Way back when, several decades ago, I scored my first ride aboard a cruising ­trimaran: a sweet, cold-molded beauty called Juniper. Today, naval architect Chris White is well-known for his long line of Atlantic catamarans, all of which are laid out with his ­signature feature: a forward cockpit for the helm and sail controls (something that several notable designers and brands, including Gunboat, have copied). White has always been a multihull man, and it’s interesting that for his own first boat, he chose a tri, on which he completed several offshore voyages from New England to the Bahamas.

Personally, I loved Juniper, an elegant creation that sailed like a witch. And it had a ­beautiful, handcrafted wood ­interior. But to me, the yacht’s basic ­configuration also seemed like a major drawback, something that would prohibit trimarans from becoming mainstream cruisers. 

The accommodations were confined to its central hull, with a relatively narrow beam that limited options. As time went by—and the multihull world became dominated by cats—I felt quite smug about my ­early observation: If you want a true, cruising multihull, you’ve got to go with a cat. Trimarans weren’t on the radar. 

In recent times, thanks to my role as a judge for Cruising World’s annual Boat of the Year contest, I’ve been persuaded to rework my original stance. In 2024, our panel was collectively blown away by a Danish import, the Dragonfly 40, which easily won the prize for Best Performance Trimaran. As sweet as that Dragonfly was, with accommodations that were well-executed, they remained confined in the same way as those on Juniper. 

For 2025, though, we stepped aboard a trimaran that was a much different beast. The Neel 52 greatly expanded the interior options and layout by spreading them out over much of the boat’s nearly 30-foot beam. It was a groundbreaking boat, and we recognized it as such, awarding it top honors in the Best Full-Size Multihulls Over 50 Feet category versus a pair of big, stellar catamarans (the Windelo 54 Yachting and the Xquisite 60 Solar Sail). At least for 2025, in our humble opinions, three hulls were ­better than two.

For the 52’s lines, the company commissioned the Lombard Design Office, which is still knocking out good boats ­following the death of its founding naval architect, Marc Lombard. Here’s their summation of the design brief: “To create multipurpose arrangements with up to six ­double cabins with direct access from the central main cabin. Aesthetic lines with moderate freeboard. A strong and stiff platform. Less hull drag, more dynamic trim at high speeds. Improved hull shapes for better efficiency and safety in waves, an important requirement for an ocean-crossing trimaran.”

Generally speaking, I’ve ­always considered the lines of a trimaran—that relatively prominent middle hull sandwiched by a pair of graceful amas, like a set of wings—to be more aesthetically pleasing than those of many cruising cats, which can sometimes appear boxy. And to my eye, the 52 is a good-looking vessel with a host of features. The raised helm station to starboard, minimalist coachroof with expansive windows, upper-deck lounge with settees and a sunbed, dedicated sprit forward for off-wind sails and ground tackle, and pair of swim platforms aft all blend together to make a pleasing whole. There are robust stainless-steel grab rails everywhere, and synthetic teak accentuates the wide side decks.

The boat’s signature ­feature, however, lies within the ­interior framework, in what the ­company had dubbed the “cockloon.” It’s an open floor plan that combines the beam-width cockpit (an outdoor ­galley is an option) with the central saloon. The bridge deck also houses the owner’s stateroom, a professional-grade ­galley, and a nicely rendered ­navigation station fitted out with a suite of B&G instrumentation. The delightful views from the ­panoramic array of windows is all-encompassing.

Down below, there are ­several layouts with ­multiple ­double cabins, including a V-berth forward in the bow (on our test boat, one of those bedrooms was swapped for a generous technical room with a workbench, workspace and tool stowage).

Fellow Boat of the Year judge Mark Pillsbury was quite ­enamored of the cockloon arrangement: “Owners don’t just get their own stateroom aboard the Neel 52 trimaran. They get a two-story suite with a head, shower and private ­office ­located aft in the starboard ama. There’s a stunning view from the walk-around double berth, with picture windows affixed with venetian blinds, which is located on the bridge deck. The living space on this boat is tremendous.”

Indeed, this is a voluminous yacht, and the relatively deep draft (for a multihull) of almost 6 feet in its fixed keel provides lots of space for the creative Neel team. The US importer for the boat is Miami-based broker Alex Sastre, who played a major role in developing the quite incredible engine room nestled deep in the boat’s innards. It houses a 48-volt system that’s charged with an integral set of twin alternators and a solar array (our test boat was also equipped with a hefty Cummins Onan genset and a lithium-ion battery bank, both of which are optional). All of it is clearly labeled and totally ­accessible, as are all the ­hoses and plumbing manifolds. There is also quick and ready access to the steering quadrant. 

All of this also caught Pillsbury’s attention: “I could have spent the better part of a day going through the Neel’s engine room. There was even a bank of chargers for all your onboard power-tool batteries.” 

Construction is solid and employs vinylester resin with an infused foam core. The handsome furniture and joiner work in the interior is solid oak. The standard double-spreader rig is aluminum, but a carbon mast, including the one on our test ride, is optional. Auxiliary power is provided by a 150 hp Volvo Penta diesel with a saildrive configuration, and docking is assisted with a Max Power bow thruster.

At the end of the day, though, every sailboat will ultimately be judged by the simplest of criteria: how well it performs under sail. In our sea trials this past fall on Chesapeake Bay in a 14- to 16-knot ­northwesterly breeze, the 52 just smoked it. It’s hard to describe the sensation of steering the boat from the raised helm station. It’s something akin to taking a tennis court for a spin. It’s otherworldly. 

The powerful, square-topped full-battened mainsail provided plenty of punch (a company rep said that it does not require reefing in less than 25 knots of breeze). The test boat had a full set of excellent Incidence sails from the popular French sail loft, including a jib, genoa, code zero and gennaker, all of which are controlled with a full suite of Harken winches and hardware. 

The Neel reps said that the 52 will easily average better than 200 nautical miles on passage, and clearly they were not ­exaggerating. Jibing downwind with the big asymmetric kite, the boat easily topped 9 knots. Closehauled under genoa, the boat averaged 8.5 knots to windward with a maximum speed of 9.2 knots. Steering from that elevated wheel was a delight, with best-in-show 360-degree visibility at all times, something that can’t be said on most catamarans. Our judging group was unanimous: It was easily one of the contest’s best sea trials. 

