Powercat Life Archive - Horizon Power Catamarans

A Powercat Owners’ Rendezvous: First-time Attendees’ Perspective

When Phillip and Lori Smith purchased their first Horizon Powercat, the PC60 Rum Rascal, their attendance at the 2026 Horizon Power Catamaran Owners’ Rendezvous quickly became a must. Following the event, we caught up with the couple to hear their thoughts on the experience.

Q: Tell us about your Horizon Powercat

A: We own Rum Rascal,  a Horizon PC60, which we purchased from another owner in August, 2025.  We spent a few months customizing and making it our own before attending the 2026 Horizon Powercat Owners’ Rendezvous.

Q: Was this your first Rendezvous?

A: Yes, this was our first, but not the last!

Q: Do you frequently cruise The Bahamas?

A: We have been cruising the Bahamas for about 30 years, primarily the Abacos. Initially, we owned a 57’ motor yacht, but when our kids were little, we built a home on Green Turtle Cay. So the Abacos are like a second home to us. We loved the house but we missed island hopping in a boat. So with Rum Rascal, we are excited to explore the Exumas, Eleuthera, and more of the Out Islands we haven’t seen. We feel like the Horizon PC is made for Bahamas cruising.

Q: What was your overall impression of the Rendezvous?

A: We knew it would be fun, but we were blown away by how organized and elevated it was. Team Horizon went out of its way to make us feel welcome and make it a special weekend. Within an hour of arriving, they were on board, welcoming us with gifts, followed by a beautiful champagne toast and dinner on the docks. Every single event was so well planned and executed. In the years leading up to our purchase, every time we looked at Horizon, the team talked about how you’re not just buying a boat, you’re buying into a family. They really delivered on that promise at the Rendezvous.

Q: Favorite Rendezvous event?

A: Hard to choose — the scavenger hunt was fun (and challenging) and we’re still laughing about the mishaps we had trying to solve the clues. The Pimp My Ride golf cart contest really helped us see how enthusiastic Horizon owners are— they came to play! The beach barbecue was also a favorite of our crew…I think we may have been the last boat to leave.

Q: Most memorable moment?

A: Sunset at the beach barbecue was pretty spectacular. We had just spent a couple of hours chatting and getting to know other owners, sharing favorite marinas and anchorages, and then closed the day with an incredible sunset. We were more than happy to help the Horizon Team finish off the remaining stone crab and one more bottle of rosé. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

 

Q: Did you win any awards?

A: We did!  We tied with Oasis for best-tasting cocktail in the Captain’s Cocktail competition. This was a satisfying win as we debuted our signature cocktail — The Rum Rascal. Our crew had been testing recipes for weeks leading up to the event. I mean, you can’t name your boat Rum Rascal and not have a good rum cocktail on board. The judges had a challenge because there were some beautiful cocktails made, but we were thrilled that they liked our drink.

 

Q: Do you plan to return?

A: Without a doubt! Our 2026 crew has offered to clear their schedule for 2027, and our adult kids are also lobbying for a spot on board. We may have to initiate a lottery system!

YACHTING MAGAZINE: FULL SPEED AHEAD Horizon Power Catamarans is Building for the Future, Based on Decades of Experience. By Kim Kavin

Yachting Magazine’s Kim Kavin dives into the Horizon Power Catamaran story in the May 2026 issue. 

Real freedom, for some people, is a goal worthy of lifelong pursuit. Richard Ford has been chasing it since just after his military service in South Africa, at age 21. “I wanted to backpack through Europe, like all us kids used to dream about doing, and I didn’t have two pennies to rub together,” he says. “I couldn’t fly from Cape Town to Europe and backpack. I even looked at trying to join the Merchant Navy to jump a ship and try to get there. And eventually, there was a boat.”

It was a 45-foot ferrocement Hartley Tahitian ketch that, on a good day, would hit 5 knots. But it needed crew, and it was headed toward the future Ford imagined. It had no refrigeration. No loran. No GPS. The kind of marine toilet where you had to lean your head down toward it and pump. Out on the North Atlantic. In February. “I’ve never been so cold in my life,” Richard says. “But, you know, we got there.”

He was sitting in an English pub in Rhodes, Greece, when a man asked if he’d like a job working on a charter yacht. “I said, ‘A charter yacht? What’s that?” he recalls. “There was just luck of the right place, right time.”

By 1986, he was running charter boats in the Caribbean, and by 1989, he was at the helm alongside Leigh, who would become his partner in life and business. In the Caribbean islands, they happened to find themselves yet again in the right place at the right time, running boats and booking charters with bow-rail seats to witness the industry’s earliest days of shifting from monohulls to catamarans.

Decades later, their company Horizon Power Catamarans just passed the $300 million mark in sales—and they’re preparing to deliver a hull unlike any boat they’ve built, one that can give people with limited or even severely impaired mobility the freedom to enjoy the cruising lifestyle too.

MAKING THE TURN

Back in the early 1990s, Richard and Leigh thought they had commissioned the ultimate charter yacht, to own and operate themselves. They called it the Richleigh 63, a size that, at the time, was enormous compared to most other charter yachts.

The Richleigh 63 incorporated everything they had learned while crossing oceans and catering to guests. They worked with their friend John Robertson, in the earliest days of the Robertson and Caine shipyard, to build the monohull in South Africa. They sailed it proudly to the Caribbean in 1992, and felt great about it for precisely one year.

“In 1993, friends of ours arrived from South Africa on a sailing cat called Quest,” Richard says. “I looked at this boat, and I went, ‘Oh my God. I mean, we’ve missed the boat here. The future has to be sailing cats.’”

The catamaran had far more space for guests. It had incredible stability by comparison to monohulls, especially for beginners on a week-long vacation. By the 2000s, sailing catamarans were showing up all over the Caribbean islands, becoming the dominant style of boat in fleets like The Moorings.

But for traditional sailors, Rich says, these catamarans didn’t necessarily make sense. “That hardened sailor, oh, man, he still wants to lean over and feel like he’s sailing,” Richard says. “When you sail a sailing cat, you don’t feel like you’re sailing.”

