“EXPLORA”

Our sailing catamaran

A sailing catamaran is the perfect choice for small groups looking for a comfortable and sociable way to travel! It provides higher sailing stability and boat speed, reduced rolling at anchor, a spacious and ventilated living area, and more privacy in the cabins. The huge deck & lounge areas for sociability make it the ideal sailboat for Azores sailing trips and São Miguel sailing tours.

Nautitech 47

Performance, comfort and safety

As real sailors, we have selected the Nautitech 47 sailing catamaran to improve our sailing trips in the Azores. This well-regarded sailing catamaran was designed for long-range cruising and perfectly balanced performance, comfort, and seaworthiness. Known for its elegant design and efficient sail plan, this boat has crossed every ocean in the world, proving its unquestionable safety.

It’s not Luxury! It’s a Privilege

Enjoy the lifestyle

We don’t call our trips luxurious, but our passengers are definitely privileged. Our boat has space to travel around the Azores comfortably. There’s a large saloon, a fully equipped galley, a nice cockpit, and plenty of relaxing areas. Six cabins, three toilets and showers, and lots of fun things to do. Most importantly, a friendly and professional crew is onboard for you.

Technically Sustainable

1.25 kW solar plant, generator, water maker

With a super solar power plant at the stern and on the roof of our sailboat, we are 90% solar-powered. This reduces the need to use fossil fuels during our trips, even when using the reverse osmosis water maker. We can stay at anchor for a long time. At the same time, we have a 3.5kW 220V generator on board to ensure the total sustainability of our trips.

EXPLORA - OUR CATAMARAN

Private Yacht Charter in the Azores

Charter Explora: a crewed catamaran with a local captain

Charter EXPLORA, our 47-foot sailing catamaran, for a private voyage in the Azores. From a relaxed day along the coast of São Miguel to a multi-day passage between the islands, every charter is planned exclusively around your group.

This is not a bareboat rental. Captain André Branco, sailing since 1999 and a professional sailor since 2007, sails with you alongside the SailZen crew, sharing the local knowledge and Atlantic experience that only years in these waters can give.

A private experience, built around you

A private charter means the whole catamaran is yours. No strangers aboard, just your family, friends or guests, at your own pace. Whether you are marking a special occasion, planning a family holiday or simply dreaming of days under sail, the experience is shaped to match your group.

Private day charters in São Miguel

Day charters depart from Marina de Vila Franca do Campo, one of the best starting points for São Miguel’s volcanic south coast. Depending on sea and weather, your day may include:

Sailing São Miguel’s volcanic coastline
Cruising around the Islet of Vila Franca do Campo
Swimming and snorkeling in clear Atlantic water
Time to relax on the catamaran’s spacious deck
Fresh local food and drinks prepared for your group

Our Classic charter carries up to 21 guests; the VIP Experience keeps it intimate for groups of up to 8.

Multi-day charters across the Azores

For a longer adventure, spend 2 to 10 days aboard, with Explora as your floating base. Wake to a different island each morning, cross remote anchorages and open Atlantic passages, and reach volcanic landscapes and traditional fishing villages few visitors see. Comfortable cabins, onboard facilities, a professional crew and a route planned with you are all included.

Family-friendly by nature

As parents ourselves, we know what makes children comfortable and safe aboard. The relaxed atmosphere, spacious catamaran and experienced crew let guests of every age enjoy the ocean together.

Local knowledge makes the difference

Every charter is planned personally with you before departure: your dates, group size, activities, comfort level and sailing ambitions. The Atlantic always has the final word on the route, and that honesty is part of sailing the Azores, but every call is made by a local captain who has sailed these waters since 1999. That is what turns days at sea here into something a fixed itinerary can never match.

To charter Explora, contact SailZen with your dates and group size, or browse our scheduled day tours and multi-day trips if you’d rather join a departure.

Our Sailboat’s Story

From a Monohull to a Sailing Catamaran

If you’ve sailed with SailZen, you’re already part of our nature-loving family and know much of our story. But if you haven’t yet joined one of our adventures, or have only followed us on social media, here’s how our dream evolved—from a monohull sailboat to a sailing catamaran designed for unforgettable voyages in the Azores.

