AMERICA’S PREMIER MULTIHULL MAGAZINE
MULTIHULLSTODAY LA GRANDE MOTTE BOAT SHOW PREVIEW VIEW THE NEW LEOPARD 46 NEEL 43 CHARTERING IN 2022
SPRING 2022
PASSAGE ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN
MULTIHULLS TODAY spring 2022
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
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ON THE LEVEL America’s Cup Report Ryan Finn
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ON A P SSAGE Mauritian Impossible
MULTIHULL ENTHUSIAST Boats On Display at Biggest European Multihull show
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MODERN MULTIHULLS Leopard 46 and NEEL 43
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ON CHARTER The Many Benefits of Chartering a Cat 2022 Summer Sailing Vacation Guide
Cover shot: Enjoying a dynamic sail onboard a Dragonfly 40
2 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
NEW
Getting Multihull Sea Legs THE FIRST TIME I MADE AN OFFSHORE PASSAGE ON A cruising cat was aboard the first Gunboat 62 Tribe on a delivery from Charleston, SC around Cape Hatteras to Newport, RI. As just about every multihull enthusiast knows, Gunboats were designed from hull number one to blow every other cruising boat out of the water with raw speed and advanced carbon construction. Well, we rounded Cape Hatteras in a rising nor’easter so Tribe was close hauled and leaping over waves like a spooked stallion. I’ve sailed monohulls in such conditions numerous times and was used to the rise and fall of oncoming swells, the heeling in the puffs and the surge of the sole under your feet. But multihull motion in such conditions is entirely different as the bows don’t meet the waves at the same time and the sterns don’t rise and fall in unison. The sole under our feet corkscrewed unpredictably. So instead of plodding on a surging cabin sole, we had to take baby steps to stay connected. The passage took us about five days and the weather abated after Hatteras to a pleasant reach. And, after the nor’easter and the baby steps, the crew had started to get the hang of multihull sailing in bouncy conditions. We’d started to get our multihull sea legs. Going forward is a challenge in rough conditions because the multihull’s motion at the bows and sterns is more extreme than it is closer to the boat’s center of gravity amidships. On the trampolines, a leaping wave can trampoline you up into the air without warning and then as you come down the tramps can be falling away until they are suddenly rising again buckling your knees. It takes a nimble crew to walk on tramps in these conditions and many crew will find it best to scoot forward on their bottoms. If you spend days at sea, you will develop multihull sea legs. But when you come ashore you won’t have the rolling gait of a blue water monohull man. Instead, you’ll walk like you just spent five days tap dancing on a floor that’s there one minute and gone the next.
MULTIHULLS TODAY
Editor and Publisher George Day Ph: 401-847-7612 Fax: 401-845-8580 george@bwsailing.com Contributing Editors
Bill Biewenga Rebecca Childress John Neal
Sandy Parks Art Director Ph: 401-847-7612 Fax: 401-845-8580 sandy@bwsailing.com Advertising Sales & Tom Casey Marketing Consultant tomcat911@comcast.net
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MT-Multihulls Today is published by Blue Water Sailing LLC in February, May, August and November. Copyrighted 2022. All rights reserved. Reprinting, photocopying and excerpting passages is forbidden except by permission of the publisher. Blue Water Sailing ISSN: 1091-1979
4 Multihulls Today • Volume 12, winter
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America’s Cup Defense 2024 Moves to Barcelona
6 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
NEW
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on thelevel
The decision was announced by TNZ leader Grant Dalton in late March after the team had spent several months weighing the pluses and minuses of four European cities that had stepped forward to vie for the event. This came after TNZ rejected a $99 million offer of funding for TEAM NEW ZEALAND, WHICH SUCCESSFULLY hosting the event from the government of defended the America’s Cup last year in a New Zealand and private donors. tight series with Luna Rosa, announced in late March that the next battle for sport’s The decision was wildly controversial oldest trophy will be held in the waters off in New Zealand. Dalton defended the choice to take the event offshore by the Spanish city of Barcelona.
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stating that the only way the team could be competitive and hopefully retain the Cup was to run the event in a huge media market and in a city that was prepared to underwrite the team and the event to a significant degree.
do. The team must always come first. Of course, the event is immensely important, but sustaining a team that has the possibility of winning was always our key objective.
“If you don’t have enough money, and that’s a fact of the America’s Cup, you Dalton, who was quoted in the New just crumble and it’s been said you’d be Zealand Herald, said: “In the end I think better to lose at home than win offshore. we’ve been true to what we said we’d I just can’t get my head around that. The
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on thelevel
here as well, but we’ve got a chance. We had no chance at home.”
point is if you lose offshore it will never come home. And here’s a chance that we’ll be funded well enough to take a realistic chance of defending it so we can bring it home.
In defense of the decision, Barcelona has everything an America’s Cup event requires: well-developed waterfront infrastructure, steady winds in the 9 to 15-knot range, a race course close to spectators on shore, a large tourism infrastructure and more restaurants with Michelin stars than any other city in the world. Besides, it is a beautiful and historic city that will attract huge crowds of America’s Cup fans. And, Barcelona is right in the heart of one of the world’s largest media markets.
“If we thought it was possible to fund and hold the America’s Cup in New Zealand, it would have been there. It was obvious very early on it was going to be very very difficult or you would lose. Now, there’s But, the decision to take the Cup defense no guarantee we’re going to win over away from New Zealand and Kiwi
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on thelevel
supporters was a huge disappointment for many. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, in a quote in the NZ Herald, “I probably feel the same way as many New Zealanders. I am disappointed around the decision that’s been made on where the America’s Cup will be held. As a government we certainly stumped up sufficient funding for it to be hosted here. We wanted it to be hosted here. So, for it to depart is a disappointment. “For us, we wanted it here because New Zealand treats it as a national event. I don’t think any other country in the world treats the America’s Cup in the way that we do. We all celebrate it but at the same time, we have to consider all the other costs. We put enough on the table for it to be hosted here but ultimately a different decision was made.”
And New Zealand Finance Minister responded to questions about promised government funding by noting, in the NZ Herald, “From our perspective, it wasn’t a bidding war. We put up $136m for the hosting of America’s Cup 36 and we had an offer on the table for close to $100m with Auckland Council for 37. We felt that was a reasonable offer. But we weren’t going to get ourselves in a bidding war.” In the end, Dalton and Team New Zealand made the decision to host their America’s Cup Defense number 37 in Spain in the fall of 2024. It is now time for the challengers to start their programs in earnest.
