The encounter with the unusual forces you to pause and marvel. What lies at anchor there in the bay defies any pigeonholing, any conventional categorisation. It seems like a piece of the future that has inadvertently become stranded in the present - like a dream that has suddenly become reality. And indeed, it all began with a dream.
Jean Sommereux, a French inventor with unwavering patience and a keen sense of thinking outside the box, actually only wanted to build a boat for himself. It was to be a floating retreat, a kind of retirement home on two hulls. But it didn't stop there. Friends and companions who accompanied Sommereux's development work from the beginning were fascinated by the unconventional design language of his project and the courage to deviate. They encouraged the developer to go further and think ahead. This is how a personal adventure became a real project and the nucleus of a possible small series.
That is also interesting:
In the meantime, Jean Sommereux has already presented his Tortue 147 at the renowned multihull show in La Grande-Motte and at the Yachting Festival in Cannes. And he had his hands full there. Everyone wanted to see the unusually exciting catamaran concept that had already got so many people raving and talking before them.
Built in Tunisia
The shipyard behind the Tortue 147 project bears the name Cataruga - a neologism made up of catamaran and tartaruga, the Italian word for turtle. The armoured reptile symbolises serenity, stability, protection and deceleration - qualities that perfectly match the character of the Tortue 147, which is now the first result of this special concept philosophy.
However, the Tortue 147 is not built in France, but in Hergla, a small coastal town in north-east Tunisia. Jean Sommereux has known the Maghreb states for many years. He has lived, worked and made friends there. And he did so long before the idea for Cataruga was born.
His decision to set up the shipyard in Tunisia was therefore driven by a very personal motivation. "I wanted to build in a place where craftsmanship still has a soul, just as I got to know it in Africa," says the now 57-year-old engineer in early retirement. Of course, the cost factor also plays a role, and Sommereux makes no secret of this: boats can be built much more cheaply in North Africa than in Europe - a weighty argument in favour of building a new brand.
Tortue is designed to appeal to connoisseurs
The hull, deck, superstructure and all load-bearing structures of the Tortue 147 are made entirely of aluminium. Plates with a thickness of ten millimetres below the waterline, eight millimetres above and six millimetres for the deck and superstructure are used. This gives the boat an impressive weight of around 20 tonnes. That's a lot compared to GRP catamarans of the same size. Sommereux justifies the choice of the robust material and the solid construction with durability and ease of repair. The Frenchman has deliberately avoided lightweight construction.
With its exclusive Tortue concept, Sommereux wants to appeal primarily to the pleasure-seekers among sailors - those who are basically indifferent to how quickly they get from A to B. Performance does not play a major role in this catamaran, but rather the pleasure and pure joy of being on the move. The boat invites you to slow down your own rhythm, lose sight of your destination and instead enjoy the time in between. The unusual catamaran thus positions itself clearly outside the mainstream market. While other shipyards are constantly developing their models to optimise speed, weight and charter suitability, Sommereux questions the purpose of such measures. He does not see his Tortue 147 primarily as a platform for travelling, but rather as a place to stay.
Accordingly, the ship is more reminiscent of a floating loft than a classic cruising catamaran. Generous volumes, open transitions and well thought-out retreats characterise the look and the rooms. Everything is designed to create a flowing connection between inside and outside. The saloon opens wide to the aft cockpit, which looks like a platform floating above the water, a kind of balcony that offers both protection and closeness to the element.
Unconventional approaches from the rough to the detail
The flybridge also demonstrates the desire to think differently and rethink. A flat working cockpit is recessed in the centre of the roof, where all the sheets, halyards and trim lines are bundled together. Behind this is a small seating area for relaxing at lofty heights. The bimini above is foldable and can be used either as a protective roof or as a cover for the working cockpit - a clever and well thought-out solution. To the side, the helm station is installed halfway up between the aft cockpit and flybridge. This is exclusively for steering and operating the engines; anyone who wants to set or trim the sails has to climb onto the roof.
The deckhouse is generously covered with solar panels that generate a peak output of up to 5.5 kilowatts in strong sunlight. This allows a large proportion of the on-board electricity to be covered on a permanent basis - a decisive step towards energy self-sufficiency. There are also large storage compartments inside the aluminium structure of the roof, in which bulky items such as paddleboards or surfboards can be stowed. Large flaps can be opened at the top for this purpose.
Another particularly unconventional approach concerns the motorisation. The two diesel engines, each with an output of 57 hp, are housed unusually far forward in the forecastles. The long drive shafts run through the keels to the propellers at their trailing edge - so the propellers remain well protected if the boat falls dry. This solution allows the catamaran to be safely and easily launched in shallow areas or tidal waters. Blue water sailors on long journeys will particularly appreciate this detail.
