Our Story

The creative spark and driving force of the Sunreef Yachts shipyard is Francis Lapp – the company’s Founder and CEO.

Born in France in 1958 Francis Lapp began his business activity in the domains of electric power and construction. After occupying managerial positions in the industry’s major companies he endeavored to found his own. An avid rally enthusiast, he visited Poland for the first time to take part in a race held by Warsaw’s Automobile Club. Having discovered Poland’s immense development potential throughout the 1990’s he chose to establish his business there and soon became a successful manufacturer of electrical equipment for some of the biggest global brands, soon expanding to providing services including the design and installation of electrical, sanitary and air conditioning systems for large industrial facilities.

Poland is also where Francis Lapp developed a vivid interest for sailing, having discovered the world of small racing catamarans. This experience encouraged him to buy his first, larger cruising catamaran which he based in Madagascar. With the purchase of more similar yachts he opened a travel agency, specializing in charters on the Indian Ocean. The company grew quickly as clients demanded more comfortable and larger catamarans. While trying to source such boats, he discovered there were no suitable yachts available on the market. This inspired him to get involved in building large, customized, luxury multihulls. This is how Sunreef Yachts was born.

Starting a new business and a lifelong adventure with yachting, Francis Lapp opened a shipyard in Gdansk - a city with long traditions in naval construction and the most skilled workforce. With the launch of the world’s first 74ft luxury oceangoing catamaran with a flybridge in 2003 Sunreef Yachts started a new era in the history of yachting and sparked a change in the philosophy of multihull design.

Today, over 140 Sunreef Yachts both sailing and power, are cruising worldwide and spreading the unique Sunreef touch around the globe. The company is now the world leader in the design and construction of large, customized luxury catamarans, exhibiting at the most important yacht shows including Cannes, Monaco, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Dubai, Qatar or Singapore.

2002

Sunreef Yachts establishes its production site and office in Gdansk, Poland

2003

The launch of the world’s first oceangoing luxury catamaran with a flybridge – Sunreef 74 CHE

2008

The launch of the world’s first double deck power catamaran with oceanic range – 70 Sunreef Power JAMBO designed with Laurent Bourgnon

Sunreef Yachts develops in-house production of carbon masts over 25m

2010

Introduction of the Sunreef Ultimate line – an ultramodern range of high performance sailing luxury catamarans

The launch of the superyacht Sunreef 102 Ipharra – the world’s first double deck sailing catamaran

The launch of the superyacht Sunreef 114 Che – the world’s biggest sloop-rigged catamaran

2011

Sunreef 102 IPHARRA titled as the finalist of Showboats Design Award

Sunreef 114 Che - the finalist of World Superyacht Awards

2013

Francis Lapp awarded as the Entrepreneur of the Year at the World Yacht Trophies during the Cannes Yachting Festival

Introduction of the 210 Power Trimaran concept. A three-hulled megayacht of 210 ft with a living area of nearly 1000m²

Introduction of the Sunreef 165 Ultimate concept. A 165 ft sailing luxury megayacht

The launch of the 60 Sunreef Power Lilu -the world’s first 60ft power catamaran with IPS Volvo propulsion

The launch of the Sunreef 80 Carbon Line Levante – the world’s first carbon catamaran-superyacht

The 90 Sunreef Power awarded as the Discovery of the Year at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards

Most Spectacular Entry to China of the Year at SIBEX, Shenzhen International Boat Show

2014

Introduction of the 40 Sunreef Hydrofoil concept. High speed luxury catamarans

The launch of the world’s first catamaran-superyacht with a folding mast

The launch of the world’s first 70ft power catamaran with IPS Volvo propulsion

The Sunreef 156 Ultimate concept prized with the Best of the Best Award by Robb Report China

Sunreef Yachts receives the Global Manufacturing Excellence Award in the Motor & Sailing Yachts Category

The Sunreef 80 Carbon Line receives the European Medal Award

The 70 Sunreef Power Damrak II prized as the Best Asia-Based Charter Yacht of the Year by Asia Pacific Boating Magazine

2015

The Sunreef 74 receives the Asia Boating Award and is recognized as the Best Worldwide Sailing Yacht Above 15m

