8 Fascinating Facts About ‘Wayfinder,’ a 224-Foot Catamaran With a Helipad That Doubles as a Pickleball Court
The aptly named Wayfinder—referring to a navigational tool—is a 224-foot aluminium multihull and only the second purpose-built catamaran support vessel in the world. (The first is its sistership, Hodor.) Built in 2021 by Astilleros Armon, the vessel is the Spanish yard’s largest delivery to date.
The word on the street, or at least in the yachting community, is that the hardy-looking vessel was commissioned by Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates. Oliver Design, the Spanish studio that penned and outfitted the yacht’s interior, confirmed the unconfirmed owner is “one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.” The 10,800-square-foot interior includes crew and guest cabins, offices, a galley, a mess area, lounges and, like many support vessels these days, an infirmary.
With industrial exterior design and naval architecture by the Australian-based big-cat specialist Incat Crowther, Wayfinder pivots between a transatlantic charter yacht and a dedicated support vessel. Available for charter through Edmiston, its 2024 itinerary includes the Mediterranean, Baltic, Red Sea and Arabian Gulf for summer before heading to the Caribbean for winter.
Power is provided by a pair of MTU 16V engines that drive two Servogear controllable-pitch propellers to deliver a maximum speed of 21 knots. An impressive range of 5,500 nautical miles at 14 knots gives it the ability to do very long, oceangoing voyages.
Here are eight fascinating facts about one of the world’s most capable catamarans.
Upstairs, Downstairs
The upper deck accommodation is designed for charter guests when the boat is a superyacht and staff in support-vessel mode. Eleven en suite cabins, including nine singles and two twins, can, sleep up to 12 guests. Twenty-two staff can be accommodated in the main-deck crew quarters. The yacht’s dedicated crew bring a range of experiences, from Master Mariners and dive instructors to royal yacht chefs and ex-navy engineers—plus a medic.
Toy Palace
The yacht’s main deck is dedicated to a crazy selection of six tenders and myriad toys, including four Sea-Doos, a 39-foot Compass limousine that accommodates 16 guests and a 37-foot Munson Beach Lander that seats 17. There’s also an array of personal watercraft, paddleboards, Seabobs, and even an Explorer Icebreaker E-Jetboard. The bonus for serious scuba divers is the abundance of dive gear and even a decompression chamber. But unlike its sistership, Hodor, the toy list doesn’t extend to a submersible.
Party Platform
Wayfinder’s capacity to welcome up to 200 guests explains its frequent attendance at high society events, such as the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival. It’s another example of how the yacht’s large helipad comes into its own, capable of hosting a formally dressed crowd for drinks and canapes. According to Incat Crowther’s technical manager, Dan Mace, that comes courtesy of the vessel’s catamaran hull, which provides 60 percent more deck space and 40 percent more volume capacity than other vessels its size.
Luxury Lounging
Wayfinder’s large open aft deck has a commercially registered helipad (meaning it’s also available for charter use) and is used to bring guests on and off the yacht in style. There’s even a dedicated “heli-lounge” where guests can wait for the helicopter transfer. Located forward on the same deck as the helipad, and within easy reach of the yacht’s elevator, the lounge has a modern design.
Technically Gifted
While the vessel is all about having fun at sea, the helm is packed with a range of technical capabilities, from the integrated bridge to the yacht’s MARSS NiDAR long-range perimeter security and drone-detection system for guest privacy and protection. The catamaran hull is further enhanced by a Praxis dynamic positioning system for keeping the yacht in place at sea. On the inside, the layout is dedicated to service areas, including waste management, laundry, workshops and storage.
Pickleball, Anyone?
When not being used for guest transfers, the sky-blue helipad conveniently doubles as a full-size pickleball court, with side lounges for guests to watch from the side lines. To prevent balls from flying into the water, a temporary three-sided net wall is erected around the edge of the court. At night, the big heli ‘H’ lights up in neon green.
Seaview Gym
The beauty of a support vessel is the large amount of space available to carry equipment, toys, and tenders, but it also frees up space for wellness and fitness. On Wayfinder’s lower deck, the foldout beach club doubles as a well-equipped oceanfront gym for workouts that come with million-dollar views. The gym equipment includes an elliptical machine, a Nordic spinning bike, weight benches, a treadmill, a rowing machine, and punching bags. Unlike other yachts with the beach club at the stern, the aft area remains free for swimmers or just relaxing.
Environmentally Active
Built to the IMO’s latest Tier III emission guidelines, Wayfinder was designed to enhance sustainability. Its onboard treatment plant cleans all wastewater discharged to drinkable quality before being discharged. The yacht’s dry waste is also fully treated to allow the vessel to operate with a zero-discharge policy.