Back in the day, after sailing Juniper, it was difficult for me to envision a path forward for cruising tris to gain wide acceptance. And, truth be told, it’s still a steep, uphill road. But the Neel 52 makes the case that trimarans are not only viable, but they offer real advantages as well. If you want to start a revolution, that’s a good place to begin. 

Take the Next Step

PRICE: $1.65 million (as tested)
CONTACT: pyachtsales.com

A Legacy Realized 

There’s no question that the Neel brand of trimarans would not exist if not for the vision and drive of the company’s namesake and founder, Eric Bruneel. A talented shorthanded offshore racing sailor, his career took a winding path. For many years, he was the director of Fountaine-Pajot catamarans, one of France’s oldest and most popular builders. As a racer, however, for his own boats, he preferred the speed and stability of a trimaran, and he eventually launched his own firm with the goal of introducing cruising tris to the masses. He has since moved on, but his original concept appears to be in safe hands.

Full Speed Ahead

The Neel 52, the builder’s new flagship, replaces a 51-footer in the lineup, which also currently offers a 43- and a 47-footer (a 37 and a 44 have been discontinued). Among the 10 hulls of the 52 delivered thus far, all have had slightly different layouts, a testament to the company’s willingness to adapt to owners’ requirements. Neel produces about a dozen boats a year, with the goal of ramping up to 24 yachts annually.

CW editor-at-large Herb McCormick was a 2025 Boat of the Year judge.

The post Neel 52 Trimaran Review: A Game-Changer for Performance Cruisers appeared first on Cruising World.

Eric Bruneel was a visionary. An accomplished French offshore Trimaran racing sailor, Bruneel had been the driving force behind Fountaine Pajot—one of his country’s oldest and most popular catamaran builders—when he decided to strike out on his own with what was then a radical idea. By founding a new company, Neel aimed to bring cruising trimarans, which he believed raised the stakes in both performance and comfort, to the masses. After launching Neel Trimarans, a series of fast, stable, bluewater tris followed. Neel has since moved on, but with the introduction last fall of the company’s new flagship, the Neel 52, his original vision has now been fully realized.  

In form, features and execution, the Neel 52—designed by France’s renowned, cutting-edge Lombard Design Office—is a remarkable sailboat. The design brief for Lombard’s naval-architecture team was challenging: multipurpose arrangements with up to six double cabins with direct access from the central main cabin; aesthetic lines with moderate freeboard; a strong and stiff platform; less hull drag, more dynamic trim at high speeds; and improved hull shapes for better efficiency and safety in waves, an important requirement for an ocean-crossing trimaran.

It’s safe to say that the Lombard office met all of its stated goals.

In profile, the Neel 52 is a handsome boat, with a raised helm station to starboard, an upper-deck lounge, a low-slung coach roof with expansive windows, and an integral sprit forward for the ground tackle and headsails. The boat features Neel’s signature “Cockloon” layout, an open floor plan that seamlessly blends the beam-width cockpit with the central salon; that central bridge deck also contains the owner’s sumptuous stateroom, a professional-grade galley and a dedicated navigation station. Down below, there are several layouts with multiple double cabins from which to choose. Accommodations-wise, this is a boat that owners can customize to address their needs. 

What truly separates the Neel 52 from its competition—monohulls and catamarans—is the incredible optional “technical room” stationed deep within the vessel. The 150 hp Yanmar diesel with saildrive is housed here, but this is much more than a standard engine room. Every wire for the 48-volt system, which is charged with an Integrel set of twin alternators and a solar array, is clearly labeled and totally accessible. So too are all the hoses and plumbing manifolds. There’s even a bank of chargers for all the onboard power-tool batteries. It’s hard to imagine a better setup for self-sufficient cruising sailors. 

The construction, of course, is top-notch, employing vinylester resin and an infused foam core. The fixed keel draws 5 feet, 7 inches. The handsome furniture and joinerwork in the interior are solid oak. The standard rig is aluminum, but a carbon mast is optional. 

But what truly separates the Neel 52 from its competition is the stellar performance under sail. 

During the 2025 Boat of the Year contest following the U.S. Sailboat Show last October in Annapolis, Maryland, the judging team from Cruising World magazine had the opportunity to put the boat through its paces in superb conditions on Chesapeake Bay. In 14 to 16 knots of northwesterly breeze, the boat performed magnificently on all points of sail. The powerful, square-topped, full-battened mainsail provided plenty of power and does not require reefing in less than 25 knots of breeze. The test boat had a full set of excellent Incidence sails from the well-known French sail loft, including a jib, genoa, code zero and gennaker, all controlled with a full suite of Harken winches and hardware. 

The Neel team says the 52 will easily average better than 200 nautical miles on passage, and it was clear they were not exaggerating. Jibing downwind with the big asymmetric kite, the boat easily topped 9 knots. The boat fairly leapt to life. Closehauled under genoa, the boat averaged 8.5 knots to windward, with a maximum speed of 9.2 knots. Steering from the elevated wheel was a delight, with best-in-show, 360-degree visibility at all times, something that can’t be said on most catamarans. It’s hard to describe the sensation of sailing such a boat, something like driving a tennis court. The Boat of the Year team was unanimous: It was easily one of the contest’s best sea trials. 

As witnessed at the last several editions of the Annapolis show, multihulls are the largest and fastest-growing segment of the marine industry’s production-boat market. Catamaran builders insist that two hulls are better than one. But now, Neel Trimarans has upped the ante in long-range, liveaboard multihulls that are making their own emphatic statement: Three hulls may be best of all.

For more information about the Neel 52, visit https://go.pyachtsales.com/neel-52.

The post Neel 52: A Trimaran Revolutionizing Sailing Performance appeared first on Cruising World.

Two hulls are better than one: Well, that’s the consensus of the growing number of sailors and charterers who opt for the ever-expanding universe of cruising and racing catamarans. But are three hulls better than two? That was the question posed by this trio of no-holds-barred multihulls, which included the fleet’s sole trimaran, the Neel 52. 

On massive platforms like these, the options and possibilities are almost endless, and all three of these boats were true marvels of ingenuity, technology and innovation. Of course, with sticker prices ranging from $1.5 million to $4 million, they well should be. At the end of the day, however, this triumvirate also offered excellent sailing. As far as the question of cat versus tri, at least for 2025, the judges made a firm choice.

