From New Zealand to the Mediterranean: the Earthling E-40 heads to Barcelona

The Earthling E-40, a new electric–hybrid power catamaran designed in New Zealand, cruised across the Mediterranean on its way to Barcelona for its European premiere, where it took part in the 2025 Barcelona International Boat Show. This journey combined cargo-ship transport from Auckland to Italy with a solo passage of over 1,000 km by sea along the Mediterranean coast towards Spain.

We invite you to dive into the story behind this adventure and discover, step by step, how the E-40 made its first great Mediterranean journey together with John McGettigan, its owner and engineer.

An electric catamaran that crosses half the world

After years of development, the E-40 has finally left its home waters to reach the place where it truly aims to operate: the Mediterranean. The boat was loaded in Auckland onto a general cargo ship while at anchor, because the vessel was carrying explosives and could not enter port, turning even the loading operation into the start of an unconventional adventure. This move is strategic for Earthling: bringing an efficient, quiet electric cruising catamaran right into the heart of Europe’s leisure boating scene.

Arrival in Italy: proving a real alternative to traditional cruising

Once unloaded in Italy, the project enters its key phase: a solo passage of around 1,000 km from northern Italy to Spain. John McGettigan, the owner and engineer behind the E-40, uses this trip to demonstrate that there is a practical alternative to conventional combustion-powered cruising in the Mediterranean. The E-40 combines electric propulsion with efficient onboard generation to achieve “sailing without sails”: silent cruising with lower maintenance and a focus on smart functionality rather than sheer engine power.​

A 1,000 km solo passage to Spain

During this journey of more than 1,000 km, John documents each leg of the route, his navigation choices and how the electric–hybrid propulsion behaves in real conditions. The aim is not to create a glossy marketing video, but to share what it genuinely means to cross the Mediterranean on a catamaran designed for autonomy, efficiency and low-impact cruising. It is one of the strongest proofs that the E-40 is a practical, insurable passagemaker, built for real-world cruising rather than just brochure photography.​

“Sailing without sails” in the Mediterranean

The Earthling E-40 was conceived with a clear idea: to offer owners and professionals a way to enjoy the Mediterranean with less noise, fewer emissions and greater efficiency. The design focuses on optimised hulls, a service-friendly electric architecture and a propulsion system tailored for long-range cruising with controlled energy use. This journey from New Zealand to Spain is not just logistics; it is a statement about what the future of coastal and long-distance cruising with electric and hybrid boats can look like.​

Learn more about the Earthling E-40 at Volta

If you would like technical information, layouts, price and configuration options for the Earthling E-40 in the Mediterranean, visit the model page on our website:

https://www.voltayachts.com/electric-boat/e-40-power-catamaran