With its roots in the fishing industry, plus a number of commercial and government vessels to its credit, Dongara Marina in Australia received an unusual request a few months ago. An avid diver wanted a special megayacht for quickly getting out to his favorite cruising and diving areas with family and friends. He additionally wanted ample, comfortable onboard areas for spending days at a time. The catamaran motoryacht La Bella Cherie is the result, currently in build.
Rohan Warr, Dongara Marine’s managing director, says the client’s list of requirements helped the yard and Southerly Designs develop the 82’8” (25.25-meter) project. “This client focus and custom design and build capability led to a contract being signed within weeks of the initial approach,” he explains.
Construction combines aluminum hulls with a composite superstructure. The superstructure build includes a carbon-fiber-reinforced main deck cabin and enclosed bridge. The light-weight materials surely aid in the anticipated performance. La Bella Cherie should see a maximum speed upwards of 40 knots. Twin MTUs and Hamilton waterjets additionally should permit cruising around 30 knots. To handle long-range trips, the megayacht will have about 5,019 gallons (19,000 liters) of fuel. Shallow-water destinations can be among those trips, too, since the waterjets allow a draft of just 3’6” (1.1 meter).
Besides diving, La Bella Cherie will allow the owner’s party of 10 to indulge in several watersports. She’ll carry a tender on a swim platform that lowers between her hulls. This will complement smaller transom platforms.
When they’re done for the day, the owner and guests have a few places to relax. The main deck, for instance, has both alfresco and interior gathering and dining areas. The hulls contain two guest staterooms apiece, with king and queen berths. The owner, meanwhile, has a full-beam (24’9”/7.6-meter) main-deck stateroom.
“This is an exciting project for us,” Warr says. “We look forward to providing the client with a vessel that will be the source of great enjoyment and wonderful memories, as well as demonstrating how well our skills transfer to the custom motoryacht arena.”
Dongara Marine dongaramarine.com.au
Southerly Designs southerly.com.au
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