This was the major announcement from the Fountaine-Pajot Group at the Miami International Boat Show 2025 (MIBS 2025): the French shipyard's new power catamaran brand, developed with the Arcachon-based Couach shipyard, will finally be called Veya Yachts, and its first model will be launched in a year's time.

The Fountaine Pajot and Couach shipyards have announced the creation of a new brand, Veya Yachts, to complement their existing range of power catamarans. The partnership, made official at the Miami Boat Show 2025, with the presentation of the brand name and the first visuals of its first model, follows an initial announcement last September at the Cannes Yachting Festival.

The collaboration between Fountaine-Pajot and Couach is not new. Since 2022, Couach, a company specialising in military launches and one-off superyachts, including the tragic Pellegrina , based in Gujan-Mestras, has already been manufacturing Fountaine Pajot's MY models. This partnership has led the two manufacturers to create a specific range, Veya Yachts, with the first model scheduled for 2026.

At the same time, Fountaine-Pajot will continue to sell its existing powercats under the MY Fountaine-Pajot brand, a range that includes the MY4S, MY5 and MY6, originally conceived as powercats, and the MY Power 67, based on a sailing model.

This strategy differs from that of the Bénéteau Group, which has given priority to the Prestige brand for its powercats (Prestige M48, M7 and Prestige M8), while maintaining a Lagoon power range based on sailing yachts (including the forthcoming Lagoon Eighty 3), and from that of the Catana Group, which has launched a new brand, also specifically dedicated to power catamarans, with YOT Power Catamarans.

Veya 53: the first powercat from Fountaine-Pajot and Couach, scheduled for 2026

The first catamaran in this new series, initially designated Code 07, will be marketed under the name Veya 53. Its official presentation is scheduled for the Miami Boat Show 2026. The 16.40-metre model is positioned between the Prestige M48 and Prestige M8, and above the Fountaine-Pajot MY6.

Design and layout

The Veya 53 was designed by Berret Racoupeau Yachts Design. She is a very wide powercat (7.96m beam for 15.60m waterline length, compared with a Prestige M48 which is 6m wide for a hull length of 14.37m, the beam of the Prestige M7 being a well-kept secret), low to the water, which, when moored, has its bathing platform lowered to conceal the fact that she is a catamaran.

She has rounded lines, fairly sober but massive, with an inverted windscreen in keeping with the times, and a functional layout. There's a real helm station inside, in the tradition of motoryachts. Several layout configurations are available:

• Three or four cabins, depending on owners' needs
• An accessible, unclutteredforedeck saloon
• A modular cockpit, open to the stern or fitted with a bench seat
• A flybridge with bench seating and an outdoor living area.

The layout of these areas is designed to provide conditions suited to different types of sailing, from short outings to extended cruises.

Engines and technical specifications

The catamaran will be equipped with Yanmar engines and offered in two versions:

• 440 hp as standard
• 550 hp as an option for more power

These engines are designed to deliver performance tailored to the demands of coastal and offshore sailing.

Boat Specification Sheet VEYA 53

• Length overall: 16.10 m
• Length at waterline: 15.60 m
• Beam: 7.96 m
• Draught: 1.10 m
• Light displacement: 27,300 kg
• Loaded displacement: 35,000 kg
• Standard engines: Yanmar 6LY 440 - 2 x 440 hp
• Optional engines: Yanmar 6LF 550 - 2 x 550 hp
• Fresh water capacity: 700 L
• Fuel capacity: 2 x 1,000 L
• Additional fuel tank (optional): 2 x 400 L
• Black water tank: 250 L
• Grey water tank (optional): 2 x 175 L
• Hot water production capacity: 80 litres
• Category A approval: 11 people
• Category B approval: 11 people
• Category C approval: 20 people
• Category D approval: 35 people