KAWTHAUNG, Myanmar 10 January 2019: A sailing firm owned by Memories Group, a leading Myanmar tourism corporation, has acquired a 16.7-metre solar-powered yacht that is now bookable for expeditions around the Mergui Archipelago.
Burma Boating’s S55 catamaran can accommodate up to six guests and operates with a crew of three.
It offers sailings around the Mergui archipelago that boast over 800 islands off the southern tip of Myanmar.
Yacht features include a flybridge commanding 360-degree views, a 40m² air-conditioned salon, and four cabins – including one 7m-wide suite – each with queen-sized beds and private en-suite bathrooms.
Built in 2018, the catamaran claims to be the first 100% solar-run boat to sail in Asia, according to the designer, Silent-Yachts.
The S55’s 30 mounted solar panels create 10kWp, which allows her to travel long distances on an average sunny day (though she also maintains a fuel-based back-up engine). Two silent 30kW motors drive the S55 to a maximum speed of 12 knots.
“The benefits of sailing with solar power cannot be overstated,” said Burma Boating’s general manager, Eric Poepper. “The S55 will leave a minimal environmental footprint, but will offer travellers unprecedented sailing comfort.
“She sails as silently over the waves as any sailboat, but without depending on the wind. When anchored, even the usual generator noises will vanish and become a memory of the past, letting the passengers focus entirely on the magnificence of the Mergui islands, landscapes and sunsets.”
The solar catamaran will be skippered by Captain Ajun May from Germany, an experienced sailor in the archipelago, having previously piloted Burma Boating’s SY Y Not yacht.
Burma Boating caters to private tailor-made cruises on the S55 for up to six persons, starting at boat charter fee of USD3,200 per day. It also offers a choice of a 4-day or 6-day cabin charters leaving from the port of Kawthaung in southern Myanmar, each Saturday from November through to May.
A six-day sailing promoted on TourRadar costs USD2,764 per person.
Burma Boating is part of the Memories Group, which owns and operates resorts and tour activities in Myanmar, including hot air balloon adventures, sailing tours, five-star hotels and rustic boutique lodges.
