Catamarans have that going for them: their usable area cannot be surpassed by any monohull. With a length of 23.50 metres, the AIR 77 has a width of 10.40 metres. This made a saloon of a generous 65 and a total living space of 280 square metres possible.
This generosity was the intention when designer Frédéric Sarfati and boat builder Raphael Krepser met to build an unusual catamaran. The design was to be out of the ordinary, and they succeeded. The eye-catching look with lots of glass also includes a hatch that opens hydraulically at the front of the superstructure, revealing a straight ten square metre passageway from the bow to the stern. From here, structural elements swing boldly like grab rails to the rear.
The lightweight AIR 77 is the shipyard's first and only product to date. It has not decided on the equipment. The AIR is a semi-custom design whose interior can be customised by the owner. The first example of the 77 will be delivered by Oxygène Yachts, based in Québec, Canada, but also present in Europe with a French sales organisation, with four guest cabins for eight people and a double crew cabin.
The crew has to make sure that the technology matches the lightweight. A 200 kW Volvo with a downstream drive from Ultrajet operates in each of the hulls. The captain uses the control levers on the main deck forward on the port side in the saloon to propel the cat to a cruising speed of 12 knots, and 20 knots at the top. At 12 knots, Frédéric Sarfati calculates with 42 litres of diesel fuel per hour; the tank holds 4000 litres. The composite construction made of wood, epoxy and carbon fibre can handle up to two times 450 kilowatts of engine power, explains Oxygène.
With its width of over ten metres, the AIR 77 requires a berth in marinas, which is usually occupied by formats of around 60 metres.
However, owners who choose this hull shape know exactly what they are doing. It is not for nothing that sailing catamarans can be seen in large numbers around Caribbean islands in shallow anchorages. It should come as no surprise if the AIR 77 soon joins them. For now, however, it will be a trade fair highlight for visitors to the Salon Nautique in Cannes from 10 to 15 September.
