French shipyard Privilège Marine has chosen Sydney-based Multihull Central to exclusively represent its range of cruising sail and power catamarans in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
There are currently three core models in the Privilège fleet ranging from the Privilège Serie 5, Privilège Serie 6 and the stunning flagship model Privilège Serie 7, plus a new exciting power catamaran range. There are 600 Privilège catamarans, including 80 boats over 17 metres, currently sailing all over the world.
Multihull Central’s Managing Director Brent Vaughan comments on the new partnership, “Privilège is a brand that I have admired for many years and I’m excited to add it to our suite of catamarans as its perfectly completes our range of the highest quality cruising catamarans.
“Their commitment to upmost quality at Privilège, who undoubtedly set the benchmark in the industry, is something to be admired and we look forward to reintroducing the brand to the Australian and New Zealand markets.”
Privilège was founded in 1985 by Phillipe Jeantot who has twice won the BOC and founded the Vendee Globe yacht race. Since then, Privilège has become an industry leader, dominating the USA cruising catamaran market and scooping numerous awards including International Trophee of Quality in 1992, and several USA Boat of the Year titles.
Led by CEO Gilles Wagner, Privilège operates from an historic site at Les Sables d’Olonne on the west coast of France. Privilège catamarans are particularly renowned for their circumnavigation abilities, comfort both underway and at mooring, their durability, equipment quality and craftsmanship of the fibreglass work.
Marc Lombard’s design office is responsible for numerous victories in offshore racing and multihull projects (Formula 40, Orma 60), and also in the monohull world (Classe 40, Imoca 60, IRC, Mini Transat). Historically focused on racing, MLDG is the first naval architect office to integrate doctorate specialists in hydrodynamics to further expand its expertise.
The ‘forward pods’ create a distinctive style that is a hallmark of Privilège catamarans’ aesthetics and construction. The extra volume in the pod allows for more generous space in each forward cabin, particularly in the owner’s suite when it spans the entire beam of the boat. The pod also allows for a convenient fixed baby stay and the delivery of exceptional comfort in rough weather when the pod leans on the wave to avoid deep immersion of the bows.
Every Privilège catamaran can be customised to cater for individual client needs, whether it is an extra bookshelf, an even larger bed, a specific oven or a unique layout.
Deck equipment, sails and rigging are also of premium standard with Marechal masts and Incidences sails manufactured and fitted under careful scrutiny to the very highest specifications.
Privilège is also the only shipyard to have signed an agreement with Bureau Veritas to oversee the selection of materials, conditions of application, control of architect drawings and complete process of quality control implementation. Every owner receives a Bureau Veritas certificate attesting to the high standard of their new catamaran, and this rigorous attention to quality control enables Privilège to provide five-year warranties on catamaran structure including hulls, bulkheads and deck.
The Privilège shipyard has recently been acquired by Hanse Yachts, one of the world’s largest manufactuers of sailing and motor yachts.
