– Cat Not Dog part II –
In the second of a two-part enquiry, Alex Stone continues with the main considerations to be taken into account when buying a modern cruising multihull.
– Cat Not Dog part II –
In the second of a two-part enquiry, Alex Stone continues with the main considerations to be taken into account when buying a modern cruising multihull.
– Spirited 230 Re-Imagined! –
Side view of the updated Spirited 230 MK2 design.
The Spirited 230 has been a popular model with a large family of happy owners. As with most things there is always a time when they need a modern twist and include any improvements where required.
– Proa-Active ptII –
Continuing the saga of proas, and Rob Denney’s development of the modern HarryProa. We are up to where the tried and tested practical ideas hit the water.
– Andaman 50 - by Catathai –
A matter of timing has brought about this new design – the Catathai Andaman 50. Fast, light, no comforts missing aboard, a dagger-board, performance ocean cruising catamaran.
– Off-the-shelf Downwind Sails for the Multihull Sailor –
For many years when the multihull sailor needed a downwind sail the immediate thought was to have a Symmetrical Spinnaker made to suit. It was often a time-consuming, expensive process, necessitating lots of additional gear including sheets, braces, tweakers and so on. Further, it was complex to use for the majority of cruising sailors, in most cases flying the tack off the windward bow or even with a spinnaker pole. And its use was generally restricted to wind angles of around 130-180°.
– Where Great Begins! –
Self-confessed reef addicts, Chris and Wade on Anui, have spent an extended time in the southernmost part of the Great Barrier Reef and declare “this is where Great begins” in more ways than one.
– Why Race Your Cruising Cat? –
About 26 years ago I wrote an article about how to cruise on your racing cat. The times they are a changing … Not all multihulls are designed for speed or competitiveness. If your catamaran has the comforts of home, lots of space and a gentle character at sea then why bother racing? It may not be designed to sail very well into the wind. Lack of daggerboards will do that. Sometimes no matter how hard you trim the headsail and adjust the mainsail foot the tell tails on your sails might never flow smoothly. That is if you have telltails. And it just doesn’t seem right to run fresh water into the salty sea to lighten the payload by a few hundred kilograms just to go a tenth of a knot faster.
– Neel 43 –
Few multihulls have generated such anticipation as the new NEEL 43, and Australia’s wait is finally over with the latest model from the French shipyard arriving in Brisbane in early 2022.
– Dufour 48 – La Dolce Vita –
The contoured nacelle minimises drag while the wide hulls allow good load carrying on the Dufour 48. Image Kevin Green
Italian styling with French sensibilities make this Dufour 48 a sweet addition to the catamaran cruising market, reports KEVIN GREEN.
Only a handful of these Ultims exist, so the Fastnet in August 2019 was an exciting clash between four of them. Image Fastnet Race Media
Multihulls will lead the world’s largest and most diverse offshore fleet from England during the Rolex Fastnet Race, reports KEVIN GREEN.
Cat Not Dog
A simple but efficient cruising rig of high-aspect fully-battened mainsail, and self-tacking blade jib with a luff furler.
With reefs and furling these two sails can serve the boat in a wind range from 5-40ts.
In this article, ALEX STONE looks at the main considerations to be taken in account when buying a cruising catamaran.
The cruising catamaran market is coming of age. Yachties of all stripes are seeing the indisputable advantages of good, fast, safe, comfortable cruising cats. They’ve come to understand that yes, you can have all those attributes simultaneously, and at all times, in a blue-water sailboat. Sailing fast and comfortably with no heeling the new normal. Why just a few weeks ago, we cruised from Mahurangi to Man o’ War Bay in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf in two hours – a distance of 35nm at an average speed of over 15kts – and the glass vase of flowers sat on the saloon table the whole time, while my beloved snoozed contentedly on the couch, leaving me in splendid isolation at the wheel. Our kind of sailing!
– Bali Catamarans –
The Bali 4.2 has taken shape with features that will seduce you:
• A boat that is more than 2ft higher (63cm) and more than a foot wider (36cm), giving almost 50sqft (4.5m2) of extra living space!
• A forward door offering ease of access from the saloon/galley to the forward cockpit! - The tilting, pivoting door and aft bench seat have been made even bigger
• The living space in the saloon has increased by more than 7%, more ‘Open Space’ than ever before!
• The hulls are wider above the chine, creating greater comfort and space in the cabins
• Each heads compartment has been lengthened by 12” (30cm)
– James Wharram –
A Man of the Sea, sails the Oceans of Heaven
15.01.1928 - 14.12.2021
James aged 17. Image Hanneke Boon
James Wharram, a living legend, has died. James had led a life of his own choosing. He was a free thinker and a trailblazer, although he respected, and learned from, designers of twin hulled boats who had come before him.