The technical room is located on the port side and houses the generator, the water maker and the heating system. Although it would be technically possible to install electric or hybrid drives, Sommereux has deliberately opted for diesel for the time being. "I like the simplicity and reliability of classic technology," he explains.
"Breathing architecture" inside
The interior fittings also follow a clear approach. Instead of exotic precious woods, only light Paulownia wood is used - a fast-growing European tree species that is robust, very light and pleasantly warm to the touch. The floors and decks of the Tortue 147 are also covered with boards made of this wood, which hardly heats up even in strong sunlight. The material harmonises perfectly with the metallic structure of the hull and creates a balance between technology and nature. Jean Sommereux speaks of a "breathing architecture" in which each material fulfils its own function.
Overall, the interior is staged in a bright, extremely cosy summer ambience - somewhere between a Mediterranean holiday home and a studio on the coast of Brittany. When you enter the salon, you feel less like a visitor on a yacht and more like you are in a light-flooded design studio. The room opens up generously on all sides. The dynamically designed wooden structure that supports the surrounding window strip is particularly striking. This net, also made of paulownia wood and elaborately crafted by hand, gives the salon an independent, organic look in the style of Moorish architecture - a detail that perfectly matches the concept and origin of the Tortue 147.
In the centre of the saloon is a mighty galley island, which is far more than just a kitchen. It also serves as a dining table, bar and centre of life on board. The work surfaces are generously dimensioned, the lines are clear - almost sculptural. Everything appears to have been cast from a single mould: functional, but with a fine sense of aesthetics. A hexagonal sight glass in the floor allows a direct view of the water, light reflections, moving shadows and passing fish. This window downwards symbolises what the entire concept stands for: Closeness to the element, transparency and the desire to look and discover.
The room layout in the hulls is also particularly exciting. On the starboard side there is a spacious owner's cabin, which is more reminiscent of a small flat, with its own work area, large bathroom with shower, separate cloakroom and direct access to the stern and the water. This is like living in a private flat. A second cabin is located in the starboard hull, a third on the port side, both with their own bathrooms. Another extremely charming detail is the open, side-mounted day or dog bunk. It invites you to read or relax and offers a stunning view of the sea through the large superstructure windows.
Under sail, the "turtle" lives up to its name
Jean Sommereux has given his first Tortue 147 a furling mast - a rather unusual detail for catamarans. The tall, slender mainsail is complemented by a short self-tacking jib. Overall, the sail area is extremely modest for a catamaran with a displacement of 20 tonnes. During the test run in a light breeze of only six to eight knots of wind, it was just enough to get the boat moving at a leisurely pace - if you give it the time it needs. More is not to be expected under such conditions. At least in light winds, the "turtle" fully lives up to its name. The boat is clearly under-rigged and there is no sailing revelation. The helmsman also has little joy in his work: although the hydraulic steering works reliably, it remains completely unfeeling.
Of course, the Tortue 147 can be configured to be much sportier and more powerful if the customer wishes - for example with a conventional rig made of aluminium or carbon fibre, a larger mainsail with a square top, an overlapping genoa or a code zero. There are virtually no limits to the possibilities.
It is easy to imagine that with the appropriate performance upgrades, the catamaran will develop a completely different dynamic with more wind. Thanks to the flexible aluminium construction, individual adaptations and later modifications can be implemented almost at will.
Around 1.13 million euros in the basic version
Jean Sommereux, who lives mainly on board, is currently working intensively on compiling specifications and a price list for his first work. The enterprising Frenchman is thus emphasising his intention to build the ship in series. His shipyard in Tunisia is capable of producing three to four boats a year, he says. He has also already given an initial price indication: the basic version of the catamaran is expected to cost around 1.13 million euros, and around 1.5 million euros for a version comparable to the construction number one.
With the Tortue 147, Jean Sommereux has not only created a boat based on his own ideas, but also a statement in aluminium. It is a manifesto for people who don't want to impress, but want to arrive. For those who are prepared to slow down their pace in order to experience things more intensely, savour them more consciously and really take in the moments on the water. In the end, the Tortue 147 remains what it was from the beginning: the realisation of a personal dream, shaped by conviction, patience and perseverance.
Technical data of the Tortue 147
- Designer: Jean Sommereux
- Design: Jean-Michel Kalfon
- Torso length: 14,70 m
- Width: 7,85 m
- Depth: 1,50 m
- Weight: 20,0 t
- Mast height above WL: 24,30 m
- Sail area on the wind: 92,0 m²
- Motorisation: 2 x 57 hp