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AMERICAN RYAN FINN COMPLETES VOYAGE FROM NYC TO SAN FRANCISCO
ON APRIL 21, 94 DAYS AFTER DEPARTING New York City, American solo sailor Ryan Finn sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge an into San Francisco aboard his 36-foot proa Jzerro. His journey took him south through the North and South Atlantic Oceans crossing the equator and the doldrums as he made for his turning mark at Cape Horn, the southern tip of South America. The adventure was pegged to Finn’s desire to establish a singlehanded nonstop record for this passage of 83 days and his quick little multihull seemed capable of achieving the high average speeds needed. No singledhanded non-stop record for this passage was on the books. A proa is an unusual design derived from 16 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
the sailing canoes that Polynesians built and sailed as they explored and migrated all over the South and North Pacific Oceans hundreds of years ago. They were among the world’s greatest navigators and explorers who set up Polynesian colonies from Hawaii in the north to the Marquesas Islands in the east and to the south in New Zealand. A proa has a main hull that is narrow but habitable and a single outrigger or ama which is connected to the main hull by struts or akas. The design has a small amount of wetted surface and fine hulls so it slips through the water easily and can sail well with a small amount of sail area. The outrigger hull provides the stability and also has a daggerboard to improve
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windward sailing performance. The downside of the proa design, aside from the limited living space inside the main hull, is the possibility of a capsize. Suffice it to say that Finn faced weather conditions, particularly around Cape Horn, that offered that possibility. And, it is a testament to Finn’s seamanship skills and to the integrity of Jzerro’s design and build, that they got to San Francisco in one piece. But the journey was not without drama. South of the equator Finn’s sailing instruments and autopilot starting giving him trouble. Despite rewiring some circuits and troubleshooting the software, he had to make the decision to divert to Salvador, Brazil where he would have new instruments shipped in. The new instruments arrived but Finn ran into another storm, this time a bureaucratic one. Brazilian Customs would not release 18 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
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multihull enthusiast Uruguay cost him two weeks against his total elapsed time for the trip and also meant that the passage would not be non-stop and would not be achieved unaided by outside services. But Mar del Plata would be his last stop before sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. He fought his way south and rounded the famous Cape, sometimes seeing enormous waves along the way. Once around the Horn, he headed north along the Chilean coast where he found the favorable Humbolt Current and a mixture of winds from the south and west. After the cold of the Southern Ocean, Finn was soon sailing into warmer and calmer weather. Once across the equator he sailed north along the central American coast and battled headwinds day after day after day. And then, at the end, there were day after day of light or non-existent head winds. At one point, on his last day at sea, with the sea around him as flat as glass, he lit a torch of toilet paper on fire to see if there was any wind at all. The smoke rose straight up; there was not a breath of wind. his new electronics. After struggling for three days, Finn gave up and set off once But he persevered and eventually more for Cape Horn with fingers crossed completed the course and laid down a marker for solo sailors to follow. He had that his repairs would work. They did. sailed the route in a 36-foot multihull; Less than a week later, the electrical he proved that a well sailed proa was system on Jzerro started to have problems capable of such an adventure; he has and Finn lost his ability to make drinking established a time frame for others to water from salt water with his small reverse challenge; and he had proven that he osmosis watermaker. That was a game stands in the first ranks of American solo changer since his little proa did not have sailors. enough tankage to hold the water he Congratulations. would need to compete the passage. So, Finn had to detour to Mar del Plata Click here to read Ryan’s notes and see in southern Uruguay to make repairs. The photos and videos on his Facebook page stop in Salvador and the second stop in 2ocean1rock. 22 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
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onpassage
MAURITIAN IMPOSSIBLE
A voyage with an element of risk and an uncertain outcome by Bill Biewenga
OUR MISSION, SINCE WE HAD CHOSEN TO accept it, was to get Nirvana, a Gunboat 48 catamaran, from Cape Town, South Africa to Dubai with Mauritius as our first intended stop. Good intentions oft come to naught. With Nirvana’s owner Monish and my frequent delivery partner Lia Ditton on board, we’d been forced to make some unintended repairs on the southeastern tip of South Africa following an altercation with some floating debris a week out of Cape Town. With that part of the ongoing adventure behind us, we timed our crossing of the Agulhas Current to the weather and continued on our way, motoring to Mauritius. We thought.
dry or air in the fuel line. Even half asleep, that was obvious. With big beam flashlight in hand, I went to the back of the starboard hull and shined the brilliant light towards the prop under the port hull. Wave after wave obscured the view, but eventually, a wad of something could be detected trailing from the prop. A fishing net had fouled itself in the prop, stopping the engine in its tracks. Someone would have to go over the side to cut it free. But not at night in a seaway! We would run on the starboard engine until daybreak.
Going over the side of a boat in midocean should never be taken lightly. If the wind comes up, a prop is engaged, Nighttime at sea brings many things: or the boat is drifting faster than initially often times a star-filled sky, a few knots of thought, problems can easily occur. We extra breeze, and – it seems – problems. always leave at least one person on the Our engine jolted to a stop. It wasn’t the boat to act as a lookout for sharks or help coughing sound of a fuel tank running people get back onboard. They know 24 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
and the solent flying, it was a moderately conservative sail plan. As winds went from 12 knots to 50 knots in less than 10 minutes, there was little time to react. We had previously set up for a second reef in case the need would arise, but there had been little apparent reason to prepare for that much wind hitting us that suddenly. Lia and I jumped into action on Monish, Nirvana’s owner, climbed into his deck as Monish steered the boat to miniwetsuit. Since the sea temp was rather mize the effect of the wind. We quickly cold, he poured some warm tap water dropped the main to the third reef point down the neck of the suit to warm it up and rolled up the solent. how to use the engines and steer the boat back to anyone needing help. And we trail knotted lines from the stern of the boat so people can easily grab a line. The watch-stander understands that trailing lines and moving props don’t make for a good mix, so if he needs to engage the engines, the lines are secured.
