gunboat catamaran 68

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Description

The Gunboat 68 is the first model to launch from Grand Large Yachting- the new owners of the famous performance multihull brand.

The 1 Minute Summary

– The Gunboat 68 has been designed as a green machine – You order your own boat from a menu of custom packs – The 2 main options: Cruising Pack and Racing Pack. – Gunboat 68-01 has clocked speeds in the 30s. Surfing, but still, these are fast yachts. – A very tidy design with most sail handling done from the forward cockpit. – Christophe Chedal Anglay’s interior design is luxurious. – The SA/D ratio on the Regatta set up is 38. Rotating mast is optional. – Price is over €6 million. You could hIt €8m for a regatta version with all of the toys, the price is highly dependant on your options  of course. – Examples sailing around include Highland Fling, Dash, Sea Tilt and Tosca.

Customer Feedback Loop The COO, William Jelbert, and the new team spent a good deal of time talking to existing Gunboat owners and skippers to find out how to develop the range, and then teamed up with multihull and racing boat maestros VPLP for the new design. They know a thing or two about fast boats having designed the Outremer 5X and Comanche.

The result is gaining plaudits from existing owners and new customers alike. The lines are sleek yet aggressive, with reverse bows and some neat ideas like a modular saloon interior that is fully demountable on race days. This boat is all about attention to detail.

Let’s see how things have moved on from the Gunboat 48 and their other iconic cats shall we?

• The Gunboat 68 is probably the fastest performance cruising cat on the water, and it achieves all of this without compromising on comfort.
• There are 2 main packs to choose from: the Cruising pack or the Regatta pack with a longer rotating mast, boards and more powerful sail plan.
• The whole boat has been designed so that you can add on options later.
• If you intend to race the Gunboat 68, the interior has been set up so that you can strip out modules and get the weight down even further. In less than a day, a crew can lighten the ship by almost a tonne.
• She boasts a huge array of solar on the coachroof – she´s pretty green.
• There is an option for tillers and bucket seats aft for outside steering as well as Gunboat’s traditional inside steering position. This is a first for the brand and something I am really keen on – you get the best of both worlds here.
• She will likely hold her value very well if the other Gunboat models are anything to go by.
• The price. This is a money no object, expensive yacht. Asking the “How Much Does a Gunboat 68 Cost?” is one of those “How Long is a Piece of String?” questions, because it depends on what options and pack you order, but don´t expect to be phoning the Gunboat sales team without €5-6 million in your back pocket to begin the conversation.
• Maintenance and running costs. The old adage applies, the more expensive your boat, the more expensive it is to run. You will be spending hundreds of thousands a year on the running costs. But, if you can afford to buy one, you can probably afford to run one. Just bear in mind that you can get a lot of boat for less money in the performance cruising market. The competition includes Kinetic, Ocean Explorer and HH. I doubt those other brands will hold their value as well though….
• This is no owner-operator boat. Most owners will have a professional crew to run the yacht for them. Theoretically you can sail her single-handed, but if things go wrong, which they do on boats, well… let’s just say there are some big loads involved. The main on the Regatta option is 175m², remember.

Feature Rich Supercat The fixed bimini will house enough solar panels to make the Gunboat 68 a true green machine without the need for a generator. There are options for tillers and bucket seats for pure adrenaline sailing (a nod to sister ships Outremer perhaps?) as well as Gunboat’s signature inside helm and forward cockpit. 6801, now renamed Highland Fling, went into a refurb in 2021 and was fitted with twin aft racing helms.

For sailing feel, I can only think of the Marsaudon Composites TS5, the Ocean Explorer OE62 or the Outremer 5X for boats that get anywhere close.

Build Your Own Boat You can customise the performance set up on these boats: choose between asymmetric or symmetric dagger-boards (there are 3 options here: short symmetrical boards for cruising, long asymmetrical boards, for racing or long symmetrical), long or short boom, rotating wing-mast or fixed rig and so on. In fact, there are more than 80 combinations available for the interior during the production process.

