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Former Infosys CFO Ranganath Mavinakere to head Murthy's family office — Catamaran Ventures

Mavinakere spent 18 years at Infosys and was its CFO for three years, making up the dream team that revived Infosys.

Former Infosys Chief Financial Officer and company veteran, Ranganath D Mavinakere, has joined N R Narayanamurthy’s family office Catamaran to lead its investments, sources said.

“Ranga is NRN’s longtime trusted lieutenant, and someone considered close to the family. He’s the best person to manage the family office,” said a person familiar with Mavinakere and the Murthy family.

Launched in 2009 with an initial corpus of $120 million from the Murthy family, Catamaran Ventures has investments in companies such as Hector Beverages (the maker of Paper Boat drinks), online insurer Acko and healthcare provider Wellspring. Catamaran also owns 76 percent in Cloudtail India, a joint venture with Amazon.com. Cloudtail is one of the biggest sellers on Amazon India platform.

Mavinakere spent 18 years at Infosys, including three as its CFO. He was a part of the ‘dream team’ that was formed to revive Infosys when Murthy returned to the company in 2013 along with his son Rohan. Along with the Murthy duo, senior executives Mavinakere, HR Binod and Deepak Padaki were the key men running Infosys between June 2013 and June 2014. Mavinakere left Infosys in November 2018.

When Mavinakere resigned from Infosys, Murthy had described him as “one of the best CFOs" in India and a “rare individual.”

“He is everything the idea of Infosys has always stood for. His departure is an irreplaceable loss for Infosys at this critical juncture,” Murthy had said in  a statement .

Murthy and Mavinakere had not responded to emails sent on Sunday. We will update the story if we hear from them.

Another person added that Mavinakere, who is also an independent board member of HDFC Bank, will lead an overhaul of Catamaran Ventures including “a rethink of the family office’s startup investments.”

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Narayana Murthy's Catamaran aims to double AUM to $2 billion in 5 yrs

Catamaran, the family office of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, is targeting 15 per cent returns on its portfolio investments per annum as it shifts focus from early-stage investments to growth and late-stage bets.

This would double the firm’s assets under management (AUM) from the current $1 billion to $2 billion over the next five years.

“For direct investments, we are focusing on growth-stage investments and very selectively on early stage,” Deepak Padaki, president, Catamaran, told Business Standard .

“(This is) primarily because the early-stage space in India, in the last three-four years, has completely changed.

"There has been a huge influx of capital in the last two years. It has become a very crowded space for early-stage investment,” he said.

Padaki, who has been with Infosys for over 30 years, was appointed Catamaran’s president in 2022.

The Bengaluru-based firm has a team size of 15.

“We are targeting all the asset classes, be it private or public markets.

"The focus right now in the private sector is to identify opportunities in the manufacturing realm,” he added.

Amid an ongoing government push for manufacturing and increased investor interest for deeptech, the investment firm is betting big on these sectors to achieve its growth targets.

“Traditionally, manufacturing is not a sector that has seen much VC (venture capital) interest due to the long-gestation periods,” said Padaki.

He added, “We must build the manufacturing ecosystem. Like IT services was one big wave in the past, the next big wave in India should come from manufacturing.

"An investment firm like us can better support that vision.”

Within the manufacturing space, the firm will focus on sub-sectors such as electronic manufacturing supply chain, electric vehicle (EV) component supply chain and renewables.

“The manufacturing of tomorrow is a little different.

"There is a lot of technology usage and automation now, where we think we can leverage our technology ecosystem,” he added.

Catamaran’s deeptech bets will primarily focus on emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Padaki said, “AI has become a great leveller. The opportunity in AI and deeptech is huge because everybody is starting afresh.

"This has levelled the playing field for everyone. We will see a lot of good ideas emerging from this space.”

These investments would be in series B and beyond rounds, where investments would be co-led alongside other backers.

Padaki said that each of Catamaran’s bets will vary, depending on the opportunities presented.

