A new category in multihulls
Gunboat has always played the disruptor. Since 2002, the yard has reshaped perceptions of catamarans, proving that twin hulls could deliver both race-bred speed and genuine liveaboard comfort. Now, with the launch of the Fusion line, the French-based builder is preparing to rewrite the rulebook again.
Gunboat calls Fusion a “Grand Touring Catamaran”—a concept that borrows from motoring’s Gran Turismo ethos. It’s not just about raw pace, but about covering long distances in comfort, presence, and style.
The world will get its first close look at the Fusion on 9 September 2025 during the Cannes Yachting Festival, where the company will host an immersive unveiling complete with 3D visualisations and full specifications.
From fast cruisers to grand tourers
The Fusion is an 80-foot (24m) supercat built in advanced composites, optimised for both lightness and strength. Naval architecture comes from VPLP, the French firm whose fingerprints are on everything from Vendée Globe winners to cruising multihulls. Exterior styling bears the mark of Patrick Le Quément—famed for his Renault automotive designs—and Christophe Chedal Anglay, long associated with Gunboat projects.
Step inside and the tone shifts from performance to liveability. Designers Christian Gavoille and Valérie Garcia have shaped interiors that favour proportion, light, and tactile elegance. The highlight is a 19m² master suite with private access to the sea—a rare indulgence even among superyachts.
A panoramic flybridge crowns the layout, offering commanding views underway and expansive living space at anchor.
Staying true to the Gunboat spirit
For all its refinements, Fusion stays faithful to the brand’s core philosophy: “Fast Sailing. Full Living.”
Managing Partner Benoît Lebizay explains: “With Fusion, we have gone beyond the typical redefinition of volume and space. Fusion is for those who want to go further, live bigger and make every journey an experience.”
It’s a bold step for a yard already renowned for pushing boundaries with models like the Gunboat 68 and 80. Yet Fusion suggests Gunboat is ready to grow beyond its niche of fast performance cruisers into a new class altogether—the super touring catamaran.
Crossroad design
The official launch in Cannes is just the beginning. With Fusion, Gunboat is positioning itself at the crossroads of performance sailing, luxury living, and long-range adventure. For New Zealand readers, it offers a glimpse into where the multihull world is headed—beyond speed records and into a lifestyle of global touring without compromise.