WINNER: Neel 52
Neel-Trimarans

With five boats now in the growing lineup of Neel trimarans, judge Herb McCormick remembers how it all began. “Eric Neel was the whiz-kid head honcho at Fountaine Pajot when he left the world of production catamarans to launch his own company specializing in cruising trimarans,” McCormick said. “He was a solo offshore racer who competed in events such as the Route du Rhum, so performance was truly paramount. But production tris? Other than sport boats, nobody was building tris for cruisers. But he was a visionary and saw a void in the marketplace that demanded to be filled. His first 43-footer was cool, and I remember driving it for the first time: smooth as silk, with amazing visibility. It was clear that he was onto something. Neel is no longer with the company, but this sweet 52-footer is a fully formed extension of his original foresight. You really have to sail a tri to understand the differences from a cat: the motion, the stability, the overall ride. And this boat, under sail, really delivered the goods. The accommodations are sweet, and the systems sophisticated but straightforward. It’s the logical evolution of an iconic company.” 

Judge Mark Pillsbury gave a more granular assessment: “Owners don’t just get their own stateroom aboard the Neel 52 trimaran. They get a two-story suite with a head, shower and private office located aft in the starboard float, and a stunning view from the berth located on the bridge deck. The living space on this boat is tremendous. I could have spent the better part of a day going through the Neel’s engine room. Every wire and hose were clearly labeled and easily accessible. There was even a bank of chargers for all your onboard power-tool batteries. Wow.”

Finalist: Windelo 54 Yachting
Windelo Catamaran

“In the past few years of our Boat of the Year inspections and sea trials, it has seemed like there are fewer and fewer differences between the various nominees,” judge Tim Murphy said. “So, stepping aboard the Windelo, it was refreshing to see all sorts of new thinking in terms of building materials, layout and propulsion. The forward cockpit was a new take on a trend popular with some high-end cats. The hybrid diesel-electric motors and electrical system were innovative, and the move to build the boat using basalt fibers rather than fiberglass was definitely out-of-the-box thinking. Berths in the aft cabins were surrounded by glass. Underway, the water views are fantastic, and at anchor, the living space is filled with light. What’s not to like about that?” 

Herb McCormick added: “I really didn’t know how I felt about the Windelo when I first stepped aboard it. Not one but two steering stations in the interior. I’ve sailed many a big cat like a Gunboat with an interior helm in the salon, but never a pair of them. But once the dockside inspections were over and we hoisted sail, I was thoroughly impressed. It seems that happens every year in the Boat of the Year contest. Suddenly those helms made a lot of sense. The same as the sea berth right in the main salon, which is a great idea for offshore sailing: You can get some rest and still be back in the action in a moment’s notice if need be. This is a special boat, and we had no choice but to honor it as such.

Finalist: Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail
Xquisite Yachts

Judge Tim Murphy provided the overview: “The Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail comes from an impressive company that we Boat of the Year judges have watched grow from almost nothing in the past eight years. We’ve previously honored the 50-foot X5 and the X5 Plus from this builder, and we’ve been particularly impressed by the service regime that creator Tamas Hamor has established among Xquisite owners. It’s adapted for true worldwide travel. 

“In the 60, Hamor his taken his explosive creativity to new levels in detail after detail. In Hull No. 1, we found that his ideas were still one step ahead of the available technology. But keep an eye on this boat and this builder—new things are happening here that we’re sure will trickle through the fleets of boats from other builders.”

Mark Pillsbury added: “By design, the Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail is intended for sailors who want to travel and live off the grid. The boat is loaded with solar panels; employs a number of highly efficient systems for air conditioning, cooking and the like; and has a hybrid propulsion system that operates in conjunction with a large bank of lithium batteries. Xquisite is a builder that has employed gear, electronics and connectivity in a way that gives owners the systems needed to manage, maintain and sail a big vessel in conditions and locations that otherwise might not be possible for a shorthanded crew.”

Click here to return to the 2025 Boat of the Year main page.

The post 2025 Boat of the Year: Best Full-Size Multihull Over 50 Feet appeared first on Cruising World.

Penned by naval architect Marc Lombard, the Neel 52 is a high-performance trimaran designed for fast cruising. With an average cruising speed of 10 knots—capable of reaching up to 18 knots in favorable conditions—and its ability to cover 200 nautical miles in a day, this boat is intended for serious sailors. Its hull design, inspired by racing trimarans, reduces drag and enhances maneuverability. Constructed with a composite sandwich core, the Neel 52 prioritizes strength and water resistance. Yet, this trimaran also caters to leisure cruising, with a spacious cockpit, a “cockloon” living area and panoramic salon views.

In the wake of the Neel 43, which was a finalist in our 2023 Boat of the Year contest, Neel Trimarans premiered the Neel 52 for the US audience at the Miami International Boat Show this past February. Penned by naval architect Marc Lombard, the Neel 52 is conceived for fast cruising, borrowing ­performance attributes from the Neel 47 and 43.

With an average cruising speed of 10 knots, the boat makes it possible to achieve 200 nautical miles in a 24-hour period underway, ­according to the builder, adding that speeds from 15 to 18 knots are possible when the breeze kicks in. The weight is centered to limit pitching, and the center hull design is optimized to facilitate tacking and ­minimize drag, leaving the side amas only lightly in ­contact with the water’s surface. With rigging derived directly from racing trimarans, and a sail area around 183 square feet per ton, the boat has full cruising speeds as much as two times faster than conventional multihulls, according to the builder.

The build employs ­vacuum-infused composite sandwich construction with triaxial fiber reinforcements. PVC and PET foams are used in the sandwich core, as opposed to balsa, which can be more susceptible to water infiltration.

The 52-footer offers a variety of options for sailing preferences, from leisure cruising to competitive racing to charter. The boat is available in a four-, five- or six-stateroom layout, with options for an owner stateroom on one level or a larger saloon. Crew quarters are also flexible. 

According to the builder, the goal is to keep the sailing “looser” for better performance, with a rudder design maneuvered by custom steering lines to improve responsiveness. The sail plan includes a mainsail with three reefs, a staysail on a rolling furler, and an asymmetric spinnaker for downwind sailing. Two rigging options—conventional and high-performance—are available.

Noteworthy features include what Neel calls a “cockloon,” which is an interior/exterior living space created by the opening between the cockpit and the saloon. The full-beam cockpit has multiple seating configurations that can be rearranged for personal preference. The ergonomic helm station has a triple seat and is accessible from the cockpit or deck via side steps. 

Side steps leading to the coachroof allow access to the mast, boom and sun-lounging area, and handrails are strategically positioned for safety underway.