“We do not compartmentalise our investments. We may invest anywhere from Rs 20-25 crore, all the way to Rs 400 crore, depending on the opportunity,” he said.

“Unlike a traditional VC fund, there is no hard allocation.

"This gives us more flexibility to meet our objectives based on the actual opportunities.”

The Bengaluru-based firm, which began its operations in 2009, previously entered into a joint venture with e-commerce major Amazon to run Prione Business Services.

Its wholly-owned subsidiary Cloudtail India was one of Amazon’s largest sellers in the country.

The e-commerce major later bought out Catamaran’s stake in the company in 2021.

Catamaran has backed promising start-ups across sectors like B2B platform Udaan, beverage brand Paper Boat, online learning marketplace Udemy, and video-sharing platforms Dailyhunt and Josh.

It has also taken bets in the likes of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

“Our focus on evaluating exit options has increased – whether in funds or companies. Also, we look for correct assessment of TAM (total addressable market) and differentiators in the offerings, avoiding a ‘me-too’ offering,” said Padaki.

Family offices have increased their investments in the Indian start-up ecosystem over the past few years.

According to an empaxis report, India has close to 300 family offices, with an average AUM of $100 million.

Corporate governance, among its portfolio companies, has also been a priority for the Murthy-led firm.

While cases like BharatPe, GoMechanic, Trell, Zilingo, and most recently, Byju’s, have led investors to start hedging their bets, conversations around proper governance among start-ups have been on the rise.

“It (corporate governance) has been at the forefront for us since the beginning.

"One of the things about family offices, in particular, is reputation protection.

"There is a strong focus on basic principles,” said Padaki.

Whether it’s a public or private company investment, Padaki added that Catamaran has a long check-list.

It includes related-party transactions, who the auditor is, who is on the board, and what is the risk governance, among other parameters.

“We have a wealth of experience within the team on operating in large companies, especially in later stages,” he added.

Padaki’s overall outlook towards the Indian start-up ecosystem remains positive.

“The momentum among early-stage start-ups is still high but things have changed.

"Entrepreneurs we are meeting nowadays are very different and many are first-time entrepreneurs.

"Many of the ideas we are seeing now are innovative and IP-based, unlike the previous traditional, business model-oriented ideas,” he said.

He added, “These are across emerging sectors like biotech, AI and even manufacturing.

"How founders will be able to make these models profitable remains to be seen.”

In the later stages, however, Padaki believes that there will be a shake up by the end of this year.

“Valuations of many late-stage companies have still not been fully corrected.

"Many companies raised a lot of money last year, but their success will depend on how wisely they use the money this year.

"If they consciously take a look at their cost structures, achieve profitability and product fit, they will survive,” he added.

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Indian single family office Catamaran plans to reach $2BN AUM

List of the 1,800 largest Single Family Offices in the World [2024]

List of the 200 largest Single Family Offices in Asia [2024]

We created this article as part of our research process for our Asian single family office database . Here, we are highlighting the ambitious growth plans of an Indian single family office.

Catamaran is the single family office of entrepreneur Narayana Murthy. The Indian investment vehicle plans to increase its AUM to $2BN over the next 5 years. The family office is aiming 15% returns on its investments and shifts the focus from early-stage to growth and later stage investments.

Catamaran: the single family office of Narayana Murthy

In 1981, Narayana Murthy founded Indian IT firm Infosys. Today, the firm is listed on the NYSE and realizes annual revenues over $14bn. Currently, the Catamaran single family office manages over $1bn, mainly focusing on venture capital investments. The family office is stage agnostic, offers patient capital for longterm strategies and brings a wide ecosystem with it. Portfolio companies can be found all over the globe. For instance, Catamarn invested in Elon Musk’s spacetech firm SpaceX. Other investments include the Indian B2B platform udaan, or digital-first insurances from Acko.

