In brief
- International footballer Lionel Messi has officially placed an order for a high-end motor catamaran with a length of 28.40 metres from the Sunreef Yachts shipyard.
- The vessel, designated as the Sunreef ULTIMA 88, is currently under assembly and construction at the ultra-modern shipyard located in the United Arab Emirates.
The unit will join the MIM Ocean fleet based in the Balearic archipelago
- Once delivery is completed by the builder, this exceptional unit will join the exclusive fleet of MIM Ocean, a nautical subsidiary established in the Spanish Balearic archipelago.
- In terms of maritime propulsion, this high-end multihull is equipped with two high-performance marine engines developing a total power of 2,000 hp.
International footballer Lionel Messi orders a high-end motor catamaran
The acquisition of a pleasure craft of this scale is a continuation of the player’s investments in the luxury and high-end tourism sector. By choosing a new-generation motor catamaran, the global football icon opts for a naval platform combining stability at sea, large living volumes, and cruise performance optimised for both offshore and coastal navigation.
An exceptional vessel ordered by Lionel Messi
International footballer Lionel Messi has ordered a high-end motor catamaran from the builder Sunreef Yachts. The Sunreef ULTIMA 88 unit is currently being assembled at the group’s naval facilities located in the United Arab Emirates. This vessel is intended to join the fleet of MIM Ocean, an entity specialising in exclusive nautical experiences based in the Balearic archipelago.
This major order highlights the growing appeal of major professional sports figures for the world of bespoke yachting. The Balearic archipelago, the planned home port for the vessel, is one of the most popular sailing areas in the Mediterranean Sea. By choosing this navigation basin for his MIM Ocean fleet, the Argentine sportsman consolidates his presence in the prestige yachting economy in the heart of Southern Europe.
A bespoke catamaran by Sunreef Yachts
Founded in 2002, the Sunreef Yachts maison has established itself as one of the major players in the international luxury multihull market. The company relies on production sites located in Poland as well as the United Arab Emirates to craft highly personalised sailing and motor catamarans. The order placed by the Argentine world champion aims to provide a family unit designed for cruising, combining space, high-end comfort, and safety at sea.
For over two decades, the Sunreef Yachts shipyard has distinguished itself by its ability to design bespoke multihulls meeting the strictest requirements in terms of naval architecture. The company’s industrial expansion into the United Arab Emirates reflects the brand’s global development and its desire to move closer to the latest generation of shipbuilding yards. The project formulated for the ULTIMA 88 unit highlights a meticulous balance between the sea-keeping qualities inherent to catamarans and the comfort features usually reserved for large monohulls.
Interior layout and owner’s suite
The layout of the interior spaces has been the subject of an in-depth study by the shipyard’s designers to optimise ergonomics on board. The design of a multihull of this scale allows for a floor area significantly greater than that of a monohull of equivalent length, thus offering unique personalisation opportunities for the owner and his guests.
A bespoke layout dedicated to comfort
The naval architecture of the Sunreef ULTIMA 88 prioritises large volumes and fluidity between the interior living spaces and the sea. The layout plan offers four guest cabins associated with a vast owner’s suite that spans the entire width of the boat. The ergonomics of the spaces have been designed to preserve the privacy of passengers while offering first-class hotel services.
Each cabin has its own sanitary facilities and integrated storage, ensuring optimal comfort during long crossings. The owner’s suite is the heart of this bespoke interior layout, benefiting from maximum natural light provided by large hull windows. The articulation between the main saloon, the galley, and the rest areas has been designed to allow fluid service on board, whether the vessel is at anchor or in full offshore navigation.
Exterior spaces and Ocean Lounge equipment
Outside, the vessel provides a panoramic flybridge suitable for moments of relaxation in the open air. The aft section integrates the Ocean Lounge concept, a signature platform space that facilitates swimming and direct access to nautical activities. A tender garage also allows for the boarding of jet-skis and various leisure equipment.
The flybridge constitutes a true terrace suspended above the sea, offering an unobstructed 360-degree view of the horizon while housing the upper helm station. For its part, the Ocean Lounge area located on the aft deck unfolds to create a living space at water level. This specific layout promotes the safe launching of nautical equipment and allows the aft deck to be transformed into a true private floating beach during stopovers in the Balearics.
Naval performance and technical specifications
The engineering choices selected by the Sunreef Yachts shipyard aim to combine optimal hydrodynamic efficiency with increased natural stability, inherent to the hull shapes of catamarans. The reduction of roll at anchor and under navigation is one of the major assets of this technical platform chosen for the MIM Ocean fleet.
Performance and technical characteristics
To ensure its movements at sea, the catamaran relies on an engine configuration developing twice 1,000 horsepower, focused on cruising speed and manoeuvrability.
Characteristics of the Eco version:
Length: 28.40 m
- Length: 28.40 m
- Width: 9.30 m
- Fuel capacity: 6,000 L
- Battery pack: 22 Kw to 75 Kw
Characteristics of the Classic version:
- Length: 28.40 m
Width: 9.30 m
- Width: 9.30 m
- Fuel capacity: 6,000 L
- Engines: Volvo D13, IPS 1050
- Builder: Sunreef Yachts
Strategic location in the Balearics and the superyacht market
The integration of the Sunreef ULTIMA 88 into the MIM Ocean fleet is part of a strong territorial dynamic in the Balearic archipelago. This group of Spanish islands, including Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera, constitutes a highly strategic crossroads for prestige yachting in the Western Mediterranean. The presence of sheltered bays, modern port infrastructure, and sailing waters suitable for motor catamarans makes it a preferred destination for large pleasure craft.
By deploying a multihull with a width of 9.30 metres in this geographical area, the owner guarantees his passengers exceptional anchoring comfort in the Balearic coves. The choice of a motor catamaran also meets current high-end navigation requirements, where the search for space and shallow draft takes precedence over top speed alone, allowing access as close as possible to restricted coastal areas.
Industrial expertise and international production sites
The construction of the ULTIMA 88 at the United Arab Emirates shipyard illustrates the rise of Middle Eastern naval hubs in the superyacht sector. While the historic site of Gdansk in Poland remains a major engineering and manufacturing centre for Sunreef Yachts since its foundation in 2002, the extension of production capacities to the United Arab Emirates allows the builder to meet a growing global demand for large bespoke units.
The Emirati facilities benefit from state-of-the-art technological equipment for moulding composite material hulls, implementing Volvo D13 IPS 1050 propulsion systems, and integrating electric battery packs for the Eco version. This bicultural industrial network allows the shipyard to maintain high standards of excellence throughout the assembly process, from the raw structure to the marine joinery finishes and interior layout.