His thought was that if a real sailor was going to give up that wind-in-the-hair experience and switch to a catamaran, then the sailor would want one without sails—and not some version that was converted from a sailing cat, moving awkwardly through the water. He envisioned a catamaran designed to run properly on engine power from the start.   

THE AFRICAT ARRIVES

The 42-foot Africat premiered at the Miami International Boat Show about two decades ago, with the powercats built in South Africa and a lot of American showgoers thinking Richard was nuts. They’d look at a classic Downeast design, and then at this wide-beam multihull, and wonder where anybody could even dock it.

“We managed to convert some clients and continue to develop it,” Richard says. “I sold 36 new ones.” But again and again at boat shows, he’d hit the same snag. Husbands would love the Africat, and then come back with their wives later. The wives would scuttle the deal. “Because it wasn’t a walkaround bed,” Richard says. “I could hear them. I’d stay in the salon. They’d go down to the master cabin. They’d go, ‘You want me to make that bed? I can’t make that bed,’ because it was against the whole side. The boat wasn’t big enough. You got a lovely king bed, but you couldn’t walk down the side and tuck in the sheets.”

A few years later, when an owner wanted a larger, 60-foot powercat with an on-deck master, Richard saw the opportunity to fix that problem. He traveled to numerous boatbuilders, trying to find a place to build such a boat, and ended up at the Horizon yard in Taiwan.

“We were going to call it a Mystique 60 by Horizon,” Richard says. Then, Horizon owner John Lu called him midway through the build. “He said, ‘Man, this boat, this is pretty interesting. Are you you thinking about doing a bigger one or a series?’ I said, ‘Well, I’ve got to make this one successful. But yes, we are.’ He said, ‘Well, can we call it a Horizon?’ It took me a millisecond. And I said, ‘Well, of course, whatever you want.’ Now I didn’t have to brand-build.” Horizon Power Catamarans was born.

LAUNCHING THE LINEUP

The PC60 made its debut at the 2011 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and it spawned a line of power catamarans that now ranges from 52 to 74 feet length overall. “The 60 then developed into the next boat we did. It was a 52, because there was a demand for a smaller one,” Richard says. “Then we did a 65, which is now evolved to the 68. We built a one-off 74 for a customer, and since then, we’ve sold and built 66 new yachts.”

Hulls No. 67 and 68 are on track to arrive in the United States this spring, Richard says. Leigh worked with the owners, as she does with all owners, on the interiors. “Although the product style hasn’t changed much over the years, the interiors and the way that we build the boats is always evolving,” Leigh says. “We only build five or six boats a year. The fact that we’re not flooding the market with hull after hull also helps the resale market.”

The Fords’ charter experience remains relevant too. “We have a number of owners who have put their boats into charter, and they’ve been very successful,” Leigh says. “We’ve had incredibly good crews because the boats don’t break down. They stay on the boats for years with the owners. So if somebody wants to put a boat into charter, we manage that whole process for them.” Whatever owners want, Richard and Leigh try to give them—to a surprising degree that the world will see when a notably customized PC68 makes its debut later this year.

‘EVERYTHING’S CUSTOM MADE’

In November 2024, Richard met with a couple in their 40s who were deciding which boat to buy. The wife liked the PC68, but the husband was leaning toward a trawler-style motoryacht.“He called me that January and said, ‘Our worlds got turned upside down,’” Richard recalls. “She contracted a spinal disease and is now paralyzed from the waist down. He said, ‘You just went to the top of the list for our boat because we think we could convert a PC68 to somewhat of a wheel-chair-friendly boat.”

The rendering in the image above shows the way Horizon Power Catamarans designed an elevator for this PC68, which is expected to be at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this fall.  “You cannot believe what we’ve done,” Richard says. “We have a high-low platform that comes off the aft deck. She can ride straight through between the seats onto the swim platform on a motorized wheelchair. She transfers to a waterproof seat, goes down, takes the Seabob and goes snorkeling. We’ve got an elevator. We designed this disc. When you push the button to the lower cabin, it takes her down and turns her. Then she just slides straight out into the cabin.

“Everything’s custom made,” he adds, “like in the galley, she can get in and out. We put a microwave below the counter. We made sure the fridge opens left-hinged so she can get to the fridge.” Richard and Leigh both see these kinds of features opening the world of boating to people who haven’t been able to find accessible yachts. “Even if you’ve got a walker, you might not need the elevator, but you’ll want the flush door panels,” Leigh says. “You’ll want that counter height and to be able to get behind the bar.”

Put another way, the design of this PC68 will help people live the lives they want to live. The Horizon Power Catamarans team is creating ways to achieve the kind of freedom Richard sought for himself so long ago.

To read the full issue or subscribe to Yachting Magazine, click here.

 

Unforgettable Camaraderie at the 2026 Owners’ Rendezvous

The 2026 Horizon Power Catamarans Owners’ Rendezvous once again proved why the annual gathering has become one of the most anticipated traditions within the Horizon Powercat community.

There is something almost mythic about navigating the Devil’s Backbone, the treacherous, reef-strewn passage off North Eleuthera that serves as both the gateway and rite of passage to Harbour Island in The Bahamas. For many owners, the journey itself is part of the ritual: a legendary crossing that ushers in a weekend blending adventure, relaxation, and the unmistakable spirit of the Horizon Power Catamaran family.

 

For a decade, Horizon Power Catamaran owners have gathered in The Bahamas for the annual springtime Rendezvous, and this year, 13 power catamarans made the crossing and settled into the welcoming slips at Romora Bay Resort & Marina. There, they were joined by 70 owners and guests ready for four days of celebration. The attending fleet was a magnificent sight, ranging from the PC52s Aloha Time and Quintessa to the custom PC74 Sea Glass, and including the PC60s Rum Rascal, Salus, Joy Ride, Synergy, OHANA, Homarus, Thea, KAIROS, and Peacemaker, as well as the brand-new PC68 Oasis.

 

“The 2026 Owners’ Rendezvous has brought the Horizon Powercat family back to the beautiful Bahamas, where the water is blue, the drinks are colder, and the boats are plenty,” said Horizon Power Catamarans Founder & CEO Richard Ford. “We’re proud to celebrate a record-breaking 13 yachts at the iconic raft-up this year, and even more proud of the incredible family this event continues to bring together.”

