Upon docking stern-to the quay, it becomes evident that the innovative 22.7m BGM75 from Bluegame stands out from the usual multihulls. With a lower position in the water and slimmer width compared to a standard catamaran, one might need to look twice to confirm that there are indeed two hulls beneath her.
Philippe Briand of Briand Yacht Design, responsible for the boat’s marine architecture, states: “This represents a progression from the single-hull design rather than a progression from a sailing catamaran.”
An example of this evolution is seen in BGM75’s main deck, which doesn’t loom high above the water like other catamarans. The space between the two hulls hovers a mere 90cm above the surface. This clearance is adequate to capitalize on the advantages of a multihull platform while maintaining a sleek and low-profile appearance.
The rationale for this distinction, as Briand explains, is that some powercats have essentially been sailboat catamaran platforms reimagined as motor yachts; not like the BGM series, designed to optimize the benefits of a multihull motor yacht from the start.
“As of now, there are not many powercats intentionally designed as powercats,” he notes.
Briand elaborates that sailing catamarans should sit higher in the water to allow for slight tilting while in motion, but a powercat doesn’t require this adaptation. Consequently, he managed to lower the decks and optimize space during the design process of the BGM75 from scratch.
“I enjoy challenges in life,” he adds. “Designing something that does not yet exist but, of course, is logical, is what I appreciate.”
THE SELECTED ONE
Luca Santella, the founder and Product Strategy Head of Bluegame, clarifies the choice of Briand, highlighting the various advantages of a narrow catamaran platform, ranging from performance and comfort to exterior appeal and unique layout possibilities.
“Among the five designers, Philippe provided the most fitting solution to our requirements,” Santella states. “His concept of a narrower catamaran was remarkable. It felt as though we did not have to compromise, which is uncommon at project initiation.”
Another reason for opting for a catamaran over a monohull is enhanced stability in rough waters. With two hulls, the vessel is steadier and less prone to rolling, and maximizing a slimmer platform accentuates this, according to Briand. This improved stability can also aid in reducing motion sickness.
“Motion sickness is essentially a matter of acceleration – it is the extent multiplied by the speed,” Briand explains. “A monohull has a significant extent but a slow rolling speed, whereas a wider catamaran has a small extent but rapid rolling reaction, which can also provoke motion sickness. However, the BGM75 is a cross between a catamaran and a monohull, providing moderate extent and limited rolling duration for added comfort in varying sea conditions.”
In addition to marine architecture, Briand Yacht Design proposed a comprehensive concept, which underwent slight alterations in style and exterior lines when Zuccon International Project, a longstanding collaborator of Sanlorenzo, intervened to give the exterior a natural look within the Bluegame range.
The BGM75 provides ample outdoor living areas for its size, with the main deck featuring a captivating seating space equipped with a versatile settee supported by a wooden base allowing seating in multiple directions – aft, forward, or starboard. It also includes a forward lounge and a spacious flybridge with a bar, cooktop, and comfortable movable furniture.
The flybridge is sheltered by a fixed hardtop resembling the hull of a yacht – wider at the rear and narrower at the front. The ceiling of the hardtop is adorned with a teak-like finish, mirroring the teak flooring below deck. Santella suggests that for the Asian market, they could enclose the flybridge in
Acrylic panels for shielding against the elements.
LUXURIOUS MASTER SUITE
Lissoni & Partners – a longstanding collaborator with Sanlorenzo – was commissioned to craft the internal spaces of the vessel. A benefit of a multi-hulled craft is the increased spaciousness it affords, owing to its broader structure and dual hulls. Despite being narrower than other catamarans, the BGM75 boasts a width exceeding 8m, surpassing that of a monohull of similar length.
“In terms of space, it offers a layout similar to that of a 30m monohull,” notes Santella.
Santella emphasized the necessity of a unique owner’s suite on the BGM75. “Given the caliber of our product, we deemed inappropriate for the owner to reside in one of the hulls.”
By lowering the main deck to a level close to the water, the designing team managed to create room for guest accommodation between the two hulls at the forward section of the primary saloon.
From the saloon, stairs descend to an exclusive retreat for the owner, where a suite extends the entirety of the superstructure’s width. This expansive suite closely resembles what one would typically find in a monohull.
“In the catamaran market thus far, cabins are generally situated in the hulls rather than the space between them,” explains Santella. An en-suite bathroom is partitioned from the bedroom by walls of toughened glass, creating the impression of spaciousness while maintaining seclusion.
The inauguration model features three cabins. Alongside the primary owner’s suite at the bow, there are two cabins in the port hull, while the starboard hull accommodates a day head and a kitchen linked to the crew’s quarters and cabins.
Zuccon also contributed to the overall arrangement and presented a design alternative featuring four cabins with the kitchen situated on the main deck. Lissoni & Partners styled the cabins to evoke a neutral, earthy ambiance, with walls adorned in a surface resembling stone, complemented by walnut woodwork. The guest cabins feature beds elevated on wooden platforms.
There are already blueprints to expand the range, with a BGM65 scheduled for a 2025 launch, followed by a BGM85 in the foreseeable future. Through the BGM series, Bluegame is striving to demonstrate the superiority of twin hulls over singular ones.
www.bluegame.it
www.simpsonmarine.com
Images courtesy of Bluegame
This write-up was originally featured on YachtStyle.co.
For the latest updates in yachting news, click here.
