elba 45 catamaran review

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Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 review: This could be the yard’s most popular catamaran yet

• July 30, 2020

This Elba 45 looks set to be one of the most popular Fountaine Pajot cruising catamarans yet. Sam Fortescue travels to Portugal to find out why

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

Such was the hype surrounding this yacht that Fountaine Pajot had sold over 100 Elba 45 hulls before the first one even emerged from the mould. The customer response persuaded the La Rochelle-based catamaran builder to start work on a second set of tooling so that it could complete more than 50 of these yachts each year.

True, at 45ft LOA, it is bang in the sweet spot for cruising cats, but even so it is almost unprecedented to have pre-sold the first two years’ worth of production.

Armed with that knowledge, my expectations were high as I crossed the protected waters of the Río Sado just south of Lisbon in Portugal for the sea trials. And though I certainly wasn’t disappointed by what I saw bobbing at the dock, it takes more than a glance at the Elba 45’s lines to understand the appeal she exerts.

That’s not to say that first impressions aren’t good. As with most modern catamarans, the Elba 45 has towering topsides, especially towards the bow, so has quite a physical presence. Couple this with the extensive glazing of the saloon and the large hull lights, and you have a modern-looking boat. Olivier Racoupeau’s design is aerodynamic in the way that Lagoons, for instance, are not: she has slightly back-swept forward windows and a flowing curve to the coachroof.

The new Elba 45 is the next generation of the successful Hélia 44, with faster hulls and greater interior volume

There are a few small details which give away the degree of careful thought that has gone into this new model. There is a useful skirt to the transom wings so that you can step easily aboard from the side, for instance. And on this model, the davits had been replaced with the optional ‘transformer’ bathing platform (€17,200), which can hydraulically raise a tender up to 3.2m long, and 150kg in weight.

The headroom under the hard top is also excellent. It all adds up to about two years of design work across some 150 meetings between Berret-Racoupeau and Fountaine Pajot. “The 45 is the core of the market of Fountaine Pajot, so we were not allowed to make a mistake on something that didn’t work,” Racoupeau tells me phlegmatically. “It’s always such a big challenge to innovate or take a risk.”

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Design challenges

Although Racoupeau designed the Elba 45’s hugely successful predecessor, the Hélia 44, he went back to first principles on the new boat, testing a range of new hull shapes with lower drag. “We reduced it [drag] by 10% and that helps the boat sail better at medium and high speed, and more efficiently under engine,” Racoupeau explains. “It may not sound like much but, for us, that’s a big deal.”

Lounging space on the flybridge has been increased threefold in the new model

The design team even managed to make the hull some 15cm longer and 15cm beamier in the process, introducing a small chine in the aft section. “This kind of hull shape will be used on future Fountaine Pajot designs,” Racoupeau confirms.

Another big focus for design work in the new boat has been the flybridge. The Hélia, too, offered a lounging space under the boom next to the helm station, but the Elba 45 has really gone to town.

Seating for four or five and a big sunpad cover more than 10m2 – nearly three times the area offered by the Hélia. On an overcast day in Portugal, you don’t really get it, but it’s not hard to imagine dinner with a view up here, and it means good company for the helmsman mid-ocean.

There’s a console with drinks holder and a convenient little recess for belongings, and still space for solar panels along the trailing edge of the hard top. The trade-off is a slightly higher boom, which in turn raises the centre of effort of the sail, creating more lateral force.

“We have really enlarged the flybridge with more comfortable areas and relaxing areas,” says Racoupeau. “At the same time, I really wanted to keep the classic Fountaine Pajot steering position in the middle, where it’s safe. I didn’t want to put it on the flybridge.”

That helm strikes an effective compromise between an outright flybridge, which adds cachet for some, and a bulkhead steering position peeping over the coachroof. There’s room for two behind the wheel, and a roomy pit ahead of it for someone to grind away at three large Lewmar 50 coachroof-mounted winches.

There is plenty of room to keep the helmsperson company

If you were single-handing, you’d need to engage the autopilot to move round and trim, but all the sheets and control lines apart from the optional gennaker or code sail come back to the helm station, mostly on nice short runs that keep friction down. Even the genoa sheets come back across the coachroof: great for sail handling, but posing a risk with their flailing in the tack.

Elsewhere on deck the Elba 45 boasts an impressive range of outdoor space, with the emphasis on eating in the cockpit and lounging either there, on the flybridge or on the foredeck sunpads. The deep cockpit offers sofas and a sunbed so you can choose where and how to conduct your afternoon siesta. And you can opt for a built-in plancha grill or a barbecue next to the transom seating unit.

For all that, though, the most noticeable fruits of Racoupeau’s redesign are found inside. “Volumes in the saloon and in the cabins are much bigger,” Racoupeau claims. I don’t have a Hélia on hand to make the comparison, but one thing strikes as soon as I enter the saloon: this boat is all about liveability and interior space.

A new lounging area has been created at the forward end of the saloon, whose wrap-around windows are larger than ever

At 17m2 area, the saloon may not have changed shape much, but it has been reconfigured to make the galley more open and improve stowage. The boat is no Tardis, though, so of course there is a compromise that won’t suit all. “From our personal experience, we saw that we make less and less use of the chart table,” Racoupeau explains. “We go there for information, but not to sit down and work like we did in the past.”

So the chartplotter and instrument panel has been demoted from the front of the saloon to a smaller area around a technical cabinet on the starboard side of the aft door. You can still pull up a chair and consult the read-out – which is now just a step from the bottom of the helm station stairs – but there’s no dedicated space to spread out a chart and get to work with the plotter and dividers.

This is an issue that divides sailors. But if you, like me, rue the loss of the chart table, then at least the coffee table or the flat surfaces behind the sofas would serve.

The galley has shifted to the aft end of the saloon, and the chart table demoted to a shelf by the instruments

Interior size matters

The volume previously dedicated to the chart table has been used to increase the saloon and galley. “We have introduced the concept of the meridienne,” says Racoupeau, “a place where people can have a drink, read something on the iPad, lounge in a chair; always staying in the middle of the area to be able to discuss, share with friends.”

This is a successful ploy, with the deep, comfy L-shaped sofa looking more like something borrowed from the superyacht world than standard yacht seating.

The galley is well equipped, with the sink along the aft bulkhead of the saloon and the hob to port, punctuated by the stairs down to the cabins below. Splitting the galley in this way may not be ideal, but it does create more space, and keeps the connection with the cockpit via the swing-up aft window and fold-away door.

The cockpit layout is flexible and convivial thanks to the opening doors and windows that connect it to the saloon

The standard boat offers a large 190lt refrigerator to starboard, and an optional 130lt refrigerator or 90lt freezer by the sink. Freshwater capacity is a reasonable 700lt, and there is an option to include a 60lt/hr 12V watermaker for bluewater cruisers , or a beefier 180lt/hr model on the 220/110V system.

Two basic interior configurations are offered – the maestro (owner’s) version, which dedicates the whole port hull to a double cabin with fold-out TV, dressing table, truly copious clothes storage and a large shower room and heads.

The alternative is the charter-friendly four-cabin, four heads set-up, costing an extra €4,000. There is also room for a single crew berth in the starboard bow and a crew heads to port, although this would chip away at very handy sail locker space.

Racoupeau’s redesign has also opened up the vestibule between the two starboard cabins by removing the wooden ceiling that divided this space from the saloon on the Hélia. “It gives the feeling of more room, with more fresh air in the corridor and in the hull,” he says. “From my point of view this is the worst place in normal catamarans: dark and enclosed.” It sounds like a small detail but, strangely, he’s absolutely right.

