Domus Catamaran, Rob Doyle & Van Geest collaborated on a 40m Trimaran Concept aiming to be zero-emission

| BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

Rob Doyle is one of the new generations of yacht designers tackling the modern challenges of the large yacht business. With a solid 20year career evolution in the large yacht sector, he and Van Geest Design have come together to present a 40-meter sailing catamaran - Domus. With an interior volume that rivals a 60-meter motor yacht, she aims to go eco-conscious cruising and become the first 'zero-emission' yacht over 750 GT.

"Just because superyachts are what they are now, does not mean they should stay this way. We were constantly looking at every aspect of the design and saying, 'is there a better way?

We truly believe that this project will redefine what a multi-hull sailing superyacht can be.", say the designers.

Domus, meaning a single-story house built around an atrium in Latin, the yacht has a beam of 35m and features an interior space of 780 sq. m, all on one deck. The craft borrows aspects of this design to create a lofty, open feeling on board. Rob Doyle and Van Geest Design have done extensive research into the practicalities and safety elements associated with trimarans.

The trimaran spreads across two decks. She can accommodate 12 guests in six guest cabins, with four VIPs and two sizable owner's suites, each equipped with its own lounge area. There is a bar in the main saloon. Other amenities include a cinema room, gym and saloon. Domus also features a spa area with a swimming pool, making the trimaran fun and exciting.

To help reduce drag and improve speeds, she can heel at an angle of two degrees. This will also ensure a comfortable cruise with minimal rolling. Domus is designed with an emphasis on performance. "The uniquely designed combination of solar power, hydro-regeneration technology and hydrogen fuel cells gives Domus unlimited range with zero emissions," the design team said. The trimaran powers through the daylight hours and transfers over to the battery system at night. This also means Domus is entirely silent with zero emissions while at anchor. Alongside the 40-meter concept, the design duo are also working on a larger version of the idea for a shipyard. "We strongly believe if you want the benefits of multi-hulls at a 40-meter-plus size, the only practical solution is a trimaran," the design team added.

As compared to catamarans, trimarans help keep down the costs. Domus has all the systems and engineering in the central hull, just like a standard construction to keep things simple. The main hull takes all the rigging forces, thus maintaining crossbeam structures simpler and generally the overall system being more straightforward. The team behind Domus are the design masterminds of over 60 superyachts and has extensive detailed design experience, knowledge and data, which makes it easy to undertake a mammoth of a project.