catamaran big boats

U.S Navy Commissions USS New Jersey, First Ever Submarine For A Mixed Gender Crew

World’s Largest Hotel-Branded Superyacht Sets Sail For Maiden Voyage

India Establishes Its First Maritime Arbitration Center

Yanmar Unveils Its First Electric Propulsion Product For Emission-Free Sailing

Top 10 largest Catamarans in the world

Characterised as a multi-hulled watercraft, a catamaran is a marine vessel comprising two proportioned hulls giving her greater stability and manoeuvrability. Catamarans also have a shallow draft which enables them to enter unexplored regions beyond the reach of sailing yachts or cruise ships.

Their invention is attributed to the Austronesian peoples of Southeast Asia, while the first European Catamaran was built in the 16th century by scientist William Petty. Capable of attaining greater speeds, catamarans are used for recreational sailing, cruising and racing. Modern Catamarans have luxurious features and marvellous design, which makes them enticing.

Let us have a look at the top 10 biggest catamarans in the world.

Table of Contents

1. Hodor ( 217 Ft.)

Renowned as the world’s largest floating toy box, the 66.2 m long SHADOWCAT Hodor was built by Astilleros Armon in Spain. Incat Crowther and YCTS. Ltd worked on her functional design and naval architecture, while the interiors were chosen by Oliver Design. Painted grey with vibrant orange lines running across its hull, the catamaran is as robust as it looks.

Launched in 2019, she has a maximum sailing speed of 22.5 knots derived from two MTU diesel engines. With a 14-metre beam, she has a gross tonnage of 1525 tonnes respectively. In terms of LOA, she ranks among the top five per cent in the world. She defeats her counterparts both by average speed and volume.

She is donned with aluminium; her hull, deck and even superstructure are made of this malleable and corrosion-resistant metal. Presently sailing under the flag of the Cayman Islands, Hodor is a treasure-house of water sports gear, filled with nine jet skis, four water bikes, laser dinghies, snorkelers, fishing equipment etc.

The empty space below the main deck is reserved for the Seamagine Aurora-3 submersible which will be delivered soon. Its main attraction is the 17-metre Nor-Tech 560 sports centre console attached to a hydraulic lift system for putting it in water. The largest catamaran is managed by 20 crew members and staff.

2. Sunreef 49 Power Cat ( 160.8 Ft)

Constructed by the Polish builder Sunreef Yachts, the multihull was fitted in Gdansk and delivered in 2021. Flaunting a classy white exterior, it is an embodiment of cutting-edge marine technology and fresh naval design.

It has three decks and expansive outdoor areas, including an open bar, a swimming pool, a helipad and a forward terrace. Its sun deck lounge has a spa pool, sun pads and even a saloon. With a broad beam of 16.85 metres, the yacht has 8 cabins which comfortably sleep 17 crew personnel and offers luxury accommodation for 11 guests. Five bedrooms on the main deck are equipped with a private balcony.

Low drag, a consequence of the specially designed twin-hull, makes the catamaran glide gracefully on the water while optimising efficiency and low fuel consumption. It has a 90,000-litre fuel tank which enables the power cat to cover 5000 nautical miles without a stopover. Driven by two 3400 HP engines, the superyacht has a top speed of 21 knots and carries three tenders, water sports gear and several jet skis.

3. Charley ( 150 Ft.)

Charley was launched in 2016 as a support yacht to serve the superyacht White Rabbit Gulf, both constructed by the shipbuilding company Eco Yachts. The 46 m long and 14 m wide catamaran has a white exterior, three teak decks and modern fittings. Its naval architecture, interiors and exterior design were taken care of by LOMOcean.

Labelled as the largest composite resin-infused yacht made in Australia, Charley was carefully assembled near Fremantle. With a volume of 702 gross tonnes, she has spacious interiors and outdoor entertainment areas to keep her guests engaged.

However, her most attractive feature is the 12-metre long tender catamaran called Vicky, equipped with a platform located at Charley’s stern. It can store some RIBs, tenders, personal watercraft and one hovercraft.

Propelled by two 2,700hp Cummins QSK60 engines and two propellers, Charley has a 60,000-litre fuel tank which enables her to travel 2,500 nautical miles at the cruising speed of 16 knots.

She has a 3.2 m draft which allows her to traverse shallow bays and narrow canals or even cruise near the shoreline. Possessing a GRP hull and superstructure, Charley has three suites for taking in 5 guests.

4. Moecca ( 148 Ft.)

The catamaran motor yacht Moecca was constructed by Oceanfast yachts in Australia. Designed to provide a luxurious sailing experience with moderately-decorated functional spaces, it has a simplistic classic exterior. Delivered in 1992, it underwent maintenance and repair in 2006. Refurbished in the same year, Moecca is fully air-conditioned, having expansive outdoor areas for sunbathing and relaxing.

Her curves are spectacular, thanks to Bannenberg Designs Limited, which crafted her exterior while Phill Curran was responsible for naval architecture. Having a 13 m or 42.7 feet beam, she has seven suites that conveniently accommodate 12 guests and six small yet well-furnished cabins for 11 crew members.

Its spacious salon has two seating areas, a home-theatre set-up and a 12-seater alfresco dining room connected to a bar and a refrigeration room. Her aft deck is enriched with circular sofas and side tables. More open space is provided on the upper deck, which incorporates an open pool and a small workout space. All these amenities are curated by the English design house Bannenberg and Rowell.

She can travel 2200 nautical miles at a maximum speed of 25 knots, achieved by two powerful MTU diesel engines. Moecca is sturdy yet elegant, with a green aluminium hull and a GRP superstructure. Her sides are panelled with mildly-fragrant wood. She has a 1.8 m draft and water tanks capable of storing 15,000 litres of fresh water.

5. HeySea Vista ( 140 Ft.)

Launched in 2020, the golden hulled Vista is an amalgamation of absolute royalty and finesse. Constructed by the Hey Sea Yachts Group, a prominent yacht manufacturer in China, Vista is a fully custom-designed project built in a 66,700 square m shipyard lying in the Pearl River Delta region near Hong Kong. One of the most challenging aspects of its construction was to attain a perfect shimmering gold finish, achieved by delicate yet continuous polishing.

Her stylish appearance and functional naval design were crafted by the Heysea marine architects and interior designers. The twin-hull allows for voluminous interiors carefully chosen by Horizontal Design to match her stunning fibreglass superstructure.

Vista is adorned with beautiful paintings showcasing marine life, modern art pieces and metallic fittings. She has five bedrooms that comfortably sleep 10 people. The yacht is managed by a 15-member crew.

Coming to the technicalities, she is driven by two Volvo 725 HP engines allowing her to reach a top speed of 15 knots. The vessel can go up to 4000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 10 knots. Vista has been the biggest project of HeySea, which brought her international appreciation.

6. Sarha ( 137 Ft.)

Registered at the Port of George Town and sailing under the Cayman Islands Flag, Sarha is a 40 m motor yacht built by Sea Management, fabricated in Australia and launched in 1989. With its sleek white exterior and blue windows, she is a piece of sheer beauty and class.

She was designed by John Winterbotham & Partners while her interiors were done by H2 Yacht Design. Refitted in 2002, she boasts a steel hull and an aluminium and steel superstructure complemented by a fine teak deck with spacious seating areas.

Sarha can travel 3000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 10 knots, and her top speed is 13 knots. She is fitted with two 2340 HP diesel engines that generate 1722 kilowatts. She is driven by two propellers and Koopnautic thrusters. Her home port is Abu Dhabi, and her water tanks carry 20,000 litres of fresh water.

Sarha can accommodate 30 guests and 11 crew members in beautiful, well-ventilated cabins having double beds. She has a gross tonnage of 726 tonnes and a 500-tonne displacement. Having a wide beam of 12.9 m, she has a shallow draft of about 2.7 metres.

7. Royal Falcon One ( 135 Ft.)

Flaunting a modern naval design, Royal Falcon One is a stunner of the Singapore-based yacht builder, Royal Falcon Fleet. Curated by the renowned Porsche Design Studio, she has been described as a Spaceship on Water by her makers, while some compare her to a sports car. She has an aluminium hull and superstructure and three teak decks.

Enriched with appealing aesthetics, this dual-hulled yacht offers the highest comfort and luxury. She has five cabins to accommodate 10 guests, three master suites and a lounge on the main deck. Its main attraction is the saloon which offers a 360-degree ocean view due to its glass walls.

The 12.5 m broad beam allows for more entertainment and relaxation space. Its sundeck has a jacuzzi and a steam sauna. The crew cabins are located near the stern, concealed by the ship’s twin hulls. Delivered in 2019, it has a maximum speed of 35 knots, a 1.7 m draft and a gross tonnage of 499 tonnes.

8. Silver Cloud (134 Ft.)

Portraying exemplary marine engineering , Silver Cloud was constructed by Abeking & Rasmussen in Germany. Infused with a small waterplane area twin hull, commonly called SWATH, its distinguishing feature is smooth sailing in harsh waters, especially the North Sea.

It was sold for 16 million dollars to Alexander Wallace Dreyfoos Junior, an American businessman based in New York. As per news reports, the vessel will be renamed Nurja. With a 58 feet beam and a 13.5-foot draft, she has a maximum speed of 14 knots.

Silver Cloud is the two-time winner of the World Superyacht Award, owing to its highly trained crew and world-class reputation. It has five cabins that comfortably sleep 12 guests, equipped with televisions and private bathrooms. The main attraction is the saloon with large windows and glass doors, designed by Michael Kirschstein. It also contains a spa, gymnasium, diving equipment and a helipad.

9. Zenith ( 131 Feet)

Constructed by Australia-based Sabre Catamarans in 2012, the 40.5 m Zenith is a luxury motor yacht which redefines sophistication and style. She has a 10.5 m beam, a 1.5 m draft and an interior volume of 461 gross tonnes. She was sold in 2018 for a whopping 19 million dollars.

Her luxurious cabins can take in 10 guests, designed by Water Line, while her eye-catching exteriors were chosen by Incat Crowther. Having an aluminium hull and superstructure, she can attain a top speed of 29 knots due to the powerful MTU engines. Her fuel tanks can hold up to 51,800 litres of diesel, while freshwater tanks can carry 3790 litres.

American rock maple was used for interior panelling along with Queensland Maple. It has a spacious open lounge with four sofas. The main deck features a lavish dining area attached to a fully equipped media room and a cocktail bar.

10. The Beast ( 129 Ft.)

Described as somewhat different and unique by her owners, the Beast is true to its name. Having a military-type camouflage exterior, she is not easy to spot among other sailing vessels. She belongs to the entrepreneur, Sir Michael Hill and has several interesting features, the first being a 13 m fishing boat fitted on its main deck, known as Baby beast.

Winner of several awards, the Beast is 39.2 metres long and has a volume of 493 gross tonnes. She was delivered in 2019 by Profab Central Engineering Limited, and her decor was styled by the famous Oceania Interiors. She has a master suite and five cabins for sleeping 12 guests and accommodation for nine crew members.

Known for her outstanding seagoing capabilities, the Beast is available for charter in the South Pacific. Having a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, she is loaded with the latest water gear such as four kayaks, paddleboards, and fishing and diving equipment. She can reach a top speed of 15 knots while her cruising speed is 10 knots.

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

Daily Maritime News, Straight To Your Inbox

Join over 60k+ people who read our daily newsletters

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Subscribe to Marine Insight Daily Newsletter

" * " indicates required fields

Marine Engineering

Marine Engine Air Compressor Marine Boiler Oily Water Separator Marine Electrical Ship Generator Ship Stabilizer

Nautical Science

Mooring Bridge Watchkeeping Ship Manoeuvring Nautical Charts Anchoring Nautical Equipment Shipboard Guidelines

Explore

Free Maritime eBooks Premium Maritime eBooks Marine Safety Financial Planning Marine Careers Maritime Law Ship Dry Dock

Shipping News Maritime Reports Videos Maritime Piracy Offshore Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) MARPOL

WAIT! Did You Download 13 FREE Maritime eBooks?

Sign-up and download instantly!

We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. No spam!