 

Day 1 — Welcome Celebration & Christening

The festivities began with a highlight that set a joyful tone for everything to follow: the dockside christening of the brand-new PC68 Oasis. This marked the fourth, and particularly meaningful, Horizon Powercat build for owners who have been part of the Horizon family since the company’s earliest years. Guests gathered dockside for a champagne toast in their honor, celebrating not only the stunning new yacht, but a loyalty to the Horizon family that few can match.

 

Fresh stone crab, that beloved Rendezvous staple, made its triumphant appearance alongside the champagne as the docks buzzed with the warmth and laughter of friends old and new. The official Welcome Celebration carried the evening beautifully forward.

 

Day 2 — Pimp My Ride & The Great Island Scavenger Hunt

The marina buzzed with energy the following morning as crews disappeared into the parking area armed with decorations, costumes, and a fiercely competitive gleam in their eyes for the annual Pimp My Ride competition. One of the most beloved traditions of the Rendezvous, the event once again delivered equal parts creativity and comedy.

 

Owners and guests fanned out across Harbour Island with props, costumes, and ambitious ideas before unveiling wildly imaginative creations that paraded through town like rolling stagecoaches of cheerful chaos. KAIROS embraced Greek mythology in full force to capture the “Funniest” award, while OHANA earned “Most Unique” honors with a patriotic Blue Angels-inspired theme. Synergy and Tide Down teamed up to create an elaborate Kentucky Derby-inspired cart that secured the coveted “Most Creative” title.

 

The island-wide scavenger hunt that followed sent crews racing across Harbour Island in pursuit of clues, challenges, and bragging rights, with the Tide Down/Synergy team ultimately claiming victory. The day concluded in quintessential island fashion as owners and guests gathered poolside at Romora Bay for an impromptu afternoon celebration that stretched well into the evening.

 

Day 3 — Raft Up, Captain’s Cocktail Competition & Beach BBQ

Saturday brought one of the signature moments of the entire weekend: the annual Horizon raft-up. After a hearty breakfast, all 13 power catamarans cast off in coordinated fashion from Romora Bay, making the short cruise to the pristine anchorage off Man Island, where the Horizon Powercat team orchestrated the raft-up with signature precision. Equal parts engineering exercise and social spectacle, the raft-up has become a defining symbol of the close-knit Horizon owner community.

 

From there, attention turned to the always-spirited Captain’s Cocktail Competition, where owners presented signature island-inspired creations to roaming judges making their way from aft deck to aft deck. Rum Rascal and Oasis earned top honors for “Best Taste,” while Thea and Salus claimed “Best Presentation,” proving once again that Horizon owners approach entertaining with both enthusiasm and flair.

 

 

The afternoon transitioned seamlessly into the Beach BBQ Showdown ashore on Man Island, where guests enjoyed a lively feast of island fare, cocktails, music, and dancing, with the turquoise Bahamian waters shimmering around the assembled fleet. It was the kind of scene Horizon owners know well: barefoot luxury paired with genuine friendship and effortless fun. As the final tenders crossed the calm anchorage under fading light, laughter echoed across the water while owners and guests retired to their yachts for the evening.

 

Day 4 — Fishing Tournament, Pickleball & Farewell Celebration

The final day of the Rendezvous began before sunrise as competitive anglers quietly slipped away from their moorings in pursuit of tournament glory. By the afternoon weigh-in back at Romora Bay, Salus had delivered the catch of the weekend, landing an impressive bull mahi that swept both the “Longest Fish” and “Heaviest Fish” categories.

 

For those whose competitive spirit remained fully intact, the festivities continued with a spirited pickleball tournament that saw Peacemaker diplomatically dismantle the competition en route to victory.

 

As the sun began its descent over Harbour Island, owners and guests gathered at the iconic Pink Sands Blue Bar for the Closing Celebration, an evening of dinner, drinks, dancing, and the awards ceremony where owners became family and stories told turned into lifelong memories.

 

As always, the closing celebration served as a reminder that the Horizon Owners’ Rendezvous is about far more than boating alone. It is about community, shared adventure, and the friendships forged both on and off the water.

 

“The Owners’ Rendezvous is an event that our team could not be prouder of,” said Jason Ford. “It is always incredible to see the transition from strangers and acquaintances to good friends and cruising mates in the span of a single weekend together. Our owners are an extension of our family, and these four days together create incredible memories and bonds that last a lifetime. It always amazes me how much energy and enthusiasm everyone brings to our crazy competitions and shenanigans each year, and it makes us even more motivated to create another fantastic event next year.”

 

With 13 boats, 70 guests, countless stories, and memories that will undoubtedly grow even more legendary before next year’s gathering, the latest Horizon Power Catamarans Owners’ Rendezvous once again delivered exactly what owners have come to expect: unforgettable experiences shared with family on the water.

 

Check out stories and photos from Rendezvous of years past here.

Taking the Leap: A chat with Kim and Bud, the owners of the new PC60 DROPPING IN

To us, “Dropping In” means making the commitment and pulling the trigger on something you’re really excited about and usually just a little afraid of, too!

What once seemed like a pipe dream became reality for one Florida-based couple, when they decided to spend more time on the water than on land. They spent five years cruising aboard their 65ft trawler, but space became an issue, so they transitioned to a power catamaran—and chose the Horizon PC60 as the perfect option.

We caught up with Bud and Kim after Bud’s visit to the Horizon shipyard for the sea trial of their brand new PC60, which they have christened Dropping In, to learn more about what makes the Horizon Power Catamaran the best choice for their lifestyle.

Q: Tell us about your boating background?

A: We both grew up on the beach in Florida and have always loved being on boats. Bud has surfed all his life and we are both avid divers and fishermen. We owned ski boats over the years and chartered sailing catamarans in the Bahamas and BVIs for family vacations when our kids were growing up. Several years ago we made the decision to spend more time on the water, and purchased a 65ft trawler. We spent the last five years cruising The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the Virgin Islands.

Q: What drew you to Horizon Power Catamarans?