Article Source: Business Standard Picture source: Naveed Ahmed

European single family offices are shifting to renewable energy [2023]

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Catamaran to set up family fund in Gift City, to double AUM to $2 billion

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Amazon to acquire Narayana Murthy-led Catamaran Venture’s stake in Cloudtail

Amazon india has sought the approval from the competition commision of india (cci) for acquisition of the catamaran venture’s stake in cloudtail..

• Updated Dec 22, 2021, 8:03 PM IST

Amazon India will acquire the 76 per cent stake of Narayana Murthy’s family office, Catamaran Ventures in Cloudtail India, which is the biggest seller on the e-commerce platform. Amazon India has sought the approval from the Competition Commision of India (CCI) for acquisition of the Catamaran Venture’s stake in Cloudtail.

 “Prione Business Services Pvt. Ltd., the joint venture between Catamaran and Amazon, will be acquired by Amazon subject to requisite regulatory approvals. On August 09, 2021, the Partners had announced their decision to not continue the JV beyond the end of its current term of May 2022,” as per a joint statement.

“Amazon will acquire Catamaran’s shareholding in Prione in compliance with applicable laws including all assets and liabilities.  The businesses of the Joint Venture shall continue under the leadership of the current management and on receipt of regulatory approvals, the board of Prione & Cloudtail will take steps to complete the transaction in compliance with applicable laws,” the statement added.   Cloudtail, in which Amazon holds 24 per cent stake, along with Narayana Murthy’s Catamaran Ventures (76 per cent), saw net profit rise by 171 per cent year-on-year to Rs 183 crore in FY21.   It also has Amazon India head, Amit Agarwal as its board member. After the scrutiny from regulators and the government, Amazon and Catamaran Ventures recently announced that Cloudtail India will cease operations from May 2022.

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Narayana Murthy far behind Azim Premji in family office stakes

After Infosys vs Wipro, N.R. Narayana Murthy and Azim Premji find themselves in another duel: Catamaran Ventures vs PremjiInvest N.R. Narayana Murthy’s Catamaran Ventures is now mulling whether it should continue to back startups

New Delhi: Infosys Ltd’s founder N.R. Narayana Murthy and Wipro Ltd’s chairman Azim Premji battled for supremacy in India’s information technology (IT) outsourcing industry for more than three decades.

Murthy, 72 and Premji, 73, find themselves in another duel, as the two billionaire septuagenarians’ financial and strategy skills are put to the test while they oversee their family offices, Catamaran Ventures Llp and PremjiInvest, respectively.

A decade after Murthy set up Catamaran in 2009, the venture capital fund continues to wrestle with how to find the best playbook.

Catamaran is now mulling whether it should continue to back startups and make any new investments in the sector, said two executives familiar with the matter. Instead, the company plans to focus on investing in listed companies, the executives said, requesting anonymity.

The potential revamp of investment strategy by Catamaran tracks the appointment last month of Abishek Laxminarayan as chief executive. His appointment follows the exit of Arjun Narayanswamy who took over as CEO of Soroco, a Boston-based artificial intelligence-focused firm.

Incidentally, Soroco was founded by Rohan Murty, son of Narayana Murthy, in 2014.

“In December, a review of the portfolio was undertaken by NRN and it was decided that Catamaran will not make any fresh investments in startups," said an executive familiar with the discussions. The executive did not want to be named as the discussions are private.

“The (Catamaran) fund will wait to get an exit from its current investments. The focus will now be to look at investing more in listed firms," the executive said.

Murthy and Narayanswamy did not respond to emails seeking comment.

PremjiInvest declined to comment.

Mint could not independently ascertain the total investments made by Catamaran since it was founded in 2009. However, Catamaran’s performance pales in comparison to PremjiInvest, the family office of Azim Premji.

Since it was set up in 2006, PremjiInvest has become India’s largest family office, managing about $5 billion of assets, said a third executive familiar with the matter. PremjiInvest backs about two-dozen startups and also owns equity stakes in about 40 listed companies.

One of the executives attributed the performance of the two funds to the varied approaches adopted by Murthy and Premji.