Nighttime at sea brings many things: often times a star-filled sky, a few knots of extra breeze, and – it seems – problems prior to jumping into the sea. Quickly, he swam over to the prop, and with the boat bouncing up and down in the swell, he was able to dislodge the fishing net. Throughout the night, the net had almost worked itself free. We again had the use of both engines as well as our sails to get us to Mauritius. Weather systems move quickly in the higher latitudes of the southern Indian Ocean. Even at 34 degrees South, the systems seemed to issue little warning. Cloudy skies seemed to offer few clues about what was about to happen. Would the wind stay light or would we get blasted by a sudden squall? There was reason for a cautious approach.
Roller furlers tend to make tighter wraps when the winds are strong. The tighter wraps mean that more revolutions of the furler drum will be needed, which in turn requires more line on the drum for the added revolutions. We ran out of line on the drum while about 6 feet of sail remained exposed. Despite our efforts to hand roll the sail around the headstay, the winds where too strong for even that small amount of sail. With the clew flogging wildly and the rig jumping around, sea spray blown flat across the water and wind screaming in the rigging, we heard a bang! The starboard diamond rod broke at the spreader!
This was getting serious quickly. Problems Throughout the following day, winds gen- were cascading faster than they could erally lightened. With one reef in the main be solved. If we weren’t careful www.MultihullsToday.com 25
onpassage
the mast, over the outboard end of the spreader and back to the base of the mast. We had the spool of Spectra and a block and tackle in the inventory for the jury rig. But this situation was quite a bit different than the previous experience. We were now in a strong gale and going aloft on the multihull was out of the question. We would need to head to Madagascar, three days to our north, to take the remnants of the solent down and put the jury rig in place. We carefully motored north, and again, Gunboat came to our aid, offering suggestions about potentially suitable places to make landfall and do
in our assessment and actions, we could lose the rig. After tying off the headsail, partially furled, we stopped working on the solent and focused our attention on getting the main down to take the load off the rig. With the main dropped, we brought its halyard to the outboard end of the boom to help support the back of the mast. The solent was in the process of shredding itself, but we had to protect the mainsail and mast. Lia and I had seen similar problems with the rigging before, and prior to leaving Cape Town, we made sure that we had the right equipment to affect a jury rig. A little more than a year earlier, we’d had a rod shroud break in less than 15 knots of wind, and we were able to motor-sail a thousand miles with a lashing of a couple of Spectra lines run from the top of 26 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
the jury rig as they helped coordinate the more permanent repairs. Madagascar is not your average tourist destination. Previously they experienced a political coup. There is a great deal of unemployment and poverty, and visitors are encouraged to exercise caution. The friendly people of the day may very well vent their desperation at night.
We were out of the fray at sea and in a completely different world
was at a fabulous Chinese restaurant. As the patrons were ballroom dancing, the music was provided by a local singer and her accompanist playing an electronic keyboard. We were out of the fray at sea and in a completely different world. As we arrived, there were hundreds of Our own “mission impossible” was comdugout canoes lined up along the beach. plete, but the journey to Dubai had only With two or three men to a canoe, there just begun. The next stop was to be the were only 20 or 30 men out fishing during Great Chagos Bank and there, we would the day. We were going to be in and out need to deal with uncharted islands… of there like a same day laundry service: in by 7 am, out by 5 pm. Our first priority To Be Continued… would be to top our fuel tanks by ferrying jerry cans ashore and filling them at the local gas station. We would then put the jury rig in place and depart before dark to complete the final 660 miles to Mauritius where we would have our replacement sail and rigging sent for a more permanent solution to the problems. With our jury rig complete we set off, motor sailing the remainder of the way to our first intended stop, Mauritius. While enroute, we heard about another crew who had put into Madagascar. They had spent the night in an obscure bay. During the night they were boarded, robbed and murdered. We were glad to be on our way to Mauritius, an island with a difference. Several days later, we made landfall in Port Louis, Mauritius amidst fleets of Asian fishing boats. The largely Indian population has many temples around the island, and the friendly people are of multiple cultures. Our first meal ashore www.MultihullsToday.com 27
multihull enthusiast
BOATS ON DISPLAY AT BIGGEST EUROPEAN MULTIHULL SHOW
Meet 17 multihulls that will be shown in April at the huge International Multihull Show in La Grande Motte, France France is the multihull capital of Europe and only South Africa rivals the country for dominance in this special market segment. Every spring, the large marina at La Grande Motte near Montpelier in the south of France hosts Europe’s largest multihull show and all of the major builders from France and elsewhere display their latest and brightest designs. Here is a preview of boats that will be at the show this year. AVENTURA Built in Tunisia, the Aventura line of sailing and cruising catamarans offers unique modern designs in the 34 to 45-foot range and exceptional value. The little 34 is one of the smallest cruising cats on the market and packs a lot of accommodation and sailing performance in a boat that can be easily sailed singlehanded or by a couple. Note the hard chines above the waterline that add volume to the hulls where it is needed while keeping the hulls narrow and fast in the water where it counts. cruisers at 35 and 40 feet. Check out the Aventura also build two flybridge power Aventura website here. 28 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
BALANCE 442 The new Balance 442 is the smallest design in the Balance fleet that includes the 482, 526 and 620 yet it offers the same spritely sailing performance and luxurious accommodations of her bigger sisters. The concept behind Balance, as defined by founder Phil Berman, is to create fine sailing catamarans, with daggerboards and good windward performance, that can carry a couple or family anywhere they dream to go and bear the weight of supplies and stores that voyaging boats need to carry. Hence the name Balance. Built in South Africa by journeymen composite craftsmen, the 442 will appeal to couples who stand lone watches, and younger crews who want to go cruising in style but on a budget. Check out the 442 here. BALI 4.2 The new 40-foot Bali 4.2 is a remarkable small cat that offers the living spaces of a much larger design. Bali has always been known for building boats that were indooroutdoor experiences and that have a rigid foredeck and forward cockpit that expands the areas in which the party aboard can in fact party. While the 4.2 will find its way into the large charter fleets, such as the Dream Yacht Charters Network, it will also make a fine family cruiser, particularly in warmer climes. With large sliding glass door and windows, the saloon, forward and aft cockpits all kind of flow together. With fairly wide hulls, the sleeping cabins are spacious for a boat of
this size. If you are looking for a fun boat with lots of space, the Bali 4.2 might be for you. Check out their website here. Catana Ocean Class Cantana has been building ocean going
cruising cats for decades and was a pioneer in the field of long-range cruising aboard and modern cats. The new Ocean Class fits right into that profile and offers cruisers a 49-foot cat with daggerboards and a tall composite rig that will reel off 200 mile days with alacrity and will, if pushed, get you to 250 miles a day or more. The OC can sail at 15 to 20 knots, but it is hard to sustain such seeds while making an offshore passage. The boats are built on a semi-custom basis so you can arrange the sleeping cabins to your specific needs. With a raised helm, visibility forward is good and all running lines run back to winches at the helm for a lone watch stander to handle. If you are heading over the horizon to landfalls far and wide, then the new Catana Ocean Class might be just right for you. Check out the website here www.MultihullsToday.com 29
multihull enthusiast
EXCESS 14 The Excess line of catamarans was launched five years ago by Groupe Beneteau, which also owns Lagoon catamarans. The new brand has been targeted at a youthful audience of active adventurers and the move seems to be working well. In 2022, Excess will launch its fourth boat in the line with the new Excess 14. This 45-foot cat was designed from scratch and offers a good compromise between good sailing per formance, open spaces and spacious cabins. The use of full-length chines in the hulls keeps the wetted surface to a minimum while maximizing interior volume. The 14 should be a real hit when it is launched this year. Check out the website here.
