Sunreef Developing Explorer Series: Professional Adventurer Mike Horn is Ambassador
Sunreef has announced that professional adventurer Mike Horn is the ambassador of its new range of explorer yachts, which has been spearheaded by designs of 131’3” (40 m) and 164’ (50m).
Horn, 55, recently visited the Sunreef facilities in Gdansk on Poland’s north coast, where he found out more about Sunreef’s design and production, including its solar-powered Eco range. The explorer has completed many expeditions including a solo journey around the equator without motorized transport.
Who is Mike Horn?
Michael Horn is a 52-year-old South African-born Swiss professional explorer and adventurer. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he currently resides in Château d'Œx, Switzerland. He studied Human Movement Science at Stellenbosch University in Western Cape, South Africa. Horn is currently undertaking his latest expedition Pole2Pole, a two-year circumnavigation of the globe via the two poles.
Mike Horn became famous in 2001 after completing a one-year, six-month solo journey around the equator without any motorized transport. In 2004, he completed a two-year, three-month solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle. In 2006, Horn and Norwegian explorer Børge Ousland became the first men to travel without a dog or motorized transport to the North Pole during winter in permanent darkness. It was not easy.
Sunreef — Next Generation
Billed as the “next generation of expedition superyachts,” Sunreef’s new Explorer series of powercats will feature shallow draft, enormous storage capacity and vast entertainment areas.
Sunreef stated: “The Sunreef Explorer line is a full range of versatile luxury craft dedicated to discovering new cruising grounds. Their pioneering design provides a unique combination of seaworthiness, redundancy and extreme range for extended voyages.”
The models will be customizable and will offer a safe platform for circumnavigation, a fleet of toys and a high level of luxury including tailored interiors.
New Definition of Luxury
Francis Lapp, founder and President of Sunreef Yachts, said the builder’s Explorer models are designed to appeal to owners looking for life-changing experiences. “The definition of luxury has changed over the years. Nowadays, true luxury is a sensation, a feeling, an experience,” he said. “Our activity as a shipyard goes far beyond building boats. We build emotions, we design magic moments at sea and we craft dreams into reality. Our new Explorer Line is all about living the moment.
The New Sunreef 50M
Sunreef has revealed a design for the 164’ (50 m) Sunreef Explorer. She’s designed to “go anywhere, from lush tropical islands to the most extreme latitudes”, according to the manufacturer. The Polish builder says the latest Explorer design is designed to be “self-sufficient for months and offer all the autonomy needed for worldwide exploration in ultimate comfort, safety and luxury.”
The 164’ (50 m) Sunreef Explorer 50M has a large aft platform that makes the most of its 46’11” (14.3 m) beam. The superyacht is fitted with tender cranes, garages and winches to help store and deploy a fleet of water toys including dive compressors, Seabobs, e-bikes, e-foils, sailing dinghies and tenders.
The yacht can be tailored for divers, adrenaline-seekers or fishing enthusiasts, while onboard areas can include a private spa, gym and an outdoor cinema with a bar, with accommodation customized for up to 12 guests.
Sunreef believes catamarans are the safest platforms for extended navigation because all essential systems on board are doubled, with two engines, two fuel tanks, multiple generators and two water tanks ensuring redundancy and reliability in critical areas. In this vein, the 50M Sunreef Explorer includes impressive storage capacities for provisioning and a smart waste-management system.