New sailboats can make statements in many ways—sharp-edged performance, glamorous styling, cutting-edge systems—but sometimes a boat stands out because its form follows its function so well, and its purpose is so clearly manifested in its design. Such is the HopYacht 30, an all-electric 30-foot catamaran that is offering a new take on small-boat voyaging.
HopYacht collaborated with Du Toit Yacht Design—the naval architects who drew the Balance 442, 482, and 526 performance bluewater sailing cats—to create this boat that’s intended for primarily protected waters, despite its roots in the stormy seas of Cape Town, South Africa. As company co-founder Mary-Clare Tomes points out, sailing and racing her Hunter 19 in Hout Bay provided a lot of inspiration for this boat—the key takeaways being ease and comfort of sailing, ease of maintenance, and low cost.
This diminutive multihull takes a fresh approach in several areas, notably its propulsion, both sail and power. The boat is 100% electric with twin ePropulsion Evo 6.0 pod drives that provide a 40-mile range at 4.5 knots over 10 hours, or a 16-mile range at 7 knots over about two and a half hours. Sixteen-hundred watts of solar on the coachroof feed two Balancell 14.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate batteries, and these panels are slightly elevated, not flush on the cabintop, which allows for heat to dissipate, improving efficiency, performance, and longevity.
Range is extended quite dramatically when you embrace your inner motorsailer and engage the African Dhow-inspired sailplan that HopYacht developed with Geoff Meek, design director of North Sails in Cape Town. The 317-square-foot genoa flies from a 33-foot spar set fairly far aft, which can be easily lowered by two people for traveling in waterways with low bridges. There’s no mainsail—hence, no boom—and the roller-furling genoa is deployed in a jiffy from the elevated helm station in the cockpit, where it’s equally easy to quickly depower it. (A 495-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker is an option for more horsepower.)
“For us the word easy means easy for newcomers to sailing to be able to rig the yacht, however it also means making the total process of sailing much more relaxing,” says HopYacht co-founder Paul Tomes. The mast placement and genoa shape provide good balance and performance without worrying about a mainsail, a boom, and all the attendant fittings, lines, and deck gear.
“It’s always been about being easy to sail,” says Mary-Clare Tomes. “With one sail and a beautifully simple rig, it’s just get on and enjoy the sail…and then there is affordability. With such a simple rig there’s no need for complicated deck fittings, and she only has one winch, so we’ve been able to keep costs right down.”
Along with its intriguing sail and power choices, this boat provides a ridiculous amount of space and storage for its size (with a beam of just under 12 feet, it can fit into any standard slip). The galley is forward in the cockpit immediately behind the main cabin bulkhead, with a fridge opposite under the helm. A good-size lounge and dining area aft converts to a daybed; add canvas curtains and you have a protected outdoor sleeping area for two people.
Walk through a single door straight into the “salon,” which has a rather linear caravan or RV feel to it but is brightly lit and ventilated with windows and hatches all around. Immediately to starboard is a small dining area that converts to an extra bunk. To port is a commodious head with a large, separate shower. A few steps forward is the master cabin, with a walkaround queen-sized bed with storage beneath, massive windows on three sides, and two hatches above. Neat zip-up canvas bags fill in for hanging lockers, saving on space and weight.
On deck, midships hatches open to reveal piles of storage running nearly the full length of both hulls (both also have collision bulkheads forward) for rolled-up dinghies, SUPs, fenders, lines, and gear—as well as access to plumbing, tanks, and other mechanicals. Forward, the twin trampolines accommodate two side-by-side lounge seats with a small cooler in between and the windlass gear just forward.
This boat speaks to the concept of “hopping aboard” and just taking off, with a refreshing kind of thoughtful simplicity in its approach throughout. With a draft just under 3 feet, you can poke into any number of protected shallow anchorages. It would be a natural choice for the Great Loop or places like the San Juan Islands of the Pacific Northwest or Chesapeake Bay—it’s already done an extended excursion through Greece. With a careful eye on a good weather window, it would make nice island hopper as well; in fact, hull No. 3—the boat we saw at the Miami show—was bound for Bimini and then down island, while another was headed to Seattle and another to La Rochelle.
We haven’t had a chance to sail the boat yet; when we do, stay tuned for the full review.
LOA 30’8” Beam 11’3” Draft 2’10” Air draft 32’9” Sail Area 317 sq ft (optional 496 sq ft asymmetrical spinnaker) Engines E-Propulsion Evo 6.0 Pod Drives (2x)