Gunboat are back to their very best with this head-turner. She’s an all-carbon build again, and those reversed wave-piercing bows and the low-profile coachroof, give her an ultra sporty look: this boat looks like she means business.

She´s Faster than the Wind VPLP design are industry veterans of some of the world’s biggest, fastest multihulls of course. They’ve increased the beam and stepped the mast aft for stability and ease of handling. With or without the longer rig, she’ll go like the wind or even faster in some cases.

You can expect to be shunting along at around 25 knots in a blow, and up to 16 knots in a decent breeze. Condor, which is hull #1, has clocked a 30kt surf.

500 nautical miles per day was the designer’s stretch target in the right conditions: speeds in the high teens and low twenties are not a drama on a 68. This 17.8-ton catamaran has been developed with advanced hydro and aero studies, an area of expertise at VPLP which they have used to develop raceboats such as Macif.

North Sails were also closely involved. A tacking angle of 90° should be achievable in most conditions – pretty unusual for a large cruising multihull.

Interview with William Jelbert on Dash (68-02)

Here´s a chat we had with William Jelbert (the Gunboat COO) at Cannes in 2019 on Dash where he takes us through some of the features of the boat. Dash is set up as a cruising boat.

The interior helm station is pure Gunboat, and she comes with a sunroof (or Moonroof rather) for keeping an eye on the sails and ventilation. The finish matches the quality you’d see on a private jet: she’s lavish with clever details on storage, ventilation and light.

The Classic Gunboat Forward Cockpit Step through two watertight doors in the front of the saloon and you are into the forward cockpit and the foredeck where all the sailing business happens- and this is an exceptionally tidy area for a boat this size, especially if we are talking the performance cruiser option (such as Dash Gunboat 6802) as you will have opted for the fixed rather than the rotating rig.

Lines run outboard from the forward cockpit, like the daggerboard raise and lower lines and two sets of spinnaker sheets. A lot of planning went in to make sure that lines run as straight as possible to reduce friction  trip hazards. There’s a sealed tunnel through the cabin top from the cockpit to the daggerboard casings for example.

There is also an option of adding a tiller and bucket seats on the aft beam to give you that maximum sailing feel while you are out on the water.

Living Space

Stepping inside the luxurious saloon from the forward cockpit, the galley to port has an island if you wish, and the rear windows can be thrown open to connect the inside and outside into one. Down below, there is space for four, five, or even six full-sized double beds with fantastic views through the long topside windows.

Design Masterpiece The mastermind behind the interior design is Christophe Chedal Anglay who worked with Patrick le Quément on the exterior of the Gunboat 68. He was hired after his work on a full interior redesign for Gunboat 60 Moonwave. The key to his design philosophy is beauty through simplicity. The attention to detail can be seen in the master cabin, where the super comfortable bed has a U- shaped headboard designed to absorb sound. Much of the lighting is set into recesses to create a chilled mood and the air conditioning surrounds the bed in slow-moving, cool air.

The sight-lines have been well thought through. In all of the cabins, you can sit up in bed and see the horizon. The devil is in the detail, as they say.

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio The SA/D for the regatta version comes in at an eye-ball popping 38. As a comparison, a Lagoon 380 has a SA/D of around 21. There´s a lot of power in a Gunboat 68 rig!

The Regatta package comes with a rotating mast, whereas the Performance Cruising option is non-rotating.

All standing rigging is ECsix carbon. The Regatta Rig, if combined with the longer daggerboards should give a 12% boost to speeds upwind and up to 20% downwind in lighter wind conditions.

When the wind picks up and you start to reduce sail, both set-ups offer similar performance.

The traveler line driver winch is inside the aft beam so you can handle the mainsheet traveler lines at source, rather than have them led all the way under the boat to the forward cockpit. So you can ease the traveler from the forward cockpit, helm, or the back of the boat.

