The 72 Flybridge was the yacht visitors could board
Gunboat's Cannes programme centred its in-water presentation on the 72 Flybridge. The builder invited visitors aboard to inspect how the elevated helm and social deck are integrated with a performance-cruising platform rather than treating the flybridge as a separate motor-yacht-style appendage.
That distinction matters because additional structure high above the water can affect weight and sailing behaviour. Gunboat's challenge is to deliver the visibility and social space owners want while preserving the light-air performance and responsiveness expected from a carbon performance catamaran.
VPLP architecture supports a 21.95m performance platform
The Gunboat 72 series uses VPLP naval architecture and a carbon-composite construction approach. Official specifications list 21.95 metres overall and a beam of 9.4 metres, keeping the yacht inside LYG's 12.00-to-23.99-metre boundary.
Gunboat says the 72 can sail at wind speed from around eight knots of true wind. The design is aimed at owners who value fast passages and sailing engagement but still want the volume and stability associated with a large cruising catamaran.
The flybridge expands the social plan vertically
The upper deck gives the helm panoramic visibility while also creating an elevated lounging and dining area. Below, sliding doors connect the aft cockpit with the saloon, allowing the main living spaces to operate as one continuous indoor-outdoor zone.
That arrangement gives families several distinct places to spend time without requiring a longer hull. The trade-off is greater vertical complexity, so buyers need to assess access, protection, movement under sail and how frequently the upper deck will actually be used during their normal cruising programme.
Cannes lets buyers judge whether performance and comfort coexist
A static specification can describe carbon construction, sail area and cabin volume, but a water display allows owners to test sightlines, circulation, stair geometry and the relationship between helm and living spaces. Those details determine whether a design feels coherent once people are actually aboard.
The 72 Flybridge remains a large luxury yacht, but at 21.95 metres it does not cross into SYG's 24-metre-plus superyacht territory. Its relevance to LYG is precisely the attempt to deliver superyacht-style space while preserving direct owner engagement with sailing.
Official sources: gunboat.com; gunboat.com.