Murthy started Catamaran with an initial corpus of $120 million as against Premji who wrote a $1 billion cheque.

Secondly, PremjiInvest did not limit its investments to only India and backs both startups and listed companies in the US.

Finally, PremjiInvest is bigger in terms of manpower, employing about 40, as against Catamaran, which has half-a-dozen people.

“Premji got a professional in Prakash (Parthasarathy) to set up and run the fund, and Prakash managed to build it to this size where because of the size, most private deals come to PremjiInvest. This is something which Murthy could not do because he relied on a team of youngsters who had recently graduated from college to run the firm," said the first executive cited above.

Catamaran currently has investments in seven startups, including education-technology focused startup Ace Creative Learning Pvt. Ltd, ad-tech firm Vyoma Media, Acko General Insurance, medical diagnosis firm Achira Labs, Healthspring Community Medical Centres, Innoviti Payment Solutions and Threadsol, a startup that offers enterprise material management technology to garment manufacturers. Catamaran exited from Hector Beverages Pvt. Ltd, which makes traditional drinks under the Paper Boat brand, and sold its stake in Manipal Global Education Services in 2013.

Catamaran has investments in seven listed firms, including a 3.83% stake in Vesuvius India Ltd, 2.46% in Garware Technical Fibres Ltd, 2.65% in Ambika Cotton Mills Ltd and 1.07% in Nesco Ltd. Catamaran also has less than 1% in Wabco India Ltd, S.H. Kelkar and Co. Ltd and SKF India Ltd.

In addition, Catamaran has a joint venture with Amazon.com Inc.—Cloudtail India Pvt. Ltd, the largest seller on Amazon India’s platform.

The joint venture partnership changed with Murthy’s firm now owning 76% in the JV as against 51% earlier after India changed the rules in December last year, limiting foreign e-commerce firms from owning a controlling stake in an entity which also sells on the market place.

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FAMILY YACHT CHARTERS IN THE BVI, USVI & CARIBBEAN

An all-inclusive family yacht vacation is an amazing way to enjoy quality family time plus create those vacation moments that you’ll never forget.

With a perfect balance between luxury, adventure and an escape to paradise, our family catamaran charters in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) , US Virgin Islands (USVI) and Caribbean have something for everyone. Enjoy sugary sand beaches, sun-soaked days on the water, family dinners under thousands of stars and so much more.

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Holiday Charters

Leave the hustle-bustle of the holiday season behind and unwind with your family aboard a crewed charter instead. Your professional crew will custom tailor the charter to ensure that every family member gets the holiday vacation they’re after. Christmas or New Years are the most popular weeks of the year, the islands are filled with excitement and energy at this time of year.

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THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Charters in the BVI remain as our #1 pick for a family sailing vacation in the Caribbean with their abundance of white-sand beaches, easy sailing between the islands, plus the most yacht options at every price point. Your family will love that it’s all about being in and around the water. Snorkel into pirate caves, check out underwater swim throughs, jump off cliffs, experience the latest water toys or take an exhilarating hike up to one of the amazing viewpoints of the islands. Plus, if your family or kids are a little bit older, the BVI also offers some of the coolest beach bars in the world.

MULTIPLE FAMILY CHARTER OPTIONS

Tandem charters for multiple families.

Consider a tandem charter with another yacht or two , a popular family option across Spring Break weeks or during the summer months. This charter option offers many of our clients the best of both worlds. Kids get the time with their friends that they crave and adults get to enjoy quality family time along with a luxury vacation experience. These family tandem charters are ideal for those looking for some vacation overlap with other families and their kids, without compromising their private family experience.

2 FAMILIES ABOARD ONE LARGER YACHT

If you’re looking for a fully shared experience, team up with another family and split the cost of a larger and more luxurious yacht. This cost-sharing option is a perfect way to enjoy a more affordable family vacation in the Caribbean. Adults can revel in the food, service and on-board luxuries while kids get to spend their days having fun with their friends. With our 8-guest and 10-guest catamaran options offering 4 and 5 guest cabin layouts, there’s plenty of on-board space to gather with the group or to take in a quiet moment as well.