that is protected from the elements with room to entertain a dozen or more friends. Then there is the flying bridge and helm that has a huge U-shaped sofa where you can enjoy sunning during the day and star gazing at night. Finally, there is the new bridgedeck forward that is a third lounge where the kids on board can collect away from the oldies for their kid time. FP has managed to fit all of this into a cat that is quite sleek looking and does not suffer from wedding-cake syndrome; even the lounge on the flybridge seems unobtrusive and almost hidden from view. This is going to make a wonderful family cruiser and will fit very nicely into the charter fleets. See more on their website.
FOUNTAINE PAJOT MY 4.5 The new Daniel Andrieu-designed FP MY 4.5 is a thoroughly modern power cat with lots of sharp angles, hard chines and huge windows in the hulls. Unlike her bigger FP motor cat sisters, the MY 4.5 does not have a flying bridge, so it is what could be called a coupe cat. The saloon is large and has an opening sunroof and opening windows for excellent ventilation and natural light. The aft cockpit is covered FOUNTAINE PAJOT 51 The new FP 51 that will be launched with an extended roof to protect you from this year takes the concept of outdoor the weather. And, forward, via the wide lounging and living spaces to a whole new side decks, there is a lounging area with level. The aft cockpit is large and joins with folding sun beds. This new entry is powered the saloon to make one large living space by twin Yamaha 250s that will drive it at 30 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
20 knots or more and will provide efficient cruising speeds in the mid teens. This looks likes a great couples’ coastal cruiser for the ICW or Great Loop. Check it out on the website.
cruising boat that is intended to be entirely sustainable and leave no carbon footprint. The design emphasizes great sailing per formance so owners will be able to sail when others are motoring. And, under power will use less energy to push the narrow hulls through the water. Powered by the Finishbuilt OceanVolt system, a large bank of lithium batteries and a huge solar array, the cat should be able to cruise the world indefinitely. In addition, they are using a brand new water making technology that reduced energy required to make water by about 80 percent. The finished boat will be a luxury performance cruiser that any owner could take pride in for all the above reasons and more. Check it here.
HH 44 The all new HH 44 is a unique, high-tech cat that embraces the future of solarelectric-hybrid auxiliary power. The 44 shares the HH family’s lightweight hulls and powerful rigs and will in the right conditions sail as fast as the wind. And, with C-shaped daggerboards, it will be as close winded as most monohulls. All of that means you won’t need to run the engines as often as you do on more conventional cats. The huge lithium ion battery bank is charged by the solar array on the cabintop and by water generators while sailing. Plus, it has a diesel genset for those moments when solar and water power are not enough. The 44 has an open plan as the saloon and cockpit flow together through sliding doors to create one large living space. The boat can have three or four sleeping cabins. For eco-concerned sailors and those who want to cruise in a self-sustaining yacht, KINETIC 54 the new HH 44 will be very attractive Kinetic burst on the cat scene four indeed. Check out the website here. years ago with the majestic KC 62 that incorporated so many innovations that ITALCATAMARANS founder Bob Hayward had the entire boat This new 50-foot cat from Italy is a concept show at the time talking Kinetic. The 62 www.MultihullsToday.com 31
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took off and is now being followed by the all-new 54. With all-carbon construction and carbon spar, the boat is high tech and designed for excellent sailing characteristics. The side decks are wide and there is a forward cockpit where all lines and sheets are controlled as in a Chris White or Gunboat design. The saloon is vast and has almost seven feet of head room; plus it is surrounded by high, curved windows made of shatterproof glass that provide amazing vistas. For families or couples looking for a high-end, high-tech carbon, performance cat, the Kinetic 54 competes very favorably against others in this rarified segment of the market. Check out their website here.
LAGOON 51 Lagoon Catamarans launched their new 55 at the beginning of the year and is has been greeted with enthusiasm in the owner and charter market. Lagoon began life with a 55-foot cat and is coming full circle. The new 55 is a huge 55-footer with a large cockpit aft, an open-air lounge forward of the saloon and a large covered flybridge with an L-shaped dinette and the helm station. For comfort and space, Lagoon has come a long way since they built their first 55. But, just as exciting is the news that 2022 will see the introduction of the new Lagoon 51. This too is a huge 51-footer and it bears a strong family resemblance to the 55. It has a large aft cockpit, a lounge on the foredeck and a raised flybridge with a dinette. The hulls in both boats are voluminous so the sleeping cabins and heads offer space, lots of light and ventilation and comfort. For extended voyaging, the new Lagoons are packing all the qualities a family could need. Check out the website here.
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Lagoon 51 32 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
LEEN 56 PC When Eric and Barbara Bruneel decided to launch a power cruising side of their sailing trimaran business NEEL, they cleverly reversed the order of the letters to arrive
at the new brand. LEEN is building the most unique power cruisers on the market based upon the proven performance of trimaran hulls and their innovative way of placing the living areas on top of the three hulls instead of inside them. The 56 looks like a trawler with a flying bridge and wings on either side of the main hull. It is also similar in many ways to the WavePiercing ferries you’ll find in Australia and the Med. In a cruising boat, the design gives you a huge amount of space in a very efficient hull design, which offers great cruising comfort and bonus miles per gallon of fuel. If you are looking for the most innovative power cruisers out there, the LEEN 56 should be on your list. Check out the website here.