The open-plan living space includes a forward-facing ­galley and chart table. Staterooms are accessed via private stairways. From what we could tell while we were aboard in Miami, the panoramic views from the saloon should be stunning.

Neel 52 Specifications

The post Featured Nominee: Neel 52 appeared first on Cruising World.

In the wake of the Neel 43, which was a finalist in our 2023 Boat of the Year contest, Neel Trimarans premiered the Neel 52 for the US audience at the Miami International Boat Show this past February. Penned by naval architect Marc Lombard, the Neel 52 is conceived for fast cruising, borrowing ­performance attributes from the Neel 47 and 43.

With an average cruising speed of 10 knots, the boat makes it possible to achieve 200 nautical miles in a 24-hour period underway, ­according to the builder, adding that speeds from 15 to 18 knots are possible when the breeze kicks in. The weight is centered to limit pitching, and the center hull design is optimized to facilitate tacking and ­minimize drag, leaving the side amas only lightly in ­contact with the water’s surface. With rigging derived directly from racing trimarans, and a sail area around 183 square feet per ton, the boat has full cruising speeds as much as two times faster than conventional multihulls, according to the builder. 

The build employs ­vacuum-infused composite sandwich construction with triaxial fiber reinforcements. PVC and PET foams are used in the sandwich core, as opposed to balsa, which can be more susceptible to water infiltration. 

The 52-footer offers a variety of options for sailing preferences, from leisure cruising to competitive racing to charter. The boat is available in a four-, five- or six-stateroom layout, with options for an owner stateroom on one level or a larger saloon. Crew quarters are also flexible. 

According to the builder, the goal is to keep the sailing “looser” for better performance, with a rudder design maneuvered by custom steering lines to improve responsiveness. The sail plan includes a mainsail with three reefs, a staysail on a rolling furler, and an asymmetric spinnaker for downwind sailing. Two rigging options—conventional and high-performance—are available.

Noteworthy features include what Neel calls a “cockloon,” which is an interior/exterior living space created by the opening between the cockpit and the saloon. The full-beam cockpit has multiple seating configurations that can be rearranged for personal preference. The ergonomic helm station has a triple seat and is accessible from the cockpit or deck via side steps. 

Side steps leading to the coachroof allow access to the mast, boom and sun-lounging area, and handrails are strategically positioned for safety underway. 

The open-plan living space includes a forward-facing ­galley and chart table. Staterooms are accessed via private stairways. From what we could tell while we were aboard in Miami, the panoramic views from the saloon should be stunning.

The post Sailboat Preview: Neel 52 appeared first on Cruising World.

Once the Boat of the Year team was aboard the Neel 43 trimaran and we had the sails set, it didn’t take me long to find my sweet spot. You know, the place you want to sit and watch the miles fly by as the hulls slice through the waves. Nearly every boat I’ve sailed has one, though sometimes it’s hard to find.

But not on the Neel.

With my fellow judges at work at the raised helm station, I stepped from the wheel onto the wide starboard side deck, took a couple of steps down into the ­cockpit, and wandered into the brightly lit salon where the door to the owner’s cabin was open, as though beckoning in a visitor. Inside, I sat on the edge of the fore-and-aft double berth, set a hand on the bunk, and leaned over to gaze out the long horizontal window, imagining coming off watch and lying there to drift off to sleep. Or waking up in some exotic anchorage, with morning sunlight streaking in. Even dockside, during our preliminary inspection of the boat and a briefing with Neel founder Eric Bruneel, that was the space that caught my eye.

On the inboard side of the stateroom, a long horizontal glass panel covered by an ­adjustable shade looks in toward the center of the boat and over the inline galley ­located on the salon’s starboard side. Forward, there are more windows that let you look ahead at where you’re ­going. Aft, a light-colored wood bulkhead separates the cabin from the head compartment at the rear of the salon. With storage outboard of the berth, it’s a well-laid-out space for living aboard.

Described by Bruneel as a “fast cruiser,” the Neel 43 is designed to sail comfortably at 9 to 10 knots and knock off 250-mile trade-wind days. That description wasn’t far off, from what we saw the day we went sailing on Chesapeake Bay, right after the close of the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland. The wind was light when set out, only about 8 knots, but we hustled right along upwind at 6 to 7 knots with the twin-headsail rig’s smaller inner jib set. Later, with the reaching sail rolled out in just a bit more breeze, we added a knot or more. During my trick on the wheel, I spotted 8.2 knots on the speedo for a spell.

And the sailing was easy, thanks to the buoyancy of the leeward hull that minimizes heel, and the fact that all the weight—engine, tanks, pumps and filters—is located low in the center hull. That, combined with the interior space made possible by spreading accommodations over three hulls, is what makes these trimarans comfortable at sea, Bruneel says.

Neel builds its trimarans at its yard in La Rochelle, France. The 43 is the smallest model in a five-boat range that goes up to 65 feet. The 43 is a Marc Lombard design.

Hulls and deck are made of resin-infused fiberglass with foam coring to save weight. Where practical in nonstructural areas, the yard uses natural fibers such as linen and cork rather than fiberglass, in a push toward greener boatbuilding. 

The fit-and-finish of the boat we looked at in Annapolis was noteworthy. The cockpit has a table to port with an L-shaped seating area outboard and aft, located under the Bimini top. To starboard is a grill built into the transom, as well as a cushioned lounging area beneath the helm station.

A wall of glass, with a large opening door and window, spans the aft side of the wide cabin, whose other three sides are lined with ports so that from the interior, one has nearly 360-degree visibility.

A second table is located just inside the salon, to port, also with L-shaped seating. Outboard of it, there’s a guest cabin, separated from the salon by another glass partition. 

An additional seating area and nav station equipped with a B&G chart plotter, displays, autopilot control and radio are far forward on the port side of the salon, with the well-appointed galley opposite. A third crew cabin is four steps down, in the forepeak of the center hull. 

Beneath the main hull’s sole is an equipment room providing excellent access to the motor (a 50 hp Volvo with saildrive), steering ­quadrant, systems and electrical ­boxes—a true engine room, which is hard to find on a boat in this size range. 

“It had absolutely the best service access to systems of all the boats we looked at this year,” Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman noted. 

Topside, broad side decks make it easy to move about. There is a wide seat at the helm, with room for three. All sail-control lines run across the cabin top to a bank of line clutches and a pair of winches, all from Antal, that are easily reached while steering. Singlehanding the Neel would not be a problem. 

