The Biggest New Cat in the World

Readers may remember that Latitude contributors Ed and Sue Kelly of the Iowa-based Catalac 37 Angel Louise were on hand when Hemisphere, the humungous new 145-ft by 54-ft catamaran designed by Marc Van Peteghem & Vincent Lauriot-Prevost which was started at the Derektor yard in the Northeast and was completed at Pendennis in England, had her private launching party in Plymouth, England a while back. Last month she was introduced to the world at the Monaco Boat Show. Spacious and luxurious are the two words that seem to capture what she’s about.

There are some who say that, because she’s a sailboat rather than a motoryacht, she might have extra appeal to ‘green’ charterers. Green charterers with $250,000 a week to spend. And some hope that she’ll be successful enough to convert those who currently own big fossil fuel-chugging motoryachts to sailing yachts. Hello, Jimmy Buffett! Only time will tell.

One popular opinion maker who has already gone over to the dark (green) side is billionaire Richard Branson, founder of all things Virgin. While in the Caribbean last winter, we saw his 102-ft catamaran Necker Belle — which he reportedly ‘raced’ in some regatta in the Virgins. Belle was actually born as the somewhat plain Lady Babarette about 10 years ago. But after purchasing her, Branson had her undergo a total luxury rebuild in Australia, enough so that she now commands $100,000 a week in base charter fees. We imagine that one-time daredevil Branson feels a little better for having gone over to the dark side after the 100-ft Rambler, which he’d chartered when named Speedboat for a crack at the TransAtlantlic sailing record, lost her keel and flipped in the last Fastnet Race. No more of that for him!

In all the hubbub about Hemisphere and the celebrity-owned Necker Belle, one shouldn’t forget Douce France, which at 138-ft was the original ‘really big cat’, built in the late ’90s. Indeed, if they extended her bowsprit eight feet, she’d still be the biggest cat of them all. Unusual for a cat, she’s ketch rigged. No matter, she’s still going strong, currently chartering out of the South Pacific.