The Gunboat 68 sits at the very head of the Top Table of Multihulls – this boat sets new standards in design and construction. The primary target market is for sailors who want the ultimate performance cruising catamaran and are prepared to pay for the privilege. Many owners will race their boats once or twice a year, but most will be blasting off to skinny water destinations like the Bahamas.

She’s well worthy of the marque: Grand Large Yachting have relaunched the brand with a starting gun bang with this rocket ship.

If you are looking to gauge her against the competition (and there’s plenty in this market segment), then I recommend you check out our Ocean Explorer OE60 review which is produced in Finland, the KC62 from Kinetic, the Black Pepper Code C69 or take a look at some of the HH Catamarans (like the HH66).

Gunboat 68s

68.01 – Highland Fling (ex Condor) – Jan 17 2019, refurbed May 2021 with dual aft helms 68.02 – Dash – Jul 3 2019 68.03 – Sea Tilt – Jul 2020 68.04 – Tosca – Jan 2021 68.05 – Break Free – Apr 2022 68.06 – Convexity2

How much does a Gunboat 68 cost? What is the price? Well, it’s “Price on Application” and it will depend on the pack you choose (regatta? cruising?) and the options you go for, but have around €6 million tucked into your back pocket to even start the conversation. This could easily head up to €7.5 to €8m if you went for the full regatta option with carbon overload, rotating mast and so on. Don’t forget to budget for the VAT! There’s always a silver lining though. If any boat holds its value, it’s a Gunboat. There aren’t many of them, and demand outstrips supply if you want one quickly. If you have the capital and only want to hold onto a 68 for a couple of years, you might like the depreciation/appreciation numbers. Gunboat has offices in Newport RI, (USA )and La Grande Motte, France.

What versions of the Gunboat 68 are available? There is a cruising version with a 25m mast and symmetric boards. The other option is the regatta version with a 29m mast, longer boom and longeron  and asymmetric boards. There are a whole range of options between these end cases.

How does the 68 compare to previous Gunboat designs? The Gunboat 68 has more salon seating and volume than the Gunboat 60 and 62, but less than the 66. The aft cockpit is bigger than the 60, 62 and 66’s. All 4 VIP cabins are bigger than the cabins on all the other Gunboat models apart from the the Gunboat 78 (Nigel Irens) and 90 (Morrelli & Melvin). The 68´s hulls are narrower than her older siblings and the bridgedeck is shorter than a 66. The bows are longer and the sterns are longer, too. The mast is further aft.

Does the Mast Rotate on a Gunboat 68? Gunboat offer a rotating mast on the regatta rig version for extra power from the main. The standard rig is lighter (non- rotating). So for most owners, the complexity and cost of a rotating rig, plus the extra weight is not worthwhile. If you are racing Tribe (6201) in the BVI, however, it could come in handy.

Is the new Gunboat built by Outremer? No. Gunboat is entirely owned by Grand Large Yachting which also owns Outremer, but it is neither owned or controlled by Outremer. Gunboats are produced in a yard across the road from Outremer and the engineering department are all together at the Gunboat site. Gunboat has dedicated engineers for Interior, Structure, Deck/Rig and dedicated process/production engineers. They do share engineering resource with Outremer for systems. The production team is completely dedicated to Gunboat.

What’s the Top Speed of a Gunboat 68? How fast does she sail? Condor (68-01) has clocked 30 knots. OK, there was some surfing involved, but you wouldn’t call her a slow boat.

Tech Specs and Video

We calculated SA/D and D/L based on light displacement and the mainsail + solent (J2). This is to enable a meaningful comparison across katamarans.com

Technical Specification

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A true reference in the world of cruising catamarans, the Gunboat range was acquired by Outremer in 2017 and swiftly augmented with the Gunboat 68. The first two 68s were delivered in late 2018–early 2019 to American owners who were looking for the best in racing-cruising catamarans.

