The SWCAT90 is a 27-metre sailing catamaran, constructed in carbon composite. The catamaran promises a high level of comfort and greater autonomy with the ability to stay longer periods without touching ports.

The catamaran will sit beside the yard's line of performance composite sailing yachts, and takes popular attributes of their monohull yachts designs, with performance, comfort and reliability being the trademarks of Southern Wind.

The catamaran project was developed in response to a demand for greater levels comfort without compromising performance.

"We began by examining what a yachtsman is expecting on their yacht and identified four main requirements," Southern Wind's commercial director Andrea Micheli says.

"Escape, or the desire to get away from everyday life. Performance, the thrill of true sailing and a connection with the sea. Comfort, the ability to explore the seas with friends and family in privacy on a luxurious and reliable vessel.

"Importantly, these objectives must be achieved with an environmentally conscious approach, with reduced dependency on fossil fuels and more focus on well-being."

The concept has been developed in collaboration with Italian firm Nauta Design, who were responsible for the interior and exterior design and styling. Berret-Racoupeau, the catamaran specialist design firm based in La Rochelle conceived the naval architecture.

The space and volume available on a catamaran of this scale is comparable to a 39-metre monohull.

"With 171-square-metres of interior floorspace, the SWCAT90 will feature vast saloon area of 45-square-metres with 360 degree panoramic views," Massimo Gino, from Nauta Design, says.

"The deck space, including the flybridge and two cockpits is an impressive 207-square-metres, an increase of 50 per cent from similarly sized monohull.

"The interior layout sees four guest cabins plus two or three crew cabins, with the crew quarters separated from the luxury guest areas to allow for maximum privacy."

Olivier Racoupeau says "the design is based on our latest shapes in terms of efficiency by combining a maximum waterline length, moderate waterline beam and reduced wetted surface to strike the right balance between performance and interior volume."

The hulls, bridge deck and superstructure will be constructed in carbon fibre sandwich utilising infusion techniques.

Yann Dabbadie, the shipyard's chief naval architect has led the team that developed the specification and equipment selection in line with the highest superyacht standards and with an eye on the environment.

"The SWCAT90 has been designed to accept either a classic shaft line or to have an electric serial hybrid propulsion system," he says.

A serial hybrid diesel electric would allow this catamaran to motor in silent mode.

Italian dayboat builders Invictus Yacht has shown off the new GT 320 Atelier, a special version of one the most iconic Invictus models customised for a new owner.

The reverse bow has been further adjusted to enhance performance. The deck layout includes access to the cockpit via the stern platform, walking left of the large sundeck, which can be further expanded by transforming the fore sofa. In the middle of the cockpit, the L-shaped dinette features a table and faces a real outdoor kitchen, all neatly tucked into a stand-up cabinet.

Australia's premium boating company Palm Beach Motor Yachts has completed testing of hull #1 of their GT60, the new flagship of the company's GT series.

"The GT60 is an absolute dream result, that our team worked tirelessly on perfecting for the past 12 months. To have such a beautiful boat wrapped around a twin engine system, that out-performs similar sized competing products that use 3 engines, or twice the horsepower is a truly remarkable achievement," said CEO Mark Richards.

The new model is due to arrive in the US in the coming weeks in preparation for its worldwide debut at the Miami International Yacht Show.