It’s impossible not to see similarities between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal. The two tennis superstars were both born in Spain. They both won their fifth Grand Slam by the age of 22. They have also both spent stretches at the top of the ATP rankings, with Alcaraz winning three of the past four tennis majors to reclaim his position as world number one. They even have the same taste in yachts.
Alcaraz, who recently lost the Miami Open but remains the first seed, just bought a Sunreef catamaran like his fellow sports star did in 2019. He has also joined Nadal as an ambassador for the Polish shipyard. But, as in the world of tennis, the 22-year-old isn’t following exactly in Rafa’s footsteps; he is doing things his own way. He tells Robb Report that “it wasn’t just Rafa” who attracted him to Sunreef. He became particularly enamored with catamarans after spending a week onboard one following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He lost the men’s tennis final to Novak Djokovic and understandably needed to “switch off.”
“I just loved how comfortable it was; the space and the stability,” he recalls. “I think it isn’t comparable to anything else.”
Alcaraz decided that his first yacht would be a multihull and not a traditional monohull. He then did some research into different yachts and yards, adding that Sunreef captured his attention with “beautiful” designs. He, of course, spoke to Rafa at length before signing with the yard.
Alcaraz opted for an 88 Ultima, which is roughly eight feet longer than Nadal’s fully custom 80 Power Great White. As he is still in the process of designing the bespoke 88-footer, the layout and specs remain under wraps. The cat can be equipped with a traditional diesel propulsion system or a hybrid setup that allows for emissions-free cruising. It can also be outfitted with a “solar skin” that can generate clean, green energy from the sun and sustainable materials that further reduce the carbon footprint.
As standard, the 88 Ultima offers a generous layout with five ensuite cabins for 10 guests. Other highlights include an aft lounge with fold-out bulwarks and an expansive entertaining area on the flybridge. Alcaraz, who is on the way to Sunreef’s production site in Gdansk when we speak, seems particularly excited about the water toys that can be stored within the aft garage. “I just really, really want to have fun, you know,” he says. “I just want to put my Jet Ski on there and enjoy the water.” He plans to take his family and friends on his first trip, which will be somewhere close to home in Spain.
That a Gen Zer at the top of his game has chosen to take to the seas in a catamaran instead of a flashy superyacht is a testament to Sunreef’s ability to design multihulls that aren’t boxy or boring, but cool, contemporary, and eco-friendly. That ingenuity has earned the yard multiple international awards, with Nadal’s Great White scoring top honors in Robb Report’s 2021 Best of the Best issue.
It has also helped Sunreef land high-profile clients that range from sporting titans to pop-culture icons. Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso became a brand ambassador in 2021 and ordered a custom 60 Power Eco, while retired F1 racer Nico Rosberg joined the Sunreef family in 2020 and commissioned a bespoke 80 Eco. More recently, heiress Paris Hilton and her husband, billionaire Carter Reum, chartered an 80-foot sailing cat, proving that Sunreef really is hot.
As for whether Alcaraz will become a repeat client, it’s possible. “I think the 88 is going to be a great one to spend, like, a lot of years with,” he says. “In the future, we’re talking about 10 to 15 years, if I need extra space, I will probably get a bigger one. But I want to enjoy this one as much as I can.”