BIG Catamarans In The Mainstream

Sailing catamarans in the above-50ft range are a rare commodity on the global market and are more often custom designs for a particular owner.

Lagoon, Catana, and Fountaine Pajot have each tested the waters in this market and have had varying degrees of success. We have seen first-hand how the market is reacting to these large cats, because we have sold many of them including two of the new Lagoon Seventy7 so far!

Catana’s 70-ft cat, the FP Ipanema 58, and Lagoon’s 620 have all been well received by our clients and are generally very successful catamarans. However, Lagoon has topped this market in 2016 with their latest offering, the Lagoon Seventy7.

The Seventy7 is built by sailing superyacht experts CNB-Lagoon in Bordeaux and designed by the illustrious design team, VPLP, Patrick Le Quément and Nauta Design. No doubt it’s an luxurious super-catamaran but even so, it has elegant and graceful lines and appears to sail well even in a gentle breeze.

Check out the walk-through video of the Lagoon Seventy7

The Lagoon Seventy7 will make its U.S debut at the Miami Boat Show on February 16-20, 2017!

Lagoon Seventy7 Pictures & Specifications>>

Buying A BIG Catamaran? Get Your Personal Representation!

Choose your yacht broker wisely. After a house, the purchase of a large sailing catamaran is probably one of the biggest investments a boat buyer will make in their lifetime. So it makes sense to ensure that they have the very best representation. Brokers come free to the buyer, so find a knowledgeable yacht broker who knows the product, understands the industry, and can advise on ALL components of the transaction.

Catamaran buying and boat ownership should be a pleasure, not a nightmarish experience. Your yacht broker should be able to consult, advise, and educate you, not pressure you to buy.

You should feel like a valued client and insist on superior service!

We would enjoy the opportunity to talk with you about catamarans and catamaran buying. Contact Us

More Resources For Large Catamaran Buyers

Yacht As A Business Ownership Program. Read More>>

Crewed Catamaran Charter Programs. Read More>>

Large Catamarans: How To Own & Operate Them. Read More>>

Estelle Cockcroft

Join our community.

Get the latest on catamaran news, sailing events, buying and selling tips, community happenings, webinars & seminars, and much more!

Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Annapolis, MD

We have a new home in Annapolis! The office is located in Annapolis, Maryland

Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Texas

Our Texas Office is located in the Watergate Marina Center in Clear Lake Shores,

Annapolis Boat Show 2024

Meet with our team! Want to learn more about the Bali and Catana

Exploring the Catana OC 50 Catamaran: A Comprehensive Overview

The Catana OC 50 Catamaran, the latest addition to the Catana Ocean Class series,

For more than 30 years, we have been a part of the catamaran community and created Catamaran Guru™ to encourage and educate all the aspiring sailing out there. We understand the dream of traveling the world by catamaran and created a one-stop-shop to make that dream a reality for you.

Stephen & Estelle
Testimonials

Get Started

Yacht Sales
Used Yachts
Charter Management
Boat as Business Programs
Seminars & Events

The global authority in superyachting

NEWSLETTERS
Yachts Home
The Superyacht Directory
Yacht Reports
Brokerage News
The largest yachts in the world
The Register
Yacht Advice
Yacht Design
12m to 24m yachts
Monaco Yacht Show
Builder Directory
Designer Directory
Interior Design Directory
Naval Architect Directory
Yachts for sale home
Motor yachts
Sailing yachts
Explorer yachts
Classic yachts
Sale Broker Directory
Charter Home
Yachts for Charter
Charter Destinations
Charter Broker Directory
Destinations Home
Mediterranean
South Pacific
Rest of the World
Boat Life Home
Owners' Experiences
Conservation and Philanthropy
Interiors Suppliers
Owners' Club
Captains' Club
BOAT Showcase
Boat Presents
Events Home
World Superyacht Awards
Superyacht Design Festival
Design and Innovation Awards
Young Designer of the Year Award
Artistry and Craft Awards
Explorer Yachts Summit
Ocean Talks
The Ocean Awards
BOAT Connect
Between the bays
Golf Invitational
BOATPro Home
Superyacht Insight
Global Order Book
Premium Content
Product Features
Testimonials
Pricing Plan
Tenders & Equipment

Hemisphere: the world’s largest catamaran

Hemisphere , the world’s largest sailing catamaran recently completed by Pendennis Shipyard for American owners, has been a long time coming. Since the late 1990s, her owners have chartered a variety of yachts – sailing and motor, mono and multihulls, big and not so big – giving invaluable experience to understand what it was they would want from a boat of their own. Between 2001 and 2003 the owners enjoyed several charters with Captain Gavin Bladen onboard a catamaran in the Caribbean . Both passionate divers, they had decided it was time they had their own sailing catamaran, and Bladen, a diving instructor, was keen to move on to something bigger.

After a fruitless search for an existing boat they decided they would build a new one of around 35 metres. They selected naval architects Van Peteghem Lauriot Prévost (VPLP); multihull specialists responsible for Jules Verne record holder Groupama 3 , 33rd America’s Cup winner BMW Oracle and the 41.5 metre sailing catamaran Douce France . In the end the new boat grew to 44.2 metres, which was about as big as she could be without going over 500 gross tons and entering another world of regulations.

US yard Derecktor was initially chosen for the build, and work started in late 2005 with completion scheduled for November 2007. However, with the boat running late, Derecktor experienced financial difficulties in 2008 and the search for another builder began. Out of 18 shipyards under consideration Pendennis was chosen based on a facility to cope with the beam, engineering ability and favourable exchange rate.

And so in the autumn of 2009 the boat arrived in Falmouth, UK, on the deck of a ship, along with 13 containers worth of equipment. Almost two years later, Hemisphere was moored up outside the Pendennis dry dock in which she had been completed, ready to sail for the Mediterranean .

Michael Leach Design (MLD) was responsible for the interior and the styling of the exterior guest areas. VPLP purposely set out to keep the vast deck spaces uncluttered by winches, bollards and other deck fittings which are well disguised and MLD made the most of the potential by creating ‘places where you can sit and perch and talk to people’, as Bladen puts it.

The sun deck – accessible from the main aft deck by a single flight of stairs on the port side – is dominated by a spa pool between the two helm stations. Aft, an oval dining table for 12 has a map of the world etched into its glass top, but another oval table on the deck below will be the boat’s main dining area. In foul weather the area can be enclosed with a screen and, if necessary, air-conditioned.

Two curved sliding doors lead from the aft deck into the 100 square metre saloon, which has several distinct zones. One of these is a seating area, raised to maximise the stunning all-round views, the design of which MLD included in the initial proposal which secured their contract.

Forward of the saloon a small lobby area leads to a guest cabin in the port hull, a day head to starboard, and the two VIP cabins. The owners like to spend their time in the large communal areas onboard with their family and friends, however the cabins are comfortably proportioned with the two VIPs offering the option to open up into one space via a central partition and its component cupboards which can be quickly stowed, leaving a 16 metre wide master cabin with ‘his and hers’ bathrooms.

Aft in the port hull, and accessible from a companionway on the main deck, there are two further guest cabins, one of which is specifically for the owners’ grandchildren with two fixed and two Pullman berths.

Across the deck another companionway leads to the crew accommodation, which occupies most of the starboard hull and is also accessible through a sliding door from the saloon to the well-equipped galley. Forward is a crew mess and laundry area, and aft there are three comfortable cabins; the captain’s would meet the standards of a guest cabin on many a yacht.

‘The key words in the design brief from the owners were “Polynesian six star luxury”,’ says Mark Smith of MLD. Although there is a theme of walnut soles and panels in brushed oak and wengé – all of which have a deliberate textured feel – no two cabins are the same in layout or styling. A total of 18 leathers have been used, including crocodile and stingray skin, and there are 15 types of stone.

A lot of input came from the owner’s wife. ‘She knew what she liked instantly, which was great,’ says Leach. ‘She wanted everything to be as practical as possible as she wanted to enjoy the boat and for guests to feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible.’

Midships in each hull there is an engine room, both housing a Caterpillar C12s 490hp engine driving a controllable pitch propeller. There are three Caterpillar generators with a total capacity of 251kW, and each hull has a thruster fore and aft.

Other technical features of Hemisphere include a Radio Zeeland control and alarm system with 550 separate functions ranging from standing rigging loads to fridge temperatures; programmable lighting; navigation, communication and AV equipment supplied and commissioned by HST with a Crestron control unit in each cabin.

The main tender – a Scorpion 8.2 metre RIB – is ingeniously housed below the aft deck from which it is launched and recovered through ‘bomb doors’, prompting James Bond quips. The second tender is a 4.5 metre Castoldi RIB that lives at the aft end of the starboard hull and is launched by a C Quip beam crane through a top-hinging door on the inboard side of the hull. UK-based BMT Nigel Gee Ltd were responsible for the engineering of these unique spaces as well as the entire structure of the yacht.

The owners’ priority with regard to toys is the diving equipment, and the aft end of the port hull is dedicated to this, including the provision of a spinner to dry the wetsuits. Other toys include kayaks, wakeboards, water trampolines, SeaBobs and a diving springboard which can be bolted on to the starboard stern.

Hemisphere ’s maiden voyage and her successful inaugural cruise with her owners was followed by an appearance at the Monaco Yacht Show. She is in the Caribbean for the winter season, where she will be available for select charters through Burgess .

With her three metre draught she will be able to get into places other sailing yachts of this size could only dream of. After that there is no fixed itinerary, save for a desire from the owner to engage in some world cruising and to indulge the family’s passion for diving, but that map etched into the glass of the flybridge table could be useful for discussing the possibilities…

More about this yacht

Similar yachts for sale, yachts for charter, more stories, most recent, from our partners, sponsored listings.

12 Best Catamaran Sailboats

Best Catamaran Sailboats | Life of Sailing

The appeal of the catamaran sailboats in terms of speed , stability, and the ability to embark on long-range cruising has made them hugely popular with today's sailors. But what are the best catamaran sailboats?

Even though catamaran sailboats have become increasingly popular in the last few years, they have a truly rich legacy as one of the most sought after vessels for bluewater cruising.

Thanks to their incredibly wide beams and bigger daft, catamarans have become remarkably favorable for sailors looking to go for long-distance voyages, overnight cruising, and day sailing.

And if space is paramount for you when out there on the water, a catamaran sailboat is the only way to go as they offer extraordinary space to allow you to spend more time on the water with friends and family.

But even with all these amazing features, you're probably still wondering; what are the best catamaran sailboats?

Like their monohull counterparts, choosing the best catamaran sailboat can be quite overwhelming since there are lots of them out there. They come in a wide variety of designs and sizes ranging from small catamarans to huge ones.

The best catamaran sailboats can easily clock 250-mile voyages, offer incredible performance, and have layouts that can be easily optimized for individuals, charter markets, and great accommodation. In essence, the best catamaran sailboats offer respectable performance and offer good load-carrying ability.

That being said, here are some of the best catamaran sailboats that you can get your hands on.

Table of contents

Best Catamarans

Even though many multihulls are no longer built in the United States these days, the Manta 42 is a true American-built catamaran that brings good living and good value into one package. Designed cleverly for easy handling, this American built catamaran is a great choice for a liveaboard cruiser for sailors looking to go for long-distance voyages. Thanks to its trademark high bows and an enormously curved incorporated forward crossbeam, this catamaran is easily recognizable even from a distance.

It is designed with a uniquely fixed crossbeam, which is very different from conventional aluminum cross beams that support the tension of the forestay. This fixed crossbeam allows for a little bit of movement thereby helping in absorbing enormous twisting forces of the bows. As such, you have to keep in mind that there may be resultant stress crack particularly in the bow area of the vessel.

All in all, the Manta 42 is a superb offshore cruising catamaran that offers a good sail-area-to-displacement ratio as well as plenty of space and accommodation. The cockpit area is refined, luxurious, and is designed with additional stainless pushpit contraptions to help in holding objects such as wind vanes, dinghies, and solar panels. The boat's quality in terms of performance and stability is the benchmark of what a catamaran should be.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

Recently named the "Boat of the Year" for 2019 by Cruising World Magazine and Sail Magazine, the Elba 45 is the latest model in the incredible line of Fountaine Pajot catamarans. This boat was designed to replace the outgoing Helia 44 and stands to be one of the most popular catamarans with Fountain Pajot having sold over 100 Elba 45 hulls long before even the first one emerged from production.