LEOPARD 42 The new Leopard 42, built by Robertson & Caine in South Africa for Travel International owners of Sunsail and The Moorings, joins the 45 and 50 in this new generation of Lagoons. The 42 has the flowing lines and pleasing profile of her larger sisters and offers similar sailing performance and ease of handling. She also has the signature full length side windows, the full length hard top over the cockpit and the low-profile sky lounge on the flybridge. The
Nautitech 44 42 comes in a three-cabin owner’s version and a four-cabin charter arrangement. The saloon is huge for a 42-footer and the cockpit has a comfortable U-shaped dinette for al fresco meals. The raised helm to starboard offers great visibility and is connected socially to both the cockpit and the sky lounge. For couples or young families looking for a moderately-sized cruising cat, the new Leopard 42 has everything they’ll need and more. Check out the website here. NAUTITECH 44 Nautitech is a venerable brand in Europe and has a growing following in North America. The company was acquired by Bavaria in 2014 and they christened the new partnership by introducing the Nautitech Open 40, which is a fine sailing performance production cat with twin aft helms, a tall rig and a low profile cabin. Following the success of the 40, they introduced the 46 and then 46 Fly, which has a flybridge. The new 44, designed by Marc Lombard, fills a spot in the line and is a pleasing design evolution from the earlier boats. It has twin wheels with all control lines and sheets leading aft to the starboard helm. The side decks are wide and the foredeck uncluttered. The cockpit has bench settees with a folding table and an overhead hard top. The saloon is compact with a dinette and vav station to port and the large and useful www.MultihullsToday.com 33
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There is nothing like the NEEL 43, except the other NEEL models. See MT’s review in this issue and check out the website here.
galley to starboard. The 44 has the owner’s suite in the port hull and two guest cabins and heads in the starboard hull. This is a performance cruiser for those who want to sail far and wide in real style. Check out the website here. NEEL 43 The new NEEL 43 made its debut in 2021 and immediately got rave reviews and won a number of awards. Designed by Mark Lombard, the 43 has a somewhat sleeker look than her sister tris. The amas are fairly low profile and nicely curved. The saloon has a sexy forward slope to the roof that extends aft to cover the dinette in the cockpit. NEEL has coined the word “cockloon” to explain how the cockpit, with an L-shaped dinette, flows together with the saloon, which also has an L-shaped dinette, by sliding away the glass doors between them. Uniquely, the saloon has two deck level sleeping cabins, a master suite to starboard and a guest cabin to port. Three more small cabins are in the bows of the tri’s three hulls. 34 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
OUTREMER 55 The new Outremer 55 was introduced in late 2021 and immediately won first place in the European Boat of the Year contest, voted on by respected yachting journalists from all over Europe. It is not surprising. Outremer has been on a roll for years solidifying year after year that the company is a true leader in the performance cruising category. The 55 looks significantly larger that the 51 I once sailed from the U.S. to the Caribbean, yet it promises to be just as fast. We had no trouble finding 15 knots of boat speed and the new design could be even faster. The hulls are quite narrow for wave piercing and low wetted surface. The bridgedeck is quite high to prevent wave slapping. The rig is huge for great light air sailing performance. The saloon and cockpit are one large open space with the cockpit covered by a hard top. The spaces can be closed off with multiple sliding doors. The 55 comes in either a three or fourcabin version. This is a pure world girdling
passagemaker and will be perfect for a circumnavigation. Check out the website here. PRIVILEGE 580 The French cat builder Privilege long ago staked out the luxury, high end of the market and has served their customers well with yachts that are innovative in design, built to the highest yacht standard and equipped with all of the gear and systems a sophisticated owner requires. Now under the ownership of the German builder Hanse, Privilege has the resources and capital backing to go to the next level by upping the sailing performance of the big cats. The new Privilege accomplishes just that; the new design
sails very well due to the narrow hulls under the hard chines, high tech build and a large fat head rig. The 580 comes with a master suite, two large guest cabins and a crew cabin for a captain and mate. The galley is down in the hull instead of being in the saloon. If luxury, comfort, innovative design and good sailing performance are on your must-have list, then the Privilege 580 is for you. Check out the website here.
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LEOPARD 46: A POWER CAT WITH A PUNCH Built in South Africa for the by George Day
THE NEW 46 POWER CAT FROM LEOPARD Catamarans is the little sister to the 53 PC that came out last year, which proved popular right out the gate. Both boats are stylish in a very modern way with lots of angles, plumb bows, a spacious flying bridge and a built-in hard top. Leopard, which are built by Robertson & Caine in Cape Town, South Africa, exclusively for The Moorings, Sunsail and the Leopard private label is one of the world’s top builders of sail and now power cats. Over the years, they have built thousands of cruising cats that are now in service in charter fleets and by cruising families all over the world. There is no question that the boating world, power cruisers and some sailors, too, are embracing power cats as the next best thing in cruising. There’s a simple reason for that. Power cats deliver all of the comforts of home, of, say, a modern 36 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
world cruising market, this new 46 footer has all the space, luxury and performance a cruising family could need
luxury condo in an exclusive waterfront neighborhood, with the remarkable exception that you can move your condo or cruiser from one exotic and exclusive location to the next whenever the spirit moves you. More than that, a power cat like the 46, gets you where you want to go quickly, comfortably and well protected from wind, weather, and heat or cold depending on your locale. With two 250-hp. Yanmar diesels, the 46 will cruise at 15 knots and will have a top speed of close to 20. With all of this power being generated and with the ample house battery bank, inverters and a genset, you have the
electricity aboard to drive full marine electronics, air conditioning, a watermaker, heaters, a washer-dryer, a full home entertainment center and all the computers we all carry with us everywhere. If you want to be self-sufficient for long periods, particularly with the addition of solar panels on the flybridge hard top, you can be. The new 46 has been conceived as a boat for a family that enjoys being outside and sun bathing, swimming, water sports and al fresco meals. Starting on the flybridge, you’ll find the helm with a two-person helm seat and space for two large multifunction navigational displays. Visibility for eye-ball navigation and mooring in tight quarters is excellent from the helm. And, you could have isinglass enclosures installed for using the flybridge in the rain. Aft of the helm, there is an L-shaped dinette with a handsome teak table that can be raised for dining or lowered for cocktails. Across is the upper galley with a fridge, sink and space for an electric grill. Aft are two wide sun beds. This is where you and your crew will spend a lot of time in fair weather, perfect for morning coffee and evening sundowners and
