This Radical New 131-Foot Explorer Catamaran Produces Zero Emissions on Expeditions

Sunreef founder Francis Lapp got the idea for his newest catamaran on a recent expedition with South African adventurer Mike Horn.

“Exploring Greenland under sail with Mike has served as a profound source of motivation for me to continue to act for a sustainable future within the yachting industry,” the French businessman said in a statement.

Described as “the ultimate sustainable explorer yacht” by the Polish yard, the 131-footer features an array of innovative green technologies that allow it to cruise the seas sans emissions. The model is based on the Explorer 40m that debuted in 2020, but it is equipped with an electric powertrain rather than the traditional diesel engines.

Christened simply Explorer Eco 40m, the newcomer showcases two sharp bows that slice through incoming waves for smoother, more efficient cruising and two sleek hulls that move through the water with less drag than the average monohull. In addition, the cat has an ultra-light composite body. As such, the multihull requires much less energy for cruising than a conventional yacht.

Speaking of energy, the vessel is powered by twin 540 kW motors that give it a maximum speed of 14 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots. Sunreef adds that the cat has “transatlantic capability” but didn’t provide an exact range. The hull and superstructure are also covered in Sunreef’s proprietary “solar skin.” The system, which includes hundreds of square feet of solar panels, reportedly generates enough power to run every system on board.

“We are the only superyacht builder to have successfully developed the idea of embedding solar cells into large-scale fiberglass structures,” adds Lapp.

The green touches carry over to the interior, too. Crafted by the in-house design, the contemporary living quarters can be outfitted with recycled and renewable materials at the owner’s request. The superstructure also features floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors that connect seafarers to the outdoor world. The main salon, for instance, opens out to the aft deck to create a vast indoor-outdoor entertaining area with an alfresco dining table for 10 people, an infinity spa, and sunbeds.

Further toward the stern, a huge swim platform pulls triple duty as a beach club, a launchpad for watersports, and a dive store. The platform is also fitted with huge fold-down wings that create extra real estate around the corners of the boat. At the opposite end, the foredeck lounge provides guests with incredible ocean views.

As for accommodation, the cat can sleep up to 10 guests and seven crew. The main deck is home to four generous guest cabins, while the upper deck is devoted primarily to the owner. The full-beam owner’s suite sports a super king-size bed, a giant walk-in dressing room, a scenic lounge, and a private terrace.

Sunreef says the build time for the Explorer Eco 40m will be approximately three years. Construction will be carried out at either the Gdansk shipyard in Poland or the new Ras Al Khaimah facility in the United Arab Emirates. That’s your big-ticket purchase for 2027 sorted, then.