PHOTO: B. Stichelbaut /JFA Yachts
Catamarans afford cruisers more comfort in certain conditions, and certainly more space than monohulls. The owners of the newly delivered Long Island 85 mega cat will waste no time in putting these advantages to work. They have ambitious adventures ahead: a circumnavigation, which includes getting as close as possible to the North and South Poles.
Launched in October, this is the second hull in the Long Island 85 semi-custom series. It’s from JFA Yachts, which builds superyacht-size catamarans in addition to traditional single-hulled sailing yachts and motoryachts. She features naval architecture by Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group. The studio specializes in racing and cruising projects, as well as workboats.
JFA Yachts did not build the project to ice-class standards, so the owners won’t be venturing too far north or south. Regardless, she does have features custom-designed for colder climates. For example, the owners can enclose both the flying bridge and the main aft deck. In addition, they can heat both spaces. Furthermore, the owners plan to run their Long Island 85 with a smaller-than-usual crew. Therefore, they’ll have more hands-on enjoyment of these experiences. Further for hands-on enjoyment, hydraulics help with sailing and overall operations on the flying bridge.
When the owners of this Long Island 85 are ready to relax, plenty of amenities await. The 39-foot (11.93-meter) beam makes the main deck ample. The saloon and dining area are open to one another, with seating concentrated to port and meals taking place to starboard. (On a related note, the same layout sits outside on the aft deck. Sunpads complement it.) With the saloon also containing a bar, the vibe should be relaxing. When it comes time to plot their next course, a handy nav desk/chart table sits forward amidships.
To keep weight down, but also minimizing maintenance, only the alfresco area surrounding the master stateroom features teak. JFA Yachts further built the Long Island 85 with a composite superstructure and aluminum hull.
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