COST OF A FAMILY CHARTER VACATION

We break our all inclusive family yacht charters into 3 price point categories including our affordable favorites, mid-range luxury options plus high-end, exclusive selections. The majority of our crewed charters are all inclusive, including the yacht, the crew, all meals, standard bar, everything it costs to run the yacht, plus use of on-board water sports equipment.

• More Affordable Favorites: This popular category features yachts that fall in the $20,000 to $35,000 range, plus tip and is well suited for many of our family groups of up to 8 guests. The majority of the yachts in the price range are in the 46’ to 56’ range. Many of these yacht options include younger, energetic crews, ample space on-board, plus the latest water sport toys.
• Mid-Range, Luxury Options: Step up to this category and you’ll often be considering options from the 50’ range to the 62’ range that fall in the $35,000 to $50,000 range, plus tip. These yachts offer expanded space in the cabins, the main gathering areas, plus on the upper fly-bridge decks. Depending on the size of the yacht, you’ll sometimes increase to a crew of three. These additional crew members have dedicated roles aboard and therefore offer an added layer of service.
• High-end, Exclusive Selections: The yachts in this category typically fall in the 62’ to 80’ range and with price points ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, plus tip. Crews of 3 to 4 including a Captain, Chef, plus either First Mate and/or Stewardess are common aboard these larger and often newer yachts. This step up includes yachts with expansive space, a formally trained chef, plus high end watersports equipment such as Seabobs and E-Foils.

Learn more about the cost of chartering a yacht in the BVI, USVI, Caribbean or Bahamas .

FAMILY YACHT CHARTER FAQ’S

• Will there be enough to keep my kids entertained? On our family crewed yacht charters, there is an abundance of daily activities as well as learning opportunities for kids. From learning to sail, snorkeling with sea turtles, tubing for hours, even scuba diving on some boats. Every day is a little different, has a new and unique anchorage to explore, and that constant change in scenery keeps kids both entertained and engaged.
• Can we charter for fewer nights? The majority of our family charters and in particular, our repeat family charters are 7 nights in length. That said, with kids busy schedules, sometimes 7 nights just won’t fit. Six night charters are popular with busy family’s and as they are discounted in a prorated fashion, they offer a budget friendly alternative as well.
• My kids are picky eaters. Can the Chef’s aboard these yachts cater to that? Absolutely! Our recommended Chef’s are accustomed to creating simplified kid versions or “kids meal options” for their family charters. You’ll fill out our online preference form which will allow you to detail what your kids will enjoy and just as importantly, what your kids won't eat. Also, with a creative Chef aboard, you may be surprised to see your kids perhaps hanging around the galley and discovering some new and more adventurous foods on charter.
• How is chartering a yacht with a family in the BVI different from other Caribbean destinations? The BVI is the top sailing destination in the world and is perfectly suited for a family charter vacation. The islands are close together and well protected, making for easy line of sight sailing. Each island also has a unique and authentic feel, keeping the adventure level high. Jost Van Dyke boasts white sand beaches and world famous beach bars like Soggy Dollar, consistent favorites for families with young adult children. Virgin Gorda and The Baths, combine a collection of massive granite boulders, secret pathways, crystal clear water and white sand beaches - there’s really no other place quite like it.
• How is a family yacht charter different from a family vacation at a resort? A crewed yacht vacation is truly an escape to another world. You leave congestion, lines and strangers behind and it will be hard to return to resort life after the excitement of a yacht vacation. Your yacht will move to another unique Island each day and that anticipation and discovery can’t easily be replicated at a resort. Families return year after year telling us that the quality family time and ability to experience things together is what makes these sailing vacations so special and different.

More From Carefree Yacht Charters ®

Other destinations.

More adventurous families or those with previous charter experience might consider other Caribbean destinations, such as St. Maarten or the Grenadines .

