JFA Long Island 87 Launches With Family World Cruising in Mind

JFA Yachts has launched and stepped the mast of its new Long Island 87, a sailing catamaran built around an owner’s plans for a family circumnavigation. The 26.25-metre yacht combines an established construction approach with a layout that gives outdoor living and personal space considerable attention.

An Owner’s Journey Shapes the Brief

The French yard announced the launch on October 12. Naval architecture comes from Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group, while Darnet Design is responsible for the interiors.

Aluminium hulls are paired with a composite deck and superstructure. The yacht follows two Long Island 85 sailing catamarans whose cruising histories, according to JFA, include regions such as Greenland, Antarctica, the Pacific and the Baltic.

The owner’s stated ambition gives the project its most useful context:

“to circumnavigate the globe with our family of four”

That short excerpt from the owner’s statement describes a different design challenge from an occasional holiday aboard. A long journey asks the yacht to accommodate changing routines as well as changing destinations.

A Flybridge Designed as Living Space

The 11.93-metre beam supports an expansive layout. The flybridge combines two helm stations with a sheltered bar and lounge, while solar panels on its roof contribute to onboard electricity generation. The panels should not be read as a claim that the yacht operates entirely without generators.

JFA lists accommodation for up to ten guests and four crew. The owner’s cabin spans the main deck’s full width, and the family-oriented arrangement includes a children’s cabin with four berths. An aft platform accommodates a five-metre tender.

These features create several settings for a day aboard. They also invite a question about how shared spaces work when one person is concentrating on navigation and others are relaxing nearby.

From Launch to Life Aboard

The launch and mast stepping are important construction milestones. They do not, on their own, establish completion of sea trials or a confirmed handover date.

As the project moves towards service, the relationship between its spaces will matter as much as their size. A circumnavigation is made up of passages, arrivals and ordinary days when the yacht remains the family’s home.

For owners considering a similar programme, the Long Island 87 offers a specific brief to examine: how a large sailing catamaran can support a shared adventure while preserving room for individual routines. Its layout makes that discussion more concrete than the broad promise of a yacht capable of exploring the world.

Source: JFA Yachts — official launch announcement