The gimbaled settee improves comfort and reduces seasickness

Why seasickness happens

Seasickness occurs when your body struggles to reconcile the motion of the boat with what your eyes see and your inner ear senses. Sitting or standing at an angle on a yacht caused by the boat’s heel often intensifies this discomfort.

For sailors who plan to spend weeks or months at sea, especially on long legs of a journey, traditional seating arrangements can lead to unnecessary fatigue and exacerbate seasickness. Reducing these challenges isn’t just about comfort; it’s about ensuring you can make the most of your time on the water.

What is the gimbaled settee?

The gimbaled settee is a lightweight, carbon-fibre seating solution designed to rotate along the boat’s longitudinal axis. This rotation compensates for the angle of the heel, keeping the settee level even as the yacht leans.

By staying level, the gimbaled settee provides a stable seating position regardless of sea conditions. This stability minimises the physical strain caused by bracing yourself to stay upright and helps reduce the factors that contribute to seasickness.

Practical benefits for long-term cruising

Pegasus Yachts developed the gimbaled settee with long-distance sailors in mind, but it is helpful for anyone’s onboard experience:

• Reduced fatigue: Sitting or lying on a levelled surface takes the force off your muscles, allowing you to relax during long passages.
• Minimised seasickness: By maintaining visual contact with the horizon and reducing physical instability, the gimbaled settee helps prevent the discomfort of seasickness.
• Better functionality: The settee’s design allows you to read, rest, or even prepare meals comfortably while staying levelled and connected to the environment around you.

This isn’t about adding luxury for its own sake - it’s about making long-term cruising safer, more practical, and more enjoyable.

I thought that this was a joke. But when I was sailing for four days, from San Remo to Sardinia, we were using a gimbaled settee, and to be honest, it was awesome. To take out the fatigue and to make it more comfortable. That’s totally cool.

Markus Moser - LIFGUN / Pegasus 50

Multi-functionality of the settee at sea

The settee transforms effortlessly between three key modes.

1. Seating area with folded table

   Whether you’re hanging out, preparing food, or reading a book, the settee serves as a table where you can sit comfortably. It’s most common to use the table folded, as it offers easier sitting and standing up.

2. Unfolded table for everyday use

   For socialising, working or meal enjoyment, the table unfolds into a double working area. Behind the table, there’s an HDMI unit, which allows you to connect your laptop to the big 27’’ touch screen on the navigation station.

3. Resting and sleeping area

   When you need space for napping, relaxing, kids play or need to accommodate an extra guest, simply lower the table and cover it with settee backrest cushions.

Built for bluewater cruising

Pegasus Yachts designs boats with bluewater cruising in mind. When you’re on the water for weeks or months, small design features can make a big difference. The gimbaled settee is part of a broader approach to creating yachts that are functional, efficient, and suited to the demands of long-term sailing.

Its carbon-fibre construction keeps it lightweight, ensuring it doesn’t compromise the performance of the boat. The seamless integration between the cockpit and saloon creates a unified living area that works equally well under sail and at anchor. Designed for simplicity, the Pegasus 50 can be easily handled by one or two people, making it ideal for couples or small crews.