Yacht Styles

Enjoy the islands aboard one of our catamarans and luxury motor yachts . Learn more about our various yacht styles .

THE CHARTER EXPERIENCE

Our Caribbean catamaran charters deliver - whether it’s about the yacht, the crew, the watersports, the on-board cuisine or a little bit of everything. Explore the various crewed charter types we offer .

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Top 10 Cruising Catamaran Manufacturers: For Families, Comfort and Performance!

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Cruising steadily and relaxing without a care in the world may sound like a fantastic idea. However, you need the right boat and the right support from the builder. I believe that catamarans are the way to go, but which brand should you go with? Today I have chosen a little bit different perspective on how to evaluate the best catamaran brands.

Leopard, Nautitech, and Catana are some of the best cruising catamaran manufacturers. They offer safe and easy to handle cats with impressive speeds. Leopard boasts the best family-friendly vessels, Antares is environment friendly, and Nautitech offers impressive performance.

If you’re ready to buy yourself a high-end cruising catamaran, read on. Prepare yourself to spend some money and land the life of your dreams. Pack your sunscreen, lean back, and relax—adventure is on its way!

If you are on the hunt for a catamaran (just as I am), I would recommend you check out my other articles, and maybe they can help you find the boat that suits your needs the best.

• Best catamarans under $200k
• Best catamarans under $100k
• Best catamarans for blue water solo sailing
• Best catamarans under 50ft
• Best catamarans under 30ft

Table of Contents

1. Best for Families: Leopard Catamarans

As a fine example of build quality, we have the Leopard 48 , which has an excellent design and great handling. The brand is also known for pushing the standards of catamarans well past industry norms.

Leopard catamarans are known for being very sturdy and great oceangoing vessels

This sturdiness and high build quality have made leopard a somewhat pricier alternative than, let’s say, lagoon. But as we have come to learn the recent years (with bulkhead problems on the Lagoons), this price increase is probably something that you will save in the long run anyway.

Looking at the Leopard 42 above, we can see that comfort and space are offered in plenty; there are also other versions, but the most common is for the owner to make their own modifications suiting their specific needs.

2. Best Racing-Cruising Experience: Outremer

Even though Outremers haven’t built nearly as many cats as Leopard they definitely have managed to build a reputation equally as strong. Outremer, even though low in production numbers, comes in 2nd place in this poll of the best catamaran brand.

When you first look at Outremer’s website , you’ll see the words:

“Ultimate Blue Water Cruiser” outremer.com

For many this is true, for those of you who follow the youtube channel La Vagabond, they have an Outremer 45 and beautifully showcase how this vessel operates in all types of conditions.

Outremer is famous for continually improving and producing high-performance cruising catamarans in the ranges of 45 to 55ft. This can be seen by their after sales reputation which is said to be next to none.

Outremer also has an interesting perspective on being environmentally friendly, just read this quote from outremer’s commercial director:

“If you can sail at 5kts, you can sail 95% of the time” Matthieu Rougevin-Baville

Slow windspeed sailing is a priority for Outremer, this means less motoring, less noise, less pollution and opens up for better electric propulsion alternatives?

3. Best Customer Experience: Lagoon

Online shopping for catamarans can be complicated, but when it comes to Lagoon , they make sure you can easily navigate to find the right boat for you. The front page advertises their newest additions along with an educational blog.

“[You should get an] Early 2000s Lagoon. We own a 2001 Lagoon 470. Incredible boat” Jacob, Lagoon 470 owner

When you go shopping, Lagoon reminds you that delivery may be difficult due to the recent pandemic. However, they are committed to making sure you’re still able to enjoy your experience. Their cat variety is nice, but the features are even better.

Lagoon even has something called Club Lagoon, which provides extra benefits, including privileged events and personalized meetings. The main goal of Lagoon is to establish a friendly experience with its buyers. It’s quite clear that Lagoon sees you as more than just a customer. 