The boat in Annapolis sported an Intracoastal Waterway-friendly 62-foot aluminum spar; a carbon-fiber rig is an option. The boat also came equipped with three 170-watt solar panels and a bow thruster. Loaded with gear, it carried a price tag of $575,000.

Overall, I thought that the Neel’s open-living layout would be just fine for a couple who might have occasional guests aboard for a passage, or a small family with children out for an extended cruise. But I’ll give Boat of the Year judge Herb McCormick the last word here: “It was a remarkably fun and exciting boat to sail, a light and lovely helm. Eric Bruneel has amply demonstrated that if you’re looking to go the multihull route, a trimaran is a viable alternative to a cat.” 

Neel 43 Trimaran Specifications

Mark Pillsbury, Boat of the Year judge and CW editor-­at-large, is a die-hard sailor who has owned a number of sailboats, including a Sabre 34, on which he lived for 15 years.

The post Sailboat Review: Neel 43 Trimaran appeared first on Cruising World.

Strolling the docks at the international multihull show in La Grande-Motte, France, last spring, I found myself drawn time and again to the floating walkway in front of the Neel Trimarans stand. Each time, I stopped to stare at the three bow profiles of the French builder’s new 51-foot fast cruiser — three knife blades poised to slice cleanly through the waves, ensuring the big tri would make good on the builder’s design brief that described a 200-plus-miles-a-day vessel.

At a show filled with cruising ­catamarans sporting flared-out hulls to create living space, load-­carrying capacity and buoyancy, the Neel 51 was clearly a beast of a different nature. Its center hull stood plumb in the water, while the bow knuckles on the amas to each side floated just above the surface, ready to go to work in a puff of breeze.

And then I stepped aboard.

As a monohull sailor who gets to hitch the occasional ride on a big cruising cat, I was somewhat used to the space created by a bridgedeck that spans the width of two hulls. But I was staggered by the square footage afforded by three. With 29 feet of beam and a cabin that spans the majority of it, the Neel 51 is a very big boat.

Thanks to engineering stiffness provided by a center hull, designers Joubert-Nivelt-Muratet and the Neel team were able to open up nearly the entire width of the cabin house aft with sliding glass doors that, when open, let the cockpit flow seamlessly into the interior.

Outdoors, the cockpit, covered by a hard bimini, has a pair of couches across the stern, just forward of a swim platform that’s molded into the center hull and two steps down. A single davit mounted just off the centerline is used to lift a RIB onto stainless-steel mounts on both sides of the platform while underway. To starboard, there’s an outside galley with fridge, grill and sink; to port, a teak table seats eight.

Just inside the saloon, there’s a second, similarly sized table that can be raised or lowered, depending on whether meals or cocktails are being served. Large glass windows wrap the entire cabin. Forward to port, an enormous, well-stocked galley awaits the chef with loads of counter space, a built-in stainless-­steel oven and grill, two fridges, and an optional freezer and dishwasher. To starboard, a large chart table is designed to be a workspace and indoor helm station.

The remainder of the bridgedeck is dedicated to the owner’s stateroom and en-suite head and shower. Inside, the bed is arranged athwartship, with its foot up against a wall of glass. Oh, what a lovely spot to relax and watch the waves pass by. Forward in the center hull, a guest cabin with a V-berth and day-head is located down a few steps. Then, in both amas, guest cabins include aft double bunks, and head and shower compartments in each bow.

But wait, there’s more. A door in the saloon floor opens up to reveal a full-on engine room, with 7-foot headroom, tons of storage, and access to every pump, pipe, wire and motor used by the Neel’s many systems. Tankage is forward, amidships, and on the centerline; a battery bank is secured down deep; aft, behind a watertight door, is access to the steering mechanism and a 75 hp Volvo engine and saildrive. In other words, it’s truly a techie’s dreamland.

For the sailor, there’s the flydeck. A helm station is located to starboard on a raised platform that puts the bimini and adjacent lounge area at about hip height. The wheel and engine controls are mounted on a pedestal. Just forward on the cabin top sit three winches (two electric), and all sail-control lines converge via a series of blocks and rope clutches. A zippered canvas bimini sits overhead.

So, how does the Neel 51 sail?

Neel Trimarans founder Eric Bruneel reported that on the delivery to the show from the yard in La Rochelle, the 51 racked up a 290-mile, 24-hour run under a triple-reefed main and self-tending staysail. So, she’s quick. The boat is designed to cruise at 10 knots, and in a breeze, the speedo will climb easily into the high teens if the solent rig’s big genoa is rolled out.

But on a demo sail following the show, Bruneel was more intent on showing potential customers how the boat could be tamed down and handled by a husband and wife. With the breeze in the low teens, we tacked upwind with two reefs in the main and the self-­tending jib set. Coming about required just a turn of the wheel. In puffs, the boat would heel gently toward the leeward amas, then lock in and ride steady as a rail. Walking forward, I found the motion on deck took some getting used to, and a good set of handrails along the cabin top would be on my to-do list if I were an owner, though the boat sure looks sleek without them.

Later, when I got a turn on the wheel, we rolled up the staysail and unfurled the genoa. When I glanced at the instruments, I saw steady speeds in the 8- to 9-knot range and an occasional jump to 10 knots. Once, the speedo brushed 14 in a short-lived gust. The wheel, for the record, was smooth as silk.

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Neel also builds a 45-foot and 65-foot trimaran. The former is performance-oriented, the latter more geared to luxury cruising. The 51 is a blend of both.

The boat’s three hulls are vacuum-infused in a single mold using vinylester and polyester resin and PVC foam. The center hull has laminate ring frames for stiffness, and floors and bulkheads are also foam-cored and vacuum-­molded. Underway, with the engine running, sound levels inside were whisper-quiet.

The boat we sailed had an optional carbon-fiber mast, which keeps down the weight aloft and dampens any pitching motion. Standing rigging and lifelines were Dyneema and Spectra.

Inside and out, the fit and finish of the Neel 51 were modern and sleek-looking. And the sailing, well, it was simply otherworldly the way the big tri skipped over the waves. I could have done it all day.

Specifications

Neel Trimarans
+33 5 46 29 08 71
www.neel-trimarans.com

Mark Pillsbury is CW’s editor.

The post Neel 51 Trimaran Review appeared first on Cruising World.

