Shift Yachts has unveiled the SHIFT 787, a 24-metre sailing catamaran concept developed for a private client. The New Zealand company’s largest design to date combines accommodation for six to eight guests and four crew with a lightweight carbon structure and planned hybrid propulsion.

Main image: digital rendering of the SHIFT 787 under sail. © Shift Yachts.

Separate spaces for guests and crew

The project began with three priorities: keep guest and crew areas separate, provide a comfortable working environment in extreme climates, and prioritise sailing performance. That brief shapes both the accommodation and the way people move around the yacht.

The proposed layout provides ensuite guest cabins and an internal forward cockpit for the crew, fully shaded and air-conditioned. Direct access to the galley, working decks and crew quarters allows crew members to carry out their duties without passing through the saloon or guest areas.

Guests can retain that separation from the working areas or open the saloon to the breeze while sailing. The design aims to offer privacy without isolating life on board from the sailing experience.

Digital rendering of the SHIFT 787 under sail, viewed from the stern quarter. © Shift Yachts.
Digital rendering of the SHIFT 787 under sail, viewed from the stern quarter. © Shift Yachts.

A projected lightship weight of 24 tonnes

Shift specifies carbon prepreg construction with aerospace-grade Nomex honeycomb cores and a target lightship displacement of 24 tonnes. This remains a projected figure for the concept, rather than the measured weight of a completed yacht.

The proposed hybrid drivetrain would also supply the yacht’s onboard systems. According to Paul Hakes, the combination of weight control, layout and propulsion is intended to support quieter and more efficient cruising. Fast ocean passages and regatta potential are design ambitions; the release does not provide tested speeds or detailed propulsion specifications.

A new project from Paul and James Hakes

Shift Yachts was founded by father-and-son team Paul and James Hakes, formerly of HH Catamarans. The company brings together yacht design, structural engineering, construction, project management and after-sales services.

Paul oversees yacht construction, while James is responsible for design and engineering, from the initial concept through to detailed production drawings.

Paul Hakes, co-founder of Shift Yachts, oversees construction. © Shift Yachts.
Paul Hakes, co-founder of Shift Yachts, oversees construction. © Shift Yachts.
James Hakes, co-founder of Shift Yachts, leads design and engineering. © Shift Yachts.
James Hakes, co-founder of Shift Yachts, leads design and engineering. © Shift Yachts.

The SHIFT 787 is presented as a concept for a private client. Its published dimensions and accommodation describe the proposed design, with the emphasis on performance cruising and a clear division between guest life and crew operations.

Explore the SHIFT 787 model page for the proposed layout, preliminary specifications and exterior gallery.

For more information, visit the official Shift Yachts website.