Francis Lapp, founder and CEO of Sunreef Yachts, talks about his journey on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the founding of his shipyard
by Andrea Dini
Sunreef Yachts celebrates its first twenty years of activity with over 200 yachts, both sail, and motor, which sail all over the world. The company, founded by Francis Lapp, is today a world leader in the design and construction of large customised luxury catamarans.
Sunreef celebrates 20 years, what have been the main steps of this successful story? Launching the first Sunreef was the starting point. Back then, yacht building was a kind of hobby to me, but I quickly realised there could be a market for the product I created. I simply opened a market niche for luxury catamarans. One of the big moments for Sunreef Yachts was our entry into the world of motor yachts in 2008 – we created a 70 Sunreef Power catamaran for the world-famous sailor Laurent Bourgnon and I can honestly say that it was a groundbreaking yacht. In 2010 we marked our entry into the world of superyachts with two superb sailing catamarans. Then, there were also difficult moments, like the fire in our facilities. I remember being away in Turkey at the time and receiving that chilling phone call. Everything burned down, including the yachts under construction. Rebuilding Sunreef Yachts was a tough challenge, but also a milestone moment. We realised how strong and motivated we are as a team. There was also a time when I felt we needed to reassess our range and create an entirely new line both power and sail. We named it New Beginning and in a way, it was a fresh start for us as it brought massive interest and led to our further growth. Today, we have another milestone project – Sunreef Yachts Eco, a full range of eco-responsible yachts that make no compromise on luxury. This is particularly important for us as it is our way to help people navigate in the most responsible way possible. I could list a few more key moments, but I am not at all sentimental. I like to look forward.
Who was Francis Lapp 20 years ago and who is he today? How much have you changed together with the growth of Sunreef Yachts? I don’t think I have changed a lot. I was always been a driven type of personality. Always looking for opportunities, always looking for a challenge. The growth of Sunreef Yachts has not changed my approach to business and people. I still like to stay close to my team and close to my customers. If I look back, I can say I have learned a few lessons, but I also taught a few.
How many men and women are there behind this success? Which ones have played a key role? We now have two thousand employees and keep growing. We produce pretty much everything in-house, so we have a very diverse team with professionals from many fields. Carpenters, designers, engineers, accountants, electricians… I am proud of the entire team and l know every person plays a role in our success. Outside the team there are also people I have met on my journey in yacht building – I am thinking of people like Laurent Bourgnon or our brand ambassadors who contribute to our success. We are a big team and I think we all know the importance of teamwork.
The power catamaran range starts from 40 feet to the 210 ones of the Sunreef Power trimaran.
Why did you open a catamaran shipyard in Poland? What are the main reasons? When I started Sunreef Yachts I was already established in Poland with my construction company. I already knew Poland’s potential and did not doubt that it was the right place to start building yachts. When I arrived in post-communist Poland, I saw a country ready for change and full of business opportunities. When I moved my first business there, my friends in France seemed surprised and worried, but I knew that this country would soon flourish into a dynamic business environment, thriving up till today.
You started in the heart of Gdansk shipyards. An area, which is full of history and pride for Poland. Was this another reason?When I started to think about building my first boat, a friend of mine would tell me about the Gdansk shipyard. After the political changes in Poland, the Gdansk shipyard found itself in a difficult position with many workers being laid off. I thought that this was the right place to get into a boat building, as you could feel the energy in the air and I knew there was potential. I like to think Sunreef Yachts breathed new life into the docks of Gdansk.
What does it mean to have reached 20 years? A target achieved or is it a boost for the next 20? Twenty years is a good opportunity to think about what we achieved, but it’s also a good starting point for setting new goals. We have earned a reputation of excellence in the catamaran world, but there is still so much to do. We have key projects like Sunreef Yachts Eco or a whole new range of explorer yachts that are now a very big focus for us and many more exciting projects ahead…
The new production site features cutting-edge equipment, among which is the largest CNC machinery in Europe. All composite, carpentry, upholstery, and paint jobs are performed within a single infrastructure for maximum quality and efficiency.
How do you feel when you enter a Marina and you see a Sunreef Yachts catamaran? First, I try and recall who the owners are. It may sound unusual, but I know most of our customers personally. Then, of course, there is pride. There are more and more Sunreefs and I always enjoy the sight of our catamaran entering a marina. Then, you realize how different they are, how they stand out.
«Nothing was easy. The beginnings were humble. When I started building my first yacht, nobody believed a multi-hull could become a luxury craft. I’ve been told a thousand times that my vision would not last. Today, Sunreef Yachts is leading the way in the catamaran world, on a constant quest to make multihulls beautiful, innovative, and sustainable. The story continues and we have more than one chapter to tell…». Francis Lapp
You design and build almost everything in-house. This fact also boosted and still boosts the local know-how in Poland creating thousands of skilled professionals, who then moved from Sunreef Yachts to other companies. Do you feel you have played a role in the development of the yachting industry in Poland in the last 20 years? Yes, from the very start we felt that Sunreef Yachts was one of the companies that revived the Gdansk shipyard. But we also went a little further than that. At a very early stage, I quickly noticed that the customers worldwide were not that enthusiastic about luxury products made in Poland. So instead of marketing my product alone, I would also promote Poland as a maker of luxury goods. I started a series of lifestyle events in Gdansk – the Pomorskie Rendez-Vous, aiming to gather exclusive brands and showcase the country’s potential in that field. Today, we can say “made in Poland” is a mark of excellence.
Sunreef Yachts is equipped with the most modern logistic infrastructures, like the travel lift of 300 tonnes, able to lift yachts to 210 feet.
Now it’s time to go bigger in terms of range and company locations.New superyacht models and a shipyard in RAK. Why these further steps? We are growing. This means that we have to gain capacity. We are also noticing more and more demand from the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, so establishing a production unit in RAK seemed like the right move for us. This choice of location is not a coincidence – I see the UAE as a very forward-thinking, trend-setting place and this is in line with the Sunreef philosophy. Our range is also evolving – this is the way we operate. We always have to have goals in mind. If you look at the Sunreef Explorer Line – you have a full range of catamarans entirely dedicated to exploration in luxury – having the feeling of discovery, privacy, and amazement, away from the crowds. This is something that people find very precious nowadays.
Sunreef Yachts is expanding its production size to be ready to take on the increasing market requests thanks to an entirely new shipyard.
What is in the future of Sunreef Yachts and of Francis Lapp? Someone once asked me what my favorite Sunreef was. My answer was: “the next one”. You can expect Sunreef Yachts to grow and continue to set the bar higher and higher. We have enough ideas to keep us busy for many years to come.
(Francis Lapp, 20 years of innovation – Barchemagazine.com – October 2022)