The double cabins all feature semi island beds

The quality of the finish is as you would expect in a series yacht, all in a light grey oak for the furniture, dark oak flooring and a choice of neutral upholstery as standard. It all feels very sophisticated and urban, but arguably lacks a bit of warmth. Luckily, there are plenty of options.

However, the area in which Fountaine Pajot excels is in its hull lay-up, using a sophisticated vacuum infusion process for consistent high quality. They use polyester and vinylester resin over glass, with a final coat of epoxy primer under the antifouling. The spacious transom engine compartments reveal how neat and tidy that finish is.

The yard also insists on some good additional design features, such as the way the stub keels are mounted. They are simply glued into a deep recess moulded into the hull, so there are no keel bolts to rip out in the event of a grounding or of striking a submerged object.

In the ‘maestro’ version, the owner’s suite fills the port hull offering a large amount of storage space

Those keels provide helpful ballast low down to make the boat more stable, but they also slightly improve tracking to windward. During our test, we didn’t see more than 12 knots of true wind, so the boat was only occasionally hard pressed as gusts punched their way down the steep mountainsides. However, she managed a decent 40° off the apparent wind without making excessive leeway, judging by the wake astern.

The Elba 45 is fun to sail in that nippy way catamarans are: you look down and realise that you’re barrelling along at 8 knots without even trying. With the fully battened main and the standard 120% genoa, we managed an easy 7 to 8 knots beating into around 12 knots of true wind.

Powerful mainsail

It is designed with an 18.1m mast with double diamond stays for a good amount of bend and a more powerful mainsail shape. There is also an option to have a lighter carbon fibre mast. It all adds up to a maximum 74m2 fathead main and a 45m2 genoa.

The larger headsail keeps boat speed up in light winds and means that there is less need for a dedicated reaching sail. Unfortunately we weren’t able to test this claim because our boat, rushed down to Portugal for sea trials, didn’t have the correct mast.

Nonetheless, there is the option of a central longeron which protrudes beyond the bow to provide a tack for reaching and downwind sails, at a cost of €5,850. The sail itself costs about the same again and should have made speeds of 10-11 knots feasible in the conditions we had.

I found the wheel a little undersized for the boat, and too sticky – something that could no doubt be rectified. A feature I liked better was the ingenious hook sheave mounted on the car that pulls the mainsail up the mast. Thanks to the sheave, there’s a 2:1 purchase on the halyard already, but the hook pulls the headboard of the square-top main in close to the masthead. It doesn’t engage until the halyard is nearly bowstring taught, keeping the sail loose for a low-friction raise.

Standard propulsion comes from a 40hp Volvo Penta diesel in each hull, coupled with fixed props. You can upgrade to 50hp units for a relatively modest €1,000 per engine, which would make a worthwhile option if you’re expecting to spend a lot of time motoring. And for less than €1,900 ex. VAT you would certainly want to upgrade both with the 18in Volvo folding prop to reap an extra knot or so of boat speed.

A greener option?

Fountaine Pajot realises its boats are large chunks of non-recyclable plastic, but is nevertheless trying to cultivate greater eco awareness. Solar panels and water management systems aim to make the boats less polluting, while the manufacturing process aims to use fewer dangerous chemicals and waste is minimised and recycled.

But the biggest potential green win comes from a tie-up between FP and Volvo Penta, which is using the smaller Lucia 40 as a testbed to co-develop their own electric propulsion system.

This would undoubtedly be a comfortable boat on which to make an ocean crossing – the design work by Racoupeau and Fountaine Pajot has seen to that. But remembering that old adage about the 85% of the time that bluewater cruisers spend at anchor, the Elba 45 excels at offering big volumes for living on the water. You may spend a bit more time on passage compared to a more performance-orientated cat, but comfort ensures you’ll barely notice.

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Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Review

Our story is about the catamaran Elba 45 from Fountaine Pajot , which took the place of the previous bestseller, sailboat Helia 44. You will find out what we think about this new cat and, traditionally, we also include reviews of leading journalists of yachting magazines who participated in testing the first models. And as always - a lot of photos and videos.

Fountaine Pajot launched its next floating island in 2019 (you probably know that the shipyard gives the names of the islands to its sailing catamarans).

As out tests show, the new double-hull sailboat Elba 45 did not take much risks in terms of exterior and engineering solutions compared to Helia 44. It is a well-designed, reliable and safe double-hull sailing yacht that was presented at the Cannes to become the shipyard's reference model. Olivier Racoupeau developed a cat from scratch, and not just improved its predecessor. As it turned out, this was the right decision: the first hundred Elba 45 boats were sold immediately after the announcement, even before the first hull of this yacht saw the sea.

Olivier Racoupeau completely changed the hull, redesigning the transom and reducing the chine aft of the yacht, which reduced drag and increased performance at high and medium speeds. The naval architect lengthened the catamaran by only 15 cm and expanded it by the same amount. But in order not to reduce the windward characteristics, he kept the oblique cut of the hulls at the stern, inherent in the Fountaine Pajot models, and a slight slope in the bow. For the same purpose, Elba 45 is equipped with shortened keels, which are fixed below the waterline.

For added security, the keels are glued into the hull rather than fastened with hardware. In our experience, this is usually done so that during grounding, the keels come off without damaging the boat, and not break out of the hull along with the bolts.

The production of cases and other parts is carried out by vacuum infusion, fiberglass is coated with a mixture of vinyl ester, polyester and primed with a layer based on epoxy resins. This technique prevents the osmosis process and is designed to lighten the weight of the catamaran.

So you don't have to choose between performance and comfort: the Elba 45 catamaran meets all the requirements of discerning sailors who are not prone to excessive cruising asceticism.

The yacht was recognized as Best Boat 2020 in Best Multihull Cruising Boat 2020 category.

Features of Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

• Brand: Fountaine Pajot
• Hull type: Catamaran
• Overall length, m: 13.45
• Width, m: 7.55
• Draft, m: 1.2
• Displacement, t: 14
• Water tanks, l: 2 x 350
• Exterior design (Architect): Berret-Racoupeau Design
• Interior design: Berret-Racoupeau Design
• CE Certification: A
• Mainsail type: Fully battened
• Jib type: Furling genoa
• Mainsail area, m²: 75
• Jib area, m²: 49
• Engine, hp: 2 x 50
• Option engine, hp: 2 x 60
• Fuel tanks, l: 470

Virtual tour

Review elba 45 by toprik team.

TopRik team experts first saw the Elba 45 catamaran from Fountaine Pajot at the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival. The floating island appeared before us in this form:

At that time, this particular boat had already been sold, but this could not prevent us from repeating its inspection for you. Later, when we were upgrading our “flotilla”, we decided that it should have an Elba 45 cat, which required some sea tests.

So, let's start with the inspection and, as usual, with the transom.

On the Transom

The difference between the Elba 45 and its predecessor is evident right from the get-go. And it's not even about the platform, which can be used both for swimming and as a place for transporting a dinghy. For the convenience of those who use it as a swim platform, a folding ladder is provided for descending into the water, and for the dinghy there is a special folding stand on it, parts of which, if unnecessary, are hidden in the grooves of the platform.

The difference, first of all, lies in the shape and height of the freeboard, which is visible from the transom, and the height of the transom itself. Based on our data, we expected to see a more powerful cat, having familiarized ourselves with its parameters from the brochure. But what did we see? Despite the fact that Elba 45 added 15 cm in length and width, it incomprehensibly seems more elegant than Helia 44, and from the transom it generally looks like an open light terrace of a suburban cottage. This impression is also created by the elongated steps of the stern ladder, which are far from being as steep as those of their predecessor. They are open on both sides and invite you to enter the cockpit.