Built in La Grande Motte entirely in carbon fibre, the new Gunboat 68 came out of the yard weighing a little under 18 tonnes, a veritable exploit for a cruising boat of her size (the furniture below decks were made using Nomex). This thoroughbred catamaran features retractable rudder blades and curved boards. She retains the character of the original American brand with the cockpit and helm station forward, and customizable luxury interiors which can be partially removed for racing.

The first Gunboat designed by VPLP is a “Ferrari of the Seas” and should, like her precursors in the range, put her skippers on the podium of many a race in Caribbean and North-American waters.

Other Gunboats designed by VPLP Design:

• Gunboat 72 V

VPLP design

1,20 m/3,76 m

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GUNBOAT 68: When a cruising catamaran becomes a work of art

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• Builder : Gunboat
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With just thirty example built (from 48’ to 90' in length) since 2001, the extravagant American brand created by Peter Johnstone, knew how to create something mythical! Successive relocations (South Africa, China, USA) combined with various technical and commercial tribulations threatened to put a stop to this great adventure, but then the French group Grand Large Yachting (Outremer, Garcia and Allures) acquired it in 2016. Some thirty months later, the first new generation 68' Gunboat was launched! We took the opportunity of a weekend around the Iles d’Hyères (off France’s Mediterranean coast) to discover this exceptional multihull.

Gunboat: a Phoenix Brand

The first chapter in the Gunboat story was set in South Africa (at Harvey Yachts), a country of maritime tradition, nautical competence, Anglo-Saxon culture... and low-cost labor! The Morelli-Melvin signature was a guarantee of notoriety and the first video of a G62 literally pulverizing a fleet of racing monohulls on their startline caused a sensation! These transgressive Nomex carbon catamarans, dressed in flashy colors and christened with evocative names, wreaked havoc in the upscale yacht clubs on the US east coast. Their annual migrations to St Martin or the St Barts regattas gave rise to spectacular yuppie contests in which a few mercenaries from the podiums of ocean racing or the America’s Cup gladly joined them. Some of them completed remarkable round-the-world trips at very high speed! Years later, the new subcontracting set up at Hudson Marine went wrong, the distance from the decision-making center, and from customers, and cultural misunderstandings with the teams in southern China caused major problems and precipitated a move too late to the new factory in North Carolina.... not yet technically ready to restart production, filing for bankrup...

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Sail Performance

Description

Enter the steadfast ambition that sparked Gunboat: applying proven, Grand Prix race boat building and sailing performance technology to what is at its core, an optimized world-cruising sailing yacht. The Gunboat 68 was designed and engineered with aesthetics, performance, and utmost safety in mind for extended bluewater cruising. Lightweight, all-carbon composite construction is the foundation of this robust platform, designed to be highly capable of handling a wide variety of conditions encountered when offshore sailing, and an absolute pleasure to sail in the entire range of conditions.

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Performance Indicators

Performance

Bruce Number

(higher is faster)

Sail Area to Displacement

Displacement to Length

(lower is faster)

Specifications

Length (LOA)

Length (LWL)

Displacement ​ (light)

Payload capacity

Sail Area (main+jib)

Draft (min)

Draft (max)

Mast clearance

Bridgedeck clearance

Manufactured Since

8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Engine (hp) ​

Hull Material

Gunboat, VPLP, Patrick Le Quément, and Christophe Chedal Anglay

Daggerboards

Mechanical/Hydraulic

2 x 80hp Yanmar

Carbon composite

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HIGHLAND FLING 1768' Gunboat 2019

$ 6,917,175

This Vessel is no longer on the Market

Fast, technologically advanced, and elegantly designed, The Gunboat 68 is the culmination of development within the fleet since the first Gunboat launched in 2002. Incorporating the best of what has come before with experienced boatbuilding and valuable industry partnerships, the Gunboat 68 is a step-change in the evolution of the brand.