This French-built cat brings to the fore a well-thought-out, safe, and dependable features with 10% less drag, efficient motoring, top-notch performance, and high speeds. It's also designed with fixed stub keels and slightly aft-raked bows, which are all essential in enhancing windward performance; something that most catamarans struggle with.

To improve on safety, the keels of this amazing catamaran sailboat are glued into a particularly designed recess in the hulls. This is to ensure that there are no keel bolts that can rip out and put the boat in danger if the boat gets grounded or in the event of a collision. The rig is also ICW friendly and is a true representation of a standard catamaran setup.

This is, without a doubt, a modern-looking cruising catamaran that has a low-profile lounging space on its deck, high topsides and bows as well as a more pronounced reverse sheer that's essential in minimizing the bulk of the windows while creating additional and useful volume below. This is a true catamaran that occupies a sweet spot for those looking to sail along the bay or for those adventurous sailors looking to set sail for more ambitious offshore cruising plans.

With its fine design, straightforward systems, and easy handling, the Leopard 48 has everything it needs to be ranked among the distinguished category of the best catamaran sailboats. This is an excellent multihull that is structured with advanced materials, designs, and innovations that are meant to be fun, spacious, and comfortable.

Designed in South Africa by Simonis-Voogd, is probably the best design in the Leopard family of catamarans. Its two hulls are vacuum-bagged using balsa core to offer maximum firmness while ensuring that the weight is on the minimum. This is done by articulately regulating the level of resin in the layup. With such types of hull shapes, this catamaran sailboat is very fast and can consistently clock 12 knots of speed against the currents.

The boat is also designed with shallow keels as they're filled with closed-cell polyurethane foam that's of great importance in increasing buoyancy and preventing water ingress. To enhance the safety of the vessel, the stern and bow both have bulkheads that are essential in keeping out that water if the sailboat is involved in a collision.

The hulls of this boat are deep and narrow, particularly below the waterline. They also curve higher up to practically reduce the wetted surface area while offering enough deck space and plenty of room for accommodations. Its cockpit is another excellent feature thanks to its lavish spaces that give you the chance of kicking back and relaxing.

This boat is designed to offer superior livability, quick and easy to handle features, as well as enough space for friends and family. It is designed with beautiful lines and immense practicality for those who want to go on long cruising voyages.

Antares 44i

While many people often believe that voluminous cruising catamarans should be used as charter boats, the Antares 44i brings a very different perspective altogether. Designed in Argentina as a complete bluewater catamaran, this is a boat that's specifically built for private boat owners looking for a sturdy and well-equipped bluewater cruiser. This is an absolutely gorgeous catamaran that has a fully-equipped cockpit just to ensure that you can safely operate it even when shorthanded.

Like most catamarans, the Antares 44i is designed with features that allow for long-distance voyages. It comes with a minimum bridge deck clearance of 30 inches, which is essential in mitigating bridge deck slap. The helm station is designed to offer excellent visibility over the coach roof without having to perch the helmsman high above the cockpit.

If you're planning to make those long-distance cruising to exotic places, you'll appreciate this boat's layout. The galley is put down in the port hull so that it doesn't compromise the size of the galley and the saloon. The forward-facing navigation station is up there with the best and is up to offshore standards. And that's not all; the Antares 44i comes with good mounting points for electronics, a large table, comfortable seats, and provides brilliant visibility outside.

This boat is perfectly suited for extended offshore cruising and is a great reminder for anyone who thinks that all catamarans are charter boats and all offshore boats are monohulls.

Designed by Philipe Pouvreau in northern Brazil, the Dolphin Ocema 42 is a truly unique catamaran sailboat that goes against the conventional norm of catamarans. It is equipped with daggerboards, which are essential in enabling it to point higher on the wind while reducing the wetted surface when running or anchoring in shallow surfaces. This, however, requires a higher level of expertise in sailing. This is because lifting the daggerboards higher up will expose the rudders while the daggerboards can also interfere with the hulls in the event that the vessel runs aground.

But even with that, the Dolphin 42 balances incredible performance and cruising comfort in a very compact package; something that is not very easy in bluewater cruising. That's why it's designed using a foam core to make it lightweight by reducing weight wherever possible. This vessel will most likely never let you down if you want to circumnavigate the bluewater on a high-performance boat that is safe and comfortable.

So if you've been looking for a real sailing catamaran that doubles up as a very comfortable liveaboard sailboat , look no further than the Dolphin 42.

Regarded as the best built and most stylish cruising multihull, the Catana 50 is a very huge catamaran sailboat. Measuring about 50 feet long with a beam of about 26 feet, this is an amazing catamaran that will test your sailing skills as a single sailor or if you're planning to sail shorthanded.

This boat is designed with a rig that gives you the option of using either a screecher or a self-tending jib. This may seem complex since the sheets are led to winches near each wheel while all other controls lead to a centerline winch that's located in the cockpit. But even with that, this sailboat can be easily tacked once on the course.

This is a real performance-oriented catamaran with efficient hulls and rigs allowing for top speed. This vessel is also designed with a long waterline and a subtle underwater shape at the bow to help in increasing volume while minimizing wave drag. The stern platforms can help in stretching the waterline length while also providing easy access from a dock or a dinghy. The board trunks are also very strong and sturdy to protect the integrity of the hulls if a collision occurs.

In essence, this is a very modern catamaran that's designed to safely make long-distance passages with ease. It is subdued in terms of styling but this doesn't mean that it falls short as far as performance is concerned.

Atlantic 42

Designed in 1993, the A42 has cultivated a legion of fiercely loyal fans thanks to its efficiency and aesthetic. This is the smallest of the Atlantic cruising catamaran line and is hugely popular with sailors thanks to its ease of handling, ocean-going capabilities, and superb use of space. From the forward cockpit, pilothouse to the sleeping cabins, and brilliant galleys everything about this cat is a true classic.

Unlike most catamarans, the Atlantic 42 is designed with a waist-high cockpit that's located forward of the pilothouse just behind the mast. It brings forth a solid construction thanks to the large metal girder-like bearers that run across the bulkheads. This helps the vessel in having the utmost strength, better air circulation under the engine, and a high level of flexibility as far as the size of the engine and its positioning is concerned.

Initially, the boat's style and its outlook were considered conservative but it soon became clear that it is built of high-quality materials and to last. The internal construction of the boat is impressive, to say the least. The exterior looks very beautiful and perhaps much more beautiful than most boats today. Its large aft cabin accommodation is a top drawer while the space separating en suite heads and shower compartments are considered a bonus.

If you were to board the French-built Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46, you'll agree that the high-quality of workmanship, layout, and efficient use of space is quite exciting, to say the least. This cat remains very popular among sailors thanks to its easy handling features and incredible performance under the sails. Well, this may not come as a surprise to many of us given that the Fountain Pajot is known for building some of the most remarkable cruising catamarans out there that it can be quite overwhelming to narrow down to a single vessel, but the Bahia 46 simply stands out.

This vessel is designed with hulls that are broader than those of many other catamarans. It's also designed with centerboards and daggerboards that are meant to enhance its performance. These are essential in minimizing draft while ensuring reliability, generous bilge, and in helping to protect the rudders and propellers.

This boat is big enough to manage any type of serious offshore sailing. This is one of the best cruising catamarans for anyone looking for the right vessel for long-distance sailing. This vessel has a very more generous rig than most cruising catamarans, which is essential in enhancing its performance. The six-post Bimini is very strong and clean and can perfectly hold dinghies.

In terms of its look, the Bahia 36 is designed with gorgeous lines with the deck and hulls sculpted with lines that add a touch of elegance to the overall look of an already excellent catamaran sailboat.

Gemini 105MC

Whether you're looking for a comfortable catamaran vessel to take you for a weekend sailing trip or a long sabbatical vacation on the oceans, the Gemini 105MC is a very satisfactory liveaboard catamaran vessel that offers spacious accommodation, thoughtful design, and a stable cruising platform for anyone who wants to have some good time on the water.

Designed by the legendary Tony Smith, this is somewhat a sailing cottage. Like a land cottage, it is cozy, comfortable, and very safe. This is essentially a 35 feet catamaran that offers great value for any sailing looking for a reasonably-priced catamaran sailboat for the weekend or holiday cruising.

This boat is designed with incredibly slim hulls, which are teardrop-shaped with flat bottoms and smaller wetted surface area. This is to ensure that drag is minimized and to lead to more leeway under sail. Each of the boat's hull is designed with a kick-up centerboard is of great importance in enhancing the vessel's windward pointing capability. This boat also has its rudders raised to enable it to seamlessly cruise in shallow waters where most vessels would otherwise run aground.

The eccentric narrow beam, which measures about 40% of the boat's length, is very different from today's 50%. However, its low center helps in keeping its stable, upright, and of course, safe.

Lagoon 450 F

If you're looking for a catamaran sailboat that offers prestige at its peak, look no further than the Lagoon 450. This cat is widely known for offering an all-around comfort without compromising its beauty, spaciousness, class, and elegance. This is an elaborate French catamaran that brings to the table fantastic craftsmanship while leaving nothing to chance.

This is a very safe 45 feet catamaran that's not just comfortable but also very luxurious. The deck layout is centered on an amazing flybridge, which has been redesigned and redefined to offer both the traditional and modern outlook. You can very easily access the bridge, engine controls, steering station in a matter of seconds. As a result, this boat is efficiently designed to give you the ultimate control of almost every situation while on the water.

The spacious and luxurious interior of this boat is worth experiencing. The cabins and saloons are perfectly lit. We're talking about four to six cabins, eight to twelve berths, and up to four bathrooms. In essence, this boat can comfortably sleep eight to twelve people. This boat is designed to offer ultra-modern accommodations and amenities that come with little but amazing touches; all designed to make your life inside the catamaran enjoyable.

An original performance catamaran cruiser from the iconic Gunboat manufacturer, the Gunboat 62 has truly cemented its place as one of the best catamaran sailboats to ever grace the oceans. Honestly speaking, this cat-inspired a whole range of other incredible boats including HH66 Catamaran and the Balance 526.

This is a boat that can perform admirably well in storms with a speed of over 35 knots despite being built using epoxy and E-glass with carbon-fiber structural components. It's designed with a distinct angular outline than most catamaran sailboats of its size and category. This is a vessel that was built for people looking to add more stuff and more gear for their voyages. In other words, you can have all the gear and equipment on this boat and still outperform a racing monohull of the same size.

Thanks to its lightweight feature, this vessel can sail upwind at speeds of over 17 knots and pinch up to 30 degrees. Just for comparison, the Gunboat 62 can tack through 95 degrees and still outperform the best racing monohulls. This boat is designed with a comfortable helm seat that offers 360-degree visibility as well as plenty of storage space, a functional working surface, and a luxurious cabin. Like many performance catamarans, the Gunboat 62 can attain about 20 knots if the conditions are right.

Privilege 615

Combining elegance, comfort, and style, the Privilege 615 is a lovely catamaran sailboat that seems to be always ready for a long offshore voyage. The roots of this incredible cat can be traced back to the 1980s when Philippe Jeantot opened up a boat-building company in France. As one of the best productions from the company, the privilege 615 sports a flybridge that comes complete with twin wheels, a sprawling sunbed, and other excellent features that will make your bluewater cruising a breeze.

Whether you want the charter version or a privately-owned version, the Privilege 615 is one of the most versatile catamaran sailboats. Step inside this vessel and you'll instantly notice the quality of the wood finish and the elegance of design. The advanced navigation station is not only ultra-modern but is perfectly stationed at a dedicated corner where you can control everything while still having a conversation with your friends and family.

This boat comes with multiple sleeping configurations to ensure that you and your guests can live aboard the boat for months on end. Although the boat appears like some sort of maze on the inside, you'll easily get used to it when you enter the forward section. That's not all; this boat has gorgeous lines that make the exterior beautiful just like the interior. Its sleek profile, incredible volume, and versatile interior make it one of the best catamaran sailboats out there.

