Lavezzi, Lipari, Lucia and now: Isla. The twin-hull experts at Fountaine Pajot in Aigrefeuille have another new entry-level model with a hull length of twelve metres at the start. The first ship of the new Isla 40 type is apparently already well advanced in the construction phase, the world premiere for the Yachting Festival in Cannes (8-13 September) planned.
Although the twin hull of the new Fountaine Pajot has the same technical data as its predecessor, the Lucia 40 (test in YACHT 16/2016), it is still based on newly developed designs. The deck will be even more pronounced, the sterns slightly wider. And the two bows are differently shaped with a vertical stem in a modern look. On deck, the tried-and-tested concept remains with the raised steering position at the side and direct access to the cabin roof. However, there will now be a large sun lounger with inlay cushions on the foredeck.
The more conventional sail plan also remains unchanged. This means that the rig is still positioned quite far forwards and the fully battened mainsail with its wide top is large and powerful in comparison. The cat is still delivered with an overlapping genoa as standard, while a self-tacking jib is not available as an option. The comparatively high sail carrying capacity of 4.6 promises sporty potential. The predecessor model, the Lucia 40, already impressed with its good sailing performance in the test, with a similar ratio of weight to sail area.
While the modifications to the new Isla 40 remain manageable compared to the Lucia 40, the shipyard has put even more effort into the design of the interior. The interior is now much more open and modern, with bright surfaces and stronger colour contrasts. Adjustments have also been made to the layouts. For example, Fountaine Pajot has completely dispensed with navigation in the saloon for the new ship, instead making the sofa larger and creating additional space for even more storage. The previously rather bulky saloon table has been replaced by a small coffee table - to save space and on the assumption that meals will be taken outside at the large table in the completely covered cockpit anyway.
The Isla 40 is available as a three-cabin (Maestro) or four-cabin (Quatour) version. The hulls can either be fitted with a large bathroom with shower compartment for use from both cabins or with separate, smaller toilet rooms. It is also possible to have one or two skipper cabins in the forepeak instead of the large storage spaces.
The prices for the new Isla 40 are to be based on the previous Lucia 40 model with few changes. The base price for the market launch is 355,400 euros, including 19% VAT.
Read the detailed test of the Isla 40 from YACHT 09/2021 here!
The predecessor model Lucia 40 tested by YACHT-TV
The new Lucia 40 cruising catamaran comes with interesting new features, especially in the living area
