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General Boat Articles

Sunreef 50: Fresh from a Winter Trans-Oceanic Crossing

Sunreef 50

The Sunreef 50 is one of the smallest vessels built by Sunreef. She braved the North Atlantic in the middle of winter to come to the Miami Boat Show, much the way Lech Walesa (inset) stood up to the cold and steely Communist regime in Poland during the 1970s-1980s.

For more information about Sunreef’s custom sail and power catamarans, click here.

For 52 years, we have been visiting boat shows all over the world. There, we have seen presidents, prime ministers, astronauts, movie stars, rock stars, billionaires, Arab sheiks, and even several kings… but what we have never seen before is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.  Standing in the middle of a throng of well-wishers in the Sunreef exhibit at the Miami Boat Show two weeks ago was Lech Walesa. He was the man who stood up to dictators in the 1970s and 80s, and he would not back down. He co-founded the Solidarity movement in Poland and started the domino effect that led to the freedom of Poland, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the demise of the Soviet Union, and the end of the Cold War.

This great man was at a boat show, not to buy a boat, but to support his good friend who is the owner of Sunreef Yachts – Francis Lapp. It was Lapp who located Sunreef manufacturing in the former Lenin Shipyard nearly 20 years ago and is now employing many shipwrights who are the sons and daughters of Walesa’s co-workers who stood with him during his defiant face-down of totalitarianism.  For the people of Poland, this shipyard is sacred ground. Walesa flew to Miami to thank the man who is helping to bring it back. 

Behind Walesa, as he shook hands with dozens of people who invariably said the same thing – “You’re my Hero” – was the Sunreef 50.  She was fresh from crossing the North Atlantic in the dead of winter with her owners and a small crew.  We toured the boat, which is at the luxurious end of the catamaran market, and found that she was apparently none the worse for the wear.  Her 30’ (9.1 m) beam made the ride across as comfortable as one could hope for in a small boat, we were told. 

The Sunreef 50 is an all-around luxurious sailing yacht ideal for family cruising, dayboat entertaining, charter, and transoceanic adventures. Her clever bridge deck and superstructure design allow for a high level of comfort onboard. Her generous use of teak, high bulwarks, and classy lines underscore her modern style and seaworthiness. Her saloon opens both onto the comfortable bow terrace and the yacht’s cockpit, which is extended with a hydraulic aft platform.

The hulls and her remarkable 30’ (9.1 m) beam provide impressive volumes to set up a custom layout, including airy, guest cabins with master stateroom with room around the bed, a walk-in dressing area, a desk, sofa, retractable TV and a large bathroom.

While housing the main helm, the large flybridge is dedicated to entertaining with more than enough space for movable furniture, a fully-equipped wet bar, and large sun pads.

Sunreef 50

Sunreef CEO

Francis Lapp is the CEO of Sunreef Yachts and a serious and successful French businessman who has a passion for large, ocean-going catamarans that are built to luxurious and state-of-the-art standards.

Sunreef 50

The Sunreef 50 has been designed to create living spaces in the hull that are bright with an open feeling.

Sunreef 50

Looking aft from the salon of the Sunreef 50.

Sunreef 50

Looking forward into the salon and galley from the aft deck. Note that the mast is stepped on the hull bottom and not on deck, an important safety feature.

 

Sunreef 50

All Sunreef yachts are custom built to the owner’s specifications. On this Sunreef 50, we can see that the owner wanted to be able to lower the salon table to form another bed.  The ottomans make functional stools so six can eat at the inside dining table.

galley

The galley has an island that provides more counter food prep space, room for refrigerator drawers under, as well as adding security in a seaway.

lower helm

This Sunreef 50 has both an upper and lower helm.  As this boat was designed for long passages, a steering wheel was omitted from the lower station where an autopilot will do the steering. Docking is accomplished from the flying bridge, which has a wheel.

master

A view of the master stateroom with a Roman shade over the large hull side windows at left.

master bed

Another view of the master bed looking inward.  Note the bed access on either side, something that is usually not seen on a 50’ (15.24 m) cat.  This is accomplished because of the vessel’s 30’ (9.1 m) beam.

Sunreef 50 Layout

Here is one possible layout for a Sunreef 50 main deck.  The galley is forward, stretching across the front of the boat to port. In the front of the salon is a door to the foredeck.

Sunreef 50 Layout

The flying bridge is designed for entertaining, sunning and navigation.

Sunreef 50 Layout

With a 30’ (9.1 m) beam, the layout possibilities for accommodations are numerous. Here we see crew quarters in the aft section of the starboard hull.

Sunreef 50 Layout

Another version of the Sunreef 50 is a 4-stateroom version with a larger master where the head occupies the entire area used for crew quarters in the previous layout. By placing the beds athwartships, Sunreef picks up valuable space in the interior of the hull which might otherwise be limited to storage.

founder

BoatTEST founder Jeff Hammond and Lech Walesa make the Solidarity handshake at Sunreef’s remarkable event.

For more information about Sunreef’s custom sail and power catamarans, click here.