A: We had long admired many of the South African catamaran designs. Power catamarans offer speed not available in the trawler—turning overnight crossings into daylight runs with acceptable fuel burn. We knew of Horizon’s build quality and use of quality kit. We talked extensively with the Horizon Power Catamaran team about how they oversee build quality. Then we experienced the roominess of the boat, the thoughtful layout—including the engine rooms/wiring/plumbing—the large tender for fishing/diving/water sports, and the overall seakeeping, and we decided to take the leap and build our brand new PC60.

Bud is an engineer, and to him there are quality and design issues that simply subsume some decisions. If we have to take apart the engine to do an oil change or if inferior components are used, that is simply a non-starter. Our trawler was extremely well designed and constructed so on that front we were very happy. It did not, however, have enough space to comfortably accommodate three or four couples—or potential grandchildren! Also, because we run the boat ourselves, getting a larger trawler was not practical. With four staterooms, a spacious salon, galley and cockpit, the Horizon PC60 offered everything we were looking for. But it also came with incredible storage.

Now we can easily store our scuba tanks, fishing equipment, water toys and provisions. We love to cook all types of meals and we eat almost every meal onboard. Cooking onboard and hosting family and friends for months at a time necessitates extensive pre-departure provisioning and the PC60 has room to hold fresh, frozen, canned and dry goods—not to mention, lots of wine!—in multiple refrigerators, a large deep freezer, and in storage spaces throughout the boat.

Q: How do you plan to use your new PowerCat?

A: We plan to spend at least three continuous months cruising onboard every spring, with smaller trips during the rest of the year. We’ll continue cruising The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos with longer trips planned for Mexico, Belize, Guatamala, Roatan, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Bay Islands, the Windward Islands and Panama.

We will outfit the new cat with a dive compressor and fishing gear and look forward to enjoying day fishing trips—thanks to the PowerCat’s 18-knot cruising speed!

Bud and Kim recently took delivery of their brand new Dropping In—stay tuned as we check in with them throughout their travels!

Dropping In OFFLOADING

Perfect Timing: PC60 KAIROS

The timing was perfect for the owners of this brand-new Horizon PC60 when the feature they wanted most in a yacht was already in the planning stages at the shipyard.

“At first, we hadn’t considered building a PC60 because it was larger than we envisioned and lacked the bow seating we really wanted.” Jeff and Jennifer Kelly are seated in the flybridge of their very first power catamaran, the Horizon PC60 Kairos, which made its world debut at the Palm Beach International Boat Show. It was a special moment for both the Kellys and Horizon Power Catamarans, this PC60 being the first to feature a Portuguese Deck configuration.

 

“Kairos,” derived from the Greek word meaning “opportune time,” refers to a moment when divine intervention or purpose aligns with a particular situation, leading to the realization of something new. The path that led the Kellys to their own Kairos was one of serendipity and, indeed, divine intervention. It all began when the Kellys became friends with another boating family and were introduced to, as Jennifer describes it, “the world of spend-the-night-boats.”

That boating family was none other than the owners of the Horizon PC60 Brokedown Palace. “It’s funny how you meet people,” says Jeff. “He and I are pilots; we both fly. He also had his first boat in Marsh Harbour, about fourteen miles south of Treasure Cay, and I had property there since I was ten years old.”

 

Both families lived in Montgomery, Alabama, and their children went to the same school. “We didn’t connect with them at a sporting activity for school, funny enough,” says Jennifer. “Instead, we met them at the Airport Tiki at the FBO in Fort Pierce, Florida. They had just flown back from Marsh Harbour on the same day. We were eating, and our kids noticed one another. We started talking with them and became fast friends. They had a Silverton 48 Convertible for about ten years down in The Bahamas and we had been going down there this whole time and never came across them!”

When they met, neither family owned a powercat. Jeff had grown up on center consoles in the Abacos, and his family enjoyed small Sea Ray ski boats on the lake at home. Despite a week-long charter on a 51-foot powercat, their focus remained primarily on monohulls. Most recently, they owned a Prestige 550 Flybridge and then a 65 Marquis. “The Marquis was a bit heavy but we really enjoyed the boat,” says Jeff. “After Hurricane Dorian in 2019, our entrance to Treasure Cay was silted in, and I was relegated to only being able to go in or out an hour on either side of high tide. It became a hassle, and we had to move from a six-foot, one-inch draft to something much more shallow.”

 

At the same time, the other family had discovered Horizon Power Catamarans and moved from their Silverton to a brokerage PC60. “We saw them down island and got on the boat a couple of times and really enjoyed it,” says Jeff.

“The support they got from Horizon for their brokerage boat was a surprise to us,” says Jennifer. “We always felt that with a used boat we were out there on our own searching for an owner’s manual. To see their relationship with the Horizon people was refreshing.”

“Our Prestige was three years old when we bought it,” echoes Jeff. “I had to do everything myself and didn’t even have a number to call if something went wrong. Trying to find parts or get help was a challenge. With Horizon, it was a complete 180. Between Richard [Ford] and Casey [Stewart], they are 24/7, have more knowledge than anyone else, and are willing to help. That is probably one of the biggest reasons we went with Horizon.”

 

The Kellys spent a year researching and narrowing down their options, even joining their friends for the 2022 Horizon Powercat Owners’ Rendezvous in Harbour Island. Yet, the PC60 felt like a dreamboat that might be out of reach. “We don’t marina hop and often spend weeks at anchor,” says Jennifer. “We wanted bow seating because that’s where the breeze is nicest and the views are best. We also envisioned a comfortable seating area with a table, so we initially ruled out the Horizon Powercat, as the only model with bow seating at the time was the new PC68.”

 

The Kellys attended the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show with the intent of making the final decision, their options having narrowed down to a couple of brokerage monohulls. “We stopped by the Horizon Power Catamaran booth to say hello, and Richard was waiting for us with a smile,” says Jeff. “We looked at the PC52, the PC60, and the PC68. I knew I could comfortably handle the PC60, but it didn’t have the bow seating we were after. Richard looked at me and said, ‘Well, what if I can make that bow seating happen?’ He had already been thinking about adding the Portuguese Deck to the PC60. He showed me the sketch and I took the bait.”

 

“We never had building a boat on our radar,” says Jennifer. “But Horizon Power Catamarans made the process very enjoyable.”