Lagoon has come in some bad weather for the bulkhead issues of the L450, but to be fair this is only one model of many ever produced. Lagoon still stands as one of the top catamaran manufactures in the world.

They make sure that you feel comfortable and prove they care about you, not just your money. So, if you’re ready for a friendly experience, go with Lagoon!

4. Best Overall Experience: Fountaine Pajot

Fountaine Pajot states that their boats are designed for the best living space to provide comfort to help you enjoy the cruising experience the right way.

“ Fountaine Pajot – been living aboard our Astrea for 6 months and love it. Easy living, fun to sail, rides well. “ Jay, poll respondant

With features such as sunbathing areas, well-designed kitchens, comfortable cabins, Italian-style bathrooms, and more, this brand clearly focuses on making sure you get the best experience. So, if you’re looking to sit back and let the boat speak for itself, get a Fountaine Pajot. Remember that your comfort is their number one priority. 

5. Best Reviews: Catana Catamarans

Much like the Nautitech, Catana designs their cat with a somewhat more open and “unprotected” helm oftentimes seen in racing, this allows for great visibility but can be stressful on the crew during long passages.

Catana remains one of the fastest production catamarans out there and you got to love their slogan:

“Performance by Nature” Catana.com

Everywhere you look, on Youtube, websites, or talking to owners, almost all of them love the Catana, some might not favor the helm position (but usually those are people who haven’t actually sailed a Catana) but all love the general feel and look of the boat.

The Catana is one the highest praised catamarans that I have researched but for some reason this doesn’t reflect in the poll.

6. Best Performance: Nautitech

Nautitech has a variety of catamarans such as the 40 Open, the 46 Open, the 46 Fly, the 54, and the 47 Power.

The 46 Open has a reputation for its unique experience with great safety and luxurious interiors. As for the 46 Fly, it’s best known for its revolutionary flybridge on a sailing cat.

“ Nautitech 46. Simple to sail. Great safety. Easy docking single handed. Fabulous access to engines water maker. Calorifier. Fast boat if kept light. “ Alan, poll respondant

According to their website , Nautitech is known as a brand that keeps in touch with the living at sea experience, all while providing immense comfort.

Nautitech was the first to create the idea of “open living” onboard by combining the saloon and cockpit into a large and functional living space. After all, their catchphrase on the opening page is “elevate your dreams.” 

While they focus on comfort, the might behind it all sets it apart from other companies. With 200 employees producing 80 boats per year, you would almost assume the quality wouldn’t be as good. That’s where you’d be wrong. It operates at the perfect speed so you and your friends or family can enjoy ocean life.

So, if you want a catamaran with comfort and exciting history, get ready to sail with Nautitech. 

7. Best Semi-Custom: Privilege Catamarans

Make no misstake these are not bad boats, but they are somewhat more rare to be seen and as such numbers will always lean towards the more common brands.

If you know what you want it’s a pretty high likelihood that privilege will be able to construct it for you, the brand is known as the midway between custom and production cats. Bringing benefits from both worlds into its own genre of boats.

The list of customizations is impressive and I would be surprised if you didn’t find what you were looking for, just remember, with custom boats comes custom problems , so maybe with semi-custom boats, you get semi-custom problems?

In some ways, this model is the opposite of let’s say Lagoon 380, which has hundreds of identical vessels and a large community of people around it.

Privileges are usually not the fastest cats out there, but if you are prepared to give up a little bit of speed you will most definitely enjoy sailing in great comfort on this masterpiece.

8. Best For Environment: Antares Catamarans

When it comes to vacations, you want to relax, but you still need to focus on safety, and Antares takes that cruising aspect seriously. If you decide to buy a catamaran from Antares (here´s a buyers guide ), you will find that they recommend you “get to know” your boat.

“ As far as actual cruising cats I love my Manta and getting a solid blue water boat under $300k is amazing. But I’ve been on a Antares. Wow. “ Jim, poll respondant

Antares is known for building blue-water capable vessels that are sturdy and excellent for liveaboards.

