Sunreef 88 ULTIMA: A New Take on Performance, Space and Sustainable Luxury
Sunreef Yachts has built its reputation by challenging conventional ideas about what a multihull can be. With the Sunreef 88 ULTIMA, the shipyard pushes that philosophy in a new direction, combining the performance characteristics traditionally associated with monohulls with the volume, stability and lifestyle advantages of a catamaran.
At 26.8 metres, the 88 ULTIMA is designed as a fast, versatile superyacht for owners who want to move between destinations quickly without sacrificing space or comfort. Sunreef describes the wider ULTIMA concept as a response to demand for faster cruising, generous living areas and improved energy efficiency, bringing together elements of both monohull and multihull design.
The result is a yacht with a distinctly contemporary profile, shallow draft and a hull form developed to reduce drag. The intention is not simply outright performance, but efficient performance, allowing the yacht to combine speed with reduced resistance and easier access to marinas.
A Different Kind of Catamaran
The 88 ULTIMA does not follow the traditional visual formula of a large cruising catamaran.
Its proportions are sleeker and more performance-orientated, while retaining the beam that makes multihulls so appealing from a lifestyle perspective. The yacht measures 9.1 metres across in normal configuration, expanding to approximately 12 metres when the bulwark platforms are opened.
Those platforms transform the stern when at anchor.
Rather than treating the transom simply as an access point to the water, Sunreef has designed the area as an extension of the yacht’s social space. With the platforms deployed, the aft section becomes a substantial walkaround Ocean Lounge, creating a broad waterside environment for swimming, relaxing and launching toys.
For owners who see the yacht as a base for life on the water rather than simply a vessel for travelling through it, this is likely to be one of the 88 ULTIMA’s defining features.
387 Square Metres of Living Space
One of the advantages of the ULTIMA concept becomes particularly clear when looking at the figures.
Despite an overall length of 88 feet, the yacht offers approximately 387 square metres, or 4,165 square feet, of living space.
That volume allows Sunreef to create interiors that feel closer to a contemporary waterfront residence than the confined accommodation traditionally associated with yachts of similar length.
Large windows bring natural light deep into the interior, while the open-plan main living areas make extensive use of the yacht’s beam. The styling shown by Sunreef is restrained and contemporary, combining warm timber tones, neutral fabrics and clean architectural detailing.
Rather than overwhelming the spaces with decorative elements, the emphasis is on light, visibility and the relationship between interior and exterior.
Sustainability Built Into the Interior
Energy efficiency is a recurring theme throughout the ULTIMA concept.
The interior specification makes use of sustainable woods, recycled plastics and reclaimed fabrics, while the living spaces have been designed to maximise natural light and reduce reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning.
This is increasingly significant in contemporary yacht design. Sustainability is moving beyond individual pieces of equipment and becoming part of the architecture of the yacht itself.
Better insulation, greater use of daylight, efficient hull forms and carefully selected materials can all contribute to reducing energy consumption without compromising the experience onboard.
For the 88 ULTIMA, Sunreef positions these elements alongside its latest green technologies to create what it describes as a cleaner cruising experience.
A Full-Beam Owner’s Suite With Sauna
The interior remains highly customisable, allowing owners to configure the yacht according to the way they intend to use it.
Among the options is a full-beam master stateroom, providing the owner with one of the largest private spaces onboard. A private sauna can also be incorporated into the owner’s accommodation.
The accompanying interior concepts show cabins designed around the same understated philosophy as the main saloon, with extensive use of natural textures, softly integrated lighting and large windows overlooking the sea.
Bathrooms follow a similarly architectural approach, combining contemporary fittings, glass partitions and light-coloured materials to preserve the feeling of space.
Accommodation can be configured for up to 10 guests, while dedicated crew quarters provide space for up to five crew members.
The Flybridge as a Destination
Above the main deck sits one of the yacht’s most striking areas.
The 88 ULTIMA features a substantial flybridge designed as another complete outdoor living environment rather than simply an upper helm position.
The concept imagery shows generous seating, dining and lounging areas alongside a spa pool, all protected beneath a sculptural hardtop.
From here, owners and guests gain the elevated views that have become one of the major attractions of large multihull design while maintaining direct access to open-air entertainment areas.
Combined with the forward sunbathing spaces and expansive aft Ocean Lounge, it means the yacht offers several distinct exterior environments rather than concentrating outdoor living in a single cockpit.
Built Around Life on the Water
The 88 ULTIMA is also designed for owners who intend to use the sea rather than merely look at it.
A dedicated jet ski garage provides storage for personal watercraft, while the extended aft platform creates a natural launching point for electric toys and other equipment.
Once the bulwarks are opened, the relationship between yacht and water changes considerably. Guests can move easily around the stern, swim directly from the platform or use the space as an informal waterside terrace.
It is a design approach increasingly seen across modern superyachts, but multihull architecture gives Sunreef considerably more width with which to work.
The result is effectively a private beach club across the entire stern.
Built by Sunreef in Ras Al Khaimah
Sunreef Yachts was founded in Gdansk in 2002 by French entrepreneur Francis Lapp and has since developed into one of the most recognisable names in the luxury multihull sector.
The company combines naval architecture, engineering, interior design and yacht construction within its own organisation, allowing projects to be developed from initial concept through to delivery.
For the ULTIMA range, design and construction are undertaken at Sunreef’s facilities in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.
This new production base reflects both the scale of the ULTIMA programme and the growing importance of the Middle East within the international superyacht market.
The Numbers
The Sunreef 88 ULTIMA measures 26.8 metres overall, with a standard beam of 9.1 metres.
With her bulwark platforms deployed, that expands to approximately 12 metres.
She offers around 387 square metres of living space, accommodation for up to 10 guests, and crew quarters for five.
Construction is composite, with both naval architecture and interior design undertaken by Sunreef Yachts.
Yet the numbers only tell part of the story.
The real attraction of the 88 ULTIMA lies in how efficiently Sunreef appears to have packaged that volume into a yacht that still looks relatively sleek and dynamic.
A Yacht for a Changing Market
The traditional distinction between performance yacht, cruising catamaran and luxury motor yacht is becoming increasingly blurred.
Owners want range and efficiency, but they also want space. They want substantial outdoor living areas without necessarily moving into much larger yacht categories. They want access to shallow anchorages and smaller marinas, while still expecting the comfort and amenities associated with a superyacht.
The Sunreef 88 ULTIMA has been designed around precisely that changing set of expectations.
It combines considerable internal volume with a relatively compact overall length, adds a dramatic waterside living area through its expanding stern, and places energy efficiency at the heart of both its hull design and interior concept.
For buyers attracted by the space of a multihull but who prefer the appearance and performance characteristics of a more conventional motor yacht, the 88 ULTIMA represents an intriguing middle ground.
The right yacht. The right advice.