Step onto a turnkey, highly upgraded and optimized Gunboat 68, for immediate entry into the exciting and fast-growing world of multihull sailing.

Specifications

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

• LOA: 68 ft in
• Display Length: 68 ft
• Beam: 29' 9"

Racing Sailboat

• Water Capacity: 200 gals
• Fuel Capacity: 200 gals
• Engine Details: YANMAR 4JH80
• Engine 1: 2018 80.00 HP
• Engine 2: 80.00 HP
• Engine Fuel: Diesel
• Days on Market: INQUIRE

The ultimate performance cruising catamaran

Gunboat 6801 was built with extensive upgrades across the spectrum of performance to cruising by an owner who spared no expense. The first owner valued quality, technology and engineering and was intrigued by the boatbuilding process, forming a partnership with Gunboat to see that boat #1 of the VPLP-designed Gunboats would be a refined showstopper. 6801 featured all the performance upgrades, and a jaw dropping silver metallic finish. They enjoyed a once in a lifetime family cruising experience sailing in the Med, Caribbean and New England.

It was a year ago that the renowned Highland Fling program, highly decorated in the monohull racing scene, scouted Gunboat 6801 to be their first-ever multihull. The platform would test out their vision for inshore racing in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, proving its worth as well as the potential of a new style and class of racing for the owner after a lifetime of monohull racing. The first experience sailing Gunboat 68 Highland Fling – the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in June 2021 – exceeded expectations.

The next owner will benefit from a significant investment in performance optimization. As Highland Fling 17, the yacht received specialized attention in all aspects by top professionals. Upgrades included dual exterior helm stations, B&G Nemesis screens, remote mainsheet trim, and a new suit of North Sails. Over 700kg of gear was removed for racing, with all equipment retained in storage to accommodate the preferences of future owners.

The boat currently sits in race-ready mode for their next event – with a simple process to go back into its cruising configuration.

The Gunboat 68 was designed and engineered with aesthetics, performance, and utmost safety in mind – applying Grand Prix technology to what is at its core a highly capable world cruising yacht. Lightweight, all-carbon composite construction is the foundation of this robust platform, designed to handle the wide variety of conditions encountered when offshore sailing, and deliver an elevated sailing experience in the entire range of conditions.

The Interior

Beautiful and inviting, open and airy interior features excellent visibility and clean functional spaces while delivering exceptional comfort.

The open bridgedeck salon offers magnificent 360-degree visibility and air flow. Balance the indoor/outdoor feel with the large doors and windows to the forward and aft cockpits, as well as the retractable moonroof overtop of the helm station – and enclose them all for climate control. The salon features the galley with a countertop island located to port, dining/lounging area to starboard, and the nav station/interior helm forward.

Accommodations include a total of 5 cabins: Four ensuite VIP staterooms from the queen-sized berths outward to the horizon, and one double bunk crew cabin with a wet head in port bow.

The disciplined focus on weight and performance design continued throughout the interior, and new technologies came into play to raise the bar in ultra-lightweight construction, refinement and style. High end fabrics and finishings hold comfort and interior aesthetics to the same high standards, for a seamless yachting experience.

The feel of light and space, with ergonomics and practicality at the forefront. Space was maximized for usable storage and comfortable headroom. Recessed lighting, air conditioning that surrounds the bed in slow-moving cool air, upholstery panels that absorb sound. Optimized sightlines and natural light, an ocean view from every cabin. Comforts you will feel and organically enjoy were thoughtfully designed, to the detail.

Designed to the detail, the Gunboat 68 incorporates strong, reliable, and beautiful components into every inch of the boat. Designers integrated intuitive conveniences from the way you naturally utilize features of the boat to systems access, and even in the layout. Demountable furniture in the salon and aft cockpit can be moved, linked and locked in place to allow you to modify the bridgedeck interior layout quickly and easily for cruise, race, cocktail party, or lounge modes. The designers also kept future-proofing in mind, to allow for evolution and meet the changing desires of owners over time.