“Richard told us we would have the opportunity to visit the boat in Taiwan, do a sea trial, and see the shipyard,” says Jeff. “We were 100% in. We are in the manufacturing business; we build components, and I love to see how things are made.”

When the boat was launched, the Kellys traveled to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where they received a warm welcome from Horizon and the team at the Vision shipyard. “They took us to the Horizon City Marina, where they had staged our boat and surprised us with a christening party—it was fantastic,” says Jeff.

 

Before sea trials, the Kellys toured the Horizon facilities. “Austin [Lin] took the time to show us around, and we were able to express our appreciation for the incredible craftsmanship,” Jeff recalls. “The millwork, especially the burl wood inlays we requested, was flawless—every seam and grain lined up perfectly. We also had the chance to meet the team who worked on our boat, and I was able to personally thank each of them.”

 

Another standout aspect of working with Horizon was the hands-on training Jeff received at the shipyard: two full days dedicated to learning every system onboard. Horizon brought in representatives from each vendor to provide in-depth instruction. “They started with, ‘Do you know how to turn on the TV?’ and we went from there,” Jeff recalls. “Air conditioning, watermaker, electronics, navigation, entertainment, audio-visual—everything was covered. They even helped us customize the electronics. It was all part of the Horizon ownership experience.”

 

Kairos is a four-stateroom boat, and the Kellys opted for the on-deck master stateroom layout. Entering from the aft deck, with its dining table and built-in settee, the main interior living space features a large, open-concept galley with an island bar and three stools to starboard and a welcoming U-shaped lounge to port. Forward on this deck, the master stateroom spans the full 24-foot, 6-inch beam and is bathed in natural light from expansive wraparound windows. The starboard hull houses a VIP stateroom forward and a twin aft, while the port hull houses the master ensuite forward and a second twin aft.

 

Deck areas are a hallmark of the PC60’s design, and Kairos features walk-around side decks that lead from the spacious aft deck to the foredeck and to steps leading up to the Portuguese Deck and flybridge.

 

The Kellys customized the semi-enclosed flybridge to suit their preferences. While several layout options are available for this space, the new Portuguese Deck configuration places the navigation station to port and a passenger settee to starboard, allowing for a centerline pass-through. To enhance functionality and comfort, they added a second helm chair in an ergonomic design that makes ingress easy. Just aft of the convertible starboard settee is a large dinette with wraparound seating, and behind the helm, a walk-behind bar with built-in refrigeration completes the space. Aft of the flybridge, the boat deck offers additional space for lounging and entertaining when the tender is deployed.

 

The owners worked closely with Leigh Ford on the decor throughout, which exudes a light and nautical style.

 

“We traveled to Florida to meet with Leigh, and she guided us through the entire process,” says Jennifer. “With years of experience, she knows exactly what works and what doesn’t.”

 

After Kairos arrived by container ship to Fort Lauderdale, she was sent to the Horizon marina offices for commissioning. Then it was time for the shakedown cruise to The Bahamas with Richard.

 

“This is a great benefit to being with Horizon, and it’s much more than just learning the boat,” says Jeff. “Richard handles these boats better than anyone else; these are his babies. He knows the best way to operate them, all the systems, and even the best cleaning supplies. To have him for three days to provide captain and systems training and best practices was invaluable. He is an excellent trainer and fun to hang out with, too.”

“I’m also able to call Leigh and ask all types of questions, from provisioning to where to store the dishes,” says Jennifer. “She even went shopping with me! It was a great experience with Leigh and Richard setting the boat up for living and cruising. They’ve done this all their lives and are more than willing to mentor a new owner, which we really appreciated.”

One of the key selling points for the Kellys was the PC60’s Silent Living feature, which combines Victron’s advanced lithium phosphate battery system with the Termodinamica variable-speed air conditioning to deliver up to 20 hours of generator-free comfort. To further enhance efficiency, they opted to install additional solar panels capable of generating 2.5kW during daylight hours to support the battery system. “We experienced it during the shakedown cruise, and it was incredible,” says Jeff. “Enjoying a completely quiet dinner under the stars, with soft music playing and the gentle sound of water lapping around us—it felt almost surreal. It was something we’d never experienced before.”

 

Now, sitting in their favorite spot, the Kellys say that every step that led them to Horizon Power Catamarans and to their dream yacht was just that, Kairos.

 

OFF THE GRID: DR. A AND HIS NEW “GAME CHANGER,” THE PC60 SYNERGY

New York Times’ best-selling author and health and lifestyle medicine advocate Dr. Wayne Andersen marries his focus on wellness with life off the beaten path aboard his Horizon Powercat.

Dr. Wayne Andersen (Dr. A) is sitting in the semi-enclosed flybridge of his PC60 Synergy, the brilliant turquoise of the crystalline waters that surround him reflecting in his sunglasses. The breeze outside is balmy, yet the water glass on the table is perfectly chilled. It is the ultimate expression of “peaceful solitude,” the noticeable silence interrupted only by the gentle lapping of the water against the hulls below.

 

Delivered this past spring, Synergy models the silent efficiency of Horizon’s new-generation power catamarans with its Victron advanced power package paired with a Termodinamica variable speed A/C system. Augmented by solar power, alternators charge the boat’s battery package, which necessitates generator use for one or two periods per day in hot climates, and about one hour per day on cooler days.

Not only does this system save on fuel and noise, it allows for interior comfort as well as peace of mind while cruising “off grid,” something Dr. A put to the test soon after taking delivery.

 

The Bahamas are his favorite cruising grounds and, yearning for the solitude he used to enjoy in places like Staniel Cay and the lower Exumas years ago, he was eager to explore the lone Ragged Island chain in the Jumento Cays.

“They warned me, ‘Don’t go down there unless you are fully self-sustainable, because there is nothing there,’” he says of this idyllic yet remote area in the southwestern region of The Bahamas. “In that environment, we make our own water and our own power. We brought plenty of provisions in the freezer and there were lots of fresh fish and other sea creatures to catch every day. We spent eight days and saw but two other people the entire time.

“In fact,” he laughs, “I don’t even know if I want you mentioning this because we need to keep people out of the Jumentos!”

