CATANA #1 from 1984 is Sailing for the Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment

In 2012, Alberto Machado and his son Daniel purchased the CATANA #1 catamaran, the very first boat produced by the CATANA shipyard back in 1984.

Following a major refit, the story of which featured in CATANA MAG n° 7, and an Atlantic circuit with the family in 2014/2015, “OCEANUS II” continues to be active on the south coast of Portugal, observing cetaceans, large pelagic species, sharks, turtles and seabirds. In 2020 and 2023, they organised two major expeditions (GEO – Groupe d’Etudes Océaniques, the “Ocean Study Group” in English) in the Azores archipelago, where they spent three months visiting incredible sites such as Banco D. João de Castro and Princesa Alice, as well as the marine reserves of Santa Maria, where they dived with majestic whale sharks, surrounded by hundreds of tuna and dozens of manta rays.

During the course of the 2023 GEO expedition, the crew of the Oceanus II discovered a population of sea knives, a species not previously recorded in the Azores archipelago, on Praia da Vitória beach on the island of Terceira. Following this surprising discovery, a sampling campaign was immediately organised in partnership with researchers from MARE Açores and CCMAR, which enabled this population to be characterised and led to a scientific publication on this discovery in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Volume 104, in 2024. This publication is shared online by the University of Cambridge.

The team’s discovery can also be seen in a video on the YouTube channel ‘Atlantic Naturalist’, in the video “New finding: Grooved razor shell in the Azores”.

The construction qualities and nautical performance of the Lock Crowther-designed CATANA 40 have been put to good use in the knowledge, study and preservation of marine areas, particularly in supporting scientific research into the creation of coastal and oceanic marine protected areas. After 41 years, she continues to sail, offering a sustainable option for research thanks to the use of sail power.

This is the case of the OCEANO AZUL expedition to the GORRINGE Bank (120 nm WSW of Cape St. Vincent). In September 2024, Catana #1 was the base of operations for four scientists from the CCMAR, Centro de Ciências do Mar from the University of the Algarve, whose ROVs work at depths of up to 160 metres, in addition to the collection of deep-sea sediment samples

This work, carried out during the OCEANO AZUL expedition aboard the CATANA # 1 expedition also contributed to the Portuguese Minister for the Environment’s decision to announce, at UNOC3, the Third United

Nations Conference on Oceans, Climate and the Sea, held in Nice, France, in June 2025, his intention to transform the large Gorringe underwater bank into a marine reserve by 2026.

This is a significant contribution to accelerating action for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, focusing on issues such as pollution, predatory fishing, climate change and the protection of marine biodiversity.

As owners, we are very proud of our work and our commitment to maintaining the beautiful appearance of our CATANA and preserving the catamaran’s ocean-going qualities. In 2017, we replaced the entire propulsion system, including the engines and sail drives.

In 2023, a major five-month refit was undertaken, including a complete overhaul of the hulls (sandblasting, repairs, protection), replacement of the rigging, rudders, numerous hatches and Plexiglas panels, as well as new paintwork and new sails.

In 2024–2025, we continued these improvements with new batteries, new anchor chain and a new Code 0.

Every trip made by the “Oceanus II” is a celebration of CATANA’s 40 years, a genuine testament to the longevity and prestige of her build quality. We always maintain the catamaran’s impeccable image by preserving the shipyard’s brand. We’re based in Portimão and sail extensively on the Algarve, a seaside tourist area where you can sail 10 months out of 12. Our catamaran is often available for expeditions and scientific research, but the pleasure of sailing still remains aboard CATANA #1 “OCEANUS II”.

PHOTOS by Annika Kethers, Daniel Machado and Yannick Kethers