The Two Oceans 870 Power Catamaran in build at Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing:
a floating haven of unmatched luxury
Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing is in the final year of the build the Two Oceans 870 Power Catamaran, a nautical masterpiece that seamlessly marries opulence with functionality. This 87-foot luxury custom power catamaran, designed by award-winning yacht design firm Du Toit Yacht Design, transcends the ordinary, offering an expansive and luxurious on-water experience.
Award-winning design and manufacture partnership
In a longstanding collaboration, Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing and Du Toit Yacht Design have partnered on the build of 14 large full custom catamarans ranging from 60 to 110 feet. This partnership extends to include the semi-custom Two Oceans 555 and 675 Power Catamarans, along with the Balance 442, 482, and 750. With Du Toit Yacht Design's extensive experience in catamaran design, many vessels jointly created with Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing have garnered prestigious awards.
– New Bali 4.4 Sea Trial –
THE NEW BALI 4.4 FIRST SEA TRIALS IN EUROPE
HOT OFF THE PRESS IN MINUS 2 DEGREES CELSIUS!
The Bali 4.4 belongs to a radical new catamaran design family, from the French builder of the Bali range.
Follow the link to the video of that trial, run in minus 2 degrees Celsius out of La Rochelle in Western France, hence the wet weather gear.
Bali 4.4 Catamaran - Exclusive boat review - Multihulls World - YouTube
Solid foredeck, second cockpit, forward opening door to the salon and of course the trademark Bali tilting rear door – all make for space and convenience to create the perfect cruising cat. Check out also the 600 litre two door fridge with an icemaker in the door!
Yacht Share Mariner have a brand-new Bali 4.4 on order for delivery to Sydney in July this year after which she will sail up the coast to her base in the Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach.
The capital and running costs of the Bali will be shared by up to 8 owners and each owner will have an entitlement of 42 days – cruising the Whitsundays and the east coast of Queensland, but without charter restrictions! The Bali will also come south during the Australian summer to Pittwater and Sydney Harbour.
Owners will enjoy a walk on walk off service from Dream Yacht, who will service the Yacht Share fleet, and they will be free to choose their time on board and their destination.
Ultims pass Oz
Six 105 foot Ultim catamarans and only six sailors.
Photo: Arkea Ultim Challenge 2024
The Ultim class of 105 foot trimarans are the true monsters of the deep ocean, reports Kevin Green.
To prove it, this elite group of yachts are currently racing together in a circumnavigation expected to take less than 50 days. Sailing at speeds of nearly 50 knots across the wildest parts of the world's oceans, while managing thousands of square foot of sail area and doing this all on foils is what these solo sailors are doing; after departing Brest in France on 6 January.
Eric Peron on Ultim Adagio, which is the only non-foiler in the fleet.
Photo: Arkea Ultim Challenge 2024
So far, one of them has broken down (the newest one, SVZ Lazartigue), pulling out at Cape Town while the other five continue on. Another, Sodebo 3 skippered by 55 year old veteran Thomas Coville, did an emergency stop in Hobart, Tasmania on 1 February for foil and deck repairs. Meantime the runaway leader, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild skipper Charles Caudrelier on his 2017 Ultim, is passing Cape Horn on the final leg west before turning north to the finish at Brest, north west France.
Sodebo3 called in at Hobart on 1 February for repairs.
Photo: Arkea Ultim Challenge 2024
Follow them on the tracker at: www.arkeaultimchallengebrest.com
Racers
- Maxi Edmond de Rothschild - Charles Caudrelier
- Maxi Banque Populaire XI - Armel Le Cléac'h
- SVR Lazartigue - Tom Laperche (RETIRED)
Sodebo Ultim 3 - Thomas Coville
Actual Ultim 3 - Anthony Marchand
Ultim Adagio - Eric Peron
Lightweight Wonder
An expertly custom-crafted Schionning catamaran will sail the world with ease, thanks to the strong, durable DuFLEX Build System.
A highly-customised Schionning Solitaire 1520 cruising catamaran is taking shape on the Gold Coast, in the talented hands of the team at Mahi Boats, specialists in custom boat building, particularly multihulls and game fishing boats to commercial standards.
Founder and director, Dan Williams began the business 17 years ago as Hybrid Composites, before demand propelled the business into custom boat building. Dan’s background includes international experience crafting carbon fibre racing yachts.