FOR THE LOVE OF SAILING

The former critical care physician-turned-lifestyle-medicine-advocate discovered sailing while on fellowship with the University of Miami in the Surgical Critical Care facility at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. “I took my first sailing course at the Coconut Grove Sail Club and loved it so much I rented a 19ft sailboat and headed straight to the Keys – after just one lesson!”

After his fellowship, Dr. A purchased his very first boat at the Miami boat show: a 35ft Allmand. “I remember being so excited that we left the marina at three o’clock in the morning and headed for The Bahamas. The only equipment I had was a compass and an RDF! [Radio Direction Finder]”

Soon, Dr. A was hooked on sailing. When he and his wife got married, he asked her, “Do you want to buy a house or a sailboat?” A boat was the obvious answer and they purchased a 44ft F&C and sailed it along the U.S. eastern seaboard from Long Island to Newfoundland.

The sailing dream continued, and Dr. A and his wife also became familiar with sailing catamarans, having chartered them from time to time in Providence Island to accommodate their daughters and their friends. “Sailing cats, however, don’t sail worth a crap,” he says. “You’re not going anywhere on them.”

THE POWERCAT DIFFERENCE

One day, while moored in Warderick Wells in the Exumas aboard his 54ft Moody Cutter, Dr. A noticed a Horizon PC60 cruising past. “I could instantly tell that this boat was made for serious cruising.”

Dr. A met Horizon Power Catamaran Founder & CEO Richard Ford and the two formed an instant connection over their mutual sailing backgrounds and enjoyed long discussions about how sailing influences the style and usability of the power catamaran.

“Richard is a proper sailor, he knows what a proper yacht should have,” says Dr. A.

Drawn to the idea of being able to get to his favorite destinations quickly, Dr. A commissioned a Horizon PC52 and says he loved the shallow draft, the ease of watersports and the flexibility to host their daughters and friends. Confident that the power catamaran was the right fit for his family, he partnered with Richard Ford to build a PC60.

“It was the perfect partnership,” he says. “I worked with Richard on the options and the design of the exterior spaces and the helm, and then worked with Leigh on the interior layout and finishes.” Dr. A says he particularly loves the double STIDD helm chair and the flexibility of the flybridge to be enclosed during inclement weather.

PERFECT SYNERGY

Stepping from a PC52 into his new PC60, Dr. A says there are so many features he loves about the bigger boat, from the copious amounts of storage to the capability to house a large tender with a 100hp engine. “It changes the dynamic to where we can base the PC60 just about anywhere and take day trips on the big tender,” he says.

“The flybridge is my favorite space,” says Dr. A. “It’s like my own private office, fully air conditioned and with all of the comforts of home, but with such an incredible view.

“Still being in business and being able to communicate daily without having to go to certain places for a signal is essential,” he says. “I’m currently preparing for an international conference and had Zoom calls this morning with the team in England, all thanks to the Starlink capabilities on this boat. Even down in the remote areas where we like to cruise, we are able to communicate like we are next door.”

Dr. A says he loves how the mood of each space changes throughout the day. “At night, it’s party time,” he says. “We go up on the foredeck, turn off the onboard lights and play a game with the sky – one point for a plane, three points for a satellite and five points for a shooting star. The first person to fifty wins! Every night is a magical evening with laughter and memories.

“Then, when day time rolls back around, being surrounded by beautiful blue water allows the exterior of the boat to shine.”

There is a classic Jimmy Buffet song, First Look, that describes not being prepared for one’s first glimpse of the Caribbean and Bahamas. The song resonates with Dr. A and his family, he says.

“My kids grew up here; every free moment we had we would be sailing through the Abacos and Exumas. It is the most special place to be together with family and friends.”

 

 

It Wasn’t a Sprint… It Was a Marathon!

After eight years of Horizon Power Catamarans Owner’s Rendezvous, there was only one thing left to improve this epic annual event:  Make it longer!

This year, the Horizon Powercat family gathered in the Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas for six days to make new connections and memories. Twelve Horizon power catamarans (PCs) and 75 owners and guests enjoyed the near week-long celebrations, delicious food, and, of course, the lighthearted camaraderie that defines this annual event throughout the scenic anchorages and marinas of the Abacos.

Day 1

After the lines were thrown and all 12 PCs were cozily settled onto the dock at Hope Town Inn & Marina, the welcome dinner party awaited all those dressed in their finest island attire. After a dinner filled with laughs and smiles, the sandy dance floor opened to carry the night away with the local band.

 

Day 2

With the first full day of this year’s Rendezvous landing on Cinco de Mayo, the group celebrated accordingly, and the day began with a delicious and refreshing Richie’s Ritas margarita class.

After all coolers and dinghies were prepared, guests set out for the first stop of the day: a scenic lunch at the Abaco Inn. Everyone enjoyed Mexican-style food and drinks while taking in the views of the Atlantic waves crashing on white sands below.

It was then back in the dinghies and off again to end the day relaxing on the beautiful sandbars of Tahiti Beach.

 

Day 3

A charity cornhole tournament around the resort-style pool at Hope Town Inn & Marina made for a competitive and fun start to Day 3.

 

After the PC60 Synergy was awarded bragging rights for the cornhole tournament, everyone retreated back to their respective boats to start prepping for the infamous Pimp Your Ride competition. The creative juices were flowing in the attempt to claim one of the three elusive prizes; Most Creative, Most Unique, and Funniest. Faced with detailed themes like Despicable Me, Star Wars, and El Día de los Muertos, the judges had their work cut out for them, but in the end, the PC60 High Option won Most Creative; the PC68 Omakase won Funniest, and the PC60s Brokedown Palace and Oasis jointly claimed the title of Most Unique. After peeling off the costumes, wigs, and face paint, everyone met back on the dock for the signature Rendezvous potluck dinner with fresh stone crab and South African sausages.

 

Day 4

With all the boats getting a bit of dock cabin fever, today was the perfect day for the highly anticipated Raft Up. Heading out of Hope Town Inn & Marina, the herd of cats collected again to tie up together just off the beautiful beaches of the Tilloo Cay National Reserve.

 

Once all 12 PCs were gracefully and skillfully rafted together, the Captain’s Cocktail Competition got  underway. With every boat crafting up something both beautiful and delicious, it was a near impossible task for the judges. The PC60 Fruition won the coveted prize for Best Presentation, and the combined efforts of the PC60s Brokedown Palace and Kairos garnered the award for Best Taste.

