Few people know that Sunreef Yachts began as a luxury charter company. Before introducing its first catamaran, Francis Lapp founded Sunreef Travel, a charter fleet operating in the Indian Ocean, particularly around Madagascar.
In an interview, Francis and Nicolas Lapp reflect on this early chapter, explaining how their passion for yachting evolved into the creation of Sunreef Yachts.
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How did the idea for a charter fleet start, and why Madagascar?
Francis Lapp: My journey began racing Hobie Cats in Poland, which sparked my love for yachting. A visit to the Paris boat show inspired me to purchase a 46-foot catamaran, ideal for charters with its stability, size, and shallow draft.
Around the same time, I joined a rally in Madagascar and was captivated by the location. I decided to base my charter business there, founding Sunreef Travel.
Was the business an instant success?
FL: Not quite. I quickly learned that one boat wasn’t enough to make the business profitable, so we added a 56-foot yacht and a trawler. Gradually, our client base grew. However, I wanted to offer high-end catamaran charters, but the market didn’t have the kind of luxury yachts I envisioned.
To meet this demand, I decided to build my own. The first Sunreef, a 74-footer, joined the fleet but never made it to Madagascar—one of our clients fell in love with it and bought it immediately.
This pivotal moment marked the beginning of Sunreef Yachts, blending the family-friendly comfort of catamarans with the high-end luxury that the market lacked.
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