In the Cockpit

Of course, we couldn't get past the barbecue on the stern, which can be used both from the cockpit side and standing on the bathing platform. Since we wouldn't be allowed to test the grill during the show, we'll post the official photo here.

As our tests had shown, the grill works perfectly.

The spaciousness of the cockpit can be estimated from the photo below. Please note that this is not the entire cockpit, but only its dining area, and without the grill and transom sofa. But even without them, as well as without sunbeds and a second sofa in front of the table, 6-8 people can easily accommodate here.

A more complete picture of the dimensions of the cockpit is given by the photo below, where the door to the saloon, part of the saloon and the gangway to the control station are clearly visible. Pay attention to the bottom edge, where part of the transom sofa is visible. Now you can more fully appreciate the capacity of the cockpit - 15 people according to the most conservative estimates.

And no need to think about where to put them all for the night. This is a place for parties to which you can invite guests from neighboring yachts in the marina. And if you regret that there is not enough space in the cockpit for the entire marina, do not worry, because there is also a saloon and a large seating area above the cockpit. It's not quite a flybridge, as it didn't even require a significant lengthening of the mast.

Not Quite a Flybridge with a Helm Station

We must say right away that we were very enthusiastic about this decision, which allows us to abandon the classic flybridge. Based on our experience, relatively small boats with a large flybridge look like weird Victorian cottages at the open sea. The seating area, which is half raised above the control post, looks very harmonious in this one though. At the same time, the catamaran does not lose its dynamic style, which gives it a rigid bimini over the cockpit. Perfect solution!

To get to the helm station, you can use the ladder from the cockpit or get here directly from the deck on the starboard side. The skipper here can chat with passengers, who sit practically at his eyes level, or turn his attention to those who are resting or having lunch in the cockpit. A can of beer or a soft drink is guaranteed for the skipper in any case - who will refuse the helmsman at the helm! You can estimate the number of places for sunbathing or seating, as well as the area for an additional sunbed or table.

In the meantime, part of the topRik team is busy with accommodation problems, the captain, as expected, gets to know the control post closer. As you can see in the photo below, everything is simple and intuitive.

You can sit or stand at the helm - from here you have an excellent view of the entire area of the catamaran. To see the forward part of the left hull, just bend over a little, as you do when you ask someone from the cockpit to serve you something from the refrigerator.

All navigation is placed on the panel at the helm - a multifunctional marine display, compass, thruster, autopilot, etc. There are also communication devices, gas/reverse switching levers, indicators of the operation of other equipment of the yacht.

Therefore, the skipper doesn’t have to be alone while driving the catamaran, even if he is not on autopilot and not on the engine, but under sail.

The winches are located behind the panel, in order to use them, you will have to leave the helmsman position and move closer to the winches. Halyards and sheets are dropped into a special large compartment, which is very conveniently located. This eliminates any trouble that could arise due to cables scattered on the deck.

In the Saloon

When it's time for dinner, it's better for the helmsman to go down to the saloon to have a quiet meal and at the same time check the yacht's fidelity to the set course. For some reason, we don’t see the skipper’s table here - only a dining table... Wait, what is the usual navigational equipment that we see to the right of the entrance placed on? The freezer? Yes, it’s an interesting solution that may not please conservative yachtsmen. The topRik team is open to all rational decisions, and the lack of a skipper's table seems to be exactly that.

It seems that this place was given to the galley, which is located in the center line on both sides of the front door. Although the door is also not standard - it is a transparent sliding structure that unites rather than separates the cockpit and saloon.

Such a solution, together with panoramic glazing and large skylights, through which streams of natural light pour in, visually expands the already voluminous space.

The skipper can not only dine in peace, but also lie down on the sofa, controlling the condition of the sails through these large portholes in the saloon ceiling.

Coziness is added by soft sofas and poufs surrounding a folding table, and homeliness is provided by a simply luxurious galley located here with a stove, oven, microwave, several refrigerators and freezers, as well as a large number of cabinets where you can store kitchen utensils and products that do not require freezing and cooling.

One of the table surfaces is located under the window with access to the cockpit. This part can be used to serve food in the cockpit or convert the table into a bar counter during a party.

On the Foredeck

Concluding the review of places for recreation and parties, let's go to the bow of the catamaran. During the Cannes exhibition, it seemed to us that the organizers did not fully use the foredeck area, laying short beds only on the hard part of the cat. They simply did not want to draw the attention of visitors to trampolines in order to avoid their strength test. But we know what the charter passengers do with what they call trampolines – they will always find an opportunity to use this area more productively.

In the Cabins

At Cannes the Elba 45 catamaran was exhibited in the Maestro version, where one of the floats is given to the owner. The master cabin is designed in a luxury style and doesn't quite look like a cabin. There is a sleeping area with an island double bed, side and ceiling windows. From here, a doorway leads into the living room with table, pouffe, sofa, wardrobe and shelves. There is enough storage space so that you don’t have to limit yourself when choosing luggage for a cruise.

Passing through the living room, you find yourself in a comfortable bathroom with a separate shower. Our expert, almost 2 meters high, was delighted with the height of the ceilings, and the size of the bed, and the doorways where he passed without even bowing his head. But most of all, he was amazed at this spacious shower cabin, where even such a giant would not have to upholster his elbows on the partitions with the risk of breaking through the transparent structure.

Two guest cabins with almost the same beds and each with a full bathroom. Of course, they are deprived of a “living room”, but thanks to its absence, it became possible to maintain maximum comfort in the second float reserved for guests. And this applies to both the aft and bow cabins.

Advantages of Elba 45

Based on our observations, our team concluded there were no serious shortcomings during testing of the Elba 45 – instead we can note the following advantages of this Fountaine Pajot catamaran:

• Parity between comfort and performance. Living on Elba 45 satisfies the need for sailing and living conditions in long autonomous sailing.
• Easy, intuitive sail control, which makes it possible to control the boat alone by an experienced sailor and quickly master the controls for a novice sailor.
• Quality construction materials based on the latest technologies.
• Optimal selection of productive equipment from the engine to the marine display.
• Decent comfort and safety for life on board, including a family with children, a group of friends or a solo yachtsman.

This, of course, is not the cheapest serial catamaran, but in some aspects it can if not compete, then at least be compared to cruising catamarans, which are produced in minimal quantities at exorbitant prices. No need to pay more when you can buy an Elba 45 at an affordable price and meet your needs for both speed under sail and comfort on board.

Professional Reviews of Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

Here we present reviews of the new catamaran by the authors of popular yachting magazines. Among them are yachtsmen who tested the new boat before the Cannes festival, as well as those who took the helm of the Elba 45 later.

Emmanuel was part of the crew that tested the catamaran before it even got a name. Therefore, in the text there is a new cat from Fountaine The author of the review calls Pajot the New 45.

The crew met the new cat on the Troy Peninsula, southeast of Lisbon, during the famous Portuguese trade winds.

The author noted that the northern breeze turned out to be quite suitable for the New 45, which exceeds the displacement of its predecessor: 14 tons versus 10.8 for the Helia 44. This also explains the increase in the sail area from 115 (Helia 44) to 124 m².

The developers at Berret-Racoupeau have taken into account the wishes of customers who want a 14-meter catamaran capable of overcoming long passages, providing the maximum comfort of life on board. The wishes of those who would like to purchase such a double-hulled sailboat for personal use, as well as those who are engaged in the charter business, were taken into account.

These requirements include an increase in the volume of the yacht, additional weight of materials for making it, as well as additional equipment. The way the developers solved this problem for the new cat was called a design feat by the reviewer.

Naval architects and engineers have kept the flowing and harmonious lines of the New 45, giving the catamaran an elegant profile despite its size. This was served by an elongated stern shape and some design details: a sophisticated bimini over the cockpit, side windows, metal trim. Short fixed skegs and a draft of 1.2 m facilitate access to shallow water.