HIGHLAND FLING boasts an impressive spec with an extensive list of upgrades for that extra edge. The custom Regatta Rig package (29m mast, 4m daggerboards) increases sail area and further minimizes weight. A new suit of sails (2021) optimized by North Sails also gives performance that extra edge. Interior and exterior aft helm positions further encourage the sailing state of mind and enjoyment of the sailing machine and lifestyle in equal measure.

+ UPGRADES 2021

– Remote control for Mainsail handling – allowing main sheet, cunningham, and mast rotation trim from any location on the boat allowing better driver tactician communication

– Hydraulic outhaul

– (2) 8 man liferafts

– New watermaker Clarke pump

– MH A2 halyard – Additional masthead halyard to allow spinnaker peeling

– Hydraulic traveler ram – custom engineered and manufactured by CCHE Sydney

– (2) B&G Nemesis screens

– (1) New Zeus 19” Nav screen

– (2) 1111 winches in the aft cockpit for fast spinnaker gybes and improved line speed

– (2) External steering stations with throttle control. Helm stations designed by Christophe Chedal Anglay and built by Fibre Mechanics UK.

– (6) New Sails: North Sails Main, J1, J2, J3 , A2, A0

+ DISCLAIMER

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.

Not all boats listed online are listed with United, but we can work on your behalf. For more information on this vessel or to schedule a showing, please contact a United Yacht Sales broker by calling our main headquarters at (772) 463-3131.

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

First look: Gunboat’s GB80 and GB70

• Toby Hodges
• May 9, 2023

Toby Hodges on a new dawn of semi-custom supercats as Gunboat continues to turn out a range of impressive cats, now 7 years into their new ownership

Product Overview

In the seven years since Grand Large Yachting purchased cult catamaran brand Gunboat and brought it to a new headquarters in the south of France, it has steadily increased its market stature. Today we see a yard at full capacity, specialising in a real niche of top end quality and high performance, at a big size (and cost).

It has two GB72Vs in build (its first flybridge model), two GB80s, and numbers six and seven of its GB68 – which is now redesigned as the GB70 (featured here). When you consider the GB80 is equivalent to a 100ft superyacht in size and price, you start to understand quite how far this brand has progressed.

I have toured the La Grande-Motte yard a couple of times, the most recent being last year, and have been highly impressed with the quality of engineering and attention to detail.

When I spoke with Gunboat’s managing partner, Benoit Lebizay, both then and at the Düsseldorf boat show in January, he explained that they see little point in going below this current size range. Its client base now is a high profile one, with owners typically coming from maxi racing yachts and looking to reduce crew numbers. He also reasons that 55ft is the maximum size before you need a crew, and that once you have a crew you then need privacy.

Gunboat has two of its new GB80 models already in build for a pair of high profile serial boat owners

A supercat capable of matching low single figure windspeeds yet topping 30 knots, the GB80 has a pretty unique brief: a Grand Prix maxi-sized cat, that can be handled by a small crew, is capable of luxurious world cruising and is a semi-custom repeatable build!

The first GB80 is the latest in serial boat owner Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling series, due to launch this summer, while the second is for Team Argo. Hence you get the idea these are for serious, competitive and experienced racing sailors who want a turbo catamaran they can also cruise, with the equivalent accommodation of a maxi yacht. “The cult is coming back – but at a higher end,” thinks Lebizay.

To see these beasts in construction phase is eye-opening. These are full prepreg carbon builds with much of the construction done by industry leaders Fibre Mechanics in Lymington and Multiplast in France. Pick up a panel and it’s featherlight yet super strong.

An aircraft company builds the furniture in Nomex (including 6mm Corian veneer) – it’s incredibly expensive but the most valuable place to save weight, says Lebizay. Gunboat is now updating its GB68s with the learnings and technology from the GB80.

