Page "Catamaran" Paragraph 80

One of the reasons for increased mega catamaran construction was " The Race ", a circumnavigation challenge which departed from Barcelona, Spain, on New Year's Eve, 2000.

Because of the prize money and prestige associated with this event, four new catamarans ( and two highly modified ones ) over 100 ' in length were built to compete.

The largest, " PlayStation ", owned by Steve Fossett, was 125 ' long and had a mast which was 147 ' above the water.

Virtually all of the new mega cats were built of pre-preg carbon fiber for strength and the lowest possible weight.

Top speeds of these boats can approach 50 knots.