One up

ELBA is a beautiful Mediterranean island off the western coast of northern Italy. It has the Tuscany countryside alongside on the mainland and the island of Corsica to its west.

The island is a glorious place to visit, relax and enjoy, which makes it a perfect metaphor for this Fountaine Pajot catamaran.

The owners, Gordon and Louise Coates purchased hull number one from Fountaine Pajot through Multihull Solutions in Sydney and picked it up in France. Being the first build it is highly-specified as a demonstration special: electric winches, carbon fibre rig, air conditioning throughout, full sound system, two televisions and teak decking. Over 100 of this model were sold before this first hull even hit the water; equating to two years of production.

Gordon and Louise have been together and sailing together for so long now it is second nature to them and that is why they love the latest from Fountaine Pajot, the Elba 45. Having previously owned and loved the Helia 44 they believe this upgrade makes the catamaran even better, “we had the Orana 44 from about ‘06 to 2010,” Gordon tells me, “then the Helia from 2012 to ‘14 and now the Elba.

“Fountaine Pajot really know how to build good yachts now: solid and everything works.”