everything in between. Access to the bridge is via a normal staircase instead of a steep ladder. On the deck level, the cockpit has a large deck aft as well as the two transoms. These make getting aboard from a dinghy easy and will be fun swimming platforms for kids of all ages. Just forward, is a large U-shaped dinette that will sit four on the benches and two more with folding chairs. The cockpit is well protected from the elements and will be the spot for open-air, sit-down dinners. In the saloon, the huge galley is aft and convenient to the cockpit. There are two
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counters, double sinks, double fridgefreezer unit and a four-burner stove. Preparing meals will be a gourmet’s delight. Just forward is the inside steering station to starboard and an L-shaped lounge with a cocktail table to port. This is where dinner will be served on rainy nights. There is access to the foredeck through a glass door at the front of the saloon. Three steps take you up to the lounging area on the foredeck and to the anchor
windlass and large storage lockers. On sunny days, the crew will spend a lot of time here and access to the saloon will be appreciated as drinks and snacks are fetched. The 46 comes in either a three-cabin owner’s version or a four-cabin arrangement that will work well in charter fleets or for families with multiple children. The hulls are wide enough so all the berths are island style which allows one to get in and out of bed without disturbing your partner. And, this feature eases the task of making up beds and changing sheets. The fit and finish of the new Leopard 46 is a fine blend of elegance with practicality. The laminate surfaces in the galley, heads and bulkheads are attractive and easy to keep clean,
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while the wood trim and fabric headliners add a luxurious touch. Special attention has been paid to interior lighting fixtures to avoid hots spots and glare. LED bulbs are used throughout for longevity and low energy use, while cove lights and under cabinet lights create ambiand fun to use and simple to maintain. The new 46 is no exception and will serve her owners well while, at 15 knots, opening up cruising ranges and areas farther afield than you might expect. This is a cruising cat that really packs a punch. Check out the website here. ence and an elegant feel. Small details like the inlay in the wood tables and faux teak decking give the 46 a nod to classic yacht styling. Over the decades, Robertson & Caine and Leopard have built a reputation for building solid, well-designed and well-built cruising boats that will be easy www.MultihullsToday.com 39
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NEEL 43
The Essence of NEEL by George Day
THE NEW NEEL 43, DESIGNED BY FRENCH naval architect Marc Lombard, is the smallest trimaran in the NEEL fleet. Yet, it embodies everything of what it means to be NEEL. It’s as though Eric and Barbara Bruneel and Lombard worked together to reduce, as in a French sauce, the overall qualities of the larger models to the very essence of NEEL, with nothing superfluous added. The design has an updated look with more roundness to the shapes of the amas, swept back and very sharp bows, a slightly reversed sheer line and a low profile cabin top. The net effect is of efficiency, modernity and above all speed. On the last point, it is worth noting that NEEL designs won two of the three multihull classes in last year’s ACR rallies from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean and finished second in 40 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
the third. This is no anomaly since the very first NEEL 45 won her class in the ARC in her first offshore outing. Trimarans are known for their sailing abilities and tend to be faster and sail closer to the wind than their catamaran counterparts, even those with daggerboards. The reasons for this are many but the narrowness of the hulls and the fact that you
most often are sailing with the windward hull out of the water means you have low drag from the hulls. Low drag means more speed. Second, the 43 and her sisters carry large square-top mainsails and overlapping genoas that are powerful. Sail power, combined with low drag and lightweight hulls adds up to high average speeds in all weather conditions. As a rule of thumb, a performance tri will be the fastest cruising boat in the fleet. As has been written many times, including by me, the design concept that Eric and Barbara Bruneel came up with for the first 45 footer, was completely innovative yet once you saw it you had a forehead slapping moment; why had no one done this before in a production cruising tri? The “done” part is that they took the three hulls of the standard tri and instead of cramming the living spaces into the center hull below the deck, they laid the deck across all three hulls and placed the saloon on top of it, leaving the interiors of the hulls below decks for machinery, tanks and general basement space.
The new 43 is a perfect example of the benefits of this innovative design feature and, in fact, takes it to a new level. The 43 is 25 feet wide and the saloon stretches across about 20 feet of that width. The side decks are wide enough for moving comfortably fore and aft, so most of the deck level area is cockpit and interior living space. The cockpit is about 18 feet wide and has a large L-shaped dinette to port and the raised steering station to starboard. All sheets and control lines lead aft to the
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To port, outboard of the L-shaped dinette, is a spacious guest cabin, with a double berth and plenty of storage. This, too, has large windows for views of the harbors around you. The guest cabin does not have its own head but shares the day-head helm so one person can handle the boat quite easily, whether trimming, reefing or that is down a few steps in the bow of the dowsing sails. Aft, the stern of the main main hull. In addition to the guest cabin, hull has a swim platform and the sterns there are also bunks in the bows of all of the amas have steps, too, for close three hulls accessed via deck hatches; these will appeal to the kids or the crew access to the water or a dinghy. who will enjoy having their own spaces. The saloon is a massive space but is actually broken up into a common living are The deck level living spaces are open with a dinette, galley and nav station and filled with natural light and provide and two private cabins. The cockpit and the feel of a modern Paris apartment, the saloon are joined via a large sliding only it also has a water view. This is only door to form a large common indoor- really possible by combining the beam of outdoor living space. The galley runs the trimaran design with the deck-level along the starboard side and has dou- saloon and cabins. ble sinks, a fridge and a stove top with an oven. There is ample space here for preparing meals and washing up afterwards. Outboard of the galley to starboard is the master stateroom with a queensize berth and an en-suite head with a separate shower stall. The cabin has large windows so the views while lying in bed are magnificent. Shades provide plenty of privacy. 42 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
Below the main deck you will find a huge amount of space for onboard systems, batteries, tanks, the engine room and other add-ons that cruisers like, such as a watermaker, high output inverter and possibly a genset and air-conditioning. But, despite the temptation to fill the basement with cruising systems, it is one that should avoided as much as possible. The 43 is a true sailing machine that relies on its light weight and large sail plan for its sailing abilities. Load it down with systems and you will start to cut knots off her potential sailing speeds. As always, you have to find that delicate balance between sailing efficiency and creature comforts.
