Silent-Yachts SY80 wins Multihulls World power category over 60 feet

Silent Yachts has landed a meaningful win for the whole solar-electric segment. The SY80 took the Multihulls World Multihull of the Year 2026 title in the Power - Over 60' category, a result announced with the rest of the awards on April 22 at the International Multihull Show.

For a builder that has spent years arguing that electric multihulls can deliver more than novelty, the SY80 is now the named proof point. Silent Yachts describes it as its flagship solar-powered, fully electric catamaran, and the award gives judges’ backing to a boat built around long-range cruising in total comfort, energy independence, and a flexible layout strategy that fits the luxury market rather than chasing a one-size-fits-all formula. The company had said voting for the 2026 competition closed on April 18.

The numbers help explain why the SY80 stood out. The 80-footer carries up to 22.4 kWp of solar power and battery capacity ranging from 522 kWh to 696 kWh depending on configuration. Silent Yachts says the catamaran cruises at 7 to 8 knots and can reach 12 knots, while accommodating up to 12 guests. Buyers can choose among three layouts: 2-Deck, 3-Deck Open, and 3-Deck Closed. That mix of range strategy, onboard systems, and design execution is likely exactly what the category recognition rewarded.

The timing matters too. Silent Yachts launched the SY80 in 2025 and planned its world premiere for the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2025, signaling from the start that this was meant to be the brand’s high-end calling card. The company also said the first hull was sold and fully customized, with two additional three-deck SY80s already sold, a sign that the model is not just winning attention but finding buyers in a demanding corner of the market.

The broader significance reaches beyond one trophy. Silent Yachts traces its solar-electric history back to the Solarwave 46 prototype in 2009 and the Silent 64 production model in 2016, and says its current drivetrain has been refined over tens of thousands of nautical miles. That continuity gives the SY80 win extra weight. It comes after the company’s 2024 financial distress, rescue by new ownership, restructuring, and a five-year growth plan under Fabrizio Iarrera. In that context, the award reads as more than a design accolade. It is a public vote of confidence in the reborn brand and in the idea that large electric multihulls can compete seriously at the top end of the luxury market.