A115-foot racing catamaran that sailed non-stop around the planet in 2000 has entered conversion to high-performance superyacht specification. Team Adventure, which competed in The Race—the first non-stop, no-rules circumnavigation event—began its transformation 26 years after departure from Barcelona. The project converts a carbon-composite maxi designed for speed into a vessel class increasingly attractive to family offices seeking expedition capability without traditional displacement tonnage.
The catamaran was built for The Race, an event that saw 13 boats depart in December 2000 with no course restrictions and no assistance rules. Team Adventure completed the circumnavigation but did not win; that honor went to Sport Elec, which finished in 62 days, 6 hours. The vessel has since operated in private hands. The conversion retains the twin-hull architecture—an unusual move in a superyacht sector dominated by monohulls above 100 feet. Catamarans above this threshold account for less than 4 percent of global superyacht fleet by recent yard census, though the configuration offers shallow draft, stability at anchor, and interior volume per linear foot. The builder and design office have not been disclosed.
The move reflects growing allocator attention to performance-yacht assets that combine speed, range, and charter economics. Traditional superyachts in this length class cruise at 10 to 14 knots and consume fuel accordingly. Racing-derived catamarans, even after conversion, deliver passage times 30 to 40 percent faster on equivalent routes, reducing crew rotation costs and improving charter-day utilization in competitive markets like the Mediterranean summer season or Caribbean winter circuit. The shallow draft also opens anchorages unavailable to deep-keel monohulls, a differentiator for charter marketing. One operator of a similar converted maxi reported 22 percent higher per-week charter rates in 2025 versus comparably sized monohull inventory, attributing the premium to speed and access. The conversion creates a vessel that fits neither pure expedition yacht nor classic superyacht—a category ambiguity that complicates insurance and flag-state registration but expands addressable demand.
Operators should track whether Team Adventure enters charter inventory or remains private-use, a signal of whether the conversion economics pencil for third-party capital. If the vessel lists with a major charter broker by mid-2027, expect two to three similar racing-hull conversions to follow within 18 months—there are at least six comparable maxis from the late 1990s and early 2000s in private hands, several inactive. Watch also for design-office announcements; the firm managing this build may secure follow-on mandates if the boat performs in charter or expedition trials. Finally, monitor whether classification societies issue updated guidance on racing-to-yacht conversions, a regulatory gray area that affects insurance premiums and resale liquidity.
The superyacht order book has contracted 11 percent year-over-year through Q3 2026, with new-build slots at northern European yards stretching into 2029. Conversions offer faster delivery and, in some cases, superior performance per dollar deployed.
The takeaway
A racing catamaran built for speed is being converted into a superyacht, testing whether extreme-performance hulls can command charter premiums.
Editorial & Disclosure Notice: This article was written with artificial intelligence from public sources and is published without individual human review. Artificial intelligence and other digital tools are also used for research, analysis, editing, formatting, and production. Errors, omissions, outdated information, or inaccuracies may occur. References to companies, brands, products, services, organizations, or individuals are for informational and editorial purposes and do not imply endorsement, sponsorship, affiliation, partnership, or approval unless expressly stated. All trademarks and other intellectual property remain the property of their respective owners. Opinions, analysis, estimates, and commentary are informational only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, tax, medical, procurement, or other professional advice. Information may be corrected, clarified, or updated after publication. Corrections or removal requests: jenny@pops4.com.
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