Now, ensconced in a supershed at the Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard within the thriving boat building hub of Coomera, Mahi Boats is working on several major projects, including the 50-foot (15.25-metre) Schionning Solitaire 1520.
Described as “a serious bluewater cruiser capable of sailing the world with high mileage daily runs in comfort and safety with minimal slamming”, the Solitaire 1520 offers similar internal comfort and space to a similarly sized production boat, but is far lighter, stiffer and stronger with better waterline beam values and higher power to weight ratio.
As Dan explains, “The owners chose this model as they loved the design and the ability to customise head heights and cabins to suit their specific needs.” There are dozens of custom features throughout the boat, starting with the entire layout. “The clients designed the layout of the boat and we are continuing to customise everything along the way,” says Dan.
“We have raised the headroom inside. We are running a hybrid electric motor system and the boat is packed with custom electronics. The boat is designed to sail two-handed around the world. They owners are planning to cruise the east coast and around Australia initially, but this is the catamaran they can rely on for long-range cruising once they’re ready.” The owners’ sailing ambitions are to be on the water within 14 months, and the team at Mahi Boats are well underway, with six boat builders engaged on the project.
Crucial to keeping the weight down and keeping to the tight construction schedule is the use of DuFLEX panels from ATL Composites, as specified by Schionning Designs. “There are many benefits of using DuFLEX panels,” Dan states. “They are easily assembled, CNC-cut, pre-laminated panels that enable fast construction. They’re easy to join using ATL’s Z-Press which applies heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on the Z-Joints. Joins are fully cured in seven to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature.
Other composite products from ATL include Divinycell Structural Foam, KINETIX R246TX Thixotropic Laminating Epoxy, WEST SYSTEM 105 resin and associated hardeners and powder modifiers, TECHINGLUE R60 Structural Adhesive in easily dispensed cartridge form, and TECHINIFILL R1160 pre-blended Fairing Compound.
“ATL offers a large range of composite products, all of which we are happy to use,” Dan continues.
“All ATL products are high quality and are competitive in price across the board. The ATL team go above and beyond to make sure we have everything we need when we need it.”
Australia sustains major damage in dramatic collision on Lyttelton Harbour
Tom Slingsby and his Australian crew have been hit with a devastating blow after a dramatic collision with a course mark during the first fleet race of the Championship Sunday forced the team to retire from racing altogether. The collision occurred as Australia and Canada were approaching the first mark of the race at speed. Australia driver Tom Slingsby made a split second decision to manoeuvre away to avoid a potentially catastrophic collision with the Canada Team’s F50 and crew, instead hitting the course mark, causing extensive damage to the Flying Roo.
Tom Slingsby said: “It all happened so quickly but at that moment I knew that we were going to hit Canada, so I had a choice to make and I wanted to keep people safe so I turned the boat as hard as I could into the course mark. I knew the mark was there but It was either that or go straight through Canada.” Slingsby was visibly shaken by the incident, saying to the media: “Honestly I am just happy that no one was hurt and we are all in shock. I don't think it has all sunk in and it’s been pretty emotional for me. It is a really scary moment when you feel like you could kill someone.”
The collision has caused irreparable damage to the front beam of the F50 with further damage sited to the port hull and board case. The full extent of the damage to the Australia F50 is still being reviewed by the SailGP Technical Team.
Following an initial investigation from the SailGP umpires, the Australia Team were determined to be at fault for the collision and have been docked 12 event points and 8 season points. The decision is currently being reviewed by SailGP umpires and the Australia Team.
Australia’s biggest rivals, the recently-rebranded Black Foils - New Zealand SailGP Team - claimed victory on their home waters, followed by France who finished the podium final on Championship Sunday in second place and Canada in third. The Australia Team will work alongside SailGP’s Technical Team to assess the full extent of the damage to the F50 and commence urgent repairs, with the goal of having the Flying Roo back racing in Bermuda for the Apex Group Bermuda Grand Prix on 4-5 May 2024.
1 // New Zealand 26 points
2 // France 25 points
3 // Canada 24 point
4 // Spain 24 points
5 // Germany 16 points
6 // Switzerland 12 points
7 // Emirates Great Britain 10 points
8 // USA 6 points
9 // ROCKWOOL Denmark 3 points
10 // Australia 1 point
OVERALL SAILGP SEASON 4 STANDINGS //
1 // New Zealand 68
2 // Australia 59 points
3 // Spain 55 points
4 // France 54 points
5 // ROCKWOOL Denmark 50 points
6 // USA 48 points
7 // Canada 46 points
8 // Emirates GBR 45 points
9 // Germany 27 points
10 // Switzerland 22 points