14.4 m
47.24 ft
0.6 m
1.96 ft
9 000 kgs
19 841 lbs
The design brief for this project was simple – produce a high performance, spacious, liveaboard catamaran, that could safely sail around the world.
The owner, no newcomer to the yachting world, had previously crossed an ocean with a friend and fellow sailor — who would go on to become one of the world’s most highly respected designers of high-performance ocean sailboats — John Shuttleworth.
With the selection of the designer a given, the focus shifted to the requirements list and final drawings for a special one-off.
Speed and light weight were always a critical element of everything relating to this boat.
There were no disappointments when the first sea trial — held in 30 knots of Cape Town’s South East Doctor wind — produced 22 knots speed over ground, with very little effort.
The boat, Life’s A Dream, has completed some notable passages on her journey around the world via the Panama Canal to Hawaii, and more recently through the South Pacific to Australia, where she is currently receiving some tender loving care before a passage back to Durban via Mauritius.
Principal Characteristics
L.O.A: 14.4m
Beam: 9.0m
Draft: 0.6m
Displacement: 9000kg
Height above DWL: 22m
Main Sail: 76.13sqm
Furling Genoa: 40.5sqm
Screacher: 82.2sqm
Symmetric spinnaker: 211sqm
Asymmetric Spinnaker: 179sqm
Hull & topdeck
1 x 47 ft catamaran hull designed by Mr John Shuttleworth
Constructed to designer specifications utilising:
CE-approved isophthalic polyester resins
Corecell A500 – sandwich construction vacuum bagged onto glass layers
Stitched quad-axial mat
Kevlar reinforced below waterline
Carbon, aft, midships and forward beams
Anchoring
Single bow roller
Electric windlass
50 m x 10 mm galvanised chain
50 m x 16 mm polyester rope
1 x 60 lb CQR anchor
1 x 21 lb folding anchor
6 x fenders
6 x 16 mm mooring lines
6 x mooring cleats with fairleads
Engines
2 x Yanmar 40 HP sail drives
Wet muffler exhaust with waterlock
1 x exhaust blower
3-blade feathering propellers
2 x integral diesel tanks – total volume 1,470 L – with piping, filters and valves
Electronics
Furuno NavNet system with wind and multi-displays
Furuno NavPilot 500
Icom M402 VHF radio
EPIRB
Galley
Veneer countertops
Side panels – painted finish to client’s specification
Doors and trimmings in timber (beech, maple or cherry)
Force 10 gas stove with oven and rotisserie
90 L built-in fridge
90 L built-in freezer
1 x stainless steel double sink
1 x drop-in dirt bin
Microwave
Electrics
1 x 65 amp start battery per engine
6 x deep cycle Probe batteries – total 660 amps
1 x battery switch per engine
1 x main isolator battery switch
2,000 amp inverter/charger with battery management gauge
Navigation lights
Spreader light on mast
1 x fan in each cabin, 2 x fans in saloon/galley
12 x downlighters in saloon
6 x downlighters in cockpit
1 x fluorescent light in each cabin
2 x reading lights in each cabin
1 x fluorescent light in each engine room
1 x fluorescent light in each head and passageway
1 x DC switch panel in navigation station
1 x 12V outlet at navigation station
2 x 220V plug points in galley
1 x 220V plug point at navigation station
Marine-grade wiring
Plumbing
Total fresh water volume 2,350 litres
3 x black water tanks – approx. 45 L each
3 x grey water tanks – approx. 100 L each
Pressurised fresh water pump system
Pressurised hot water system to galley and heads
2 x 40 L calorifiers
All piping, valves and skin fittings
Heads
3 x heads complete with manual toilets
3 x showers and basins with mixer taps
Mirrors in each head
Doors to be timber outside, Formica inside
Cabins
2 x forward double cabins including mattresses
1 x aft queen-size cabin including mattress en suite
Cabin doors to be timber
1 x hanging cupboard in each cabin
1 x storage cupboard in each cabin
1 x set of drawers in each aft cabin
1 x vanity top in each cabin
Saloon
Large U-shaped upholstered seating with timber table
Drinks cabinet below table
Bookshelf and TV cabinet with timber edgings
Port midships
2 x single berths
Large storage locker with hanging space
Shelving with storage space below berths
Head with toilet and shower
Starboard midships
Navigation station on port and starboard sides of passageway
Storage shelving and cupboards
2 x drawers
Stainless steel – Grade 316
2 x pushpits
1 x boarding ladder
Swim platform rails
2 x chain plates
1 x life ring holder
1 x Dan buoy holder
Various hand/grab rails in cabin
Aft deck canopy supports
Skipper’s chair
Finishing
The hull exterior is to be faired and painted with non-skid on top-deck walking areas
Epoxy barrier to be applied prior to antifouling
Two coats of anti-foul
The hull interior will have a smooth gloss finish
All edgings and hatches to have timber framing (maple, beech or cherry)
Cabin flooring to be imitation teak and holly on plywood
Helm stations
Morse electronic controls on both helm stations
Engine start panels – B-type
Compass and electronics
Edson steering system with stainless steel wheels
Cockpit
Loose cockpit cushions
Wrap-around seating
Day bed
Storage lockers
Dive bottle storage – eight cylinders
Gas bottle storage – two cylinders
Safety gear
Semi-rigid 3.6 m tender
15 HP Yamaha outboard
Eight-person life raft
EPIRB
Life jackets
Full safety equipment as per SAMSA Category A regulations
Deck hardware
2 x Lewmar 64 – 12V electric winches
2 x Lewmar 44 – two-speed manual winches
4 x Lewmar 54 – two-speed manual winches
All control lines, sheets and halyards
750 mm high stanchions
Main sheet, genoa, furler system – all to have Lewmar / Spinlock equipment
Hatches and port lights
1 x Size 70 hatch
3 x Size 30 hatches
12 x Size 60 hatches
1 x Size 77 hatch
2 x Size 44 escape hatches
12 x Size 30 port lights for ventilation
Mast
Standard Sparcraft aluminium section – anodised with radar, antennae and lights
Anodised boom
Tender lift in boom
Sails and running rigging
1 x Three-reef full batten mainsail
1 x Non-overlapping furling genoa
1 x Screecher
1 x Jib
1 x Fractional symmetric spinnaker
1 x Boom cover
1 x Full set of running rigging