But the NEEL 43 is a blue water cruising boat that offers plenty of living space for a family, ample storage and the sailing performance that will make true sailors beam with joy.
A cruising tri is not for everyone, particularly if a 25-foot beam is a problem.
Fore more information log onto the NEEL website here.
Specifications: LOA 43’ , Beam 24’7”, Draft 4’11”, Air Draft 62’, Displacement 9 tons, Sail area 1,096 sq. ft., Engine 50-hp. Yanmar sail drive, Water 132 gals, Fuel 80 gals., Designer Marc Lombard Groupe.
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THE MANY BENEFITS OF CHARTERING A CAT
With more room, lower costs and shallow draft, what’s stopping you? to relax and savor our precious moments on holiday, rather than hanging on for process with multiple considerations. Where dear life and watching breakfast become should we go? What size and type of boat fish food over the leeward rail. will we need? And—importantly—How can we all live together on a boat for a Novice sailors will also enjoy the comforts week and remain friends? Many of those afforded by a catamaran’s spacious decisions boil down to one big question: layout. The confines of a monohull can be intimidating for newcomers used to the monohull or catamaran? creature comforts of home. ONE HULL VERSUS TWO One great thing about cats in general is that More experienced sailors, who may they satisfy many different types of sailors. have sailed a beach cat, previously New sailors who are not accustomed to chartered a monohull or are considering the heel of a monohull will quickly feel safe a boat purchase, will be rewarded with and relaxed on a multihull. This is nice for a new experience. Adding the practical them and the others onboard, who—lest knowledge gained during a cat charter we forget—are on vacation. We all want to your sailing resume will only help in PLANNING A SAILING CHARTER IS A METHODICAL
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the long run, and sailing a multihull can provide a needed boost in confidence to break out of habit and try a new venue on your next voyage. Plus, there is no better way to push yourself than by trying out some erstwhile tricks while learning new skills. SET IT AND FORGET IT From sail handling and motoring to anchoring and mooring, modern catamarans have become extremely user-friendly. Whether you are a trim freak or Otto Helm is your best mate, a cat’s sail controls are set up for ease of handling to help you get the most out of the wind conditions. Often, the running rigging on a cat is led back to the helm, keeping it centrally located. This is nice because it keeps the congestion out of common areas where people may be having a meal, sunbathing or just trying to stay out of the way. And it doesn’t hurt if you’re shorthanded, either. Maneuvering under power in a catamaran is easy with engines in each hull. Windage is the biggest difference between a cat and a comparatively-sized monohull; make sure you pay due diligence to how much the wind will move a cat around at slow speeds.
how each engine will turn the vessel. One trouble with operating a cat under power is having limited ability to see all four corners of the boat. To alleviate this problem, post a crewmember in blind spots to help you tell distance. And it never hurts to hand them a fender! COME ONE, COME ALL Family, friends, neighbors, your kid’s soccer team—everyone can fit on a catamaran. One overriding and undeniable advantage of a cat is the plethora of living space for all aboard. Multiple cabins and heads, a large bridge deck and galley, ample storage room and a spacious deck are common features on most charter cats. Many people choose to charter catamarans based solely on these criteria alone. And why not? Large families or groups of couples can have their own personal space instead of cramming into smaller cabins, galleys and heads for a week at a time. One common hesitation of charterers is finding the perfect mix of friends who will work well on a sailboat for a week (and remain friends afterwards), and that problem is only compounded
In a cat, unlike a monohull, with two engines you can basically spin the boat on a dime. This comes in handy when maneuvering in close quarters like a mooring field, anchorage or marina. In tight spots, try steering less with the wheel and concentrating more on www.MultihullsToday.com 45
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when you try to pack them into a tight The Moorings, Sunsail, Dream Yacht Charter and many more. space on a monohull. When several families charter a cat together, not only are there cost benefits, but there’s also ample room for activities. The trampoline is a great spot to soak up some sun while waves pass below, or take in a star show on a clear night. Large tables in the saloon and aft deck can easily accommodate card games, happy hour and family style meals.
Catamarans have plied the waters of the world for thousands of years, sailed by everyone from fishermen and explorers to racers and day sailors. But now, the popularity of charter cats is at an all-time high. Be discerning and choose a vessel that will truly accommodate your needs— and those of the broad spectrum of guests who choose to set sail with you.
A catamaran with four large cabins can One of the biggest reasons for choosing a comfortably accommodate four couples, cat in the Abacos is depth. The Bahamas are relatively shallow in general, but the Sea of Abaco rarely sends your depth meter deeper than the mid teens. Cruising in a cat with a shallow draft will keep your nerves at bay as you glide though the water, just feet from the bottom. The thin depths also make for trouble-free anchoring. And the numerous sandy bottom bays and coves are at your disposal for a lunch stop or overnight visit. The Abacos’ proximity to the East Coast of the United States also makes the area a logical choice. Several flights arrive and depart from Marsh all of whom may not be seasoned sailors. Harbour and Treasure Cay each day, Your crew will appreciate having the and charter boats, grocery stores and ability to spread out in their private spaces restaurants are all nearby. down below as well as on deck during the day. Crew happiness is of utmost concern The reasons for choosing a catamaran as when deciding to charter, so try a cat and your next charter vessel and the Abacos stay friends. as a place to cruise are too many to count. The large platform you choose to SEALING THE DEAL cruise on will maintain your comfort, while Finding a big enough monohull to the pleasures of exploring the beaches, accommodate a sizeable group can be anchorages, reefs and restaurants that a challenge in certain areas, but large envelop this tropical locale will keep you catamarans capable of fitting the whole coming back for more. crew are readily available through many reputable charter companies, including For more, visit here. 46 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
2022 SUMMER SAILING VACATION GUIDE Whether you want to build skills or just get away for some fun cruising, this summer is the perfect time to sign up for a charter, a sailing school or an expedition. Here’s how by George Day
CHARTER VACATIONS Summer is the season for chartering all around America and offers a great opportunity for you and your family to discover cruising grounds far from your home waters. Surveys of our readers over the years have shown that the Pacific Northwest is the most popular region to charter in summer in the continental states followed by New England and the Great Lakes. The Chesapeake Bay is popular in spring and fall but can be too hot and airless for summer cruising. Florida, also, is great in spring and fall, and can be fine all summer but the humidity and frequent rain squalls can be an issue. In the Pacific Northwest you can charter either a sailboat or a powerboat and since the wind is often light in summer and the current between islands very strong, a boat with a good motor is the key to happy cruising. There is good cruising all around Seattle and the islands or you can point the bow northward and head for the wild region around Desolation Sound. You will see bears and eagles and dine often on wild salmon.