Paying tribute to the joint work of naval architects and designers, Emmanuel van Deth stressed that the deck layout of the catamaran meets the requirements of sailing and at the same time goes well with the wonderful lounge areas.

The sail control panel is intuitive. Maneuvers can be performed and transferred from port to starboard using a channel system. The sail control console is located immediately behind the helm station.

Describing the features of managing the yacht, the author stated that it surprised the crew with its lightness with such a significant displacement. Paying tribute to the excellent sailing wardrobe that the test sailboat was equipped with, Emmanuel admired the fact that this large cat easily starts off at the first puff and quickly picks up speed from 6 to 10 knots (at 35° to 38° from the apparent wind).

After a direct turn of the helm into the wind, the New 45 immediately goes without losing its course. With a light breeze, it showed 7.5 knots and at the same time the team seemed to be ready for acceleration. But to overcome the mark of 10 knots, it still needs wind.

The helmsman can enjoy a good view from the helm. At the same time, he has an excellent view of the entire cat from the seat. Although, to see the nose of the left hull, you have to bend down a little. This visibility facilitates maneuvering during mooring.

Emmanuel correctly guessed that the New 45 would not go unnamed for long. He then made an attempt to predict what name the shipyard would choose for the new catamaran. He listed the requirements for such a name: island, ending with letter a. In addition, he managed to "elicit" that we are talking about Tuscany. Emmanuel lists three possible island names that could give a name to the novelty: Elba, Pianosa and Capraia. But he suggests waiting for the Cannes Yachting Festival, where it was promised to present the cat under its real name. Concluding these "guesses", Emmanuel admitted that he himself would have chosen... Capraia.

Concluding the review, in which the author devoted a lot of space to describing the amenities for passengers and crew, he states that the New 45 developers of this model have focused on comfort compared to its predecessor. But at the same time, the catamaran remains efficient, productive and elegant. She is ideal for long cruises with comfortable cabins, a huge galley and plenty of storage space. A simple and intuitive sail setting ensures that this twin-hull sailboat is quickly mastered.

Mark was a member of the crew who tested catamaran Elba 45 on Chesapeake Bay together with judges of the Boat of the Year.

With a wind of 12-16 knots per hour, Elba 45 turned at a speed of 6.4 to 7 knots. The crew quickly found out that the boat was easy to handle. And this was one of the reasons for her to be recognized as the Best Charter Boat 2020 a week after the start of the work of the jury of international Best Boats 2020 competitions.

Mark elaborated on the description of the layout of the cabins, which the developers have traditionally offered in the Maestro and Charter versions.

In the version for the owner, he fully owns the left hull, where a double bed is located at the stern. The master cabin is furnished with a table, wardrobes for clothes and things amidships, in the bow there is a bathroom with a shower and a closet separated by a partition, as well as a washbasin.

Guest cabins share the starboard hull. Each of the cabins aft and forward has its own bathroom with a separate shower.

The charter version repeats the layout of the guest cabins of the Maestro version in both hulls of the catamaran.

A feature of the saloon - bright and roomy - is the absence of a skipper's table, since most of the yachtsmen surveyed said that they do not use it.

Mark appreciated the large skylights, through which it is convenient to view the sails when you are in the saloon, for example, during lunch.

The reviewer also liked how the developers solved the problem of the flybridge. A full-fledged flybridge requires a significant increase in mast height, which is undesirable for sailing . At the same time, when creating a boat for charter, it should be taken into account that it expands the zone of presence of passengers.

The naval architects found an excellent solution by placing the helm station on the starboard side, halfway between the bimini seating area and the lower cockpit deck.

Video Reviews of Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

It always better to have a full picture of whatever it is you want to purchase and video reviews really help to paint this picture. Let’s start with the Fountaine Pajot’s short, yet still informative teaser:

Next, 11-minute walkthrough tour of Elba 45:

Great commentary and even better footage – different features explained in detail:

BoatTube hits us with another high-quality interior tour:

And even more interesting information about stylish Elba 45:

Based on our own experience, the topRik team came to the conclusion that this catamaran is comfortable, productive and easy to manage even alone, perfect for the following categories of yachtsmen:

• lovers of solitude under sail in the middle of the sea;
• supporters of productive sailing without sacrificing life comfort;
• fans of family cruises in safe and comfortable conditions;
• wishing to travel with friends without losing experience in sailing;
• lovers of long sailing trips, but without ascetic restrictions.

We usually evaluate the commercial suitability of a yacht too. Catamaran Elba 45 by Fountaine Pajot is not suited only for personal possession. It is also ideal for renting out to a family, a couple, a small group of boating friends or a solo boater.

Our opinion of the boat can also be confirmed by the above reviews of the Elba 45 sailboat from yachting journalists representing the leading maritime media.

Where to Buy Elba 45 at a Bargain Price

If you have read up to this section, then you already know the answer to this question. And for those who ignored the main text of the review and immediately went to this section, here’s the answer – you can buy Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 at a bargain price through the topRik marketplace. Contact the marketplace experts, state your requirements for a catamaran, and your worries will end there. We will provide at your request:

• negotiations with the manufacturer or dealers;
• registration of necessary documents on sale and purchase, as well as, if necessary, customs documents;
• control over the complete set of the catamaran according to your requirements;
• delivery of the yacht to a predetermined point.

If necessary, we will complete the yacht with all accessories and equipment that are not provided in the standard or optional list. We have a large selection of watermakers , table and bed linen, tools and spare parts, dishes and other kitchen utensils, anti-slip mats, dinghies etc.

Call the specified phone number, communicate with marketplace experts via the feedback form or send an application by e-mail.

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Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

Description

The Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 launched at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2019. This cruising cat is going head to head with one of Lagoon’s most popular models: the Lagoon 46 – the replacement for the 450, which came in both a flybridge (450F) and raised helm version (450S).

So how does the replacement to the Helia 44 from FP stack up?

Liveability

Fountaine Pajot are known for continuous improvement of their range rather than radical redesign, so it should come as no surprise to discover that the new 45 has incorporated many of the popular features of her larger and smaller siblings.

• Even more space than her predecessor, the Elba 45 boasts some of the biggest living space in her class.
• The Fly Lounge is clever. You get the lounging space at anchor, a helm that is connected to the aft cockpit and a lower boom than you would see on a flybridge cat.
• She’s pretty nippy off the wind, a good compromise between comfort and speed
• The keels are mounted and glued into recesses which is a good safety feature should you ground the boat. They should just shear off with minimal damage to the hulls.
• The flybridge means a slightly higher boom, which means a higher centre of effort on the mainsail.
• She’s no stellar performer upwind, but that’s true of most production cruising cats.

Charter a Fountaine Pajot Elba Catamaran

Are you looking for a Elba 45 to charter? Browse our selection of high quality yachts for rent below ⇓

Rent a Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

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This 45 feet yacht, with its inverted bows keeps that signature raised helm station that you’ll see on many of their other boats, plus a fly “lounge” on the bimini that has proven so popular on the Saona 47.  This is a neat trick as the bimini lounge gives you most of the benefits of that great view at anchor without the windage or raised boom of a full flybridge cat like the Lagoon 450. And that means its easier to get to the boom of you encounter any problems under way – with the reefing lines for example.

There is space for four or five and a big sun-pad cover more than 10m2 and you still have space for solar panels. The price you pay is a slightly higher boom, which the centre of effort of the sail. However, the boom is still a lot lower than you would find on a flybridge cat like the Lagoon 46. This is a neat compromise.

There’s still room for two on the helm seat, and plenty of space to work on your 3 large Lewmar 50 winches.

