The Fareast 42C catamaran has been named the 2023 winner in the Electric Sailboats category at the prestigious Gustave Trouvé Awards for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating, affectionately referred to as ‘The Gussies.’
This sleek 12.5m multihull, designed by Simonis Voogd Design, made its global debut at the Shanghai International Boat Show in March. It secured the top spot among nine contenders in the Electric Sailboats category, following evaluations by an international panel of 25 electric boat experts and a public vote.
The Gussies are unique as they exclusively recognize achievements in electric boats and boating, and they are named in honor of the prolific 19th-century French inventor, Gustave Trouvé.
Notably, the Fareast 42C is the sole Chinese yacht brand to win this international award in 2023. It also represents both the company’s and the country’s first all-electric offshore catamaran, marking a strategic move by Fareast into the electric boat industry.
The catamaran’s design prioritizes space utilization, with open decks at the bow and stern, ample leisure areas, two cabins, two recreational spaces, and two bathrooms. This layout makes it suitable for private boat owners and the international catamaran charter market. Additionally, an open version is available in addition to the standard configuration. The Fareast 42C can also be equipped with a complete electric propulsion system customized by ePropulsion Technology, which includes power, batteries, propulsion, and control systems.
The Fareast-ePropulsion 42C catamaran can sail for up to 20 hours and cover 100 nautical miles at cruising speed in full electric propulsion mode, making it versatile for a wide range of sailing, training, and commercial operations.
Construction of the first Fareast 42C is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2024, with several orders already in place for the second half of the year.
The Fareast 42C will be showcased in Europe at the Dusseldorf Boat Show in Germany in January 2024. Alongside it, the Olympic single-handed Laser dinghy will also be on display, following Fareast’s success in gaining production approval from the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and World Sailing.
The Laser holds a special place in Chinese sport, as racer Xu Lijia won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics and was the flag bearer for China at the closing ceremony.
Fareast 42C Technical Specification
Length 12,55 meters
Length Waterline 12,10 meters
Beam 6,80 meters
Draft max 1,30 meter
Crew number 12
Weight load 11 000 kg
Loaded displacement 15 000 kg
Mainsail area 60 sq.m
Jib area 34 sq.m
CE certification A/B
Engine Electrical / Diesel