There you have it; these are the best catamaran sailboats out there. It doesn't matter the one you choose, these cats will make your day out on the water and will serve you just right for your offshore voyages or for day sailing along the bays.

Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

by this author

Best Sailboats

Most Recent

What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean?

October 3, 2023

The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings

September 26, 2023

Important Legal Info

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

September 13, 2023

Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

December 28, 2023

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K

Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

Elizabeth O'Malley

June 15, 2022

Best Electric Outboard Motors | Life of Sailing

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England?

10 Best Sailboat Brands | Life of Sailing

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

December 20, 2023

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

Get the best sailing content.

2023 Boat Buyers Guide: Catamarans

By Karl Anderson
December 27, 2022

The popularity of the multihull (aka catamaran or cat) fishing boats has never been greater, as more and more boatbuilders enter this growing segment of the market. The inherent stability of the catamaran design rolls less with the seas, making fishing offshore less tiresome and more comfortable. Available from 20 to 48 feet, catamarans typically offer a large fishing platform with generous storage and fishing amenities. They are available in a wide variety of deck layouts, including center-consoles, dual-consoles, and even pilothouse and express variants.

Big Picture

The large deck area of a catamaran enables many large underdeck storage lockers and insulated fish boxes in the sponsons. This gives anglers ample room for gear and the day’s catch. The catamaran’s stability, fishability, and smooth ride in rough seas make it attractive to anglers as well as day-cruisers. A center-console version adds 360 degrees of angler access to the rail. With the dual-console design, generous seating behind a beam-to-beam windshield makes for a great family fishing-friendly setup.

Live bait is one of the most popular types of fishing in virtually every coastal zone. To do it successfully requires optimal water capacity and proper flow. The minimum size of the outflow water plumbing should be twice the size of the inflow. The plumbing should have a drain at the bottom to shed scales at the end of the day, as well as a drain at the top of the well to adjust capacity and allow overflow. Above-deck transom-mounted wells should fully flood to the lids when running to keep baits from getting beat up.

Tip: A sump box with multiple pumps in case a pump fails is the best setup for first-rate livewells. Conveniently located inflow and outflow valves make it easy to optimize the flow without tiring your bait from swimming too much in the well.

Rod Storage

Having enough rod holders is essential to be successful for opportunity fishing. Look for vertical rod storage along the console and across the back of the T-top. Many models also have rod holders along the outboard transom wall. Having plenty of gunwale rod holders for drift- and kite-fishing is helpful.

Tip: Placing adjustable swivel rod holders by Gemlux makes deep-dropping, lure-fishing and drifting even easier because they allow your rods to face the direction the baits are fishing, yet they can be swiveled back to keep rods from sticking out of the boat while running and docking.

Manufacturers often offer multiple choices for horsepower, but whatever the choice, the engines must come in pairs. For example, you might order twin outboards (one for each sponson) or four outboards (two for each sponson), but single- or triple-outboard configurations are not common on a cat. Optimal selection should be made based on user load, weight of the boat, ride comfort , performance desires, and best case for resale. It’s a rare day when you can run wide open, but having more horsepower gives better torque at slower speeds and thus better control. Running larger engines slower gives better fuel efficiency too.

Tip: When possible, choose the highest horsepower offered because it typically leads to a better resale value with a shorter sales cycle.

Power steering from engine manufacturer Optimus or SeaStar is essential with the higher horsepower required for larger boats, and it makes installing and operating the upper station in a tower far more practical and comfortable.

With the power demands of electronics, livewell pumps, stereo amps and more, it is wise to have at least two house batteries, and for larger boats, a third or fourth with a multibank charger for dockside. Each engine should have its own dedicated battery as well.

Electronics

Typically choosing the largest screen or multiple screens that will fit on the console is best-case scenario for ease of use, ergonomics, and visibility. VHF radios, stereo controller, and equipment switches for lighting, pumps, and accessories should all be integrated with greatest visibility and ease of operator reach.

A Tale of Two Hulls

A catamaran rides on pair of hulls, or sponsons, each thinner and sharper than that of a similarly sized monohull boat. The narrow sponsons of the cat tend to slice easily through water to deliver a smooth ride, even in rough seas. At the same time, with the sponsons positioned out to the sides of the boat, cats tend to roll less, thus providing great stability to enhance crew comfort, security and safety. However, cats tend to corner more flatly than a monohull, and some hulls (but not all) tend to lean outward versus inward during a turn.

Experts Say

Newer designs such as Invincible’s Morelli and Melvin-designed semi-asymmetrical sponsons eliminate some of the negatives of the cat design, such as “sneezing,” where water sprays out the front of the boat when hitting a wave. They’ve also controlled the uncomfortable “outboard lean” sensation common in older designs when in a turn. Once transitioned to a catamaran, many become true believers and preach the benefits of the design.

Editor Says: Saltwater fishing cats not only offer superb stability and smooth ride, but some also display exceptional speed and range. I recall one trip out of Key West, Florida, aboard an Invincible 40 Cat with four 350 hp outboards to the Dry Tortugas. It was a 60-mile run, and we made it there in 70 minutes. We caught more fish than our arms could bear, and then dashed back to Key West, arriving in time for cocktail hour on the same day. -Jim Hendricks, Staff Editor, Boating and Fishing Group

More: 2023 Boat Buyers Guide: More Resources , Boats

Scout 357 LXF

Electric Outboard Steering

Best Dredge Fishing Tips for Center Consoles

EdgeWater 208CC Watchman

Best Boat Trolling Motor Features for Saltwater Fishing

Spotlight on Quantum

Fishing for Lingcod with Large Saltwater Swimbaits

ODYSSEY Battery: Ask the Internet

Digital Edition
Customer Service
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Cruising World
Sailing World
Salt Water Sportsman
Sport Fishing
Wakeboarding

Go to content
Go to footer

Rental operators
Service centers
Lagoon NEO Special Offer
Pre-owned Lagoon catamarans
The Lagoon Premium Program
Finance your Lagoon

Club Lagoon

choose your language

Lagoon 42 Millenium New
Lagoon 43 New
Lagoon 60 New
Eighty 2 New

Your dream destination

40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL OFFER

In 2024, Lagoon is celebrating 40 years at your side by offering 40,000 euros of equipment for any purchase of a new Lagoon catamaran.

Catamarans to live your dreams

At Lagoon, we do everything we can to make your sailing to the ends of the earth as enjoyable as possible, but when it comes to choosing your model, it's up to you!

YOUR DREAM DESTINATION

At Lagoon, we infuse our love of the sea and our admiration for nature into the construction of our boats. For you, we always aim for excellence.

Lagoon's sustainable commitments

Lagoon's history is intimately linked to its marine environment and we are committed to preserving it every day. Over the last few years, we have taken a major step forward in terms of sustainability.

The Club Lagoon

Are you a Lagoon catamaran owner, or do you dream of becoming one? Our club is for you. By joining, you'll benefit from exclusive offers and privileged access to our partner marinas around the world.

Already 1381 corals adopted thanks to the Lagoon family !

Generous, enjoyable, convenient, featuring ease of movement, this brand new Lagoon 43 is definitely adaptable by nature!

Continue your navigation

Our Partners

Owners' testimonials

Lange family and “spirit of ponta preta”.

There was a time when my whole being turned into a trance as soon as the leaves were moving in the trees, as I was thinking about the potential windsurf session that I was missing.

PRESS REVIEW

10 Best Catamarans in 2024

Three Sailboats Racing In The Indian Ocean

We gave our Sailing writers one job: Find the best and most popular catamarans and review them.

Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.

A catamaran is a sailboat that has a multi-hull design. It gives it more stability because it’s wider and that creates more livable space for more people.

Read about the best multihull boats in this article and learn which one is best for your voyages.

The biggest advantages of a multihull are:

Multihulls are usually faster than monohulls, especially on downwind runs, reaches and broad reaches. You can travel further per day and outrun inclement weather
They are more stable than a monohull. Sailing flat definitely has its advantages
It is less tiring sailing a multihull
More space!
For cruising the draft is less than a monohull which means you can go into shallower water safely

Top 5 Catamarans in 2024

All the catamarans we've tested.

Lagoon Catamarans

Where to buy:

Where to buy lagoon 40:.

Lagoon has always enjoyed a sweet spot in the 38 to 40-foot catamaran market. The Lagoon 380 became one of the most popular cats ever, with nearly 1,000 hulls being produced over a 20-year run. The L400 and L39 attempted to tweak that popular design, but neither caught on to the extent the 380 did.

The new Lagoon 40 is turning heads for many reasons. The Lagoon 380 is officially off the Lagoon website, so it might finally be time for the torch to be handed to a new cat. And the 40 has just the right mix of modern features, small size, and affordability that many cruisers and families seek.

Here’s a go-anywhere boat that looks good, sails easily, and keeps you comfortable.

Naval Architects: Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prevost (VPLP Design)
Built: CNB Yards, Bordeaux, France
Exterior Designer: Patrick le Quément
Interior Designer: Nauta Design
Length Overall: 11.74 m/ 38 feet, 6 inches
Beam: 6.76 m/ 22 feet, 2 inches
Draft: 1.35 m/ 4 feet, 5 inches
Mast Clearance: 18.42 m/ 60 feet, 5 inches
Sail Area: 80 square meters/ 861 square feet
Engines: 2 x 29 hp Yanmar 3YM30 (upgradable to 45 hp)
Fuel: 2 x 200 liters/ 56 gallons
Fresh Water: 300 liters/ 76 gallons
CE Certifications: A10/B12/C16/D20

Things we like:

Things we don't like:.

Leopard Catamarans

Where to buy Leopard 42:

The Leopard 42 is the company’s replacement for the 40. It integrates several design elements that were proven on the new 50 and 45-foot models, including an upper lounge area atop the coachroof. The design also has the unique forward salon door that opens for direct access to the foredeck and a sun pad lounging area.

Like all Leopard catamarans, the 42 is not only comfortable to stay on, but it’s also fun to sail. All sailing controls lead to the compact helm. Everything can be handled from this one control station. The full-roach main and overlapping genoa provide plenty of power, and optional electric winches make sail handling a snap.

The Leopard 42 share company in the market for 42-foot cats with some very attractive boats–the Lagoon 42, the Bali 4.2, and the FP Astrea, to name a few.

Year Launched: 2021 (There have been several designs to carry the "Leopard 42" name)
Designer: Alex Simonis
Builder: Robertson and Caine, Cape Town, South Africa
Length Overall: 41 feet, 7 inches/12.67 meters
Beam: 23 feet, 1 inch/7.04 meters
Draft: 4 feet, 7 inches/1.4 meters
Mast Height: 67 feet, 10 inches/20.68 meters
Power: 2x Yanmar 45 hp diesel engines
Fuel: 158 gallons/600 liters
Water: 174 gallons/660 liters
Holding: 44 gallons/ 166 liters
Upwind Total Sail Area: 1,217 square feet/113.1 square meters

Catamarans-Fountaine-Pajot.com

Fountain Pajot 80 Catamaran Superyacht

Fountaine Pajot 80 Catamaran Superyacht Rear

Where to buy Fountain Pajot 80 Catamaran Superyacht:

Fountaine Pajot, one of the foremost builders of sailing catamarans, unveiled their biggest “ Super Catamaran ” ever: the Thira 80.

The release comes on the tail of an ever-increasing trend in the catamaran market—the bigger-the- better era . With Sunreef, Lagoon, and Gunboat all making boats in the 70 to 80-foot range, these companies clearly see a market for the catamaran superyacht.

Boats this size are easily comparable to a motor yacht of more than 125 feet long. The very wide beam provides cavernous interiors for more livable space. And they have plenty of room for the toys of the trade—tenders, jet skis, paddleboards, and more.

While sailing is always preferable, its 175 to 300-horsepower engines are more than capable of moving it on calm days. And it’s hard to beat the ride and comfort of a catamaran at sea, with its extra stability and lack of heeling in the wind.

So, is bigger really better? Let’s dive in and tour the new Fountaine Pajot 80 and all that she has to offer.

