This French yard has been refining the concept of luxurious large catamarans for almost 40 years. They are conceived from the outset to offer private owners looking to sail long distances the optimum in space and comfort.
The 580 is an all-new Marc Lombard designed semi flybridge model with impressive accommodation both below and above decks. Lombard has drawn flatter forward sections in the hulls, which increase lift when at speed, allowing the boat to be driven harder when reaching and running in strong winds.
Our test boat was hull number two, and the first one with a galley on the bridge deck, and without a forward cockpit. It’s owned by a long-standing multihull owner with a large family, who plans a circumnavigation.
This is a size of boat that can be handled by a very experienced couple, although in reality most likely to have professional crew on board. This was the case for our test boat and we sailed with the owners’ long-standing professional captain.
Of the first nine 580s currently in production, one or two will be sailed by their owners without assistance, while the others have varying numbers of professional crew, with most set up for one or two. One boat however, is configured to accommodate four pro crew. This illustrates the extent to which these boats can be tailored to meet each owner's needs –