There’s also a foredeck lounging area, although this looks more like an add on and not as much of a feature as, say, a Leopard with its forward cockpit accessible from the saloon.

The cockpit has several sofas, a sunbed, benches and a  long dinner table. And then there’s the hydraulic dive platform aft, which carries the tender when you are under way. This is a cat with plenty of space and the space really “flows” on this boat. We didn’t feel like we were dodging things to get from one zone to the next.

Big windows and hatches bring a lot of natural light and ventilation inside the boat, both in the saloon and in the hulls. The forward window swings up in its entirety connecting you to the forward cockpit and nets. You can’t get much better ventilation than that! (Make sure it is securely closed when you are underway though).

As an option, you can replace the davits with the ‘transformer’ hydraulic bathing platform (around €17,k), which can raise a tender up to 3.2m long, and 150kg in weight.

The Owner suite and guest cabins are quiet and comfortable with en-suite shower rooms depending on the version.

Fountaine Pajot boats are nimble for cruising cats if you keep the boats light. In terms of performance, you are looking at something between a Lagoon and a Nautitech, but make sure you don’t overload her. All the sheets and control lines (gennaker or code 0 excepted) come back to the bulkhead helm station.

The mast is set forward and integrates well into the saloon down below. This gives you a well balanced sail plan with the overlapping genoa (there is no self tacking jib unlike much of the competition) that remains well powered up even in lighter winds without having to fly a code 0 or gennaker off the bowsprit.

Off the wind in a decent breeze you could be seeing speeds in the low teens in the right conditions.

She won’t be able to compete with a dagger-board cat upwind like an Outremer 51 , for obvious reasons, but that’s the case for any keel cat: that’s your trade off for all of that space. You are likely to hit her sweet spot at around 60 degrees to true. If you need to get upwind faster, you can always stick on the leeward engine at low revs and charge your batteries up.

This boat is a great set up for owners who want a solid performing boat that will be very comfortable at anchor. The design cleverly maximises all the available space, with the stand-out features being that lounge on the bimini at anchor and the size of the cabins down below.

The saloon and cockpit flow together very nicely and the helm station is well connected, with all the lines coming back making her an easy boat to sail short-handed. There’s something to be said for their strategy of continuous improvement on these boats!

Other Options

You might want to look at the South African competition (read our Leopard 50 review for example) and of course the Lagoons are worth a look too in this category. Nautitech will give you more speed but there is a trade off on comfort.

Instagrammers

If you want to follow a couple of Elba 45s sailing around, try the following:

Stargazer Follow the Iqbal Family and friends aboard the SV Stargazer, their Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 catamaran.

Dreams Follow an Aussie family on the 45. Dean, Megs, Jude and Addie set sail!

Technical Specification

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Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Review | Sail Magazine

Review by Sam Fortescue, for Sail Magazine

With new catamaran brands springing up like mushrooms, France’s Fountaine Pajot is something of an oak tree in the market, with a story that goes back to its founding in 1976. It is also one of the largest cat builders out there, sending some 600 boats down the ways in 2018. The new Elba 45 replaces the 7-year-old Helia 44 and is intended to be the yard’s new bestseller. For that reason, it is no mould-breaking tearaway, but rather a safe, dependable, well-thought-out mainstay model. Not for nothing were more than 100 of the boats sold before the first hull even hit the water.

Design & Construction

Although it replaces the old Helia 44, the Fountaine-Pajot Elba 45 has been designed by Olivier Racoupeau from scratch, following over 150 meetings and thousands of hours of work. The brand-new hull offers 10 percent less drag than the Helia, thanks to a small chine in the aft section and a remodeled transom. “It may not sound like much, but for us, that’s a big deal,” Racoupeau told me. The result is better performance at medium to high speeds and more efficient motoring: all that in a hull that is just 6in longer than its predecessor and 6in beamier.

Fountaine Pajot has resisted the urge to offer this boat with a true flybridge, instead providing a bulkhead helm position with some low-profile lounging space on the coach roof. Why “resisted?” Well, although the extra space and cachet of a flybridge would appeal to some, it puts a lot of weight high up and forces the designer to raise the height of the boom. This, in turn, places the center of effort higher up, increasing heeling moment and requiring a taller mast.

As it is, the 45’s helm offers a kind of halfway house in which the person at the wheel can still stay involved in life on the aft deck below, via sightlines through the ladder up to the coach roof. There is also a good 109sq. ft of cushion space up top, where crew can either keep the helmsperson company or just admire a sunset.

The rig is ICW friendly and represents a pretty standard catamaran setup, with the 59ft 5in mast stepped on the leading end of the coach roof. The mainsheet runs to a traveler mounted aft of the helm and lounging area, and the genoa sheets to a pair of tracks located close to the centerline and within reach of the cockpit for easy control and tight trim angles. All lines are led back to a rope-handling pit just ahead of the wheel, where three Lewmar 50 winches allow you to handle sheets, halyards and reefing lines with ease.

The saloon is both large and clutter-free

Accommodations

Compared to the first-generation Helia 44, the team at Racoupeau and Fountaine Pajot has made some significant changes inside, particularly with respect to the large 180sq. ft saloon. For example, where the Helia had a horseshoe-shaped galley aft and a deep, dedicated chart table forward to port, the new boat leaves this space largely uncluttered, with the galley now running along the port side of the saloon, where it is punctuated by a set of stairs leading down into the cabins in the hull. The chart table has also been done away with, and the navigation instruments shifted to a cabinet by the sliding door leading to the cockpit. In explaining the decision, Racoupeau says, “From our personal experience, we saw that we use the chart table less and less. We go there for information, but not to sit down and work like we did in the past.”

Two interior configurations are on offer: a “Maestro,” or owner’s, version that dedicates the entire port hull to a double cabin with fold-out TV, dressing table, copious clothes storage and a large shower room and heads; and a charter-friendly four-cabin, four heads “Quatuor” setup. Both include a crew berth in the starboard bow and room for a crew head to port. There’s space for a sail locker as well. The standard finish is in a light grey oak for the furniture, dark oak flooring and a choice of neutral upholstery.

You don’t waste any time getting the sails up in this boat, with the task of raising the main eased by an ingenious hook mounted on the head car that provides a 2:1 purchase as it pulls the sail up the mast track. With the fully battened main and the standard 120 percent genoa, we found the FP Elba 45 managed an easy 7 to 8 knots beating into around 12 knots of true wind at an apparent wind angle of 45 degrees.

Off the wind, she rollicked along nicely. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to test a reaching or a running sail, which would have really lit things up. Fountaine Pajot maintains that the larger genoa means there is less need for, say, a dedicated Code 0. However, a central longeron also protrudes beyond the bow providing a tack point for such canvas.

Under power

With a pair of 40hp Volvo D2 saildrives tucked into its two transom compartments, the Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 is both quiet and efficient under power. You can also upgrade to a pair 60hp units, which would make a worthwhile option if you’re expecting to spend a lot of time motoring. The standard prop is a 17in three-blade fixed unit. However, you can upgrade to an 18in Volvo folding prop as well.

Again, Fountaine-Pajot’s newest design replaces its popular Helia 44, thereby occupying a true sweet spot in terms of an LOA and displacement that caters not only to families that like pottering around the bay, but those with ambitious cruising plans. The changes compared to the Helia are well-thought-out and make the Elba 45 a more efficient boat that performs better all around. If you are looking for a fun, safe cruising boat that will take care of your family in comfort, this may well be it.