Development of the revolutionary Sunreef Supreme line

2016

Launching of the Sunreef Supreme 68 – first yacht in the Sunreef Supreme Range

The 70 Sunreef Power receives the Asia Boating Award and is recognized as the Best Multihull Motor Yacht

The Sunreef Supreme 68 receives the World Yacht Trophies Award for the Best Layout

2017

Sunreef Yachts celebrates the shipyard's 15th anniversary

Introduction of a new range of sailing catamarans inspired with classics

The launch of the Sunreef 88 Double Deck superyacht

The Sunreef Supreme 68 receives the Asia Boating Award and is recognized as the Best Sailing Multihull Yacht

2018

The Sunreef 88 Double Deck wins the Christofle Yacht Style Award as Best Multihull over 15m

The 40 Open Sunreef Power wins the Asia Boating Award as Best Recreational Boat up to 45ft

The Sunreef 88 Double Deck wins the Asia Boating Award as Best Sailing Multihull over 50ft

The 40 Open Sunreef Power wins the World Yachts Trophies as Best Power Driven Catamaran

2019

The 40 Open Sunreef Power wins the Christofle Yacht Style Award as Best Multihull Motor Yacht in Asia

The 40 Open Sunreef Power wins the Multihull of the Year Award as Best Power Multihull

Sunreef 80 voted as Best Sailing Yacht at the Yacht and Aviation Awards

The 80 Sunreef Power wins the World Yachts Trophies as Best Power Driven Catamaran

Rafael Nadal commissions an 80 Sunreef Power catamaran with Sunreef Yachts

Sunreef Yachts commissioned to build a the 49M Sunreef Power superyacht

2020

The Sunreef 80 Gaya wins the Oceanway China Yachts Award in the "Innovation" category

The Sunreef 80 wins the Best of Show award in the Best in Water Sailboat Display category

The 60 Sunreef Power wins the World Yachts Trophies as Best Power Driven Catamaran

Sunreef Yachts wins the World Yachts Trophies as the Best Shipyard of the Year

The 80 Sunreef Power wins the Oceanway China Yachts Award in the Best Catamaran Layout category

Sunreef Yachts awarded in the competition Polska Firma - Międzynarodowy Czempion 2020 in the category Exporter

Sunreef Yachts commissioned to build the 100 Sunreef Power motoryacht

Nico Rosberg becomes Sunreef Yachts Eco brand ambassador

2021

The interior of the Sunreef 70 Ginette recognized as one of the winning designs in the SIT Furniture Design Awards

Sunreef Yachts received the Economic Award of the President of the Republic of Poland, triumphing in the "International Success" category

Sunreef Yachts' composite-integrated solar power system won the UIM Environmental Award

Sunreef 60 "E" recognized as Best Electric Sailboat at the Gustave Trouvé Awards

The 80 Sunreef Power Kokomo recognized as one of the best designs of the DNA Paris Design Awards 2021

The 80 Sunreef Power Great White Wins The Best Of The Best Award

Sunreef 70 wins The International Yacht & Aviation Award

The Sunreef Yachts Eco range wins the World Yachts Trophies as Eco Green Catamarans Trophy

The 70 Sunreef Power wins the World Yachts Trophies as Best Power Driven Catamaran

Fernando Alonso becomes Sunreef Yachts Eco brand ambassador and commissions an 60 Sunreef Power Eco catamaran with Sunreef Yachts

2022

The launch of the first-ever eco yacht to feature Sunreef's solar skin – Sunreef 80 Eco

80 Sunreef Power Wins Oceanway China Yacht Award

Sunreef Yachts unveils the new superyacht concept of sailing catamaran Sunreef 43M, available also in Eco version

100 Sunreef Power was elected as Best Power Driven Catamaran at the prestigious World Yachts Trophies gala

The Company has been recognized as Polska Firma – Międzynarodowy Czempion in the category Exporter

Sunreef Yachts has been awarded with The Amber Egg

Sunreef 80 Eco wins Gustave Trouve Award 2022

2023

Sunreef 80 Eco wins German Design Award 2023

Explorer Awards recognized Sunreef 80 Eco

The Sunreef 80 Eco has won The International Yacht & Aviation Award 2023 in the Sail Yacht category.