THE A-Z OF MULTIHULLS
Who’s who and what’s new
ON A ROLL
The best furlers for cruising and racing
SOUTH ATLANTIC ADVENTURE
Cape Town to Brazil by catamaran
WHERRY GOOD Discovering the Norfolk Broads
GOING FOR GOLD Team GB Olympic preview
INTO THE WILD Exploring Vancouver Island
RORC ‘n’ Roll
It has been a wild summer so far but every cloud has a silver lining and it does mean we have been treated to some exciting racing conditions. Here Fujitsu British Soldier has a somewhat close encounter with Venomous in the
Salcombe Gin Morgan Cup
Photo: RORC/Rick Tomlinson
Out on the Raz
The coast of Brittany in France is chock full of dramatic and rugged scenery and the Pointe du Raz, at the tip of Cap Sizun, is one of the highlights. In the local Breton language Raz means a rapid current and that certainly makes sense. This is a headland that needs to be treated with the utmost respect
Photo: Shutterstock
THE A-Z OF MULTIHULLS
The multihull market is fast growing and evolving and can be hard to get your head around. Here we take a look at all the big players and their latest launches
BALANCE
Who are they?
A South African based manufacturer of fast cruising cats with daggerboards. The company was founded by Philip Berman, a former US Hobie Cat champion who had a clear vision of what made a good cruising catamaran. The Balance range feature innovative adjustable helm positions and excellent performance even when loaded with cruising kit.
What’s new?
Having enjoyed big success and plaudits with the Balance 442, 482 (pictured) and 526, the company is moving into a different size category with models such as the 580 and 620. These are big boats that, like their smaller sisters, will be carbon reinforced, lightweight and designed by Anto Du Toit and Philip Berman.
balancecatamarans.com
Things have changed quite a lot since the Polynesians first came up with the idea of strapping two canoes together to make a catamaran. These days, multihulls are big business and, while the monohull market remains quite static, the multihull market grows year on year.
The reason behind this massive expansion has involved multiple factors but the key is that, for cruising, a catamaran or trimaran can provide a stable, spacious platform for living aboard while also delivering impressive performance. It is this performance factor that has really unlocked the potential of the cruising cat. Where previously upwind performance could be questionable, the new generation of yachts generally point well, while those with daggerboards are often pointing as high as many of their monohull sisters.
In recent years, the market went somewhat mad post Covid with manufacturers struggling to match demand as orders spiralled. Waiting lists for some of the more bespoke bluewater cruising catamarans was stretching into the years. Things have obviously calmed down now and waiting lists have dropped. Thomas Gailly, Brand Director of Lagoon, explained his own company’s approach: “There are always peaks and troughs in the marine market and the time after Covid was, of course, crazy. We knew it wouldn’t last and so we were prudent in the way we did things and made sure we didn’t overstretch ourselves.
“This year we have two models out (the Lagoon 60 and 43) and in all honesty we didn’t rush them because we knew we needed to keep a steady flow of boats. Now, as the market slows, we have two new models to boost our order book.”
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the flourishing multihull market is that hybrid diesel/electric power is becoming a practical alternative to traditional diesels. The higher speeds a multihull can achieve under sail makes hydrogeneration more feasible, while the large flat surface areas on deck are ideal for solar panels. Companies such as Windelo having established that bluewater cruising is possible and practical with hybrid electric motors. Here, we are looking predominantly at the 30’ plus cruising catamaran market to help you get a handle on the many manufacturers and what they have to offer.
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE
Multihull manufacturer Lagoon is the world leader in building cruising multihulls. The company has gone big with its new Lagoon 60 as Sam Jefferson finds out
If you are considering a cruise on the west coast of Scotland, there are few places more convenient in which to base your yacht than Troon Yacht Haven on the Firth of Clyde says Sue Pelling. You could even try your hand at a round of golf!
FERRY