REDEFINING LUXURY PERFORMANCE CRUISING
In a record time of just 36 hours, the recently launched, M/Y MACH 4, built in Tauranga, covered 1,170 nautical miles travelling from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand to the Gold Coast, Australia (where her new Australian owners have taken delivery), averaging a speed of 32.5 knots and clocking a maximum 50.9 knots. Arguably the fastest motoryacht to cross the ‘ditch’, even amazing Customs agents who were tracking its voyage. In a league of her own, the XF75 outpaces, outperforms, and outclasses, well, just about everything! The future of yachting is now here.
The Voodoo XF75 is a story in three parts, and I was fortunate enough to be aboard the craft for the first part in early May of this year while still in Tauranga, undergoing her final commissioning and sea trials, before setting off across the Tasman a few days later.
THE EVOLUTION OF VOODOO AND THE XF75
After 38 years building luxury boats and superyachts for international clients, Dave Pachoud (co-founder of Voodoo Yachts) knew exactly what he wanted when the time came to build his own perfect boat. At the time, his mix of demands left him with some seemingly insurmountable design challenges to overcome.
As an experienced seaman with thousands of ocean miles under his belt, Dave wanted a boat capable of crossing oceans. Trips to Australia and the Pacific Islands were on the agenda from his home in New Zealand. This meant the boat had to be very safe, capable and stable. It seemed simple enough, but there were a few other demands that made the design project a bit more difficult. Dave wanted his new boat to cocoon his family in luxury, be breathtaking to look at, and be fast. Not just typically fast, but blisteringly fast. And to top it off, he wanted his boat to set new standards in fuel efficiency. Often, Dave had been on a passage in fair weather, thinking that he could do any speed at all if only the boat had the performance and range to take advantage of the weather window. Thus, the design team were faced with creating an expeditioncapable vessel that looked like a sports car, performed like a race car, was as sturdy as an off-road AWD and had the luxury of a five-star hotel. Dave invited naval architect and long-time collaborator, Roger Hill, to team up with him on the design. The team were quick to settle on a catamaran; they knew from decades of building cats that there was no other hull configuration that could possibly deliver on the brief. Within a very short time they realised that their impossible brief was actually possible by the use of a hydrofoil between the hulls.
Although the performance of foils is indisputable, the boat still had to safely cross open oceans and safety could not be compromised for the sake of performance. The solution was to create the foiling wing as a separate composite structure so that in the event of a strike, it would break away from the boat, leaving the hull intact.
Within one year of being penned, the XpeditionWing was a reality, and performing miracles under the original VOODOO 1. What the team had achieved with the first Voodoo was thought to be impossible, but now it inhabits a niche place in the market. Voodoo owners aren’t typical boat owners; they’re genuine ocean adventurers, and now there’s a boat that’s perfect for them.
What sets the Voodoo range of Expedition Cruisers apart from any other boat on the market is their ability to cover huge open ocean distances at high speeds in absolute comfort. The Xpedition Wing, which carries around 50% of the vessel’s displacement at cruising speed, is responsible for the boat’s incredible efficiency. Rising 800mm, it provides exceptional dynamic wing deck clearance and lowers the vessel’s wetted surface area, allowing the powertrain to propel the hull at speeds of up to 50 knots with a fuel consumption of a vessel half the weight.
The new XF75 is equipped with the latest generation of Xpedition Wing and hull design – the results of 15 years of R&D and testing in open ocean – which gives it outstanding handling characteristics. When the boat is on the foil, it cuts through small chop effortlessly, offering exceptional ride quality and occupant comfort that is quite exceptional.
Witnessing this first hand, while out at sea off Tauranga Harbour, where Dave and his son Mitch, along with over a dozen boat-building professionals, were finalising things aboard, I was suitably impressed with the way the XF75 banked slightly into corners at high speed, giving me both a sense of security and stability. Not to mention a very sporty feel. Slow speed manoeuvrability is outstanding with the widely spaced Hamilton HTX42 water jet units allowing the helmsman to spin the boat around almost on the spot.
The control of the Hamilton Jet units is so precise that no thrusters (bow or stern) are required. Instead, the Jet units vector the thrust using nozzles and buckets to move the vessel completely sideways if wanted and the station lock system is so accurate, it can hold the XF75 side on to the current. With only a slight move of the joystick the boat will move to a new position and hold there, which is an incredibly useful feature when docking in winds or strong currents. While on board, I was mightily impressed as I witnessed Dave manoeuvre the vessel in and out of its tight marina berth, while he stood on the stern swim platform utilising a remote device plugged into a control panel at the stern, employing both his own line of sight and focusing on the large stern screen monitor. It was almost like some futuristic video game function, watching this large craft being moved around with a touch of the controller joystick. The future is certainly now!
