can be managed by the owner with the help of just one or two crew – it doesn’t require large numbers of sailing hands – and every sail control is electric,” says Boller.
We set course to skirt the French Riviera’s alluring coastline, with the Thíra 80 ticking along at more than 6 knots in just 10 knots of true wind. It’s clear the sailing aspect hasn’t been forgotten in the drive to create a luxury platform, and she will accelerate comfortably through the wind ranges to give a good turn of speed – she can comfortably sit at 12 knots in 20 knots of wind. The inertia of her hull form and the inherent stability of the cat platform mean she can clock the miles while remaining comfortable and easy to handle.
The Thíra 80 is a worthy flagship, blending unostentatious luxury with the elegant lines. This, combined with good seakindliness and a decent turn of speed even in light airs, puts her up there with the best. By allowing a degree of customisation and remaining attentive to customers’ needs for minor adaptations – Boller suggests regional owners will want to spec the complete refrigeration package, the tropical-grade air-con system, the full sound system and long-range cruising add-ons like the watermaker and genset – the mastery of the yard’s industrial process is a convincing guarantee for those who will be lucky enough to sail aboard her.