Length: 78.7 feet/23.98 meters
Beam: 36.4 feet/11.09 meters
Draft: 6.9 feet/2.10 meters
Displacement: 66.0 tons (approximate)
Sail area Main: 2,153 sqft/200 sqm Genoa 1,507 sqft/140 sqm
Power options: 2x 175-hp, 270-hp, or 300-hp

Kinetic Catamarans

Kinetic KC54

Where to buy Kinetic KC54:

The Kinetic may be fresh on the scene of the Super Cats but it is on the cutting edge of the finest fast craft in terms of performance and latest technology while also having features, impeccable finishes and the amenities of stylish cruising.

This has been awarded the Cruising World Best Large Multihull 50ft and Above Boat of the Year 2022 as well as the Special Recognition Award – for Overall Excellence 2022 by Sailing Magazine. Said Gerry Douglas of Sailing Magazine: ‘This was the Tesla of sailboats…in terms of design and execution and technology, it hit all three of those marks. This boat is built without compromise’.

These catamarans are all-carbon construction, an aggressively lightweight construction and set up for short-handed sailing. Mast is coachroof mounted and there are options for centreboards and daggerboard. There are three steering stations (two outside aft on each hull, one inside right behind the working cockpit) to suit weather conditions and personal preference.

Length: 54 ft 2 in
Beam: 27 ft 7 in
Draft: Dagger Boards down 10.2 ft
Standard Rudder up 4.5 ft
Capacity: 3 or 4 double berths (6-8 persons)
Motor: 2 x Yanmar 4JH80 - 80hp Diesel SD80
Fuel Capacity: 264 gal
Mast height: 85.3 ft (above water)
Mainsail area: 1,102 sqft
Fresh Water tank: 264 gal

Xquisite Yachts

Xquisite X5 Plus

Where to buy Xquisite X5 Plus:

2022 saw the Xquisite X5 named the Cruising World magazine’s Best Cruising Catamaran of the year – yet again (it won the Best Multihull over 50ft award in 2017) .

As Ed Sherman said: ‘There are 40,000 man-hours invested in this boat. And you can see it.’ To the bolts that are torqued to the 2 weeks spent with each new owner training them on systems – this is a strong product, well designed by Rudolf Jonker and built by Phoenix Marine incorporating all of Tamas Hamor’s ideas and experience. This really is a well thought out 53 ft cruising sailboat and is another South African-built catamaran loaded with important details, not only the visible ones.

The goal for Xquisite is to supply fully equipped catamarans for long-term live-aboard cruising with comprehensive lifetime service assistance for the owners.

There are so many features from the gutters to catch rain-water on the coachroof to footswitches for the electric winches at the helm. Solid handrails all around the deck for maximum security to the below deck running-rigging network! In terms of the design and construction much thought has gone into weight saving. There is no faulting the systems installations.

All lines lead to the helm through below deck channels that are easily accessible with winches well thought out. The helm is slightly raised to port under a bimini with a sliding fully-battened canvas roof that is easily raised and lowered. There is an overall ambiance of space and light in the berths and galley which opens onto the cockpit.

Sailing performance was impressive with its powerful rig – however a heavy, low-slung cruising cat with keels instead of boards to get to your destination in comfort and style.

See our complete list of the best catamarans here .

Length: 53 ft
Beam: 26 ft 2in
Draft: 4 ft 4’
Capacity: 3 double berths (6 persons)
Motor: 2 x 80 HP Yanmar
Fuel Capacity: 208 gal
Mast height: 78 ft 7’ (above waterline)
Mainsail area: 1,130 sqft
Fresh Water tank: 227 gal

McConaghy Boats

McConaghy MC60

Where to buy McConaghy MC60:

The MC60 is the fastest and most luxurious flybridge catamaran. ‘Think next-gen fighter jet meets a New York style luxury loft apartment.’

McConagy boats was founded by John McConaghy in 1967 and in 2000 Mark Evans & Jono Morris embraced the opportunity to take over the country. They partnered with Tiger Group Investments and have grown from strength to strength – building the world’s fastest racing yachts , submarines, components for Formula One racing and developing solutions for architects, scientists and others. They have a proven track record on complex composite products which are lightweight, corrosion resistant, have design flexibility, durability and high strength.

In the MC60, designed and engineered with safety as priority, this performance sailing meets stylish living with only finest wood veneers and luxurious materials throughout – the wide saloon which offers a versatile but spacious living area, large windows and retractable glass doors aft, a galley well positioned best suited to socialising. The attention is to detail and innovation even in the storage solutions so that living space is maximised with semi-customisation of interiors too. She is the perfect blend of sophistication and high tech.

Sailing is in utmost luxury, effortlessly and safely due to meticulous control of weight. She is much lighter than other similar length cats and can approach cruising speeds close to true wind. A professional crew are required. For sailing there are dual helm positions on the streamlined flybridge for best sight lines. The precise hull forms achieve optimum strength to weight ratio with careful use of carbon which means that under full sail she points upwind like a monohull. The M60 has push button centerboards that raise on impact automatically – certainly one of the safest offshore performance catamarans .

Length: 60 ft 04 in
Beam: 28 ft 2 in
Draft: 4 ft 7 in with centreboards up
12 ft 4 in with centreboards down
Capacity: 2 double berths & 1 - 2 twin (6 - 8 persons)
Motor: 2 x 57 HP
Fuel Capacity: 123.19 gal
Mast height: 92.85 ft
Mainsail area: 2,034 sqft
Fresh Water tank: 123.19 gal

Sunreef Yachts

Where to buy Sunreef 80:

Winner in the 2019 Oceanway China Yachts Award, the 2019 Yacht and Aviation Awards and claiming Best of Show Award in the 2020 Miami International Boat Show this mighty fine catamaran justly deserves all and more. It is an all-round sailing leisure yacht for exclusive getaways, charter and transocean adventures and is set up for professional crew.

The Sunreef is built in Poland under management of Founder and CEO Francis Lapp who has been producing large vessels from 50-165 ft since 2002 and knows well what semi-custom cruising is all about.

The Sunreef 80 fuses contemporary design with its layout flowing easily one into another area in ultimate luxury. Custom finishes ensure that you have found your ultimate catamaran – the vast central lounging space with panoramic view opens both onto the bow and cockpit. The cleverly designed bridge deck and superstructure facilitates the superior comfort onboard.

The spacious 54sqm flybridge is the epitome of leisure – a jacuzzi, wet bar, barbecue and large sunpads with the main boom well clear overhead ! It also houses all the navigation. Plenty of relaxation and pleasure space.

The sail controls are well laid out for the twin helms with carbon masts built by Sunreef themselves. The rig is built for power on this well equipped and luxury sailing vessel.

The tall bow has a fine entry aimed at reducing drag while the hulls are designed to reduce drag too while having super volume to accommodate the luxurious cabins are airy and impeccable in style. The master cabin is located midships starboard and is an opulent space while the other cabins each have queen sized beds, spacious en-suites and unquestionable privacy.

Length: 80 ft
Beam: 37 ft 7 in
Draft: 7 ft 218 in
Capacity: 4 - 5 double berths plus optional crew of 3 (8 - 10 persons plus crew max of 3)
Motor: 2 x 280 HP John Deeres
Fuel Capacity: 634.01 to 1585.03 gal
Mast height: 2185 ft
Mainsail area: 2152.78 sqft
Fresh Water tank: 422.68 gal

HH Catamarans

HH50 cruiser

Where to buy HH50 cruiser:

The HH50 is a performance cruiser for the blue water with simple to use but intelligent systems, carbon construction and to top it all luxurious and spacious interior. She offers to best of all worlds – easy to manage sailing vessel which is robustly built, fully equipped and stylishly comfortable for your adventure.

The sailing systems and deck layout are designed for short-handed sailing with dual helm stations each giving the helmsman total sail control from either side and having excellent visibility. The C daggerboards are curved and are fully retractable. Push button mainsheet and self-tacking jib are standard. Equal-to-Wind speed is normal, this is a performance sailing vessel.

The large saloon has a good sized galley and when at anchor the sail handling area converts easily to a comfortable forward facing seating area. The aft cockpit has an integrated wet bar and barbeque – perfect for al fresco entertaining or dining. Luxury queen size beds await in the cabins.

Length: 51 ft 8 in
Beam: 24 ft 41 in
Draft: 5 ft 43 in Board down
10 ft 83 in Board up
Capacity: 2 double berths and 1-2 single (4 - 6 persons)
Motor: 2 x Yanmar 40HP
Fuel Capacity: 131.98 gal
Mast height: 75 ft 36 in
Mainsail area: 873.28 sqft
Fresh Water tank: 87.99 gal

Excess Catamarans

Where to buy Excess 11:

This gem earned the title of Cruising World’s Boat of the Year 2021 impressing the judges with its allocation of space all the while offering superior sailing performance. All at a great price.

Using compact space effectively – effectively and seamlessly assimilating working and social areas in a thoughtful, pleasant, workable and innovative way. This is a sure winner for the Excess 11.

The Excess 11 is one of the smallest catamarans as well as the only large-scale production boat of this size, with comfort, space and thrilling sailing. She is comfortable in her simplicity and light style. It is very capable for long passages and meets the needs for life on board, built on the experience of previous models and designs.

Even with her smaller size she offers comfort on deck with a large open cockpit and twin helm stations.

Complete Excess 11 standard features list please email via website

Length: 37 ft 5 in
Beam: 21 ft 7 in
Draft: 3 ft 9 in
Capacity: 3 - 4 double berths (6 - 8 persons)
Motor: 2 x 29HP
Fuel Capacity: 106 gal
Mast height: 56 ft 8 in
Mainsail area: 592 sqft
Fresh Water tank: 79 gal

Bali Catamarans

BALI Catspace

Where to buy BALI Catspace:

The BALI Catspace is the most successful catamaran in her class with the Catspace being the smallest of the BALI range, combining all the latest innovations in cruising. It was nominated for the Cruising World’s best boat of the year: Catamaran under 50 ft, 2022.

The Catspace was conceived by Olivier Poncin & designed by Lasta Design – combining all the latest innovations in cruising into a really neat vessel.

The sailing quality is not to be faulted for a catamaran of this size, the deck which is efficient for sailing allows smooth movement from the aft platform to the forward cockpit with lounge and sunbathing area. There is, in addition a full-comfort flybridge which has a safe relaxation area and a helm station which is designed for single/short handed use.

The 4 cabins each have private heads and the ability to open up the back end of the cats to create the indoor/outdoor platform is well planned and highly effective.

Complete Catspace standard features list

Length: 40 ft 39 in
Beam: 21 ft 59 in
Draft: 3 ft 91 in Boards up
Motor: 2 x 20HP up to 2 x 40HP
Fuel Capacity: 107.78 gal
Mast height: 58 ft 56 in
Mainsail area: 1,087 sqft
Fresh Water tank: 167 gal

Regatta In Indian Ocean, Sailboat And Catamaran. Helicopter View

Big ‘blue water’ Sailing

Blue water sailing refers to the open sea. Non-blue or pond sailing refers to inland waters and coastal areas.

The difference in specific design of a blue water or non-blue water vessel is for the ship captain’s visibility as well as based on the hazards of the area they are to be used. A bluewater (offshore) catamaran is designed for voyages in very rough seas. They are usually 40ft or longer, designed to be very stable, carry heavy loads and very safe. Ocean sailing has different dangers to coastal water with different challenges – sailing through storms, longer distances, more maneuvering space, night sailing – and more gear, better technology, skills and sturdier vessels are needed.

When sailing in confined waters it is important to have more reactive steerage, less maneuvering time, you do not need to store multiday provisions as you are more reliant on daytime sailing, do not need so much speed so have smaller sails and lower horsepower engines and perhaps the intention if for pleasure alone so one of the major considerations will be the layout of the vessel.

For most sailors the choice of size is between 40-50 feet which is manageable for 2 persons with lots of room to spread out and entertain or have friends on board and that is easy to dock both in terms of space and cost.

First questions to ask yourself

First up consider these 5 points before you decide on your multihull model, length and manufacturer.

Will you be using your sailing vessel for coastal or blue water adventures? What is your primary objective and then: is this for family pleasure or entertaining or Charter?

For sailing

Must it be suited for single-handed sailing? What proficiency of sailing do I have/need? Degree of technology required? Equipment required?

