Favored by the world's richest people, the 224-foot-long aluminium catamaran, known as the Wayfinder, is not only a charter superyacht, but also a powerful superyacht support boat. It's full of toys and tech, like a moving palace of technology.
Aptly named, the Wayfinder is the world's second purpose-built catamaran, meticulously built by Astilleros Armon in 2021 and is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the shipyard to date. Its unique catamaran design and striking blue helipad (which also serves as a sports field) make it instantly recognisable.
The 68.2-meter-long Pathfinder is reportedly owned by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and Oliver Design, the Spanish studio that designed and decorated the yacht's interior, confirmed that the unconfirmed owner is "one of the richest people in the world". The 1,003-square-meter interior includes crew cabins and cabins, offices, galleys, dining rooms, lounges, and an infirmary like many support boats today.
The Pathfinder is modelled on the excellence of the shipyard's multi-award-winning flagship catamaran, the Hodor, delivered in 2019. It features the industrial design and ship engineering techniques of Australian large catamaran specialist Incat Crowther and is flexible to convert between a transatlantic charter yacht and a dedicated support yacht. Whether it's carrying a fleet of water toys or picking up helicopters and annex boats, it can handle it with ease. Currently, the yacht is chartered by the agency Edmiston, which rents up to 375,000 euros per week. Its 2024 itinerary is already full, including the Mediterranean, Baltic, Red Sea and Arabian Gulf in the summer, before heading to the Caribbean for the winter.
Power is provided by two MTU 16V engines, driving two Servogear controllable pitch propellers at a top speed of 21 knots. What's even more amazing is that at a cruising speed of 14 knots, it is capable of cruising up to 5,500 nautical miles, showing amazing ocean-going capabilities.
Today, the catamaran is moored in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, quietly waiting for its next adventure. There may be a lot more interesting facts about it waiting to be discovered......
01
One of the largest water playgrounds
At 68 meters long, the Pathfinder surpasses its sister boat "Hodor" at 66 meters in size and is equipped with equally striking facilities. This support boat is a treasure trove of toys and is loaded with a variety of eye-catching amusement facilities. The support boat is not only equipped with the usual jet skis, wakeboards, surfboards, Seabob snorkels and snorkeling equipment, but also a full set of diving equipment in the submersible compression tank.
Her carrying capacity is even more impressive, with a helicopter, five large annexes, including a 39-foot Compass luxury annex for 16 visitors and a 37-foot Munson beach landing craft for 17 guests, and even an expedition icebreaker, the E-Jetboard. The Pathfinder is a moving paradise and a fortress to conquer the ocean, demonstrating to the world the infinite love and exploration spirit of mankind for the ocean.
02
Dedicated service area
Every detail of the interior layout of the Pathfinder is dedicated to the perfect presentation of the service area. The waste management, laundry, workshop and storage areas are designed to be both efficient and practical. It is worth mentioning that the support boat not only adheres to the latest Tier III emission guidelines of the International Maritime Organization, but also incorporates innovative green technologies and is committed to reducing its environmental impact through zero-emission operation capabilities, demonstrating its strong commitment to environmental protection. The treatment unit on board purifies all discharged wastewater to drinkable standards, and wet and dry waste is also fully treated on board, enabling the ship to operate on the principle of zero discharge, which perfectly illustrates the environmental concept of "leaving no trace".
03
Full-time crew
The Pathfinder's upper deck accommodation is designed for superyacht and support boat crew and premium charter guests. 11 suites, including 9 single rooms and 2 double rooms, can accommodate up to 12 guests. The crew quarters on the main deck can accommodate up to 22 staff members. With a full-time crew of 19-20 on board, the vessel has a strong line-up of experienced skippers, RYA-certified professional yacht sailors, dive instructors, deck doctors, retired officers and merchant seamen, as well as highly skilled engineers, royal yacht chefs and in-house crew. They form a dedicated team to ensure the safety and comfort of guests during the voyage, suitable for excursions to the surrounding islands and the seabed.
04
Two rental models
Designed by Incat Crowther and built by Astilleros Armón's Burela shipyard in western Spain, the Pathfinder is a superyacht that can be rented independently or as a support boat for a superyacht, ready to follow it at any time. The charm of this yacht lies in its spacious passenger capacity, which can accommodate up to 200 guests, which is why she is often the focus of celebrity social occasions such as the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival.
The Pathfinder yacht also offers convenient transfers between helicopters and feedboats, as well as a dedicated helicopter lounge for guests to enjoy while waiting for their helicopter. The main deck is a playground for tender boats and water toys, while the accommodation area is located on the more tranquil upper deck, guaranteeing a quality rest for every guest. In addition, there are two dining areas with sea views, allowing guests to enjoy the stunning sea views and the tranquility of the ocean while enjoying the food.
05
Versatile large open aft deck
The large open aft deck is built for function and fun. There is a commercially registered helipad (which means it is also available for hire) for taking guests on and off the yacht in style. There's even a dedicated "helicopter lounge" where guests can wait for their helicopter transfer. Located in front of the helipad on the same deck, a short distance from the yacht's elevator, the lounge is modern and technologically designed.
The spacious venue is decorated with a blue floor, and the bold H mark in the center not only guides the way, but also becomes a unique sign. It also serves as a cricket pitch for charter guests, allowing guests to experience the passion and joy of sports while enjoying a yacht trip. At the edge of the court, a temporary three-sided net wall stands up, which not only effectively prevents the ball from flying into the water, but also adds a tension and excitement to the game. Next to it, the comfortable lounge provides a great vantage point for spectators to watch the game, making it feel as if they are in the center of the arena and feel every minute and every second.
06
Gym with sea view
The advantage of a support boat is that there is plenty of space available to carry equipment, toys and annexes, but it also makes room for health and fitness. On the lower deck of the yacht, the fold-out beach club doubles as a fully equipped beachfront gym for million-dollar workouts. Fitness equipment includes equipment such as weight machines, exercise bikes, rowing machines, and punching bags for boxing. The fold-out beach club is located on the port side of the lower deck, where guests can work out at the water's edge while enjoying the impressive sea views.
07
Extraordinary abilities
With the exception of ice areas, it is capable of operating globally, with a beam of 14.4 meters and a draft of 2.4 meters allowing for close shoreline navigation. Dan Mace, technical manager at Incat Crowther, described the Pathfinder as boasting "ultimate flexibility and operational efficiency" with an innovative catamaran hull that increases deck space by 60 per cent and volumetric capacity by 40 per cent. He adds: "The high speed and low fuel consumption are impressive. "The design provides a stable platform for the safe transfer of guests from the helicopter via the annex boat. The hull provides 70% stability for loading and unloading equipment and annex boats. This undoubtedly provides a solid guarantee for the safety of navigation.
08
Technical features:
Although this yacht is designed to be fun at sea, it is also full of cutting-edge technology. At the helm, the integrated bridge control, MARSS NiDAR remote perimeter security system, and drone detection escort protect the peace and privacy of each guest at all times. With the support of the Praxis dynamic positioning system, the catamaran hull is as solid as a rock, allowing the yacht to stay in place and enjoy the time at sea despite the wind and waves.