MULTIHULLS CRUISING
BALI 4.1
Picking up where its predecessor, the Bali 4.0, left off, the Bali 4.1 checks many if not all the boxes for a modern cruising catamaran. Noteworthy among these are a spacious cockpit/saloon area that essentially combine into one in nice weather or on the hook; a solid “integral” foredeck in the interest of rigidity and protection; a forward cockpit big enough to accommodate the entire crew; and an elevated lounging space alongside the raised helm station to starboard. A product of France’s renowned Catana Group, the boat also features the angular lines found aboard many of today’s cruising boats while a self-tacking headsail promotes ease of use. Bali Catamarans, bali-catamarans.com
BAVARIA NAUTITECH 40
OPEN The Bavaria Nautitech 40 Open offers the same wide-open spaces pioneered a couple of years ago by the Nautitech 46 Open (with the saloon and aft cockpit blending into what is basically one large living space) only in a slightly smaller package. A pair of outboard helm stations set well aft provide a clear view of the rig under sail, while the boat’s selftacking headsail makes coming about a snap. Bavaria’s proprietary VacuTec vacuuminfusion technology ensures a pair of lightweight hulls—critical to performance in a multihull—while the rig’s powerful, high-aspect, square-top main will provide plenty of power at every angle of sail. Bavaria Yachts/Nautitech, bavariayachts.com
FOUNTAINE PAJOT ASTRƒA 42
Fountaine Pajot has long been known for its spacious, comfortable cruising cats, and the Astréa 42 very much carries on the tradition with its scads of lounging space and an airy saloon. Topside there’s not only room for two at the helm station, but a comfy reclining space immediately inboard. Aft the optional integrated plancha grill will be just the thing for entertaining in good weather. Similarly, the U-shaped galley translates seamlessly into the cockpit via a large, sliding pocket door. Yet another lounging space forward completes this luxurious package. Fountaine Pajot Sailing Catamarans, catamarans-fountaine-pajot.com
LAGOON 40
Designed by VPLP, the Lagoon 40 features businesslike plumb bows, angular transoms, longer rectangular hull ports for great light below and a coachroof that flows into an upward-angled composite Bimini, making for a boat with a purposeful look. The wraparound windows are still vertical, but look more elongated than in past designs, even as they still give the 40-footer a very recognizable “Lagoon” profile. Extra attention was paid to keeping the weight down, with vacuum-infusion construction and balsa coring in the deck and the hull above the waterline. The boat’s larger genoa and smaller, high-aspect main make for easier shorthanded sailing, while a larger reaching sail can be flown off a sprit. Lagoon, cata-lagoon.com
LAGOON 50
The Lagoon 50 is available with or without a flybridge, and as is the case with a number of the company’s recent models, the rig includes a larger foretriangle area with a self-tacking jib and a smaller, more manageably high-aspect main in the interest of making things easier on the boat’s crews. Not surprisingly, lounging space abounds aboard this big cat. Nonetheless, during a test sail on Miami’s Biscayne Bay this past winter, the boat also showed a good turn of speed, especially off the wind with a Code 0 unfurled. A variety of interior layouts are available, including an especially enviable one in which the entire starboard hull is given over to an expansive owner’s cabin. Lagoon, cata-lagoon.com
NEEL 51
The celebrated Neel concept blends tremendous amounts of accommodation space with outstanding performance, thanks to a combination of the boats’ three narrow wave-piercing hulls and a powerful, well-balanced rig: an approach that works especially well with the additional LOA that was available to veteran multihull naval architects Michel Joubert and Bernard Nivelt when it came time to draw the Neel 51. Weight being critical to making the most of a boat like this, the hull, deck and cabintop moldings consist of PVC foam cores sandwiched between quadraxial fiberglass rovings and infused with isophthalic and vinylester resins. Interior bulkheads and most furniture are also foam sandwich constructions. Neel Trimarans, neel-trimarans.com
OUTREMER 45
If you’re the kind of sailor who rates a cruising catamaran by the number of cockpits and lounging areas it has, then you might not be impressed by the Outremer 45. However, if you’re the kind of sailor who likes regularly blasting through ocean swells at sustained double-digit speeds, then this just might be the boat for you. In addition to well-apportioned accommodations the Outremer 45 features long, narrow hulls with plumb ends to maximize their sailing length; a powerful rig with a large, squaretop main; super-cool outboard tiller helm stations (in addition to a standard inboard wheel set to port); daggerboards; and a low, nicely sculpted cabintrunk that works to minimize both windage and weight—all with an eye toward fast passage times and great sailing in general. Outremer Yachting, catamaran-outremer.com
SEAWIND 1260
Founded in Australia and now building its boats in Vietnam, Seawind Catamarans has long been known for its tough, fast bluewater cruising cats, and the newly arrived Seawind 1260 more than carries on this tradition. The boat’s twin helm stations serve immediate notice that this is a true sailor’s boat, as the clear views they afford both forward and aloft allow you to make the most of the 1260’s shapely hull form and large rig. The two hulls’ reverse sheer and windows admit plenty of ambient light, while a proprietary “Tri-Fold” hinged doorway allows you to, in essence, create a seamless whole out of the cockpit and saloon. The boat’s modular composite furniture also serves to stiffen the boat’s overall vinylester-infused structure. Wouldn’t it be great to see more of these fine boats here in North America! Seawind Catamarans, seawindcats.com
VISION 444
The Vision 444 is a sleek new entry into the performance catamaran market that should be on the list of any sailor looking for boat that isn’t just comfortable, but is also a good sailer. All components are vacuum-infused with vinylester resin for light weight, durability and blister resistance. The boat’s low profile serves to reduce windage and also helps create a seamless transition from the helm station to starboard to the side decks. Dual helm stations are also available, and the hulls come standard with foam sacrificial bows in the interest of safety. Clean angular lines suggest a boat that looks as good as it sails. Vision Yachts, sailawaycatamarans.com
LEOPARD 50
The Leopard 50 takes the place of the popular Leopard 48, and includes the same rocksolid build quality and smart design for which the boat’s South African builder has long been known. The hulls are vacuum-bagged in E-glass hull with an end-grain balsa core, while ring frames of carbon fiber add stiffness without adding an undue amount of weight. A pioneer of the forward cockpit, Leopard has not surprisingly included one in this good-sailing 50-footer, and it remains as fun as ever, whether you’re underway or at anchor. For those in search of a better view, there’s also a lounging area alongside the boat’s raised helm station. Leopard Catamarans, leopardcatamarans.com s