Day 5

After the commotion of the Raft Up, today was a day of relaxation—and there was no better way to relax than with lunch at the famous Pete’s Pub. Gathering at the iconic bar and grill on Little Harbor was the perfect setting to win some great prizes and raise more money for the children of the Hope Town Primary School.

 

Day 6

The final day of the 2024 Rendezvous began bright and early with the annual fishing competition. The radios were buzzing with the cheers of fish being caught by hungry powercats. Some even thought they had the competition won, until the PC60 Brokedown Palace ended all speculation by landing their first ever white marlin, easily claiming the Longest Fish trophy. The PC60 Synergy beat out the fishing enthusiasts aboard the PC52 My Best Life by one pound to take home the Heaviest Fish trophy.

 

Being the final night, it had to end in style. With beautiful Hope Town as the backdrop, owners arrived at the private island of Johnny’s Cay and enjoyed a final dinner together with live music and dancing in the sand.

 

The 2024 Horizon Power Catamarans Owner’s Rendezvous was yet another fun-filled gathering of longtime and first-time Horizon Powercat owners. It may have been a marathon event, but one certainly worth attending! Check out stories and photos from Rendezvous of years past here.

Repeat PC60 Owners Dish on Their New PC60 Build

The next-generation Brokedown Palace will continue tradition as a “home away from home” for island adventures.

The owners of the Horizon PC60 Brokedown Palace live what one would call the “perfectly balanced life.” That is, one spent largely aboard their Horizon Powercat in a tranquil Bahamian anchorage or marina with their two dogs – read more about Tuffly and Lily Muffin in our Dogs of the Rendezvous showcase – visited often by their grown children and plenty of friends, and traveling back and forth to the “mainland” occasionally when work duties call.

 

Going to leave this broke-down palace

On my hands and my knees I will roll, roll, roll

Make myself a bed by the waterside

In my time, in my time, I will roll, roll, roll

 

Named for the Grateful Dead ode of the same name, the family’s first PC60 Brokedown Palace was their “bed by the waterside.” Boasting a four-stateroom, three-bathroom layout and a large salon, the first PC60 offered a perfectly acceptable layout. But, like every boat owner, the owners are always on the lookout for the next boat. And, as is often the case with The Powercat Company, an opportunity came along that seemed, according to the owners, “like a fever dream.”

The original Brokedown Palace featured an open salon layout, while the new PC60 will offer an on-deck master.

Although they were not considering a new build, Richard Ford presented the family with an on-deck master PC60 that was nearing completion but still had room for interior décor selections. The rest, as they say, is history; the owners decided to make the switch from their open salon PC60 to the new on-deck master PC60, collaborating with The Powercat Company to make the new boat their own.

“I never thought we would build a boat, but Richard is just that good at what he does,” notes the owner. “Also working on the build with Leigh [Ford] has been a complete pleasure. She has helped make it seem easy, and she has such great taste that it makes you feel confident.”

Once the owners moved ahead with their new build, a trifecta sale was triggered that resulted in a PC52 owner upgrading into the original open salon PC60 Brokedown Palace, and a new owner purchasing the aforementioned PC52 – a truly serendipitous turn of events.

The owners have now turned their eyes to their PC60 build, which is scheduled to deliver in January 2024, and are already making plans to head out to their favorite cruising grounds in the Florida Keys and Bahamas where they like to spend their time fishing, snorkeling, spearfishing and exploring aboard their “home away from home.”

One of their favorite parts of spending extended time down in the islands is connecting with other Horizon Powercat owners, sharing “food, drinks and parts.”

“We light up when we have a friend around the corner and can catch up on what other people have done or where they are going next,” says the owner. “Us Horizon Powercat owners, we’re always ready for a good time.”

The family also enjoys participating in the annual owners’ rendezvous fun! Always an award winner, this year, Brokedown Palace won Most Unique in the Pimp My Dinghy contest and also impressed the judges with their Dancing Bear Jello Shot.

 

 

Ready to step into that multihull lifestyle? Contact Richard Ford today at (954) 803-8102 or email richard@powercatco.com.

An Owner’s New Spot for Taking His “Time Out”

A chance meeting led to this owner’s exciting Horizon PC52 live-aboard where he enjoys taking a “Time Out.”

It was pure chance – or maybe some would call it fate – that the owner of the Horizon PC52 Time Out found our power catamarans at just the right moment during the 2021 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The owner was searching for a larger liveaboard, having paused the build on his beach house, and had decided to make the leap from monohulls to a power catamaran design. However, after viewing several catamaran builders at the show, he was beginning to rethink that decision.

“I was disappointed in the fit and finish of all three brands,” he says. “When I saw the Horizon Power Catamaran display, I figured, why not take a look? The difference in build quality really jumped out; that’s when I decided if I stayed with a power catamaran, it would be a Horizon.”

Built in 2015, Time Out features an enclosed flybridge and three-stateroom layout.

Thus, fate turned into the purchase of a pre-owned three-stateroom PC52 that he named Time Out in honor of the dock bar at his previous lake home in North Carolina – a hang-out spot to watch sporting events such as Monday Night Football, March Madness, and the Masters with friends.

“It’s [also] where we all gathered whenever our spouses put us in proverbial ‘time out’ or we just needed to get away from everything for a few hours. I have since sold that house, so I thought it would be fitting to carry the name to our Horizon,” says the owner.

The owner travelled with Horizon Power Catamaran CEO Richard Ford and sales associate Jason Ford, to officially deliver the boat to its new home in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. They stopped every few days to play golf, a passion of the owners that he felt, “was a great dry run for how I plan to use the boat for the next couple of years.” He also spoke highly of the purchase and delivery experience with our team, stating, “The Horizon family has been outstanding! The service, vendors, [everyone] did a great job getting the boat ready on a short turnaround.”

When he’s not enjoying his home port of Kiawah Island, the owner plans to explore up and down the East Coast, while also visiting some of his favorite coastal golf courses. In the winter, they plan to cruise Time Out to the Bahamas and BVIs to enjoy some dive trips and, of course, a few rounds of golf as well.