Specifications

LOA  44ft 1in

BEAM  24ft 9in

DRAFT  3ft 11in

DISPLACEMENT  31,360lb

SAIL AREA  807sq. ft

FUEL/WATER  (GAL) 125/185

ENGINE  40hp Volvo diesel x 2

SA/D RATIO  13

D/L RATIO  164

What do these ratios mean? Visit  sailmagazine.com/ratios

DESIGNER  Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design

BUILDER  Fountaine Pajot, Aigrefeuille, France,  fountaine-pajot.com

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• Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 – More Information
• Fountaine Pajot Catamarans – More Information
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Fountaine Pajot Elba 45: Best Charter Boat

• By Herb McCormick
• Updated: December 9, 2019

There’s no question that crewed and bareboat chartering has become one of the largest, most profitable segments of the entire recreational marine industry. The annual US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, now dedicates an entire portion of its exhibits to charter companies—the popular “Vacation Basin”—and of course, a vast number of the new boats on display, particularly along the ever-growing catamaran ranks, will be employed in the charter trade. To recognize that fact, in recent years, the judging panel has awarded a special prize to the top charter boat, a practice that has continued for 2020.

There was no lack of contenders: Bavaria has made huge inroads into chartering in the British Virgin Islands, and of course, a high percentage of boats from the big cat builders —a third to half of all boats built from Fountaine Pajot and Lagoon, and in even greater numbers for Bali—go into charter service, either directly to the major charter companies or through private owners who put their boats into a charter-­management scheme.

“The split helm is going to maximize the fun for the sailors who charter her.”

Perhaps not coincidentally, with Batman graphics throughout the boat, owners who wore Batman costumes to publicize their boat’s charter availability, and even a catchy name ( Batamaran ), the Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 was ideally set up for chartering, and the won-over judging panel ultimately agreed that it made the Best Charter Boat for 2020.

It had all the major ­attributes required for a happy trip through the islands: It performed well; it had stellar accommodations; and it was well-laid-out for kicking back and enjoying the spritely sailing.

“I was very satisfied with this boat,” judge Ed Sherman said. “It was well-built. I liked the way the deckhouse and interior were fashioned, and the way it was structurally engineered. It all indicated to me that this is going to be a strong boat that will last a while. Which is exactly what you want with a boat that’s going to be well-used with week after week of charter clients coming aboard.”

“It had that ‘four-by-four’ cabin layout—four staterooms and four heads—that’s ideal for chartering,” judge Ralph Naranjo said. “They’re squeezing a lot into the available volume down below, and I mean that in a good way. I’m happy with the way the steering station is laid out, with a single helm and a separated area for trimming sails. It’s going to maximize the fun for the sailors who charter her.”

Which, of course, is the exact point of the exercise.

See All Winners:

2020 Boats of the Year

Other Winners:

• Overall Boat of the Year
• Best Performance Cruiser
• Best Midsize Cruiser Under 45 feet
• Best Full-size Cruiser
• Best Full-size Cruiser Over 55 Feet
• Best Midsize Cruising Catamaran
• Best Full-size Multihull
• Best Charter Boat
• Most Innovative
• More: boty , boty 2020 , Sailboats
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Review of sailing catamaran Elba 45 from Fountaine Pajot

Helia 44 built by Fountaine Pajot in September 2012 has reached 260 units successfully sold! The time has come for a stunning new yacht of the most versatile size in the range of sailing catamarans, the updated Elba 45, designed by renowned naval architect Olivier Racupo.

Among the many features of the Elba 45 are:

• Reverse stem tilt  for the best performance;
• new design of the helm station and an optimized area for all maneuvers  provides even easier handling. Three winches are installed at an ideal distance for comfortable work with them, and in the clamps of the mainsail-halyard, corrugation 1-2-3, boom guy; 
• the largest lounge deck  among catamarans in its category with a place for installing solar panels, small lockers, and coasters for drinks and of course a wide sofa and a sundeck;
• the most spacious cockpit  on a catamaran of this size, smoothly into the saloon, with a large table for 8 guests (12 with additional options), as well as a sofa on the transom next to the outer galley, where the Plancha grill is installed + additional seating on the starboard side;
• installed  panoramic windows / door between saloon and cockpit that provides a good overview, a beautiful view from the passenger compartment and a lot of natural light;
• optimized interior space , there was even more comfort and functionality, a feeling of a cozy home atmosphere. The salon is equipped with a large U-shaped couch, a wide navigational seat, which also serves as a day couch;
• largest galley  on a catamaran in its class, storage space is larger and deeper, which provides more autonomy for provisions on a long cruise. Refrigerator for 190 liters as standard + additional refrigerator or freezer as an option;
• internal navigation post  moved closer to the helm and outer helm station. Space for a chart plotter up to 22 inches, underneath a pull-out storage drawer;
• navigator's place  equipped with lighting, iPad docking station and 220V / 12V sockets in the armrest of the sofa.
• opening window in the salon  size 140 x 65 cm provides additional ventilation and access to the bow cockpit for easy communication on a large boat with automatic control (optional);
• bow cockpit  an area of 8.5 sq.m., equipped with pillows and a net;
• new position of the hatch in the aft cabin  left float for better ventilation;
• wide electric platform on the transom  - this is a must-have option both for recreation and for the convenience of loading and operations with dinghy;

As for the performance under sail, Fountaine Pajot took care of a good ratio of sail area and boat weight:

• Displacement is 13.6 tons
• The total sail area is 119 m2 (mainsail - 74 m2, genoa - 45 m2)

Ratio: 8.75 m2 / t

New building  Elba 45  Provides 10% less resistance than the case  Helia 44 , which means higher top speed and more comfort on the engine.

Helia 44 VS Elba 45

There are two versions of the Elba 45 catamaran available:

Maestro version: owner's cabin + 1 bathroom / 2 double cabins + 2 bathrooms

Again, in version  Maestro The owner's stateroom is designed as a suite, not a cabin, so it is larger than any other catamaran of this size. The bathroom is huge but typical of all catamarans  Fountaine pajot ... The shower room is very spacious and comfortable, the bathroom is located closer to the bow. Between the cabin and the bathroom, there is a large space - a study, a dressing room.

2 double cabins have their own bathrooms. All three cabins are equipped with 160 x 200 cm Queensize island beds. 2 front peaks are allocated for deep lockers.

Charter version: 4 double cabins + 4 bathrooms

Two aft cabins are equipped with 160 x 200 cm island beds. Two forward cabins are equipped with 145 x 200 cm island beds. In the front dive on the starboard side is the skipper's cabin, on the port side there may be another crew cabin or a bathroom with shower.

Elba 45  an excellent self-contained catamaran for long journeys, for crossing the oceans and for passing the circumnavigation. Installed a fresh water tank with a volume of 700 liters, and a fuel tank for 470 liters. The living space on board is simply superbly designed and carefully optimized. You can safely store a sufficient amount of provisions and personal belongings for all seasons. The cat is fairly light and fast, with new cases that aren't bloated to add living space, all in perfect balance. Amenities for the skipper are at an altitude.

Basic Price  catamaran in the Maestro version is 435 760 EUR

The cost of a completed yacht ready for sailing will be from 520,000 EUR - 570,000 EUR

The yacht is available for order, the first orders are launched in La Rochelle in September 2019.

And we remind you that we are waiting for you in  La Rochelle  - in the largest center of sailing yachting, where 70% sailboats are being built within a radius of 150 km, where new yachts are on the pontoons  Fountaine pajot  which you can not only see, but also test at sea.

To order a test, visit a shipyard or take training, call

+33644142168 (whatsapp) sasha goron, or leave a request on the website., see you in la rochelle, news and articles.

Houseboats are becoming more and more popular. One of the best countries for houseboat cruises is France. We talk about the best French destinations!