With a brand new design that focuses not only on space and comfort but also on bringing modern technology onboard and making it environmentally friendly, it’s clear that Antares wants the best experience for its cruisers and for the planet.

They redesigned the electrical system to create a diesel hybrid so you can cruise without having to worry about running low on battery power, all while doing your part in protecting the planet.

Something that is all too common on cruising cats is their poorly sized battery and electrical system making cruisers more often than necessary rely on the genset. With 1800w of solar panels, this is no longer an issue.

A few of their great features include a lightweight cherry wood interior, Corecell construction, and superior steering. This company clearly stands for comfort, relaxation, and safety.

Bonus Boat: Most Popular For Coastal Sailing, Gemini Catamarans

For nearly three decades, their Gemini 105mc has been the most popular catamaran ever built (measured by number of units sold).

According to the website , the Gemini 105mc surprises newcomers with its legendary performance. I would take this with a grain of salt, or two, or maybe a bucket full.

Although Geminis aren’t as beautiful or fast as the other cats on this list, they are much cheaper and smaller . Some Geminis even fit inside a regular monohull slip which will save you tons of money in marina fees.

These are no bluewater I-am-going-to-sail-the-world type of boats, but they are perfect for coastal and inshore cruising whether it be a weekend or full-on liveaboard.

When it comes to their new catamaran line-up, they have the Hull 1227, Hull 004, Hull 012, Hull 106, and the Hull 1223. While the prices may still be high, they offer discounts, and they recently announced they’d have price drops.

The popular Gemini 105mc that has been a legacy since 1981. It’s spacious, light, and airy .

Another interesting model is the Gemini Legacy 35 . While it’s not as popular as the Gemini 105mc, it still has some unique features.

They also have the Gemini Freestyle 37 , which is best known for its flexibility. It can be tailored as a basic family catamaran, day-charter boat, or for single-handed sailing . It also has a low starting price and can be tailored to suit all of your needs for the perfect cruising vacation.

In addition, they have the Gemini Freestyle 399 Power . It’s essentially a power version of the Gemini Freestyle 37. This new catamaran includes several storage areas, comfortable cabins, a vanity unit, a lounge area with seating for up to six people, and air conditioning. 

This would be the perfect catamaran for a group of friends or family on a weekend sail.

Bonus Boat: Best Affordability, Manta

This fantastic brand has eight different models that range from coastal to offshore cruising.

Mantas are one of my favorite boats, but as soon as they show up for sale, they are gone.

There is also a Manta owners club which doesn’t seem to be very active at the moment as far as I can tell.

Final Thoughts

As we’ve seen, the best cruising catamaran brands focus on comfort just as much as they focus on safety. With luxurious experiences and tons of opportunities to relax while also experiencing the adventure of a lifetime, who wouldn’t want to cruise away?

Here are Some of My Favorite Catamaran Cruising Resources

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it helpful as you hopefully start your sailing adventures. Here are some resources that I use as a sailor that I hope you’ll also find helpful. These are affiliate links, so if you do decide to use any of them, I’ll earn a commission. But in all honesty, these are the exact things that I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family. Sailboats: If you’re looking for the best boat to suit your needs, I would recommend a catamaran. If you’re interested, I can show you the differences between catamarans and other types of sailboats .

Books:  For getting started, I really like  Cruising catamarans made easy . It is actually a textbook from the American sailing association; it is used to get a cruising catamaran certification. There are some other great books, and I have compiled a list of books about cruising catamarans that you will find useful.

Communication:  Being out on adventures, whether it be sailing or climbing mountains, good communications are essential to being safe. I recommend two things Google fi (incredibly simple cellular data all over the world) and Garmin inreach mini (for text and voice in remote areas without cell coverage)

Sailing courses: Online sailing courses are great for beginners starting out their sailing career; it’s an efficient way of learning the basics of navigation, throttle controls, and maritime safety. I suggest starting with two free courses from NauticEd .

To see all my most up-to-date recommendations,  check out this resource  that I made for you!

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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