Adventures in Spain: Finding Big Lost Catamaran

The journey to find a true ocean-capable family voyager rarely follows a straight heading. For the crew behind Sailing Big Lost, departing their landlocked base in Idaho meant initiating a fast-paced transit across the Atlantic. Swapping cars, long-haul flights, subways, and commuter trains, the family set their sights on the Spanish coast to physically inspect one of the most formidable blue-water multihulls built: the Privilege 585.

Navigating the global brokerage market for a 50-to-60-foot catamaran within an accessible budget had narrowed their search to just four candidate vessels worldwide. Two hulls lay across the Caribbean in the Virgin Islands, while Spain held two unique vantage points: an operational flagship to benchmark real-world liveaboard ergonomics, and a prospective sister vessel currently lying quietly in the Mar Menor.

Rendezvous at Port Vell: Benchmarking Aboard Zatara

Arriving in Barcelona, the family made their way directly toward the historic quays of Marina Port Vell. Moored among the mega-yachts and world cruisers sat Zatara, the well-known Privilege 585 sailed by Keith and Renee Whitaker. Having partnered with Keith Whitaker—a founding member of Blue Water Cruising—to guide their vessel acquisition, the visit offered an indispensable field baseline.

Walking the teak decks and broad bridge deck of Zatara provided the family an immersive look into how a high-displacement luxury catamaran functions under active liveaboard family use. With beanbags, cockpit swings, and expansive communal spaces, the kids—Maddie, Connor, and Denny—wasted no time testing the vessel’s practical livability. Stepping inside the deckhouse confirmed what broker specifications cannot convey: the substantial volume, heavy build scantlings, and deep saloon sightlines characteristic of Marc Lombard’s renowned design.

Transit South: The Puddle Jumper to Alicante and La Manga

With the benchmark firmly logged in memory, the family caught an afternoon domestic flight out of Barcelona, boarding a commuter puddle jumper bound for Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport. Upon landing on the Costa Blanca, they secured a rental car and drove south toward La Manga del Mar Menor, the long coastal spit in the Region of Murcia known for its sheltered waters and year-round marine facilities.

Arrival at the marina meant adapting immediately to tight quarters. The crew spent their first night on a diminutive local charter boat tucked along the dock. With narrow bunk berths, cramped headroom that demanded crouching, and minimal galley space, the overnight stay served as an unfiltered contrast to the cavernous 58-foot blue-water catamaran they were scheduled to survey the following morning.

Inspecting the Candidate: Hull-by-Hull Privilege 585 Walkthrough

Morning light across the marina brought the primary objective into view: a pre-owned Privilege 585 awaiting full visual inspection. Stepping aboard alongside the children, Captain Conor began a methodical review of the interior joinery, structural bulkheads, and mechanical arrangements across both hulls.

In the starboard hull, the aft cabin showcased twin bunks suitable for crew or children, leading forward toward the sprawling master stateroom. Dominating the bridgedeck pod forward of the saloon, the master suite revealed the hallmark Privilege architecture: an enormous centerline berth, walkaround dressing areas, and dedicated en-suite facilities. Moving down the companionway to the port guest and twin quarters, the lower ceiling sheer line required careful clearance, yet delivered ample berth dimensions and extensive dry stowage lockers beneath the soles.

In the galley-down arrangement, practical modifications immediately stood out. A previous owner had decommissioned the original dishwasher cabinet, repurposing the valuable under-counter footprint for an auxiliary front-loading refrigerator—a functional adaptation favoring cold-storage autonomy for long offshore passages over short-hop marina conveniences. Maddie promptly claimed her favored micro-cabin nook, affectionately christened the “Maddie hole,” demonstrating that aboard a vessel of this scale, every family member finds an independent refuge.

Privilege 585 Survey Comparison Matrix

Assessing two distinct iterations of the same French multihull design within 48 hours provided the family critical comparative metrics:

Reflections on Spain and Setting Sights on the Caribbean

Touring the candidate Privilege 585 in Murcia crystallized what the family demanded from a full-time floating home. While the scale, structural heft, and robust fiberglass layup of the Privilege line aligned seamlessly with their circumnavigation ambitions, committing to an overseas purchase requires weighing purchase logistics, haul-out refit timelines, and transatlantic routing.

With two potential yachts checked off in Spain, the global hunt remains dynamic. The crew now prepares to cross back over the Atlantic, directing their survey itinerary to the U.S. Virgin Islands to inspect the final two candidate multihulls on their short list before dropping anchor on a final contract.

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