The Beginning: Our First Sailboat

Between 2018 and 2020, SailZen operated sailing trips aboard a chartered Bavaria 46 sailboat named “JOCHI”. Owned by a friend starting his own charter company, Jochi played a crucial role in launching SailZen.
Those were our testing years—three seasons of learning, refining, and defining what an authentic sailing experience should be. We explored countless routes, hosted amazing guests, and discovered the real potential of the Azores. The natural equilibrium between the mountains and the ocean is what truly makes the sailing life in the Azores so special.

Finding a Sailboat to Call Our Own

After searching across Europe for the right sailboat, supported financially by an old friend who trusted our project, and still with a modest budget guiding our course, it was when we came back home that a friend pointed us toward “ELPHILAU”, an abandoned yacht quietly resting in the marina of Horta, on Faial Island.
She was waiting for a second chance, and we immediately saw her potential for a new beginning.

I signed the purchase contract while sailing in Antarctica in December 2019 and began restoring her during the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 2020 to July 2021, we poured our hearts and all our cents into a full refit—transforming Elphilau into “IRRÓ”, a fully renewed sailboat ready to explore the Azores once more.

Life Aboard Our Own First Sailboat

Our time aboard Irró was unforgettable. She offered warmth, safety, and the unmistakable feeling of home at sea. We shared sunrises over calm waters, laughter over shared meals, and the thrill of discovering new horizons. Everyone who sailed on Irró carries those memories with them.

Yet as SailZen grew, so did our vision. Irró was perfect for intimate trips, but her capacity of just four passengers on shared trips limited our ability to expand sustainably and operate our adventures efficiently. We knew it was time for the next step.

The Dream Realized: Our Sailing Catamaran EXPLORA

That next step came with “EXPLORA“—our dream sailing catamaran. With the encouragement of a remarkable guest who believes deeply in our mission, we finally made the leap to the vessel we had envisioned for years.

The sailing catamaran Explora represents the heart of SailZen’s evolution. She combines performance, stability, and comfort—providing ample space for guests to experience the Azores in the most sustainable and inspiring way possible.

Our first full sailing season aboard EXPLORA (June–September 2025) exceeded all expectations, confirming that she’s the perfect vessel to carry SailZen into the future. With her, every voyage becomes a balanced blend of adventure, serenity, connection to nature, and all comfort!

Monohull vs. Catamaran

Many sailors are romantically attached to monohulls and hesitate to embrace multihulls—often because they’ve never truly experienced a well-designed sailing catamaran.
It’s true that many catamaran brands prioritize comfort at anchor over sailing performance, which can result in a less engaging sailing experience.

As experienced sailors on both monohulls and multihulls, we set out to find a catamaran that could embody the spirit of SailZen: a true sailing vessel built for performance, comfort, and our guiding principle:

“Go where the wind will take you.”

Our Essential Requirements

Under 15 meters – to ensure easy maneuvering within the Azores marinas.
Efficient sailing performance – capable of maintaining an average speed above 7 knots.
Direct mechanical steering – for the pure pleasure of feeling the sea beneath your hands when steering the boat.
Single-handed capability – allowing the skipper to operate the boat alone if needed.
Six cabins and three bathrooms – comfortably hosting up to 9 people, even 12 if needed.
Spacious, well-ventilated interiors – with en-suite options for added comfort.
Generous social areas – a large indoor table, a fully equipped galley, a roomy cockpit, and a trampoline in the bow.
Clean, open deck—with walk-around access, lounging spaces, and ample storage.
Sustainable solar power – enough to run the watermaker without a generator.
A beautiful design – a vessel we’re proud to call home.

There’s no such thing as the “perfect” boat, but the Nautitech 47 has long been on our wishlist—checking nearly every box on our list.
Thanks to the support and belief of our wonderful guests, we finally made that dream come true.

Now… let’s sail — ZEN!

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