The NEEL 65 has inherited all the qualities of its predecessors in terms of comfort, excellent sailing characteristics, the finesse of its steering and its high performance. This new model has six double cabins aboard, with six bathrooms.

The unique design places two cabins on a single level, shared with the living room and a large central open kitchen. There are two cabins in the central hull and a cabin in each float. Separated areas are built-in for the comfort of guests and crew. 110 square metres (1200 sq ft) surface area in total.

The layout is highly practical, with reserved living areas, along with a generous carrying capacity, and a unique design that meets all the requirements of charter operation with a full crew.

On the deck the wide cockpit (25 m2) with its outdoor kitchen, exclusive to the NEEL 65, are found alongside the spacious storage bins for leisure equipment (canoeing, windsurfing, paddleboards) in the skirts of the floats for quick and direct access to the sea.

The Flybridge is a convivial space of 21 m2 with a double helm and a table for eight, with seating convertible into sun loungers.

The NEEL 65 will have its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival from 8 to 13 September 2015.

For more information, visit the Neel Trimarans website.

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Every year, it seems, the collective fleet of new sailboats introduced into the marine marketplace takes on a distinct personality all of its own. Sometimes the roster tips heavily toward dual-purpose racer/cruisers whose selling point is versatility. Other years are distinguished by a long list of all-oceans voyagers meant to chase far horizons. For 2013, however, with one notable exception—it’s significant, and we’ll get to it in a moment—the “major trend” was actually the lack of any particular one.

When the Boat of the Year judging panel convened in Annapolis, Maryland, last October to begin deliberations during the annual U.S. Sailboat Show, the members encountered a field of two-dozen nominees that, in terms of size, price, and intent, was arguably as diverse as any that preceded it in the competition’s 20-year history.

Read on to see this year’s nine winners!

Best Inshore Cruiser

Catalina 315

Winning Details

• Truly expansive accommodations and interior for a 31-footer, with a forward cabin that rivals the staterooms in some of the larger boats in the 40-foot range.
• Outstanding value for the money: With a sailaway price tag of $145K, the Catalina 315 was the least expensive entry of the Inshore Cruiser contestants.
• Tremendous attention to seemingly small items: real mattresses in the cabins, generous lifelines and cockpit benches, excellent engine access, and on and on.

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that are noteworthy and memorable, and for BOTY judge Tim Murphy, that was certainly the case with many of the features on the Catalina 315, CW‘s Best Inshore Cruiser for 2013. Take the boat’s forward stateroom.

“I think you’d consider this the prime cabin in the boat, and it’s better than the main cabin in many of the 40- and 44-footers that we’ve seen,” he said. “It’s a cabin in which two people can not only lie down comfortably but also sit up and read, with good light and with their backs against a solid bulkhead. That doesn’t happen in a shocking number of boats that are 10 or 15 feet bigger than this one. Then consider the full-on galley and the standing headroom throughout, and you realize this is a boat that’s really got all the comforts of home in a neat package.”

Judge Ed Sherman concurred: “The Catalina rose to the top of its class because of the creature comforts, and not just down below but also on deck and in the cockpit. This is just a great boat for a young couple, even one with a couple of kids. The quality of the systems installs is right there. It sailed pretty well. It’s just a good little coastal cruiser that has a lot going for it.”

“I’ll say this flat out—I admire Catalina designer Gerry Douglas because he has an approach that’s not just profit driven,” added Alvah Simon. “He has a sincere relationship with his customers, he takes a lot of pride in his boats, and I think he and his team just deliver a lot of bang for the buck.”

In many ways, the Catalina was a throwback to traditional values and conservative themes. There’s one helm station on the boat, not two. Douglas opted for a conventional shaft and strut for the auxiliary, rather than a saildrive, because he feels the setup is more reliable and less prone to potential warranty issues. “He wants to make sure any problems are minimized,” said Sherman. By taking care of those little things, Catalina maxed out a winner.

See photos of the Catalina 315 here.
Read more about Catalina Yachts here.

Best Midsize Cruiser, 40 to 44 Feet

Moody 41

Winning Details
+ A good all-around cruiser for extended voyaging or living aboard that sails well and has good visibility, storage, handholds, dodger, and propane tanks.
+ Handsome interior with nice touches including wicker cabinet façades and the choice of three optional wood finishes.

Since 2007, the longtime british brand known as Moody has been built in Germany by Hanse Yachts AG. And perhaps ironically so, for in 2013, it appeared that the top two midsize boats were the Hanse 415 and Moody’s latest launch, this 41-footer. But after weighing the relative merits of each, our judges unanimously determined that the Moody 41 was this year’s Best Midsize Cruiser, 40 to 44 Feet.

The primary reason may well have been that although the yard that creates them has changed, the British naval architect whose name is practically synonymous with Moody, Bill Dixon, has not. With the new 41, Dixon has retained the core values of strength, seaworthiness, and dependability that distinguished his earlier Moodys.

“The Hanse is a fine boat,” said Alvah Simon, “but I think that as a true cruising boat, the Moody is a better one. Under sail, it moved through the water quite nicely. I very much liked the traditional full-length trunk cabin. It created nice interior spaces that I feel are really going to appeal to a lot of sailors. And under power, when you’re turning or backing, it really handles well.”

“It looked elegant,” said Ed Sherman. “It costs more than the Hanse, but you could see the difference in the craftsmanship and assembly. I liked the gear choices and the way the boat was laid out. It’s beautifully equipped with a lot of the things I love to see on cruising boats, with lots of space for storage and good service access. I mean, I think they’ve done a magnificent job.”

“For me, one word comes to mind,” said Tim Murphy. “‘Integrity.’ Some boats lack it. This one doesn’t.”

See photos of the Moody 41 here.
Read more about the Moody brand here.

Best Full-Size Cruiser, 45 to 49 Feet

Bavaria Vision 46

Winning Details
+ Exceptional light and ventilation below, thanks to four opening coachroof hatches, a pair of overhead “skylights,” and a series of windows to port and starboard in the hull.
+ Noteworthy cockpit execution, with well-thought-out helm stations and winch placement, a clever daybed for lounging and relaxing, and an offset companionway.
+ The Bavaria Docking Control system, utilizing a joystick, a bow thruster forward, and a retractable thruster aft, is a nifty solution for close-quarters maneuvering.

