Beyond ecology: Pajot Yachts and the art of eco-integration

Marc Pajot’s Eco Yacht 115 redefines what it means to sail in luxury. Merging performance with responsibility, it offers the elegance and freedom of a superyacht while setting new standards for sustainable design, silent propulsion and life lived in harmony with the sea

For decades, superyachts have embodied freedom and retreat — from Aristotle Onassis entertaining his guests aboard Christina O to Queen Elizabeth II finding rare family intimacy on Britannia. In the collective imagination, the sea has long been a refuge, a private space sheltered from the world. Today, however, luxury at sea must also carry responsibility.

Born of the heritage of a visionary sailor, Marc Pajot, the Eco Yacht 115 represents a new way of inhabiting the sea. In every line of its hull, in every breath of wind filling its sails, continues the story of a man who has challenged oceans and now passes on his knowledge to a new generation looking towards the future.

This yacht is more than a feat of engineering. It is an act of respect — for the sea, for the planet, for those who will come after us. Silent, light, powered by natural forces, it vanishes behind the beauty of the ocean; its navigation leaves an invisible footprint, like a promise kept to nature.

 Heritage of Performance

The choice of a multihull platform is no coincidence: the fastest circumnavigations in history were accomplished under sail on multihulls. At 35 metres, the Eco Yacht 115 offers the speed and efficiency of an ocean-racing catamaran, yet on a stable, non-rolling platform that delivers true comfort. Its wide beam unlocks terraces, lounges and viewpoints facing the horizon: a life on board turned towards the sea, an island in motion. Recyclable aluminium hulls, built in double-skin for rigidity, silence and insulation, ensure durability. With shallow draft for preserved anchorages and wide beach-club platforms, the yacht offers a rare feature: aft cabins opening directly onto the beach-club, placing guests as close as possible to the sea.

Energy in Silence

Here, sail and electricity form a virtuous alliance. The primary propulsion is electric and silent; discreet solar panels charge large battery banks for navigation and hotel load. In electric mode, the yacht cruises over 30 nautical miles with no noise, no smoke, no fossil fuel. At anchor, stored energy powers lighting, air-conditioning and kitchens without running noisy generators. Under way, hydrogenerators perfected in offshore racing recharge continuously. For long passages, a diesel- electric back-up ensures safety without betraying the philosophy of sobriety. The result: cruising speeds that equal — often surpass — those of many motor yachts of similar size, but without noise, vibration or heavy fuel dependency.

Simplicity as True Luxury

The Eco Yacht 115 is built to sail, not to wait. Its boomless mainsail is handled automatically, maneuvers are assisted yet serviceable, and systems are kept robust, redundant and isolated to avoid cascading failures. This philosophy, inherited from both offshore racing and aviation, ensures owners are not immobilised in harbour, dependent on exotic parts or flying technicians. Equipment is chosen to be sourced on every continent, with maintenance planned as a single major annual service. Reliability thus becomes a discreet form of luxury: it frees time, enabling owners to travel far, long, with chosen stops — never imposed ones.

The Art of Living Together

More than 200 m² of exterior spaces unfold between bow, stern and flybridge. Inside, layouts are fully customisable: a 25 m² owner’s suite on the main deck, VIP cabins with private terraces, and separate crew quarters for discreet service. Life at sea becomes the central feature: dining under sail, swimming directly from the beach-club, evenings facing the horizon. Materials are selected for lightness, durability and elegance, offering an aesthetic of essentials.

A Collective of Experts

Around Marc Pajot, a team of specialists gives life to this vision: naval architect Nicolas Fauroux, Rivoyre Ingénierie, and shipyards Bloemsma (aluminium) and KM Yachtbuilder for integration, with “Dutch Quality” precision approaching aerospace standards. Together, they design and build a yacht as much conceived as crafted to endure.

Eco-Integration: Conscious Luxury

Marc Pajot calls this philosophy eco-integration: going beyond ecology to seek harmony with the sea. Designing yachts that move lightly, that allow the ocean to close cleanly behind them, leaving no visible or invisible trace, and that respect the ocean as much as they respect their owners ’time. Eco-integration is not an afterthought: it is both a principle of engineering (simplicity, redundancy, autonomy) and an art of living (silence, discretion, freedom of choice).

“The sea has given me everything — medals and transatlantic victories. With this yacht, I want to give back: a design that respects the ocean rather than exploiting it. If we can make a superyacht ecological, then the rest of the industry has no excuse.” — Marc Pajot

Further Information

This feature has been produced in association with Pajot Yachts and is presented as part of a commercial partnership. To find out more about the Eco Yacht 115 and the philosophy of eco-integration, visit www.pajotyachts.com

_{Main image: The Eco Yacht 115 under sail at sunset – Marc Pajot’s vision of performance and responsibility at sea, powered by wind and silent electric propulsion. Credit: Supplied}