Persico CAT 72’ Foiling Catamaran
Persico CAT 72’: A Bold New Chapter in Foiling Multihulls. Persico Marine has long been a powerhouse in the high-performance yacht building world, best known for its precision engineering, cutting-edge materials expertise, and partnerships with the most elite names in sailing.
Persico 72 Facts
Now, with the unveiling of the Persico CAT 72’, the Italian yard brings its formidable pedigree to the luxury foiling multihull sector, promising a boat that fuses blistering speed with refined elegance.
The Persico Pedigree
Based in Nembro near Bergamo in Northern Italy, Persico Marine has earned its place at the pinnacle of performance yacht construction through its craftsmanship and commitment to innovation. The company’s portfolio reads like a roll call of modern sailing legends.
Persico is best known for its work on America’s Cup yachts, most notably with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, and as a builder of VO65 and IMOCA 60 offshore racing yachts. The yard’s integration of aerospace-grade composites and bespoke CNC machining has set new standards in marine construction.
While Persico’s reputation has largely been focused on monohulls, the CAT 72’ marks an expansion into the foiling catamaran market—a segment that has seen interest from performance-minded cruisers and owners seeking next-level speed.
A Dream Team
To ensure the CAT 72’ would be a benchmark design, Persico teamed up with legendary multihull design house Morrelli & Melvin, the California-based naval architects behind some of the fastest and most iconic catamarans on the water.
Their design input is evident in the CAT 72’s long, sleek hulls, refined foiling package, and emphasis on stability at speed.
Interior and exterior styling has been developed in collaboration with superyacht interior designers Design Unlimited. The aim? To balance the yacht’s race-bred performance with a minimalist aesthetic, a modern ethos of luxury adventure yachting.
Standout Features
The Persico CAT 72’ is designed from the foils up as a no-compromise performance cruiser. This superyacht was conceived from the outset to foil, with retractable T-foils and twin rudder elevators delivering controlled lift and remarkable efficiency.
Constructed entirely from pre-preg carbon fiber with Nomex and Corecell cores, the CAT 72’ is an ultra-lightweight, robust platform. The focus on stiffness and weight saving ensures blistering acceleration and top-end speeds but also safety and ride comfort while foiling.
The rig has a rotating carbon wing mast and high-aspect sails, optimized for reaching and downwind performance. Deck ergonomics are clean and purpose-driven, with weight centralized for optimal trim and a central cockpit that offers excellent visibility and control. Below deck, the yacht is all about minimalist, high-tech luxury.
The onboard systems are equally advanced, with hydraulic controls, fly-by-wire assistance, and fully integrated navigation and performance monitoring. It’s a true sailing machine.
Projected Performance
With foils deployed and sails trimmed, the Persico CAT 72’ is projected to exceed 40 knots in ideal conditions—a speed once unthinkable for a yacht of this type. Even in displacement mode, the lightweight carbon structure should allow for cruising speeds in the low to high teens.
Its ability to foil in a wide range of conditions—from around 9 knots of true wind—puts the CAT 72’ at the forefront of ocean-capable foiling cats. The RMFoils (Rake-Controlled Righting-Moment Foils) come into play in as little as 9 knots of wind, enabling the yacht to race over the the water at speeds exceeding 20 knots in only 13 knots of wind.
An autonomous control system maximises safety and reliability by gradually lowering the hull and adjusting speed according to the owner’s preferences, providing a comfortable sailing experience in all conditions.
Price Expectations
Given the cutting-edge design, materials, and build pedigree, the Persico CAT 72’ is likely to be priced in the ultra-premium segment of the market. While no official number has been released, educated estimates place it in the range of €12–15 million, depending on configuration and customization.
For comparison, a Gunboat 80, another high-performance luxury catamaran, comes in at around €12 million, depending on spec. However, the Gunboat is not a foiling vessel, making the CAT 72’ more of a niche and performance-oriented package for buyers who focus on speed above all.
Final Thoughts
With all of the technology developed on the SailGP boats and in the America’s Cup, it has been coming, hasn’t it?
The Persico CAT 72’ is a bold leap into the future of performance sailing. It represents the culmination of decades of racing innovation, distilled into a platform that offers speed, elite craftsmanship, and a new level of adventure for private owners.
By bringing together Persico’s build expertise with Morrelli & Melvin’s design genius, this catamaran is one to watch. For those who want to sail faster, farther, and with more flair than ever before, the CAT 72’ could become the gold standard.