‘Mach 4’ is powered by twin MYU10v2000 series diesel engines rated at 1600hp each. Transferring power from the engines to the water was no problem, thanks to the team at Beattys Driveline, who designed and manufactured the Turret 35 marine cardan shaft system connecting the MTU engines, ZF gearboxes, and Hamilton Jet drive units. Coupled, they deliver a blistering sprint speed of 50 knots, while offering a 1200nm range at an optimal 35 knots cruising speed. Dial this back to an 8 knots ‘passage’ speed and you are looking at a potential trans-oceanic range of 3,500 nautical miles. That’s a capability usually reserved for displacement Passage Makers – not a vessel that can crack 40 knots with ease.
The relatively low HP for a vessel of this size, coupled with the high speeds it offers, has other benefits as well, such as dramatically lowering your energy footprint. This also turns into significant savings on engine consumables, enabling much longer travel distances per engine hour. This was proven on the recent inaugural voyage from New Zealand to Australia in just 36 hours. So, why is this significant? Well, for most boats, this would represent 150 hours of engine run time. Extrapolating, this means that within a normal 500-hour engine service interval, the XF75 could conceivably travel 17,500 nm compared to a conventional 20 knot displacement cruiser with the same service interval, only achieving 10,000 nm. Meanwhile, an 8-knot cruiser would only achieve 4,000 nm within its 500-hour service interval. Translation. A significant cost reduction as well as environmental savings, as the 8-knot conventional vessel would have been serviced four times before a Voodoo’s first service was even due. The XF75 is engineered to perform. The hull’s low-wake design creates minimal disruption to the surrounding environment, helping to reduce its ecological impact. Coppercoat antifoul was selected for its durability and long-lasting performance, enabling the owner to spend extended periods on the water during his adventures.
Although the sea was quite calm during the time we were out, Dave explained to me that in a more significant seaway, Voodoo’s refined Xpedition Wing negates ‘porpoise’ or pitch tendencies, often associated with foil boats and that the boat’s running angle thus feels ‘locked in’. He further pointed out that in a following sea the boat keeps its nose up – tending to accelerate and surf down waves rather than driving down them and that the XF75 isn’t prone to bow steering or burying its nose deep into the back of the next wave, a significant issue for a lot of boats in following seas. And, as has been mentioned above, safety has not been compromised for the sake of unquestionable performance.
One of the challenges with traditional catamaran designs is tunnel clearance. A high tunnel clearance is preferable to avoid contact with waves, but the resulting high internal floor height restricts the interior and results in poor access to the water, and the increased overall height of the boat creates excess windage. Voodoo’s Xpedition Wing negates these compromises by letting the boat sit low and close to the water at rest but lifting to create high tunnel clearance at speed. Who said you can’t have it all?
The XF75 platform was designed from the outset to break the mould. At 7.6 metres wide, the catamaran offers a beam far more generous than most monohulls of the same length, which translates directly into interior volume and deck space. There’s 275 square metres of usable area onboard, cleverly designed to create a yacht that feels much bigger than its waterline length suggests.
This craft exhibits extreme adventure capability, reliability and refined luxury befitting the owner’s requirements for thrilling performance and exceptional ride comfort in a wide range of conditions. In addition, it is capable of being handled by two people, with shallow draft options opening up more destinations than ever. This shallow draft of just 0.9 metres for waterjet models and 1.4 metres for propeller models, the XF75 can access bays and anchorages that traditional motoryachts of this size can’t approach – opening up New Zealand’s more remote cruising grounds, or those found throughout Australia, the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.
She sleeps eight guests across four cabins, with additional space for crew. Layouts are customisable, but all versions include a generous full beam owner’s suite, multiple bathrooms (four or five, depending on owner preference), expansive social areas aft and forward, and a large galley optimised for extended cruising. The single level main deck floor incorporates the cockpit, galley, saloon and helm areas, merging seamlessly and creating perfect flow and a uniquely light and spacious feel, allowing guests to move about the boat with ease. And for those who like their toys, there’s space for a large tender, a jet ski, dedicated surf or SUP storage and all the usual water sports gear. The wide cockpit and open aft deck are ideal for entertaining, while the foredeck lounge is a perfect spot for sundowners after a fast passage. Even with a large group onboard, the XF75 has ample seating and socialising areas for everyone.
The main cockpit houses a generous banquet area with direct access to the expansive galley and an unobstructed view through the entire cabin, ensuring that XF75 guests get to share their experiences regardless of whether they are helming or just relaxing. The helm station has been designed for optimal usability and visibility, housing state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems. These features ensure that the yacht is prepared for long-distance expeditions, providing the necessary tools for safe and efficient travel. Equally comfortable in both standing and seated positions, the helm station is a perfect blend of luxury and functionality.