Caspar Craven has long dreamed of a big trip with his family. So how did he do it? This is an interesting story about how a determined family from Britain made their dream to go around the globe on a yacht in two years come true!

This year, a large number of new yachting equipment has been tested on the racing tracks. So much the better for us - ordinary yachtsmen! We saw live what this or that thing is capable of. In this article, let's talk about the latest fashionable delights of the yachting industry!

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Catamaran Elba 45

The open sea has never been so tempting

Length overall

Beam overall

Standard Power

Electric version

Elba 45 - Smart Elec 65

Smart elec pack

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Hydrogeneration

Upgraded battery

Upgraded charger

Additionnal AC Inverter

1x6 kW (Total 12 kW)

The largest lounge deck in its category, capable of accommodating the entire crew, represents a new, additional living space where you can make even more unforgettable memories together.

Uncompromising focus on comfort

The Elba 45 catamaran changes the way you experience life on board, both at sea and at anchor.

Waterline length is often associated with a yacht’s performance . At 13.45m, the Elba 45 promises great average speeds, so you can sail even further. And width has a direct relationship with comfort. With a platform like this, our design team has imagined a multitude of dedicated spaces, each with its own purpose. Enjoy seamless freedom of movement between these spaces : wander between a chaise longue and a sun lounger for some solitutude or to share time with others. You choose where, when and with whom.

Catamaran Elba 45 in video

Elba 45 : a cruising catamaran that exceeds your expectations

Where onboard socialising comes into its own

With its own space purely for sailing and managing life on board, the saloon has a chaise lounge, ideal for keeping watch or simply relaxing . The galley extends to the front, accentuating the views and sense of volume.

Features Catamaran Elba 45

Version Maestro

1 owner’s suite + 1 bathroom / 2 double cabins + 2 bathrooms

Mainsail area

Displacement unloaded

Option Power

Fresh water tank

2 x 92 Gallons

Diesel tank

124 Gallons

Berret-Racoupeau Design

Never before has the skipper been able to share their experience so closely with their guests. A generous U-shaped benchseat on the rooftop allows crew to join them while underway or stretch out on the sundeck at the foot of the mast. It’s a great opportunity to mix up the seating and find your favourite spot!

Indoor & outdoor areas

Unique design and incomparable spaces.

From the Owner’s version, where an expansive master suite fills the port hull, to the Quartet version with its convenient four cabins and bathrooms, the Elba 45 catamaran cruiser caters for every need. The forepeaks can also accommodate a berth on one side and a bathroom for a skipper.

Virtual visit

As if you were there….

Welcome aboard this exceptional yacht for a 100% immersive visit. Explore her interior and exterior living spaces in minute detail!

• Construction & Design
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Waiting times for a Fountaine Pajot catamaran may vary according to the stage of your project, the model you want or your sailing area. Some Fountaine Pajot dealers have new catamarans ready to sail! Contact your nearest dealer HERE to ask about the availability of the catamaran of your dreams!

Visit your nearest Fountaine Pajot boat dealer to buy a new catamaran from our range. You will benefit from personalised advice through the Fountaine Pajot dealer network. Discover our network HERE

The price of a Fountaine Pajot sailing catamaran varies according to the size of the model chosen and your sailing project. Our dealers are at your disposal to guide you in your choice of fittings, packages and options to best suit your boat purchase project . You can find out the starting price of the catamaran of your choice on this page HERE .

Innovative, high-tech composite materials constitute most of the structure of our sailing catamarans: hulls, flybridge, decks, bulkheads and more. Fountaine Pajot has perfected a resin injection and infusion technique, an advanced technology that gives our boats all their robustness. Thanks to this expertise, we can make our catamarans considerably lighter while maintaining consistent quality . Injection also makes it possible to meet the most stringent environmental requirements, in line with the commitments of the Fountaine Pajot Group.

Sailing catamarans from 40 to 50 feet are built at the Aigrefeuille headquarters, a few kilometres from La Rochelle. Catamaran yachts from 51 to 80 feet are built in La Rochelle, France, where they benefit from a slipway.

It is essential to define your sailing program: define the size of the crew on board, the level of sailing knowledge, the sailing project and the target sailing area. Every project is different. Whether you want to enjoy a large Owner’s suite, invite many friends and family on board, or telecommute during your voyage, the Fountaine Pajot cruising catamarans can be adapted to suit your needs. Benefit from reliable, seaworthy and spacious catamarans! Find out more about our Owners’ testimonials here

The ergonomics of Fountaine Pajot catamarans have been designed to facilitate manoeuvring at the helm, enabling a small crew (2 persons) to manoeuvre the boat easily, both in port and at sea. The unique design of the helm station allows good communication between the aft cockpit and the Fly relaxation areas. Of course, your level of navigation will determine your ability to sail with two or more persons!

Our electric catamarans now feature a large surface area of solar panels, up to 2000 WC, perfectly integrated into the design of the coachroof. Combined with equipment such as wind turbines or hydro-generators, they compensate for the energy consumption generated by on-board use during cruising. Discover the benefits of the Smart Electric solution with 4 real-life cruise scenarios

The Fountaine Pajot range of electric catamarans is expanding, and now includes 3 Smart Electric models. The Astréa 42, Elba 45 and Aura 51 are now available in this version.

With the help of over 70 engineers, Fountaine Pajot has developed an in-house solution, 100% adapted to the use of its catamarans equipped with hybrid electric motors . All on-board production and energy expenditure flows are managed from a single console designed by our teams to offer a simple, designer user experience. The system we have developed enables us to give priority to the use of renewable energies at all times. Find out more here

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Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Catamaran

Dimensions & specifications.

Brochure, Layout & Specifications

• LOA: 13.45 m / 44.1 ft
• Beam over all: 7.55 m / 24.8 ft
• Displacement unloaded: 14 T
• Draft: 1.2 m / 3.9 ft
• Sail area: 75 m² / 807 ft²
• Genoa: 49 m² / 527 ft²
• Standard – 2 x 50 CV / 2 x 50 HP
• Optional – 2 x 60 CV / 2 x 60 HP
• Fresh water (approx) 2 x 350 l / 2 x 02 US gal
• Fuel (approx): 470 l  / 124 US gal
• Architect: Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design

FP Elba 45 Overview

Fountaine Pajot’s Elba 45 sailing catamaran does not disappointment with inviting lines, brightly lit and well-appointed interior living spaces with ample invisible storage. There is plenty of room to spread out to relax and entertain on the foredeck andlounge deck, in the cockpit, and on the optinoal electrically-operated Beach Club electric platform.

Remarkable configuration changes were introduced when compared to the first in the range, Helia 44. The large 182 sq ft saloon is uncluttered placing the “chart table” as a abbreviated console atop cabinetrty in the galley. This small but impactful innovation acknowledges the fact that in today’s electronic charts world, crew spend very little time at the chart table, just checking in briefly rather than sitting at it.

This new masterpiece is not only beautiful, but her newly designed helm station improves handling and delivers above-expected performance.

The owners’ suite and guest cabins offer comfortable solitude with en-suite shower rooms depending on the version.

FP Elba 45 Layouts

The FP 45 is available in 2 layouts:

• Maestro owner version: 1 owners’ suite + 1 bathroom / 2 double cabins + 2 bathrooms. The  entire port hull is utilized for the double cabin with fold-out TV, dressing table, copious clothes storage and a large ensuite bath.
• Quatuor version (charter-friendly):  4 double cabins + 2 bathrooms

Both include a crew berth in the starboard bow and crew head to port.