Functional Use

How many berths do I need? How much privacy? Elegance, comfort and style – what is required? Space for ‘toys’? If for charter or private use with crew – extra berths.

Your total budget must include the initial cost of the vessel plus survey, transport, upgrading of equipment, insurance, etc – there is a lot to consider. Would a second hand vessel be a consideration? What is the smallest I can go?

Annual Costs

What will my ongoing budget be for Insurance, berthing, maintenance, repairs, haul out fees, etc? This excludes any travel costs

Where do I want to berth my vessel? Or living aboard?

It is said that BOAT is an acronym for: Break Out Another Thousand!

Beautiful Catamaran On A Tropical Beach.

Review of Our Favorite 15 Multihulls 2024

With cutting edge technology and the strive for sail performance this was no easy task – there are many deserving vessels who deserve to be in the Top Reviews such as Privilege 510, Outremer 51, Knysna 500SE and the St Francis 50. There are also other models by manufacturers we have selected that have proven themselves over the years that may be a better size for you.

Here’s our listing!

Related Reviews

Read full review

Final Thoughts

Multihull vessels have a lot of the potential for creature comforts that motor yachts have without the constant thrumming of the engines. But they still require a modicum or rudimentary understanding of sailing.

There’s also a bit of maintenance required, but this is something–like having kids–that you figure out along the way.

Another popular boating segment is the power catamaran. Like their sailing counterparts, power catamaran boats have great living space, but without the need to understand sailing principles. Either way, both multihull markets look to be growing in popularity over the next many years.

The resale market for multihull ships also looks promising, so getting one, trying it out for a couple of seasons and selling it again is a possibility without losing too much on the purchase price.

Before you sign the cheque….

So you’ve located some a catamaran for sale that looks promising. It’s one of the models on the list here and you’re wondering if its in the best shape relative to the price. Here’s what you do:

Take time out to go and view it in person. Book yourself an experience aboard and head over to your closest marina and speak to owners (this may well help you create your shortlist too). Consider these points before purchasing:

Pre-book buyer’s sea trials for your shortlist
Select the perfect sailing vessel for you (and if it’s for your family make sure they agree too!)
Used – get a certified hull survey, safety comes first
Get annual insurance quotes
Calculate dockage – purchase or rent a slip or dock
Calculate monthly upkeep and maintenance
Calculate extra costs like navigational devices & fittings
Draft your own checklist
Draft & sign off sale & purchase contracts
Draft & sign off a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Ensure you are satisfied 100%
Execute payment and take transfer of ownership
Register and insure your vessel

Check all necessary Stock is aboard – Sail away!

Pre-Departure Checklist

Some ideas for you –

Always pre-check the weather and wind conditions prior to any excursion on the water
Always know the tide table in your head, so you know what the ocean is doing at all times, incoming or outgoing tide, and what is the tidal range if you are in an ocean estuary or channel.
Check you have fuel, water, food and all the basics before loading passengers aboard, and follow these easy steps to ensure safety is first at all times.
Plan your upcoming voyage, does it feature high swells, rocky shores, and cold water
Check Safety equipment, making sure you have enough life jackets for all sea-farers
Check sails, sheets and lines. All sailing gear
Check your engines – Open fuel lines, check oil and spark plugs
Check fuel tank levels and have extra fuel aboard for an emergency
Start the motor, make sure water is coming out to cool the motor
Test both forward and reverse gears on the engine before guests board
Check that you have a working and full battery communications radio, with all correct channels programmed, and that all the vessel lights and electrics are in working order
Check for first aid kits, manual hand pump, paddles, lifejackets , additional lines, fresh drinking water and food for passengers plus some spare in case your voyage is longer than expected, necessary repair tools & kit and flags
Strap any equipment and gear down safely before you start to motor
If you have passengers boarding, ensure you give a proper safety briefing and point out where all the safety gear is on the vessel. Children should be included in the briefing and be secured properly before departure

Catamarans versus Trimarans

Trimarans have limited space in slimmer hull designs generally. This makes Catamarans with their comfortable open leisure space both above and below deck far preferred for leisure sailing.

On the plus side for Trimarans are their speed and seaworthiness.

How Safe are Multihull Boats at Sea?

Probably a close second in terms of questions asked. On a twin hull design the buoyancy is on the outer edges of the boat and their is greater stability and less rolling when drifting or trolling compared to a monohull.

Catamarans are safe in rough seas because of their wide stance which makes them stable with increased motion comfort and excess buoyancy due to lack of ballast. They are easy to maneuver and with high speeds that may help them outrun storms with skilled crew who know the vessel. A trimaran is the safest of multihulls with the 3 hulls, centering of its weight and anti-drift plan. The righting torque between a catamaran and trimaran is significantly different.

An important consideration is this – if your catamaran is anything longer than 45ft, unless specifically modified for single handed sailing, then it probably cannot be sailed alone. At some stage in your journey you may well have to sail alone – can it be done?

As Blue Water Sailing Vessels

Catamarans are more stable and fast and depending on conditions some can distance more than 200 miles in a day.

Cats usually sail faster than monohulls (standard) due to the weight of them and displacement, especially on a run or broad reach when the sails are perpendicular to the wind. There are many variables to consider.

Solo Sailing a Multihull

Most small and medium-sized cruising catamarans can be sailed single-handedly. The skill of the sailor with high tech equipment such as electric winches and powered sail control, layout (such as all lines to the cockpit, roller furling mainsail, autopilot, etc) and safety precautions make it an adventure not to be missed.

If your catamaran is longer than 45ft, unless specifically modified for single-handed sailing, you will not be able to safely sail it alone. Consider:

What the minimum length of the vessel would suit your needs to handle on your own
Layout planning is essential
Space you need
The bigger the boat means larger sails which will be harder to raise and repair
The bigger the boat means more power and speed – be comfortable with your vessel
Update your sailing skills

Finding the Right Size

It is a very personal choice but at the very least the advice would be to buy the smallest catamaran you think would meet your needs – this is because you have many other costs to consider and the bigger the vessel the more the costs of upkeep, dockage, space for crew.

A perfect size for blue water sailing (including around the world) is around 40 ft, small enough to be sailed by one person but big enough to provide safety and speed. The smallest size to consider to cross the ocean safely and in some comfort by consensus is around 30ft. Any smaller and you will possibly have the following problems as dealing with large seas the size of your vessel does count :

A smaller vessel is always pitching and yawing and this impacts the crew negatively over a long period of time or in crisis situations
Low bridge deck clearance due to the small size of the vessel
when sailing upwind the waves are projected with speed and force into the decks understand (between the pontoons) creating bridge deck slamming. This vibration and noise impacts the crew and is very tiring – sailing downwind to prevent this may not be where you want to go
Not having enough space for all the supplies and equipment needed for a long passage
Alongside the problem of weight to be carried is the problem of distribution of this weight over the length of the vessel safely

Multihulls best for ponds, slow rivers and calm bodies of inland water benefit from having flat hulls to provide shallow draft with great deck space manufactured from aluminium or fibreglass. Make sure you take extra food and water and all safety supplies just in case of an emergency!

The question everyone wants to know – how much does it cost to live onboard?

There are many variables depending on your lifestyle, where you intend to cruise or berth and how much you want to travel aboard. A good estimate would be between US$2000-US$5000 per month for a family of 4, a little less for a couple/single person plus the maintenance cost of your boat which is on average 5-10% of the cost of the boat. The maintenance of your boat varies depending of equipment, age, condition and size.

What do I need to consider differently to live on-board rather than racing ?

Racing vessels are designed for speed and exhilaration and safe fun.

Living on-board requires space and comfort – space for storage, large-sized comfortable berths, living space, entertaining space, home-space! You need to know your long term goals and what your personal needs are – do you need a dedicated work area or desk space/permanent interconnectivity for work?

Generally cruising catamarans have wider hulls which give you more space as well as creating more drag which slows your boat down and is more costly on fuel.

Many used charter boats are seen as great purchases for living on-board, however make sure that they are suited for blue water sailing and not only for coastal water.

Here’s a list of the Top 15 best Multihulls reviewed in this article:

Leopard Catamarans – 41 ft 7 in – Leopard 42
Balance Yachts – 48 ft 26 in – Balance 482
Kinetic Catamarans – 54 ft 2 in – Kinetic KC54
Xquisite Yachts – 53 ft – Xquisite X5
McConaughey – 60 ft 1 in – MC60
Sunreef Yachts – 80 ft – Sunreef 80
Leopard Catamarans – 50 ft 6 in – Leopard 50
Voyage Yachts – 57 ft 42 in – Voyage 590
Seawind – 52 ft 8 in – Seawind 1600
HH Catamarans – 52 ft – HH50
Fountaine Pajot – 39 ft 14 in – Isla 40
Lagoon-Beneteau Group – 38 ft 5 in – Lagoon 40
Excess Catamarans – 37 ft 2 in – Excess 11
Maverick Yachts of SA – 44 ft – Maverick 440
Chantier CATANA – 37 ft 5 in – Catspace

Frequently asked questions about Catamarans

This varies greatly, often defined used or new by the design, size, year and finish. Quality vessels are built to last and retain market-related value if undamaged.

On average a 45-foot catamaran can range from US$250,000-US$1,000,000.

The fully loaded Isla 40 costs around US$527,000. The Balance 42 sail away price fully cruise equipped is US$1,450,000 while the Kinetic 54’s price tag approaches US$3,000,000. The modern styled Sunreef 80 costs around $6.2 million.

We think that the Seawind 1600 is, for its size and quality, a superb priced performance product at US$900,000.

One of the major benefits for a cruising vessel is to be able to enter shallower seas – catamarans have a shallower draft than monohulls and therefore a great appeal to folk for whom this is a major consideration. Most lagoons are only 6-8 feet deep in the South Pacific. The Caribbean and other areas where you have reefs to navigate and shallow sandbanks to cross to enter overnight anchor stops draft is a very important consideration. Always remember to read your tide tables and swell.

A catamaran is lighter on the water and therefore takes less energy to move, however they have 2 engines which drives up fuel costs. They are more fuel-efficient on flat water (compared to equal horsepower and number of engines) but in heavy weather the monohull’s hull design causes less resistance and therefore higher efficiency.

With lighter weight and high buoyancy generally they have low water drag by comparison to the displacement of a monohull of the same length.

The trampoline serves many purposes – primarily to allow water to quickly pass through, allowing the bow to rise and so preventing the vessel from flipping and they are ideal for pleasure purposes.

To sail around the world the vessel needs to be equipped for offshore cruising and have a heavy load capacity.

The bigger Modern blue water cats are built with this in mind – supplies, crew, technology and gear.

A bigger boat has many advantages such as speed (not only to travel longer distance in shorter time but also to outrun potential bad weather) and comfort space, space for crew and friends, storage space for supplies and fun equipment, etc.

It is important to balance price against comforts, maintenance and repair costs as well as any potential income from your vessel (chartering, Air BNB, hosting courses on-board, etc) – generally here the bigger your vessel the higher the potential for greater income.

The larger your vessel the higher your expenses are in all ways – from Insurance to berthing, maintenance, haul out fees and equipment.

Continue reading

Ranger VS1882SC Reata

Globalwin Men’s Casual Loafers

EdgeWater Boats 230CC

Harris Solstice 250 SLEC

Gallery of catamarans review.

