Yacht Elysian Taking on Australian Coastlines

The Incat Crowther studio has earned its stripes through stalwart naval architecture and engineering for a number of custom motoryachts and support superyachts. It’s among the reasons why the owners of the yacht Elysian sought its services. They wanted a catamaran to take them cruising and fishing, further capable of carrying some big tenders. Tailoring every element to make their vision come true, Incat Crowther and a team of fellow Australian specialists recently wished them fair skies and following seas as they embarked on their first trip.

At 79 feet (24 meters) in length, the yacht Elysian was still a vision in her owners’ minds at the start of this decade. They began collaborating with Incat Crowther, specifying an efficient cruiser with a multi-function swim platform. It would need to lift, plus support fishing and swimming. The upper deck needed to house their two tenders, too. Additionally, they wanted an open-plan main deck with panoramic views and generous alfresco relaxation and entertainment spaces. In 2021, Incat Crowther made the introduction to the management team at Mason Marine Industries. It’s a small shipyard in Bundaberg, Australia, in business for 15 years. Although the yacht Elysian is its largest project to date, it previously had built a number of one-off sportfishing yachts.

Throughout construction, Incat Crowther provided technical support to the owners. Sea trials a few months ago proved the long working relationship paid off. Firstly, the aluminum-hulled catamaran can top out at 29 knots and cruise at 21 knots for quick transits. Best range comes at 10 knots, that being 2,000 nautical miles. Even at a high-speed cruise of 20 knots, range is still a healthy 900 nautical miles. Some credit goes to keeping weight lower aloft, thanks to a composite superstructure. Better yet, according to the design studio, no gyro or roll-damping stabilizers are needed.

Secondly, Elysian can maintain position—a.k.a. station keeping, like dynamic positioning—through an integrated control system. It links together her twin Scania engines, the gearboxes, and bow thrusters. The same control system assists in docking and low-speed maneuvers. Although deep, raked windows aid the captain and crew at the helm, two more smart design features make their jobs easier. One is a Portuguese bridge. Simultaneously, the crew have stairs from the bridge to the beamy foredeck, for deploying fenders and other needs.

Once the yacht Elysian is where her owners want to spend time, a host of amenities await. The day can start with breakfast on the aft deck, for instance. The galley is just a few steps away inside, as part of the open-plan main deck. Come lunch or dinner, the chef can cook up a show, but outside—specifically, at the barbecue on the aft deck. Multiple refrigerators around the barbecue mean most everything is right at hand. For a quick lesson on navigation, meanwhile, guests can head up to the wheelhouse. Three pedestal chairs line the helm, and a lounge for five is adjacent.

The spiral stairs connecting the main deck and wheelhouse are worth special note, too. Mason Marine Industries’ own stainless steel team custom made it. Walnut and Tasmanian blackwood—also from the shipyard’s craftspeople—set a nice backdrop to it as well.

With a main-deck master suite and four guest staterooms in the hulls, Elysian is remaining in Australian waters. “This project was a true collaborative partnership between our team of digital shipbuilders and Elysian’s owners,” says Dan Mace, Incat Crowther’s technical manager. Harley Mason, owner of Mason Marine Industries, says working with Incat Crowther and the owners was positive as well. “Elysian is a highly capable vessel that will deliver the premium leisure experience that the client expects,” he asserts.

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