Catalyst 50 Chase ‘Django Shade’: 15-metre catamaran chases sailors at over 50 knots

Built for use in regattas

Nowadays, a fast support boat needs to be capable of more than just keeping up with a racing yacht. It must transport the crew and equipment safely, handle the sails and provide a usable working platform even at high speeds. This is precisely why Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders built the Catalyst 50 Chase ‘Django Shade’. The 15-metre powerboat supports the ‘Django’ racing team led by Italian Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. Its support services are utilised by the Wallyrocket 71 ‘Django 7X’, the JPK 1180 ‘Django’, the Wallyrocket 51 ‘Django WR’ and, most recently, the J-Class ‘Hanuman’.

The shipyard describes it as a bespoke chase boat, i.e. an escort and support vessel for use alongside large racing yachts. Its tasks include crew transfers, sail handling and the transport of equipment. In such operations, in addition to speed, the key factors are an unobstructed working deck, protection for the crew and predictable handling in changing conditions.

54 knots, according to the shipyard’s specifications

The New Zealanders quote 54 knots as the top speed. During the first test runs on the day of the christening, 18 May 2026, “Django Shade” reached 52 knots, according to a statement from the shipyard. Power is provided by two Mercury Verado V12 outboard engines, each producing 600 PS. The catamaran hull is additionally supported by foils. These foils are designed to reduce the load on the hull whilst underway and to improve efficiency, ride comfort and seakeeping. The shipyard has not published any specific fuel consumption figures or measurement data relating to these effects.

A work surface rather than luxury fittings

On the “Django Shade”, the layout is tailored to its intended use. The cabin is offset to one side. This leaves a large area of the cockpit free, where sails and equipment can be moved around or crew members can be accommodated. Seating areas with workstations are designed to make long days at sea more comfortable.

The forward-sloping windscreen and the low-slung body line also contribute to its functional character. The shipyard states a length of 15 metres, a width of 4.6 metres and a draught of 0.5 metres. According to the manufacturer, the dry weight is 7,500 kilograms. The fuel tank holds 1,800 litres of fuel, whilst the water tank holds 100 litres.

Range and cruising speed

The shipyard specifies a cruising speed range of 20 to 45 knots. The estimated range is 420 nautical miles. These figures illustrate the balancing act required of a chase boat: it must be fast enough to provide effective support to a regatta team, whilst at the same time offering sufficient space and range for work assignments. The open cockpit area and the offset cabin are more important for this purpose than having as spacious a living area as possible.

A specialised boat with a clear mission

The Catalyst 50 Chase ‘Django Shade’ is no typical leisure catamaran. Its design meets the requirements of a professional racing programme. Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders describes the boat as the shipyard’s 75th bespoke project. It was designed on the basis of the Catalyst platform by Morelli & Melvin and adapted for the Django team.

Technical Specifications: Catalyst 50 Chase ‘Django Shade’