That’s why the OC 194 project, developed for a European client based in the United States, deserves special attention: “We are currently finalizing the choice of builder with the client, and when construction begins, it will be our first multihull built in nearly thirty years,” explains Merfyn Owen. To make matters even more interesting, the OC 194 combines features rarely brought together on a catamaran platform: reinforced aluminum construction for navigation in icy waters; a ketch rig designed to reduce sail area and simplify handling; retractable daggerboards to accommodate shallow waters; hybrid propulsion to limit fuel consumption; and an interior optimized for polar conditions. With an overall length of 22 meters, “the OC 194 is large enough to carry substantial payloads while remaining manageable for private use,” continues Merfyn. “This multihull challenges the conventional belief that only monohulls are suited to high-latitude exploration. In doing so, it opens a new path: that of the polar expedition multihull.”