For 2013, Bavaria Yachts brought a pair of new boats to the marketplace, including the Vision 46, the first in a new series of very contemporary, forward-thinking cruising boats. In layout and execution, it’s meant to be the ultimate “couple’s” cruiser, easy to sail and operate and possessing lavish appointments and accoutrements at anchor or dockside. The BOTY judges believed Bavaria, in collaboration with Farr Yacht Design, more than met its stated objective, and they named the Vision 46 the year’s Best Full-Size Cruiser, 45 to 49 Feet.

Right off the bat, the 46-footer received high marks from the judges for its easily driven hull and notable sailing characteristics. “It felt right,” said Alvah Simon, as the boat registered speeds in the mid-7-knot range in just 10 to 12 knots of breeze. “I thought it performed pretty well, given the conditions for our sea trials.”

The boat also drew favorable reviews under power. One of the new trends in cruising boats are software-driven engine controls; Bavaria’s system employs a set of joystick-controlled thrusters fore and aft. “I found it very intuitive,” said Tim Murphy. “And they’ve done a good job of providing a simple manual override in case of emergency,” said Sherman.

Over the last several years, Bavaria has completely revamped the lines, and Sherman, who’s very familiar with the brand, believes the evolution has been significant. “As far as the overall quality and fit and finish, it just keeps getting better and better,” he said. The proof is this winning design.

See photos of the Bavaria Vision 46 here.
Read more about Bavaria Yachts here.

Best Multihull Under 45 Feet

Nautitech 441

Winning Details
+ Fine layout for offshore work, with numerous touches that will promote safe sailing, including an abundance of handrails above and below deck and good visibility.
+ Long-range voyaging capability, with a rig set up for transoceanic adventures, such as a powerful sail plan with square-topped main and full battens.
+ Extremely sound structurally; very good performer under power; also available in a twin-helm version (the Nautitech 442) with aft, outboard steering stations with tillers.

One of the toughest classes for this year’s BOTY panel to sort out was the smaller of the two multihull divisions, but when all was said and done, the judges came up with a clear-cut winner, largely due to its established builder’s long-term presence in the marketplace. As a proven all-oceans voyager, the choice for Best Multihull Under 45 Feet, was the Nautitech 441.

“This is a French-built boat and I think the build quality may have surpassed the other boats in this group, which is saying something,” said Ed Sherman. “Down below it’s a very quiet boat. We sailed it on a windy day with a lot going on and yet down below there was no creaking, groaning, or cracking noises whatsoever. Even under power, we registered some of the lowest decibel readings for our entire fleet of boats.

“Two other things I noted,” he continued. “First, we were moving along quite quickly today in heavy air and there were good handholds everywhere, there were no issues there. And there was sort of an eyelid over the wraparound window parameter around the cabin top, and underneath the fiberglass is all nice and smooth and finished off, with no shard potential. They’ve done a really nice job.”

“I sort of come in as the cheapskate judge and my mantra is always value, value, and more value,” said Alvah Simon. “And I can’t help but think that in this class, even though it isn’t the cheapest boat, that the Nautitech offers more value for money. In terms of overall quality, long-term maintenance, and even longevity for its owner, I have to go with the 441.”

See photos of the Nautitech 441 here.
Read more about Nautitech catamarans here.

Best Full-Size Multihull

Leopard 48

Winning Details
+ Quality construction from South African builder Robertson and Caine—with over 1,000 cats to its credit, the company is one of the world’s best multihull manufacturers.
+ A fine combination of excellent sailing performance with a stellar accommodation plan and layout, particularly the inviting, comfortable forward cockpit.
+ Plenty of attention to design details, including the rigid overhead bimini, generous scuppers, and the very effective raised helm station with at-hand sail and engine controls.

On the heels of last year’s sweet 44-footer, which won its class and was named Import Boat of the Year, Leopard Catamarans has followed up with another strong effort: The Leopard 48 has earned the prize as CW’s Best Full-Size Multihull for 2013.

Leading the praise for this latest South African partnership of naval architect Alex Simonis and the Cape Town-based builder Robertson and Caine was BOTY judge Ed Sherman: “I loved this boat,” he said. “As far as the service access is concerned, I can’t recall being on a boat where they’d actually engineered the ease of access to all the systems as nicely as this one. Every single panel where there was electrics or machinery that will ultimately require service had these quick-release threaded knobs that you undo and you’re there. Beyond that, once you get into these service areas, all the equipment was first class, and the degree of workmanship was very high. And everything was labeled. Terrific.”

“I also enjoyed sailing it,” he continued. “But it performs well under power, too. At max cruising speed, we were making over 9 knots. And it was one of the quietest boats we tested. To me, that’s indicative of the overall quality of construction, because they thought about the things that would reduce vibration and rattles and addressed them accordingly.”

Alvah Simon also found much to like. “The ergonomics worked very well,” he said. “The forward cockpit door struck me as beautiful. It was so convenient and so simple. It just works. And with it, they’ve created a beautiful lounging platform forward. All of my notes, whether they address the storage, the transom, the seats—they all say ‘good.’” Taken together, such praise adds up to a great boat.

See photos of the Leopard 48 here.
Read more about Leopard Catamarans here.

Best Bluewater Cruiser

Oyster 625

Winning Details
+ Here’s a state-of-the-art example of no-holds-barred, completely uncompromised modern yacht construction and design.
+ Sparkling sailing performance, lavish accommodations, sensational craftsmanship: The list of wonderful features is endless.

With the class winners selected, the judges were still faced with a nagging quandary. Two of the boats they’d inspected were unquestionably among the best introduced for 2013. Yet they were both outliers that, unlike the other nominees, didn’t fit into neat and tidy classifications. Therefore, the judges decided to honor these vessels with special awards. The first was the Oyster 625, which the panel unanimously felt was the Best Bluewater Cruiser for 2013.

The nearly 64-foot Oyster was originally slotted in with a trio of boats in the Full-Size Cruiser group; however, it was soon apparent that in terms of size, systems, construction, purpose, and potential, it was truly in a class of its own. Of course, with a price tag over $3 million, it should’ve been. But that fact didn’t preclude the judges from recognizing, and rewarding, the overall excellence of the Rob Humphreys design.

“When we step aboard a boat, we always ask the builder to describe it, and when we heard ‘a serious world-cruising boat,’ that was no exaggeration,” said Tim Murphy.