The GB70 has longer hulls than the 68 and the mast is brought aft onto the coachroof. Everything above deck is new

The GB68, the first new VPLP designed model under Grand Large Yachting’s ownership, has already proved a success. Gunboat has delivered five 68s and has two in build. But this is a six-year-old design now, and has evolved alongside performance developments of the GB80 in build. The new, slightly extended version shown above, is the GB70.

It looks very similar, with the same sporty aesthetic appeal, but the longer hulls and different mast placement could make key differences in performance and handling.

“For this V2 we wanted a small 80, not a big 68,” Lebizay explains. “Actually it’s a 72 but we already had a 72 [a flybridge model].” Where the GB72V is an extended GB68, with the extension added midships to create wider hulls for increased payload, the 70s are kept narrow. Everything above deck uses new moulds.

A dual aft helm option is now offered as well as Gunboat’s signature forward cockpit and interior helm (now with a canting wheel).

Better interior flow and visibility, plus a canting wheel

Another significant alteration is that the mast is further aft and is stepped on the coachroof rather than in front of the cockpit. This helps allow for a high aspect ratio main and larger foresails, including a generous self-tacking J2/Solent. The reasoning is to make it more balanced and easy to handle.

It should also make a big difference to the views from the interior wheel and saloon.

Historically, Gunboats have had forward cockpits, transverse berths and midships engines to help centralise weight. “But we know how to maintain balance with the mast moved aft like raceboats,” says Lebizay. The engines are now in the more conventional position aft and have improved sound proofing insulation.

The saloon area has been extended with better flow and has larger sliding doors connecting the aft cockpit. The owner cabin is now also larger with a longitudinal berth, which is still close to midships, with a bathroom aft. The GB70 is offered as a five cabin version as standard or a four cabin option with galley and crew mess in the port hull to help give more privacy and segregation for owners. Lebizay thinks the GB70 will be around two tonnes heavier than the GB68, but it is longer and will be able to take a seven tonne payload.

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Elevated Sailing

The first catamaran with Gunboat performance and a flybridge, the 72 design begins squarely with the cruising aficionado in mind, when nothing other than a Gunboat will do. Since the first Gunboats over 20 years ago, the vast popularity of multihull cruising continues to rise. Families come in droves to boat shows, searching for the perfect match between the significance of their world cruising adventure and the vessel that will carry them, that they will also call home. The pendulum swings hard – Gunboat sailing performance or layers of living space. Family and friends start voting, and we catch the look of pleading in your eye… Technology has also come a long way in 20 years, and we’re proud to be pushing the boundaries on both sides of the performance-cruising continuum. Our best-in-class design features a streamlined flybridge, built with the latest in lightweight construction technology and comprehensive performance engineering. It’s sleek and aero, rock solid, and sails like a dream.

• Gunboat Performance
• Lifting Tender Platform
• Expansive Salon & Aft Cockpit
• Superior Owner’s State Room

Integrated Design

Disrupting the definition of a flybridge multihull..

The all-star design and engineering collaboration of Gunboat, VPLP Design , Christophe Chedal Anglay , Patrick le Quément, and Isabelle Racoupeau-Ramirez contribute the shared experience that is intrinsic to the Gunboat 72, with the principles introduced through the Gunboat 68 series, and the conviviality of family cruising adventures.

Only the well-rounded perspective of VPLP could nail the balance of our flybridge performance cruiser so precisely, applying their work from the 68 to deliver best-in-class. Christophe Chedal Anglay and Patrick le Quément expertly incorporated new features like the flybridge and tender/swim platform into the sleek and streamlined design.

Designed to the detail, the integration of a sailing machine and a cruising dream.