Three sailboats racing in the Indian Ocean

Waterproof Backpacks
Duffel Bags
Hiking Backpacks
Waterproof Gear
Teepee Tents
Camping Chairs
Heated Socks
Marine Binoculars
Night Vision Goggles
Windbreaker Jackets
Collapsible and Folding Wagons
Portable Power Stations

Dive Computer
Scuba Diving BCD
Scuba Regulators
Freediving Fins
Diving Wetsuits
Women’s Wetsuits
Scuba Diving Drysuits
Rebreathers
Scuba Diving Masks
Snorkel Masks
Full Face Diving Mask
Full Face Snorkel Masks
Prescription Dive Masks
Prescription Snorkel Masks
Snorkeling Gear
Kids Wetsuits
Seiko Dive Watches
Best Underwater Cameras
Waterproof Cameras
Underwater Scooters
Best Dive Knife
Dive Lights
Underwater Metal Detector
Reef Safe Sunscreen
Scuba Tanks
Dive Destinations
Liveaboards

Paddle boards (SUP)
Best Touring Paddle Boards
Best Beginner Paddle Boards
Motorized paddle boards
Electric SUP Pumps
Paddles For Paddle Boarding

Beach Chairs
Beach Umbrellas
Beach Wagons
Beach Tents
Beach Canopy
Beach Towels
Beach Blankets
Water Shoes
Water Socks
Boogie Boards

Swimming Goggles
Swimming Fins
Swimming Earplugs
Women’s Swim Shorts

Getting into Sailing
Life Jackets
Marine Flares
Waterproof Marine Radios
Pontoon Boat Accessories
Sailing Gloves
Boat Fenders

Inflatable Kayak
Folding Kayaks
Tandem Kayaks
Sit On Top Kayaks
Sea Touring Kayaks
Ocean Kayak
Pedal Kayaks
Fishing Kayaks
Kayak Life Vests
Kayak Shoes
Kayak Paddles
Kayak Trailers
Kayak Anchors
How to Choose a Kayak – A Beginner’s Guide
How To Choose a Kayak Paddle? [What You Need to Know]
Kayaking Gear for Beginners
What to Wear Kayaking
Kayak Safety

All Mountain Snowboards
Snowboard Boots
Snowboard Bindings
Snowboard Helmets
Snowboard Jackets
Atomic Skis
Blizzard Skis
Ski Resorts in the US

Travel Backpacks
Weekender Bags
Packing Cubes
Suitcases and Travel Luggages
The Best All-inclusive Resorts in the World

Cayo Espanto A Private Island Belize Featured

Men’s Yoga Pants
Yoga Shorts
Yoga Mat Bags
Yoga Blocks

Laptop Backpack
Mini Backpacks
Mesh Backpacks
Clear Backpacks
Fanny Packs
Water Bottles

Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof Pants
Waterproof Watches
Waterproof Headphones
Snorkel Fins
Best Snorkels
Best Dive Sites in the World
Best Dive Resorts in the World
Central & South America
North America
Southeast Asia
Indian Ocean
Asia Pacific
Middle East & Red Sea
All Liveaboards
Liveaboards in Australia
Liveaboards in Fiji
Liveaboards in Micronesia
Liveaboards in Myanmar (Burma)
Liveaboards in the Maldives
Liveaboards in the Philippines
Liveaboards in Egypt
Liveaboards in Costa Rica
Liveaboards in Belize
Liveaboards in Mexico
Liveaboards in the Galapagos Islands
Aggressor Liveaboards
Liveaboard in Thailand
Liveaboards in Indonesia
The Best Starboard Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
Bluefin Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
Isle Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
Red Paddle Co. Ride 10’6
ROC Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
The Best iRocker Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide
Blackfin Paddle Boards
Pontoon Boats
Bowrider Boats
Motor Yachts
Cabin Cruiser Boats
Inflatable Boats
Electric Surfboard
Efoil Board
Jet Body Boards
All-Mountain Skis
Ski Bindings
Ski Poles for Downhill & Touring
Ski Goggles
Ski Gloves and Mittens
Ski Jackets
Ski and Snowboarding Pants and Bibs
Ski Helmets
Best Resorts in North America
Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
Copper Mountain Ski Resort
Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort Area Review
Jackson Hole Ski Resort
Telluride Ski Resort
Aspen Ski Resort
Crested Butte Ski Resort
Kirkwood Ski Resort
Alta Ski Resor
Park City Ski Resort
Winter Park Resort
Breckenridge Ski Resort
Vail Ski Resort
Snowmass Ski Resort
Heavenly Ski Resort
Taos Ski Valley
Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort
Ski Santa Fe
Angel Fire Ski Resort
Sun Valley Ski resort
All-Inclusive Resorts in Aruba
All-Inclusive Resorts in Cabo
All-inclusive resort in Cancun
All-Inclusive Resorts In Costa Rica
All-Inclusive Resorts in Cozumel
All-Inclusive Resorts in Hawaii
All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico
All-Inclusive Puerto Rico Resorts
All-Inclusive Resorts in Tulum
All-Inclusive Resorts in Turks and Caicos
Best Diving in the Caribbean
Diving in Guadeloupe
Diving in Aruba
Diving in Antigua and Barbuda
Diving in the Bahamas
Diving in Barbados
Diving in Bonaire
Diving in the British Virgin Islands
Diving in Cayman Islands
Diving in Cuba
Diving in Curacao
Diving in Dominican Republic
Diving in Grenada
Diving in Jamaica
Diving in Martinique
Diving in Puerto Rico
Diving in St. Maarten
Diving in St. Lucia
Diving in Tobago
Diving in the Turks and Caicos
Diving in Belize
Diving in Costa Rica
Diving in the Galapagos Islands
Diving in Mexico
Diving in Roatan Honduras
Diving in California
Diving in Florida
Diving in North Carolina
Best Diving in Southeast Asia
Diving in Thailand
Diving in the Philippines
Diving in Indonesia
Diving in Vietnam
Diving in Cambodia
Diving in the Maldives
Diving in Australia
Diving in Japan
Diving in Fiji
Best Diving in Europe
Diving in Mallorca
Diving in Malta
Diving In Denmark
Diving in Egypt
All Liveaboards in Thailand
Liveaboards in the Similan Islands
All Liveaboards in Indonesia
Liveaboards in Komodo
Women’s Life Vest
All-Inclusive Resorts in Playa del Carmen
All Diving in Mexico
Diving in Cozumel
Diving In Similan Islands – Khao Lak Area
Diving in Malapascua
All the Diving in Indonesia
Diving in Bali
Diving in Gili Islands
Diving in Komodo
Diving in Sulawesi
Diving in Raja Ampat
All Diving in Australia
Diving In Brothers Islands

Paddle boarding

Everyday Life

South Africa
Nagorno Karabakh
Cook Island
Easter Island
French Polynesia
New Zealand
Northern Macedonia
Transnistria
Privacy policy

North Ossetia – Birthplace of Mystical Alania

Snow-capped mountains, deep gorges, popular shrines of traditional Ossetian religion, ancient watch tower, Dargvas, the city of dead and the most pleasant capital Vladikavkaz. Yes, rattling off all of North Ossetia’s wonders leaves you breathless, like the natural beauty of this Russian Republic. The place breathes history . Starting with the Alans, ancient warriors of the Caucasus region to World War II, when the Germany attempt to grab the oilfields of the Caucasus region was stopped right there.

Ossetian countryside with an ancient watchtower, so typical for the Caucasus region

Vladikavkaz- Ruler of the Caucasus North Ossetia

It took me a while to pronounce the name of North Ossetia’s lovely capital Vladikavkaz without difficulty. Only when a local explained its meaning „Ruler of the Caucasus “ , it rolled from my lips like honey . Founded in 1784 as a Russian fortress, it control led the only road linking Russia and Georgia at that time . I am not ashamed to admit that I had not heard of this town before I decided to do this trip. This city is only a two hours flight from Moscow and served as my jumping board for all onward travel.

Approaching Vladikavkaz by plane

The Saint Petersburg of the Cauacus

Vladikavkaz rightly prides itself of this title. T he streets of the Old City are lined with late grand 19th and early 20th century houses built for Russian army officers and merchants. I spent the hot parts of the days in Kosta Khetagurov Park

and strolled the banks of River Terek in the evening , I visited picturesque churches and the most beautiful Mukhtarov Mosque .

Mukhtarov Mosque on the Banks of the River Terek

It sits right on the river and I first thought it was a church, since I had never before seen a mosque made of brick stones. I was invited inside by the caretaker , only when I saw the carpet after entering, I realized where I was . Arriving so totally unprepared without a headscarf and short sleeves irritated some men and I spent less time there than I would have liked.

Prospekt Mira (Peace Avenue) with ist 19th century houses

When I got tired of walking Vladikavkaz I hoped on a tram and enjoyed the quiet pace of provincial life from this perspective. Another highlight was watching families in the amusement park overlooking the river . Nobody seemed to be in a hurry. I watched life go by sitting on a tree-covered bench on car-free Prospekt Mira (Avenue of Peace), visited museums or hang out in cafes. Night life was not always, but sometimes is was great. Unforgettable a bar packed with young people, a small band was playing and a local celebrity grabbed the mike. A group of young ladies took me under their wings, and I left with cherished memories.

Vladikavkaz’s nightlife, great music and lovely people

The other must visit is a Retro USSR bar which has been operating for 100 years . People squash into small cubicles holding large mugs of beer that have to be picked up at the counter. Our little group was such a novelty that the regulars keep buying us so many drinks that we could not possible down them all.

Retro USSR bar, locals bought us so much beer we had to pass it on

Hotel Vladikavkaz- great for people watching

The best place to view the snow-covered mountain peaks surrounding Vladikavkaz was from the Old Bridge or my room at Hotel Vladikavkaz , which was also overlooking Terek R iver and the amusement park . My most exciting moments on my balcony were the arrivals of weeding parties , which was quite a commotion.

Wedding Party arriving a Hotel Vladikavkaz

The convoy of expensive cars could be heard long before they pulled into the parking lots. The honking was deafening once they arrived, young beautiful women and middle aged men were then ushered into the hotel by friends and family clapping and singing. Once I sneaked into one of the posh parties, the noise of the music was earsplitting, and I was not sure if it was that much fun for most of the guests.

The location of the hotel is awesome and its veranda a place to linger forever (great WIFI) and do some serious people watching.

View from my hotel window, amusement park near River Terek

Caucasus wrestlers

Wrestling has a long tradition in the Caucasian Republics of Ossetia, Chechnya and Dagestan. Each has its own statistics that make it the number 1! By pure accident I learned that Vladikavkaz has a famous state-of-the-art wrestling academy. Nothing would have stopped me from visiting. I enjoyed an English-speaking tour through the premises, gyms, top equipment, sauna, pool. The academy hosts teams from all over the world also the USA, the fee is € 50 a day and kids a young as 9 years old start their training here.

Wrestling Academy Vladikavkaz

Unfortunately, there was no training session while I visited, only a kind of rugby baske t ball match . Life in the region comes to a stand-still, when two champions fight each other in a tournament, especially if it one of them is American.

Wrestling Academy in Vladikavkaz

Vladikavkaz and the Caucasus in World War II

On the outskirts of Vladikavkaz a memorial reminds of the Russian soldiers fallen in the battle of Vladikavkaz. Right beside the memorial is a huge mass grave, it was exactly here where the Germany army was stopped in the Caucaus . Hitler’s focus was on the rich oilfields of the Caucasus, which ironically supplied the German tanks and plane with fuel between 1939 and 1941. Before Hitler’s invasion of the USSR, Germany received 910.000 tons of oil from Stalin’s USSR, which made the quick advance of the German army and the use of its plane possible.

Words War II Memorial near Vladikavkaz, the front line was right there, this is how far the Germany army advanced

World War II Memorial near Vladikavkaz

Dargavs – The City of the Dead

A grassy hill dotted with little white huts was my first view of Dargavs. The two-hour drive from Vladikavkaz (US30 for the taxi) took me through stunning scenery, snow—capped mountains, greens meadows. Of course, I had prepared myself for this excursion, but I was still overwhelmed by this necropolis. A total of 95 stone crypts rise up the hillside in a very organized manner. At the back of the complex is a watch tower whose top part has been destroyed. It is said that the tower was placed there to watch over the resting souls.

City of Dead, Dargavs 35 little crypts perched on a h ill

The tombs themselves are shaped like huts with curved roofs going inwards in steps and pointed peaks at the top, typical of Nakh architecture. If there is no pointed peak that means the family had no more surviving sun. The crypts tell even more about a family, the higher they were, the higher was their social status. The really big ones held up to 100 corpses.

City of Dead- Dargavs

The bodies were put in what looked little small canoes and shoved into the tiny opening. In some of the crypts you could peak through tiny openings and see the bones, some even wrapped in fabrics. I was told that until not too long ago the corpses wore rings and necklaces. Unbelievable, but recently visitors lost the respect for the dead and stole these precious bits, so the remaining jewelry was taken to a nearby museum. Actually, the site was closed down two months before my arrival, since visitors took photos of themselves with skulls. Only recently had it reopened.

