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Allures, a unique 100-foot catamaran from France, is sleek, modern and très fast.
by Jill Bobrow
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08/01/2007
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"UNIQUE AU MONDE," unique to the world: It is a phrase I associate with the fabulous French
classic Le Petit Prince, a parable written in 1943 by Antoine de
Saint-Exupéry. In describing the new catamaran, Allures, Captain Richard
Goché, who hails from Tahiti in French Polynesia, kept repeating the word
"unique." Indeed this 100-foot (30.5-meter) sailing catamaran is a one-off.
Completed from a custom mold at Compositeworks in La Ciotat, France, near
Marseilles, she was started by another company that since has ceased production.
She is not exactly an orphan—her owners take great pride in her—but to date she
is an only child and indeed unique.
Top: The main salon is contemporary and light, accented by satin mahogany and matte-finished sycamore built-in furniture.
Bottom: The yacht has accommodations for eight in four cabins, plus
crew. (Click images to enlarge)
This stunning cat is a head-turner. She is the product of a
consortium including Rivoyre Ingenierie, Michael Schutte, J. Henry Martinak and
Alexandre Fortabat, with exterior styling by associated designers. However, the owner and his wife were both very involved in the build project right from its conception. Four years in gestation, all details aboard Allures
were finely honed with great care and attention. While she is a fast cat
(26-knot top end), she certainly wasn’t built in a hurry.
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The owner’s wife is responsible for the clean, uncluttered
interior design. The main salon is contemporary and light, accented by satin
mahogany and matte-finished sycamore built-in furniture. The overall color
palette is a delicious mousse au chocolat and crème brûlée.
Entering from the aft main deck, the main salon offers an open plan, making for
clear visibility from the stern to the bow. There is a wine and espresso bar to
port and two leather sofas configured in an L-shape to starboard. The formal
dining area with a round table and transparent chairs designed by Philippe
Starck enjoys large windows and provides another bright and comfortable sitting area. Nonetheless, in fine weather, dining will most often take
place on the shaded aft main deck.
There are accommodations for eight guests in four staterooms.
The on-deck master suite is arranged like a duplex apartment with its head down
a flight of stairs. The three guest cabins are located belowdecks in the
pontoons; the aft cabins having the flexibility of converting twin beds into one large bed. The atmosphere throughout is serene and peaceful. The crew of
four is accommodated forward.
Top: The yacht has numerous places to relax, including her covered aft
deck, which enhances her charter appeal. Bottom: Her tender stows on davits at
the transom for quick launch and retrieval. (Click images to enlarge)
As her name suggests, Allures embodies a tempting
magnetism. She is both stunning to look at and sweet to sail. The owners have a
penchant for catamarans—they like the speed and the space. They previously
chartered a 65-foot Privilege with their current captain. When they decided they
wanted something bigger and more adapted to the needs of their family, they
anticipated building an 85-footer. Soon the design grew to 100 feet.
The yacht’s exterior styling was of paramount importance to the
owners. They insisted on fine, sleek lines, so that she would appear low and
lean on the water. Captain Richard, who is a personal friend of the owners, says the sloop is similar to a racing catamaran: sharp in the front, a little
rounded in the belly, flat in the back and with a long waterline. Draft is seven
feet. With the hydraulically operated daggerboards down, her draft extends to
nearly 13 feet.
I sailed on Allures in Antigua when there was a good,
stiff breeze. Our cruising speed was a remarkable 14 to 17 knots. She is rigid,
accelerates fast and feels like she is flying above the water. It’s easy to
balance her helm, so she does not suffer from the hobbyhorse motion so typical
of many catamarans.
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