Ready to step into that multihull lifestyle? Contact Richard Ford today at (954) 803-8102 or email richard@powercatco.com.

The Godfather: The story of a serial Horizon yacht owner

There is one owner that has quietly been building boats with the Horizon Group for the last three decades. Some call him “The Godfather of Horizon.”

The series of serendipitous encounters and introductions that forms every long-lasting relationship is often too complex to discern. Yet those relationships that stand the test of time are forged by mutual goals and paved with manifestations often shrugged off as coincidence. Within the creation of these relationships is usually a delightful story that unfolds.

Alec Hammond likes cars. He likes driving them – like roadtripping in his 1965 Ford Mustang convertible through the narrow and winding lanes of Norway. He likes collecting them – taking his pair of 1965 Jaguar E Types out for a spin to a charming English pub in the Cotswolds on a summer’s evening or meandering through the vieux villes of France in his 1937 Alvis Speed 25. He also likes racing them – whether it’s hitting the Daytona International Speedway in his 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang or competing for the Cup in the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

But Alec has another passion – perhaps one stronger than his affinity for motor cars – and that is his love for boats. Alec’s first boat was a 34ft wooden Storebro Royal Cruiser. “It wasn’t good for going to sea,” he says, “but we did anyway.”

At the time, Alec was building his business, Oxford Products, Ltd. – a leading supplier of bicycle and motorcycle accessories – and was traveling regularly to Taiwan to meet suppliers. Word got out that Alec was keen on boats and he was invited to the boatbuilding mecca of Kaohsiung, Taiwan where, during one exploratory visit, he was introduced to the ex-quality control manager for Ka Shing Enterprises – a young man with a fledgling shipyard named Horizon. Alec struck a deal with the young John Lu to build boats that could be imported into the U.K.

Alec went to a restaurant one evening during his visit and ran into one of the few other non-Chinese patrons – none other than the designer of Alec’s Storebro Royal Cruiser, John Lindblom. More introductions were made and Lindblom penned Alec’s first boat built by Lu.

“We imported the first boat, booked a space in the London Boat Show, and reserved the dock at Chelsea Harbour,” says Alec. “We got the boat in from Taiwan, equipped it in Southhampton, and set off for the passage from east up the English Channel en route to London. It was a gorgeous, crisp winter morning, with a bit of a chop in the sea. My son was below sleeping, I was driving the boat, said suddenly he came running up and said ‘Dad, there’s some water below!’ Sure enough, there was water rushing in from the front. We had hit a 45 gallon drum, end on, like we had been torpedoed. So, our first sail was for an insurance company,” Alec laughs. “John came over, the boat was recovered and refitted and we forged ahead.”

Business between the two continued, and Alec imported and sold several of John’s early builds. One sale happened to be to a dealer in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), who inspired Alec to spend a holiday on a charter boat in the islands.

“I had never been to that part of the world before and it was paradise,” says Alec. It was too good to miss.”

So, Alec asked John to build him a 64ft monohull and send it to Miami, and at the same time asked his girlfriend Barbara to quit her job and sail off into the sunset with him, and the couple established a charter business in the BVI aboard their new Horizon yacht, Virgin Venture.

“The boat came out, we brought it to the Bahamas and we went out on charter. We ran one as crew, then decided to build a second one, Virgin Venture Two, and put crew on the first one so we could run the second one.”

The experience, while exhilarating, was also exhausting, and Barbara and Alec soon decided that they had had their fill of the charter business and sold Virgin Venture One and Two.

“Going back and forth between Miami and the BVI took us through The Bahamas, which we thought were beautiful, so we decided it was time to discover that area of the world,” says Barbara. “To do that, we needed a boat.”

With the BVI being a catamaran haven, Alec and Barbara had come to know Richard Ford, who was selling Africat catamarans at the time. They did a deal with Richard to purchase one. “When we bought the 42 Africat, it was the only powercat that we liked on the market. It wasn’t finished to the quality we liked and indeed the quality we had enjoyed with our Horizons for many years. We wanted more of a luxury powercat, so we shopped around to different builders in America and visited yards in Maine, etc… but the plans weren’t really going anywhere.”

Then an idea struck, and Alec reached out to John Lu.

Armed with design and renderings for the ideal luxury power catamaran, Alec and Richard flew to Taiwan to meet with John and his team. “John could see the potential and the deal was done; the Powercat would be built by Horizon and marketed under the Horizon brand. That was the start of The Powercat Company.”

The very first Horizon Powercat was the Hammond’s own PC60, Blue Horizon. Their second was the PC60 Ptolemy. Ptolemy was Hull 10 of the PC60 model – which by this time was flanked by the PC52 and the PC74 models – and the Hammonds collaborated with Richard to incorporate new technology such as MAN 800hp engines to allow for efficient cruising.

In 2022, the Hammonds commissioned their next power catamaran.

Oasis was christened during an intimate ceremony at the 2022 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. As Hull 26 of the PC60 model, she represents a very special build for the Hammonds, who run the boat themselves and therefor incorporated everything they might want in this latest and greatest powercat build. Equipped with MAN 800hp engines, Oasis is equipped with a Victron Lithium Phosphate battery bank which enables many hours of quiet non-generator time while at anchor – even with air-conditioning running. Large solar panels and alternators allow rapid recharging of the house bank.

Configured with a four-cabin layout, Oasis has been fitted with a dayhead on the flybridge along with a private area that could house crew if desired.

“We wanted a name that represents what the boat is to us – an oasis,” says Alec, who describes his role as the Chairman of the Board of his company as a “semi-retirement,” while his son serves as Managing Director. “It’s our winter home from which we can change our view whenever we want. She’s a sanctuary for us.”

Despite having been involved in the builds of the first three Horizon yachts and having sold the first John Lindblom and JC Espinosa-designed Horizons, Alec carries his nickname of “The Godfather of Horizon” – a moniker bestowed by John Lu – with humility.

“Yes, we were instrumental in Horizon’s story, but really by accident. If you look after people, they stay,” he says. “Horizon makes that easy.”

Ready to step into that multihull lifestyle? Contact Richard Ford today at (954) 803-8102 or email richard@powercatco.com.