“If you have the money, in this case it will buy you a lovely, powerful, elegant, classic, highly technical yet somehow approachable very big boat,” said Alvah Simon. “You can get boats of this size and complexity that are intimidating, yet I stepped aboard the 625 and felt that an experienced couple could jump on it and in a few hours sail it safely. You can drive it and you can dock it because it all worked. We pressed the boat hard when we sailed it, but once we found the groove, we learned what a 70,000-pound yacht with a big rig can really do. It felt beautiful to be sailing at 9 knots with that kind of power and ease of motion. I mean, what else is there to say?”

See photos of the Oyster 625 here.
Read more about Oyster here.

Most Innovative

Neel 45

Winning Details
+ Truly unique and successful approach to interior space, with a very good nav station, cavernous centralized engine room, and outward-facing berths in the ama cabins.
+ Fantastic sailing performance, perhaps the best for 2013 models, with easily driven hulls, a versatile and manageable sail plan, and consistent double-digit speed potential.
+ Cool details, including an excellent emergency tiller, highly effective nonskid, simple but clever dinghy davits, and sloping decks with ample walkways that work well.

The second of this year’s special awards goes to the Neel 45, the only production trimaran introduced for 2013, which the judges felt was easily the Most Innovative of all the entries. For many years, builder Eric Bruneel was the managing director of Fountaine Pajot, and in that capacity he oversaw the construction of roughly 2,000 catamarans. He’s also an accomplished solo transoceanic trimaran racer, so it perhaps goes without saying that he knows more than a little about multihulls. So when he started his own company, he had a specific vision of what he wanted to accomplish.

Tim Murphy, for one, believes he succeeded in his quest. “I truly believe this is a breakthrough boat,” said Murphy. “Under sail, it behaves differently. It looks different. You live differently in it. It solves problems that had previously not been solved. Bruneel said it’s a 10-knot boat, that it trucks along at 10 knots on coastal cruises or on passage, which translates into 240-mile days. We saw that.

“And the thing is,” he continued, “it’s not just the speed itself. It’s the kind of speed. It’s beautiful speed. The way the boat moves, it kind of has this floating motion. You feel relaxed. I believe you’d feel rested after a passage at 10 knots on this boat.

“Look, it’s not perfect,’” he concluded. “The aesthetics aren’t for everyone, and there are some production details that need to be addressed. But you can think of boatbuilding as an art, and there are a handful of boats this year that expressed that artistry. Bruneel is kind of an artist. He gets the business, and design, and how his boat will be used. There’s a lot of art in his boat.”

“I want this on the record: Sailing this boat was the happiest sailing experience I had this entire contest.” -Tim Murphy

See photos of the Neel 45 here.
Read more about Neel Trimarans here.

Domestic Boat of the Year, and Best Performance Cruiser, 30 to 39 feet

C&C 101

Winning Details
+ Terrific construction technique and materials, including a resin-infused epoxy/foam hull, balsa-cored deck, carbon-fiber rig, solid-teak cabin sole, and cherry interior.
+ True dual-purpose racer/cruiser with outstanding sailing qualities and high-performance potential along with simple but fine amenities for coastal cruising.
+ Versatile cockpit layout with open “floor plan” for racing, and first-class Harken hardware package, along with plenty of room for daysailing with a posse of friends.

Prior to this year’s Boat of the Year testing in Annapolis, Maryland, one of the judges posed this open-ended question to no one in particular: “Where is the next generation of designers and builders going to come from?” Two weeks later, at the close of the competition, they had at least a partial answer. With his very first effort, young naval architect Tom McNeill knocked it out of the park: His C&C 101, built in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, is both the Best Performance Cruiser, 30 to 39 Feet, as well as CW‘s Domestic Boat of the Year.

“First of all, that was one stable hull,” said Alvah Simon. “I put these boats into hard turns to see what happens, and the C&C was just rock solid. Tacking and jibing are effortless. I thought that cockpit was extremely simple, and I just really enjoyed sailing this one.”

Ed Sherman agreed: “Of the three boats in this group, I liked sailing the C&C the most. As a racer/cruiser, it more than passes muster, and the entry-level pricing, at $175,000, was the least expensive in its class. Taken together, in terms of cost and performance, that’s a tough combination to beat.”

The solid construction, utilizing isophthalic gelcoat, a closed-cell foam core in the hull, resin-infused epoxy, and an internal structural grid, helped seal the deal.
“And the carbon-fiber rig is standard, which I think is great value,” said Murphy. The conclusion? With the C&C 101, youth was served.

“This 33-footer is so stable, so quick, so responsive, and so much fun to sail. They’re really on to something here.” -Alvah Simon

See photos of the C&C 101 here.
Read more about C&C Yachts here.

For full specs click here

Import Boat of the Year, and Best Full-Size Cruiser Over 50 feet

Beneteau Sense 55

Winning Details
+ Conceptually, interior space with compartments for machinery and systems aft and living quarters forward neatly defines the Sense layout and philosophy.
+ An optional aft arch with dedicated spots for solar-panel and wind-generator installations provides a nifty arrangement for onboard power management.
+ Traditional mainsail with full battens and a nonoverlapping headsail that is easily tacked and jibed provide stellar sailing performance.

When the boat of the year judges stepped aboard this flagship in Beneteau‘s Sense range, they also stepped away from some of their preconceived notions about what constitutes a state-of-the-art contemporary cruising boat. But once they divested themselves of such hard and fast thinking, they came to truly appreciate the fresh ideas in this Berret-Racoupeau design. After that, they were converts, which they proved by making the Sense 55 the year’s Best Full-Size Cruiser Over 50 Feet, as well as 2013’s Import Boat of the Year.

Tim Murphy led the charge. “In the way they’ve laid out this boat, I really feel they’re onto something new,” he said. “And I don’t mean new for the sake of novelty or as a gimmick, but this 55-footer represents, embodies, and invites a different kind of living aboard a boat. It’s not traditional, but you have three great cabins that aren’t even really cabins … they’re really nice little apartments. I just found this whole approach to be very successful.”

Ed Sherman found other features alluring. “The optional aft arch with solar panels and dual wind generators was very cool,” he said.

“It was a nice arrangement, very well done. It has a significant amount of charging capacity, which really enhanced it in terms of offshore passagemaking capability. That was pretty neat; I liked it a lot.”

“This boat is a break from tradition,” concluded Alvah Simon. “You sort of need to get over our attachment to the spit-and-polish British view of sailing, as opposed to the French adventurer. It’s definitely new. Get used to it.”

See photos of the Beneteau Sense 55 here.
To read more Cruising World reviews of Beneteau sailboats, click here. To visit Beneteau America’s website, click here.

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