to charter will be the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior, near Duluth, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay and Door County in Lake Michigan and the famously beautiful waters of the North Channel in northern Lake Huron. Great Lakes cruisers swear that the North Channel is America’s finest summer cruising ground, rivaling the Pacific Northwest and the coast of Maine; if it is not on your cruising bucket list, it should be. The Coast of Maine is famous for it’s thousands of islands, harbors and rivers that combine to offer a lifetime’s worth of sailing and cruising opportunities. It can be foggy in early summer so the best times to explore Maine under sail are in late July, August and September. Old timers will tell you that on foggy days you should sail to the heads of the bays for better visibility and on days when the wind clears from the north, you can venture to the offshore islands like Matinicus and Monhegan. Along the way you can stop in charming towns like Booth Bay, Rockland, Camden, Castine, Blue Hill and Southwest Harbor and learn to speak like a Maniac. Ehyup.
Southern New England is the East Coast’s The Great Lakes are too often overlooked summer yachting capital and the heart by sailors on the coasts but the lakes of the region will be Newport, RI. That’s have some of America’s prettiest cruising the place to start and from there you Nanny Cay, areas and the BVI great pleasure of sailing can head east to Martha’s Vineyard and in sweet, fresh water. The favorite places Nantucket or west to Long Island www.MultihullsToday.com 47
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destination all year around and the two best destinations will be Ft. Lauderdale on the east coast and St. Petersburg on the west coast. You have to keep an eye out for summer squalls and always have a plan B when making coastal runs. Also, Florida is America’s lightning capital, so keep a weather eye for storms. The Bahamas offers great summer cruising and will be less humid and have steady trade winds all summer long. You can either cruise the Abacos out of Marsh Harbor or explore the Exumas from a charter base on New Providence Island (Nassau). Old time Bahamas cruisers will tell you they prefer the spring, summer and fall seasons to the winter simply because the weather is more settled and the Sound and famous destinations like Block crowds gone. Island, Mystic, Shelter Island and Oyster Bay. You will sail in company of some of The Caribbean is open for chartering the grandest and most beautiful sailing all summer long and you will find great yachts in the country, will see everything off-season rates to keep the cost as low from Optis to 12 Meters racing around the as possible. This summer, the charter buoys, and will catch sight of an osprey or companies in the BVI, USVI, Puerto Rico two circling above your anchorages. July and St. Martin will be eager for your and August are the height of the season, business and will be offering great deals but June and September can be lovely to keep their fleets busy. The Caribbean in and less crowded, too. summer is slightly more humid than winter and it tends to rain more often. But, it is still The Chesapeake Bay in late spring and the Caribbean and the hospitality can’t early fall is one of the East Coast’s most be beat. interesting places to charter. Starting in Annapolis you can head down the SAILING SCHOOLS Bay to St. Michael’s, Oxford and Tangier Building sailing and cruising skills while Island or sail north to the Magothy and on summer vacation in some exotic Sassafras Rivers or even downtown d e s t i n a t i o n s o u n d s l i k e a p e r f e c t Baltimore for a night on the town. combination of fun and travel for the Florida is a sailing and chartering whole family. There are two branded 48 Multihulls Today • spring 2022
sailing school operations in North America, schools associated with U.S.Sailing (the sport’s national governing body) and those affiliated with the American Sailing Association (ASA). Some of the larger and older schools, such a Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School or J/ World, are U.S. Sailing schools that follow the curriculum created and maintained by U.S Sailing. ASA has 350 schools around the world and provides a similar curriculum. The choice between the two systems will often come down to where you want to sail and what you want to achieve.
offshore sailing from weather forecasting to engine maintenance to manoverboard drills and much more. www. mahina.com.
John Kretchmer is a veteran offshore sailor who has sailed all over the world and now runs expeditions in the North Atlantic, Caribbean and the Med aboard his Kaufman 47 Quetzal. He usually has four to six paying crew aboard and everyone gets to manage the boat, stand watches and learn the ropes as they do. Kretchmer It is interesting that ASA has many is a great guy, a fun storyteller and a good international affiliates. There are 37 ASA teacher of all things to do with blue water schools in China and there is even one in sailing. www.yayablues.com. Egypt. If you have your heart set on sailing Andy and Mia Schell have jumped into the in French Polynesia, you can charter a expedition business with both sea boots bareboat or you can fly in and attend a and run six to 10 expeditions per year ASA affiliated school and build sailing skills. aboard their Swan 48 Isbjorn. Andy has US Sailing has dozens of schools all around the U.S. plus schools in Bermuda, The Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico. So, however you slice it, wherever you want to travel, you will be able to find a sailing school nearby. To find a sailing school log on to www.ussailing.org and www.asa. com. EXPEDITIONS For those who want to get some real blue water sailing experience and learn seamanship and cruising skills from sailors who have hundreds of thousands of miles under their keels expedition sailing is the way to go. The most well known offshore instructors are John Neal who is now running sailing expeditions in Scotland and the Pacific Northwest. Every year for the last 35 years, he has roamed the planet under sail while offering in-depth instruction on everything to do with
vast offshore experience and was closely aligned with the Caribbean 1500 for many years. He also has one of the most popular podcasts available anywhere and is a frequent author. www.59-north.com. Paul Exner runs a smaller expedition program aboard his 31-foot cutter Solstice. He can accommodate three guests and has focused his sailing in the Caribbean. In 2018, he was branching out and is running expeditions from the BVI to Panama, through the canal, up the west coast and then to Hawaii. If you are looking for small boat experience and an intimate environment, Paul has just what you are looking for. www. moderngeographic.com. www.MultihullsToday.com 49
