Sunreef Yacht Sól Takes Strong Sustainability Stance: Megayacht News Onboard

“This is the first time in the 40 years of our family yachting where we could sit on the aft deck while the boat’s cruising because we’re not getting asphyxiated by fumes.” The owner of the Sunreef yacht Sól says this with a smile. In fact, the three generations of his family spent nearly 40 days onboard within the first three months following delivery last summer. Besides having a spacious, comfortable way to cruise, they’re delighted with their choice of a Sunreef because she doesn’t rely on diesel. Instead, this 80 Sunreef Power Eco is an electric catamaran with solar panels, fitting the family’s focus on greatly reducing environmental impact.

From racing small sailboats to enjoying an 88-foot (27-meter) Broward, the family spent decades cruising from New England to the Bahamas. About a decade ago, they sold the Broward, and decided to charter instead. “We thought, ‘That’s the way to go, it would be crazy to buy another yacht again,’” the owner remembers. “And then my family ganged up on me,” he laughs. His mother, his wife, and his grown kids said they missed spending more focused time together. “I said, ‘That’s great, but I’m not buying and running a boat that burns 50, 100, 200 gallons an hour.’” They’re a family of climate-impact investors, further donating to climate-related causes. His concerns were unfounded, since his family members forwarded several articles about electric yachts.

After significant homework, he narrowed his choices down to only builders with existing models, versus concepts. Notably, no one was constructing monohulls that ticked all the sustainability boxes for the family. He further met Staley Weidman, CEO of The Catamaran Company, which sells new and used cats plus charters them. Weidman had filmed a video walk-through of a Sunreef. The owner and his wife visited some shipyards, including Sunreef, “grilled” the teams about their construction and technology, and made their decision. “A catamaran was kind of a—what’s the word? A byproduct of wanting a ‘green’ boat.”

Among the things that make the 79-foot (24-meter) Sunreef yacht Sól more eco-conscious is her 2,150 square feet (210 square meters) of solar panels. Specifically, they’re integrated into the yacht’s hull, superstructure, and hardtop. Sunreef researched and developed the solar cells itself, too. Additionally, while all 80 Sunreef Eco Power catamarans have battery banks, the one aboard the yacht Sól is the largest aboard any recreational boat or yacht up to her size. It can power all the hotel loads as well as the twin 360-kW electric engines. Sunreef says the yacht can venture up to 300 nautical miles in full silence, too. An energy-management system makes efficient use of the electric power. Though rarely used, small gensets are aboard, too, to extend range.

Besides appreciating Sunreef’s technological approach, the owner and his family valued being able to tailor the layout and décor as they wished. This extended to moving structural items, too, like a stairwell near the galley below decks. “Crew don’t always get the biggest work areas,” the owner points out, adding, “galleys aren’t exclusively for the crew.” Specifically, they wanted more refrigerator and freezer space, plus a flip-up table for an extra usable area. Not realizing the complexity of the request, the owner and his family spoke with the yard. Sunreef said it could be done, despite it not being easy.

Other custom requests included relocating the hot tub from the flying bridge to the foredeck (above), plus an extended bimini. The latter allows extra shade for the aft deck (“If you want sun, you can go to the bow”) plus extra solar panel production. Also on the flying bridge itself, the owners designed an L-shape area near the bar (below). “We decided we didn’t need yet another seat over there,” the owner says. “We’ve learned that we like a surface that can work for a buffet-type, serve-yourself lunch.”

With designers that they have used for homes and restaurants, the owner’s wife oversaw the look and feel of the interiors. The yacht Sól eschews all animal products like leather in creating a calming, relaxing atmosphere. Among the areas the family likes the most is the open-plan main deck, with the saloon, dining area, and wheelhouse. They like to keep the aft-deck doors completely open as well. The lack of walls enhances the already-ample 38-foot (11.5-meter) beam. Additionally, the owner likes that the standard 80 Sunreef Eco Power layout calls for external stairways for the crew. They preserve space inside, plus “the crew could be running up and down into the galley serving the flying bridge, and they don’t have to walk into the saloon.”

Besides wanting a cruiser to make more memories aboard together, the family behind the Sunreef yacht Sól wanted to be early adopters of sustainable strategies in yachting. “We wanted to show what’s possible, and what’s real,” the owner says. He appreciates Sunreef’s entrepreneurial, forward-thinking mindset, visiting the facility eight times during the two years of design and construction. “I developed relationships with their management,” he shares. “It was necessary because building a boat is complicated. It doesn’t go according to some spreadsheet.” As for the future, the family is looking forward to some winter cruising in the Caribbean, between offering Sól for charter out of the BVIs. As much as they’re looking forward to their together time, they’re looking forward to more meals on that aft deck. Who needs to be inside when the air is fresh and clear?

Sunreef Yachts sunreef-yachts.com