One standout feature is the fully functional helideck. Built to accommodate a light turbine helicopter up to H130 class, the deck includes refuelling capability for extended remote operations – a feature usually only seen on expedition-style yachts over 40 metres. It’s a sign of the sort of use the XF75 is built for: long-range adventures, remote anchorages, and off-grid independence without sacrificing comfort.
THE VOYAGE ACROSS THE TASMAN SEA
To a soundtrack of Led Zeppelin, ACDC and an assortment of rock, Mitch and Dave Pachoud and one other crew from the esteemed New Zealand builder, Voodoo Yachts, along with the new owner and two of his mates, departed from Northland’s Bay of Islands on Thursday morning, May 15th, making a brief stop, mid-ocean at Ball’s Pyramid and Lord Howe Island, before carrying on to Australia.
After steadily travelling at 36 knots, the jagged monolith came into sight, rising like a stone fang from the sea floor in the middle of the Tasman Sea. Ball’s Pyramid is no island in the traditional sense. There is no welcoming shore, no friendly cove – only a spear of basalt, 562 metres tall, thrusting from the depths. Weathered and totally exposed, the Pyramid is home to denizens of the deep, for those who can get there and haul them up.
Carrying on to Australia, the XF75 and her crew arrived at Southport Yacht Club Customs on Friday night and were cleared on Saturday morning by Border Force, who had been excitedly following the trip across ‘the ditch’. A record crossing of just under 1,200 nautical miles in 36 hours of travel time. After arrival at The Boat Works, by mid-morning they had berthed at the Superyacht basin for finishing touches in preparation for the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, where the sensational Voodoo XF75 had her global debut. The 75ft Xpedition Foiler is described as “devastatingly fast, immensely capable and effortlessly luxurious”. It certainly fulfilled all those superlatives on its Tasman Sea crossing. “We’ve made fast passages before, but this one was unique!” said Mitch Pachoud. “We did 36 knots most of the way and she certainly made a hit at the show, with an Airbus H130, 7-seater helicopter on the Helideck, putting the craft leagues ahead of any competitors.”
THE ADVENTURE
The XF75 stands out with its distinctive approach to expedition yachting, incorporating cutting-edge technology and design principles. Beyond its performance metrics, the XF75 is built to withstand the rigours of exploration. Its robust construction and advanced systems make it well-suited for navigating remote and often shallow waters, as well as challenging environments. The yacht’s capabilities are further enhanced by its range and endurance, allowing for extended voyages without the need for frequent refuelling. These attributes make the XF75 an ideal choice for those seeking a vessel that can support both adventure and exploration, offering a platform that is as versatile as it is capable. Built specifically for its Western Australian owner, who plans to undertake extensive voyages to the remote Kimberley area of Northwestern Australia, the introduction of the XF75 marks a new chapter for Voodoo Yachts, showcasing their ability to adapt and innovate in response to the evolving needs of modern seafarers.
CONCLUSION
The Voodoo XF75 ‘Mach 4’ is a striking 22.8-metre catamaran built for her adventurous owners, who expect more speed, more comfort, more capability and more range. She is not only sporty, but an expedition craft as well. Her standard fuel tanks have a capacity of 15,000 litres. The 3,000 litre JetA1 helicopter fuel tank can also be used for diesel to increase the range of the XF75 even further. Her cruising speed varies from 20 to 40 knots, and with the optional fuel tank she has a staggering range of 3,500 nautical miles at a speed of 8 knots in displacement mode. Before the boat left New Zealand I asked Mitch about her range at speed. He replied, “I believe we can average about 12 to 13 litres per nautical mile at our optimal cruising speed of 35 knots”. At the time I felt that was a somewhat staggering claim, but the XF75’s voyage to Australia had proven that my incredulity was ill-founded. From the first moments of sea trials, it was clear ‘Mach 4’ has already begun redefining expectations of what a performance luxury motoryacht can be. Described by her builders as “the embodiment of wildfire,” Mach 4 continues the Voodoo tradition of turning heads.
Like every Voodoo yacht, she’s not just a vessel – she’s a statement.
SPECIFICATIONS
Overall Length 22.8m
Beam 7.6m
Draft 0.9m
Displacement 50t
Maximum Speed 50 Knots
Cruising Speed 20-40 Knots
Engines 2 x MTU 10V2000 M96L – 1600hp
Fuel Capacity 15,000L
PERFORMANCE DATA
RPM KNOTS LNM RANGE
800 8.5 4 3560
1600 20 11.0 1295
1800 31.9 11.2 1270
1900 34.5 11.5 1240
2000 38.5 12.6 1130
2200 45.5 13.3 1070
2400 50.9 14.7 970