“In keeping with Gunboat DNA, I searched for a refreshingly luxe interior for the Gunboat 72 that was both dynamic and bright, but in a delicate way, with the softness of the shapes of the furniture associated with the contrast of the materials.” Isabelle Racoupeau-Ramirez –  Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design

Impeccable quality, Legendary adventures

Space to build legends.

Adventures with family and friends become stories, and stories turn into legends. Shared dreams drive the configuration of the 72, with at least five distinct areas for socializing, relaxing and making memories together, and an unprecedented level of layout customizability to accommodate your unique tribe. Plush interiors and the comprehensive treatment of interior design reflect the personality of each owner. The inviting, bright and airy character of the 72 shines through. Considerate treatment of form and function give rise to a carefree ambience for creating memories with the ones you love.

Hull layouts start with the owner’s lifestyle – a VIP cabin and desires for additional personal space such as an office – and proceed with accommodations in multiple guest cabins and separate quarters for 2-3 crew.

Integrated Living Spaces Aboard

Space is maximized for usable storage and ample headroom.

Lighting is recessed and on dimmers for perfect ambiance.

Air conditioning surrounds the bed comfortably with slow moving cool air.

Upholstery panels and soft materials add comfort and absorb sound.

Performance & Sailing

Cruising faster, cruiser further.

Reach more destinations, and revel in the journey all the way. The Gunboat 72 is configured for simple, controlled, shorthanded performance sailing from the flybridge helm station, with streamlined sail controls and cruising-optimized sail plans. Sailing performance is significantly advantageous over motoring, as the foundation for a sustainable life at sea. Lightweight construction and the full treatment of performance optimizations deliver effortless, mile-eating performance.

“ VPLP’s precise engineering and Gunboat’s build quality came together to master the weight and balance of the Gunboat 72, key factors to achieve performance in terms of speed and excellent sea keeping. ” Marc Van Peteghem – VPLP Design

• Mast Clearance
• Draft Board (Down)
• Bridge Deck Clearance

Specifications & Customizations

01. general specifications.

Build lifelong memories of sailing a performance cruising cat with comfort and ease. Family and friends will be delighted, whether they choose to relax and enjoy the scenery or lend a hand on the lines. The passion for sailing takes on a carefree nature on the 72 with helm stations and centralized sail controls at your fingertips on the flybridge. Interior spaces were conceived for extended cruising, supported by systems designed for reliability and ease of maintenance.

• DRAFT BOARD DOWN 3.8 M
• DRAFT BOARD UP 1.7 M
• MAST CLEARANCE 32.6 M
• MAST LENGTH 29 M
• DISPLACEMENT 28 - 29 t
• DISPLACEMENT MAX LOAD 33 t
• BRIDGE DECK CLEARANCE 0.95 M
• FUEL CAPACITY 2 X 650 L
• WATER CAPACITY 2 X 420 L

02. Rig and Sail Plan

Sail at wind speed from 8 kts true. Enjoy shorthanded performance sailing from the flybridge helm station, with streamlined sail controls and cruising-optimized sail plans. While sail selection remains owner-driven, the recommended sail plan features 4 sails (Main, J2/genoa, J3/staysail, A3). VPLP designed this with performance and simplicity in mind. Fixed sails are easily furlable from the flybridge in a sail plan genuinely conceived for streamlined, short-handed cruising of a thrilling performance machine.

03. Layouts

Lifestyle-centric from sterns to bows and cabins to flybridge, with more than 5 distinct areas for socializing. Customizable layouts can accommodate 8-10 guests in 4 cabins and 2-3 crew in separate crew quarters. The sample layout features the VIP master cabin starboard aft, three guests cabins port aft and (2) amidships, and a crew cabin area with ensuite wet head in the port bow. Talk with us about building your dream Gunboat.

Other Yachts

The Evolution of Innovation

Dream Bigger

Elevated Sailing: A look at the first Gunboat 72

Events: Bol d’Or Mirbaud & Cannes Yachting Festival

Boatbuilding

Building up to debuts in 2023.