Just say the name aloud and you can imagine yourself out on the open sea aboard these wonderful boats, surrounded by the wind of freedom and, above all, by the pleasure of silence that only an electric motor can give, combined with the even more important pleasure of not polluting. Whisper Yachts is the new range of luxury catamarans launched by Symphony Marine, which, following the new trends in zero environmental impact boating, has decided to equip its crafts with solar-powered electric motors.
The Whisper Yachts family of catamarans ranges from 40 up to 60 feet and has been designed by the Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design team, integrating the special features required by electric power with a high level of comfort. The design is surprising for its elegance and innovation, both in the interiors and on the main deck, which is an impressive 35 square metres wide and, thanks to its sliding windows, can be opened partially or completely depending on the weather conditions. This is the most scenic part of the Whisper Yachts, reminiscent of a penthouse, but with a 360-degree view of the sea.
Generally speaking, all the Whisper Yachts models are striking for the size of their spaces, which have been carefully designed to give the impression that they are larger than they actually are. This can also be seen in the flybridge, which is equipped with sun loungers and sofas, as well as in the bow lounge and the cockpit lounge. The cockpit lounge can be accessed from the platform by descending a large staircase that crosses the entire width of the boat, allowing the guests to dive into the sea or simply lie out in the sun, staying very close to the water. Last but not least, the master cabin, with its island bed mounted crosswise, is also a very bright, spacious and comfortable space.
In terms of technical features, the propulsion and power management are based on a Torqeedo Deep Blue system. The two shaft motors of 100 kW each are powered by BMW 200 kWh batteries, with the possibility of temporarily increasing power to 2×120 kW so that the boat can reach a cruising speed of 18 knots for a maximum of one hour. Completing the work are 30 square metres of solar panels capable of producing 6 kWp, a 13.2 kW shore power connection and a 25 kW generator: according to the manufacturer’s declarations, the boat can cruise at a speed of 5/6 knots for an unlimited period of time, or at 8/9 knots for five consecutive hours without any polluting emissions, or even at 9/10 knots for ten consecutive hours with the help of the generator.
Whisper Yachts’ first 50-foot model has already been developed and is ready for delivery in the 2023 season. As the company’s presentation states, “Whisper-Yachts is aimed at yachtsmen looking for a yacht with the same luxurious finish as the most prestigious motor yacht manufacturers, while offering much more space, stability and range than a traditional monohull”. Thanks to the silent electric power supply, cruising will be like a breath of wind.
More information can be found on the Whisper Yachts website.