Body were shoved into the structure in small wooden canoe-like coffins

The drive back to Vladikavkaz was equally spectacular, first through a small gorge following a river and then up an unpaved road with stunning vista of snowcapped mountains.

Ossetia’s countryside

Here in Dargavs I learned there were different types towers: Signal towers were high up in mountain and narrow. Towers served also as fortresses when under attack, they were wider and had up to three floors, since people found shelter there. Also amazing the time span they were being built, starting in the 5th century BC till 18th Century

Modern Monaster ies, Medieval R ock- F ortress and Pagan Saints

Not too far from Vladikavkaz is Fiagdon Monastery, an all-male monastery, which was only completed 2002. The monks collect herbs for making tea and produce cheese and honey. It looks way to modern but since I passed by I stopped to take a look.

our little gang that went to South and North Ossetia together

Much more interesting was the Medieval rock-fortress in the village of Dzivgis , which I would not have recognized as such, since it blends perfectly into the high cliff it was built in. In case of an attack the population of the whole gorge could find protection there.

Medival fortress

The Uastyrdzhi monument catches the unknow traveler by surprise. In Ossetian folklore Uastyrdzhi is the name of Saint George. He is the patron of the male sex and travellers. It is forbidden for women to pronounce his name, instead they must call him “the saint of men”. When following the Ossetian Military Road along the River Ardon, it suddenly pops out of the rock. The horse’s hoof is 120 cm, and the palm of George can fit a man. But that is not all. Another place where he is worshipped looks like a church, especially since two small bells hung from a pole right next to it. The story goes that the people kept the bell but also their ancient belief. Since the end of the USSR the cult of Uastyrdzhi has enjoyed renewed popularity.

Uastyrdzhi Memorial = the name of Saint George.

Every year in fall lots of people gather for a big festival to celebrate Uastyrdzhi. The worshipping involved toasts made by an elderly from a wooden mug, who is assisted by two young men. Inside the small museum was a big painting of the very man with a long white beard riding a white horse, the mug and a chain hanging from the ceiling, so typcial for Ossetia.

Inside little museum where Uastyrdzhi is being worshipped

Three Days of September 2004 – The Siege of Beslan School Nr 1

Beslan is a small quiet town in the Russian Republic of North Ossetia in the Caucasus . Its streets are lined with brick-stone houses shaded by chestnut-trees, well-tended flower gardens adorn the front and vegetable gardens the back. Beslan could serve as a cliché-like model for a pastoral painting, if there had not been those 3 days in September 2004. On September 1st, t he gym of Beslan ’ s School Nr 1 became the epicenter of the hostage taking that resulted in the death of 335 mostly women and children three days later .

The former gym of Beslan School Nr 1, now a memorial to remind the 335 victims that were kept there for three days with water and food

In Beslan neighbors, family and friends sit outside their houses, chat and a random car or person go by. Children play in the street and a stranger like me walking by causes attention. When I took photos of the flower gardens, some locals were so touched, they took me inside to show me the gardens behind, I was offered food, teach and sweets.

Beslan: beautiful flower gardens in front of the houses

Local family invited me for lunch and showed off their garden

I stayed with a family who fed me during my three day stay since I could not detect any eatery. The woman had learned some basic English and with google translator we managed to communicate.

Natascha cooking in the super hot little kitchen

Tiny tables, require creativity, stool goes sideways

On September 1 st , 2004, n eatly dressed children with balloons and flowers arrived for the traditional first day-of-school ceremony accompanied by parents and relative s . This moment of joy and happiness suddenly turned into a unparallel ed drama that lasted for three day: more than 1100 children, parents and teachers were taken hostage by a terrorist group demanding independence for Chechnya.

Water bottled remind of the relentless thirst the children and adults suffered from

Forced into the gym where temperatures reached 40 degrees, the hostages were denied water and food, while the over 30 terrorists planted bombs all over the building. On the third day in an abysmal chaos of explosions, fire and gunshots 335 people were killed. In the video „The Children of Beslan“ children who survived remember those three days, the best documentary in my eyes. Unfiltered, the children talk about what seems unspeakable.

The former gym of Beslan school Nr 1.

In the few sequences of the video that show the end of the siege, even the most uninformed viewer immediately realizes the absolute chaos that dominated the event. To this day, countless questions of the parents have remained unanswered.

Photos of the victims on the wall of the Former gym, most of them children, give the horrid numbers a face

The victims were buried in a new cemetery a bit outside of Beslan, all the tomb stone are made of the same stone, symbolizing the same tragic fate. I passed one grave with five tomb stones, all members of the same family. It is impossible to comprehend the grief and pain that still haunts Beslan.

Another tragic story of is the one of Vitaly Kaloyev , an architect and native of Vladikavkaz. He lost lost his wife and two small children when two planes collided mid-air over Germany on June 1, 2002. Kaloyev held Peter Nielsen, the sole air traffic controller in Switzerland who was handling traffic the night of the collision, responsible. In 2004, Kaloyev travelled to the Swiss town of Knoten where he killed Nielsen, who had since retired from air traffic work.

Later, after his release from prison, Kaloyev was appointed deputy minister of construction of North Ossetia-Alania . In 2016, upon retirement from the local Ossetian government, Kaloyev was awarded the highest regional medal by that government, the medal “To the Glory of Ossetia”. The medal is awarded for the highest achievements, improving the living conditions of the inhabitants of the region, for educating the younger generation and maintaining law and order.

Vital Kaloyev touching the grave of his wife and two children

Share with:

Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Beslan , Dargavs , Fiagdon Monastery , Mukhtarov Mosque; Vladikavkaz , Uastyrdzhi , Vladikavkaz , Wrestling Academy

No comments yet.

Leave a reply click here to cancel reply..

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

IMAGES

New Sail Catamaran for sale-2021 FOUNTAINE PAJOT Elba 45-Vessel Summary
Current Top 10 Largest Catamarans For Charter
Barco cabinado catamarán
2021 Catamaran Power 40m Power New and Used Boats for Sale
Achat -vente Catamarans occasion
What Size Catamaran To Sail Around The World

VIDEO

BIG #CATAMARAN ( BOAT) #Toronto #Harbour #Ontario Canada
16’ Catamaran in Rough Seas! 😱
Catamaran big Waves #phuketinseltouren #phukettour #kamalabeach
Firing up the V12’s!
HURRICAN Catamaran Big RC speed boat catamaran with petrol engine
Unleashing The Power: Excess 14 Competitive Catamaran, Unbeatable Price!

COMMENTS

The Largest Catamarans In The World
8. Silver Cloud 134 feet. 9. Zenith - 132 feet. 10. The Beast (Profab Engineering) 129 feet. 1. The World's Largest Catamaran: Hodor 217 feet. Hodor's linear exteriors and grey paintwork give an industrial look, neatly finished with contrasting orange stripes that wrap around the hull, helicopter and helipad.
Top 10 largest Catamarans in the world
6. Sarha ( 137 Ft.) Registered at the Port of George Town and sailing under the Cayman Islands Flag, Sarha is a 40 m motor yacht built by Sea Management, fabricated in Australia and launched in 1989. With its sleek white exterior and blue windows, she is a piece of sheer beauty and class.
The Best Power Catamaran Boat Brands
The best power catamarans ride smoother than comparable monohulls, enjoy an efficiency edge, and also benefit from enhanced stability. But that's just the best ones — there are also plenty of powercats out there which fall short in one way or another. And while each and every boat on the water differs, the safest way to know you're buying one of the best is to choose one built by a top ...
BIG Catamarans In The Mainstream
BIG Catamarans In The Mainstream. In the world of large sailing multihulls, boats like "Hemisphere" the world's largest catamaran and. McConaghy's Trimaran, the 140ft "Adastra ", still rule the big catamaran market. Any other large multihulls have a steep hill to climb to compete. However, we have seen more interesting large ...
Hemisphere: the world's largest catamaran
Hemisphere, the world's largest sailing catamaran recently completed by Pendennis Shipyard for American owners, has been a long time coming. Since the late 1990s, her owners have chartered a variety of yachts - sailing and motor, mono and multihulls, big and not so big - giving invaluable experience to understand what it was they would want from a boat of their own.
12 Best Catamaran Sailboats
Gunboat 62. gunboat_catamarans. An original performance catamaran cruiser from the iconic Gunboat manufacturer, the Gunboat 62 has truly cemented its place as one of the best catamaran sailboats to ever grace the oceans. Honestly speaking, this cat-inspired a whole range of other incredible boats including HH66 Catamaran and the Balance 526.
Catamaran boats for sale
There are a wide range of Catamaran boats for sale from popular brands like Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon and Bali with 522 new and 1,590 used and an average price of $550,364 with boats ranging from as little as $39,152 and $6,673,320. ... There are a number of big advantages to a sailing cat. Their beam is maximized for the entire length of the ...
The Top Catamarans of 2020
Oct 8, 2020. Powercats continue to gain traction in the cruising-boat market offering owners more space, greater privacy and better fuel efficiency and seakeeping ability than monohulls of similar length. Here is a sample of some of the best cats (and tris) on the market today. NAUTITECH 47 POWER. Nautitech 47 Power.
2023 Boat Buyers Guide: Catamarans
A catamaran rides on pair of hulls, or sponsons, each thinner and sharper than that of a similarly sized monohull boat. The narrow sponsons of the cat tend to slice easily through water to deliver a smooth ride, even in rough seas. At the same time, with the sponsons positioned out to the sides of the boat, cats tend to roll less, thus ...
Luxury catamarans
The world leader with over 7,000 catamarans built since 1984. Discover our innovative, eco-friendly sailing and power catamarans! Go to menu; Go to content; Dealers Go to footer ... At Lagoon, we infuse our love of the sea and our admiration for nature into the construction of our boats. For you, we always aim for excellence.
10 Best Catamarans in 2024
Here's a list of the Top 15 best Multihulls reviewed in this article: Leopard Catamarans - 41 ft 7 in - Leopard 42. Balance Yachts - 48 ft 26 in - Balance 482. Kinetic Catamarans - 54 ft 2 in - Kinetic KC54. Xquisite Yachts - 53 ft - Xquisite X5.
THE 10 BEST Vladikavkaz Sights & Landmarks to Visit (2024)
Big, stern, all-seeing, bold, and confident—exactly the way authority must look. ... Zoos & Aquariums in Vladikavkaz Boat Tours & Water Sports in Vladikavkaz. Parasailing & Paragliding in Vladikavkaz ... Titop Island and Kayaking Restless Native Catamaran Sunset & Swizzle Cruise Inner Light Women´s Retreat Mexico Clear Kayak Drone Photoshoot ...
Power catamaran boats for sale
The 420 express cruiser is fast, smooth, and economical for a boat of this stature. This big cat is extremely comfortable with a fully equipped galley, a head with a glass shower door, a two-stateroom walk-around king berth forward, or a three-stateroom layout. ... There are a wide range of Power Catamaran boats for sale from popular brands ...
North Ossetia
Snow-capped mountains, deep gorges, popular shrines of traditional Ossetian religion, ancient watch tower, Dargvas, the city of dead and the most pleasant capital Vladikavkaz. Yes, rattling off all of North Ossetia's wonders leaves you breathless, like the natural beauty of this Russian Republic. The place breathes history. Starting with the Alans, ancient warriors of the […]
THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Vladikavkaz
Boat Tours & Water Sports. Traveller rating & up & up. Good for. Free Entry. Budget-friendly. Good for Kids. Good for Big Groups. Good for a Rainy Day. Good for Couples. Good for Adrenaline Seekers. Honeymoon spot. Hidden Gems. Adventurous. Show more. 65 places sorted by traveller favourites. We perform checks on reviews.
THE 10 BEST Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Sights & Landmarks
5. Mukhtarov Mosque (Sunnitskaya) 85. Points of Interest & Landmarks. By Alexander_Kudrin. This mosque is one of the symbols of the city of Vladikavkaz. 6. Statue Saint George Is Coming Out Off The Rock. 38.