When people say it takes passion to build something real, people roll their eyes because they have heard that before. Passion is the secret ingredient, the pitches on everything from microwave popcorn to cell phone apps scream! 

But, what if the word passion is only part of the story? What if passion means lots of people working side by side to build something great? 

What if the word passion is understood to mean that action by which creativity slams into  hard work? 

What if passion is the only word to explain the alchemy of science and design mixing together to create something that is not only beautiful, but fast on the sea, that provides a home and an adventure every single day? 

Could it be that the word passion is the balance between so many other things that bring an idea to life? That’s what Phil Berman, founder of Balance Catamarans thinks  as he reflects on what it means to welcome so many new voyagers to the community every year since he founded the company in 2013.

Berman spent some time thinking about all this recently while sitting on the Commissioning Dock for Balance Catamarans in Cape Town, South Africa, where the Balance 464, 502 and 750 are all made by teams of talented people. The Balance 526 and 580 are made in South Africa as well but a bit further south in St. Francis Bay where the first Balance Catamaras were launched so many years ago.

Berman says that with every visit to South Africa, he is in awe of what has been accomplished in the decade plus of building catamarans. Recently updated figures reveal that 77 Balance Catamarans are now gracing the waters, with even more innovative vessels consistently being launched. On platforms like AIS and PredictWind, our boats are visible as they dynamically sail across the globe. Proudly, by the close of this year, our fleet is anticipated to grow to 100, 

While it is easy to spin a story of passion and use the numbers to prove the case, Berman points his evidence in another direction – the incredible individuals who dedicate each day to constructing these magnificent boats. Their dedication, love, brilliance, and craftsmanship breathe life into each vessel daily. That’s what passion is: all these skills, talents, innovations and people blended together to create something amazing.