New Viareggio builder Cantiere del Vybe is making its market debut with the VYBE 43 at Cannes, using a deliberately narrow power-catamaran concept to challenge one of the practical objections to twin-hull ownership. The boat measures 12.67 metres overall but only 3.97 metres across the beam, allowing it to fit berths normally allocated to monohulls of similar length.
That narrowness does not mean the yard is treating the boat as a slow displacement catamaran. Naval architect Adam Younger has developed stepped asymmetric V-shaped hulls intended for high speed, while Abbasli Design has created a two-cabin interior and deck plan using materials normally associated with much larger luxury yachts.
Catamaran width without the usual marina penalty
Most power catamarans gain interior and deck space by using significantly more beam than a comparable monohull, but that can make marina berthing more difficult and expensive. VYBE’s solution is to keep the beam to 3.97 metres, giving the 43 proportions much closer to a conventional 40-foot motor yacht.
The trade-off is that the designers have had to use the twin hulls and central platform very efficiently. The yard says the result still provides two cabins with individual bathrooms and a main deck focused on open-air living, giving owners the catamaran’s separated hull volumes without requiring an unusually wide berth.
Two propulsion routes
The VYBE 43 can be configured with twin Mercury V12 600 hp outboards or inboard Volvo Penta D6 engines rated at 480 hp each. The builder estimates a maximum speed above 53 knots with the outboards and around 46 knots with the diesel installation, figures that place the boat well above typical cruising-catamaran speeds.
The propulsion decision also affects consumption and use. VYBE says the inboard version is expected to deliver particularly strong fuel economy at cruising speeds, while the outboard package is aimed at owners who want maximum acceleration, speed and simpler replacement or service access in markets where large Mercury engines are widely supported.
Adam Younger develops the stepped hulls
The naval architecture uses stepped hull forms with asymmetric V sections, an approach intended to reduce wetted resistance while preserving a reassuring ride at speed. Carbon reinforcement is incorporated into the structure to support the loads generated by the high-output propulsion options without adding unnecessary mass.
For a narrow power catamaran, directional stability and cross-wind behaviour are especially important because the hull spacing is different from that of a broad cruising multihull. The design work therefore has to balance the marina-friendly beam with the handling characteristics buyers expect from a performance boat.
Two cabins with yacht-style materials
Below deck, the VYBE 43 has two cabins, each with its own bathroom. Abbasli Design has specified materials including Carrara marble, Foglizzo leather and Loro Piana fabrics, reinforcing the yard’s intention to position the model as a compact luxury yacht rather than simply a fast utility catamaran.
The deck plan follows the same idea, using open circulation and sea-facing living areas to make the relatively compact length feel larger. By limiting accommodation to two cabins, the builder avoids over-dividing the hulls and can devote more space to the rooms owners are likely to use most.
A first model with a clear technical proposition
Launching a new brand at Cannes is difficult because established builders surround it with decades of dealer networks and owner references. Cantiere del Vybe is countering that disadvantage with a very specific proposition: power-catamaran efficiency and twin-hull architecture in a berth footprint close to a monohull.
The VYBE 43’s reception will show whether that compromise resonates with owners who like catamarans but have been deterred by marina width. If it does, the 12.67-metre model could give the new Viareggio yard a distinct foundation on which to build a wider range.
The berth question could define the VYBE 43
The most unusual part of the VYBE 43 is not its speed but the attempt to remove one of the practical objections to power-catamaran ownership. A beam of 3.97 metres is much closer to the footprint of many monohulls in this length class, which could simplify berth searches and annual marina costs in destinations where wide multihull spaces are scarce.
That narrow approach inevitably creates design compromises, so the first production boats will be closely watched for interior volume, crosswind behaviour and ride quality. If Cantiere del Vybe can preserve meaningful twin-hull benefits while fitting a conventional berth, the 43 will offer something genuinely different from both broad cruising catamarans and fast monohull day yachts.