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Review Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

The French company Fountaine Pajot is somewhat of an oak tree in the industry, having a history that dates back to the company’s establishment in 1976. While new catamaran brands are cropping up like mushrooms, Fountaine Pajot has been there since 1976. It is also one of the major cat builders in the industry, having shipped over 600 boats across the world in 2018. The brand-new Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 will take the place of the Helia 44, which has been in production for seven years, and is designed to become the yard’s next best-selling boat. As a result of this, it is not a paradigm-shifting breakaway model; rather, it is a reliable, trustworthy, and well-thought-out staple model. Not without reason, more than one hundred of the boats had already been purchased before the first hull had ever been launched into the sea.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Catamaran Charter Croatia 3

The Design and Building Process

Olivier Racoupeau, the designer of the Fountaine-Pajot Elba 45, started with a blank slate after more than 150 meetings and hundreds of hours of labor. The Fountaine-Pajot Elba 45 is intended to take the place of the older Helia 44. The brand-new hull has a smaller chine in the aft portion and a redesigned transom, which together contribute to a reduction in drag that is 10 percent lower than that of the Helia. Racoupeau shared with me his thoughts by saying, “It may not seem like much, but for us, that’s a significant issue.” The end result is improved performance at medium to high speeds as well as increased efficiency while motoring; all of this is accomplished in a hull that is just 6 inches longer than its predecessor and 6 inches beamier.

In addition to that, Fountaine-Pajot has not deviated from its winning formula of slightly aft-raked bows and fixed stub keels below the waterline in order to improve the boat’s performance when sailing into the wind. According to the “flagship director” of the company, Yves de Kerangat, the keels are only glued into a specifically constructed recess in the hulls. There are no keel bolts, which means that in the case of a collision or a grounding, the boat will not be compromised by the loss of the keel bolts. During the layup process, a combination of polyester and vinylester is infused under glass, and an epoxy primer is applied on top as a final layer to prevent blistering. The process is called vacuum infusion.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Catamaran Charter Croatia 9

Instead of offering this boat with a complete flybridge, Fountaine Pajot has opted to provide a bulkhead helm position along with some low-profile lounging area on the coach roof. This decision was made in order to maximize interior volume and save weight. Why was “resistance” used? The additional room and prestige that a flybridge provides may be appealing to some people; nevertheless, because it adds a significant amount of weight to the upper decks, the designer is required to increase the height of the boom. Because of this, the center of effort is moved higher up, which in turn increases the heeling moment and necessitates a mast that is higher.

As it stands, the 45’s helm provides a kind of halfway house in which the person at the wheel can still stay involved in life on the aft deck below, via sightlines through the ladder up to the coach roof. This is possible because the 45’s helm sits in the same location as the ladder that leads to the coach roof. Additionally, there is a full 109 square feet of cushion area up top, where crew members can either keep the helmsperson company or simply view a sunset.

This contemporary-looking cruising catamarán has high topsides and bows, and it has a noticeable reverse sheer, which serves to decrease the size of the saloon windows while at the same time creating more useable space below. In terms of aesthetics, this catamarán has a modern appearance. A smart skirt has been added to the transoms at the stern of the vessel, making it much simpler to step onboard from the tender or when the vessel is alongside another vessel. Another nice feature is an optional electrically operated bathing platform that spans the entire width between the hulls and provides a convenient way to launch and retrieve a 10 foot 10 inch tender, thereby eliminating the need for unsightly davits. This platform is available as an add-on for an additional cost.

The rig is suitable for use in ICW waters and is representative of a fairly conventional catamaran design, with the 59-foot-and-five-inch mast stepped on the leading end of the coach roof. The genoa sheets are led to a set of tracks situated close to the centerline and within reach of the cockpit for simple control and precise trim angles. The mainsheet is led to a traveler that is mounted aft of the helm and lounging area. You can easily manage sheets, halyards, and reefing lines thanks to the presence of three Lewmar 50 winches in the rope-handling pit that is located right in front of the wheel. All lines return here after being lead back there.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Catamaran Charter Croatia 13

Accommodations

When compared to the first-generation Helia 44, the interior design team at Racoupeau and Fountaine Pajot has made a number of important improvements, most notably with regard to the huge saloon that spans 180 square feet. For instance, where the Helia had a horseshoe-shaped galley aft and a deep, dedicated chart table forward to port, the new boat leaves this space largely uncluttered, with the galley now running along the port side of the saloon, where it is punctuated by a set of stairs leading down into the cabins that are located in the hull. Additionally, the galley now runs along the starboard side of the saloon as well. Additionally, the chart table has been removed, and the navigational instruments have been moved to a cabinet that is located next to the sliding door that leads to the cockpit. Racoupeau offers the following statement as an explanation for the decision: “From our own personal experience, we realized that we utilize the chart table less and less.” We go there to get knowledge, but we don’t sit down and get any work done as we used to in the past.

Both a “Maestro,” or owner’s, version and a charter-friendly “Quatuor” setup are available for the yacht’s interior. The “Maestro” version is a double cabin that takes up the entirety of the port hull and features a fold-out TV, dressing table, copious clothes storage, and a large shower room and heads. The “Quatuor” setup features four cabins and four heads. Both have a crew bunk in the bow on the starboard side, as well as space for a crew head on the port side. In addition to it, there is enough for a sail storage. The finish that comes standard for the furniture is a light grey wood, and the carpeting and upholstery may either be neutral or dark oak.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Catamaran Charter Croatia 19

An clever hook that is positioned on the head car of this boat makes the work of raising the main sail much simpler by providing a 2:1 purchase as it draws the sail up the mast track. This means that you don’t have to lose any time bringing the sails up with this boat. We discovered that the FP Elba 45 was able to easily maintain 7 to 8 knots of boat speed when beating into roughly 12 knots of true wind at an apparent wind angle of 45 degrees. This was accomplished with the fully battened main sail and the conventional 120 percent genoa.

She benefited from the wind and rolled along smoothly. We were only able to test a reaching sail, so we missed out on testing a running sail, which would have really shed some light on the situation. According to Fountaine Pajot, the bigger genoa means there is less of a requirement for other sail configurations, such as a specialized Code 0. On the other hand, a central longeron protrudes beyond the bow, serving as a tack point for any canvas that may be used.

Under power

The Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 is a quiet and efficient powerboat since it is equipped with a pair of 40-horsepower Volvo D2 saildrives that are hidden away in its two transom compartments. You also have the option to upgrade to a pair of units with 60 horsepower each, which would be a great option if you plan to spend a significant amount of time driving. The typical propeller is a 17-inch-diameter three-bladed device that is fixed. Nevertheless, you also have the option to upgrade to an 18-inch Volvo folding prop.

Because it is controlled by a regular Volvo dual throttle, it is simple to handle at moderate speeds in the area immediately surrounding the dock. At a rpm of 2,000, we were able to easily get over 7 knots, and at a rpm of 3,000, we were able to achieve over 9 knots.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Catamaran Charter Croatia 20

Our Conclusion

Again, Fountaine-newest Pajot’s design takes the place of its well-liked Helia 44, and it does so by occupying a true “sweet spot” in terms of a LOA and displacement that makes it suitable not only for families who enjoy idling around the harbor, but also for those who have aspirations of going on longer cruises. When compared to the Helia, the modifications that were made to the Elba 45 are well-thought-out and make the boat more efficient while also improving its overall performance. This might very well be the perfect boat for you if you are seeking for an exciting and secure sailing vessel that will allow you to look after your family in luxury.

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Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

Exceptionally modern, bright, and featuring the latest industry technology

44'13" / 13,45 m

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Fountaine Pajot New 45

sailing multihull, hybrid sailing monohull, zero-emission sailing monohull

Fountaine Pajot

514768€ (Ex. VAT)

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Yacht Review & Polar diagram

A NEW CRUISING CATAMARAN TO EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Description from Yard: “Climb aboard the Elba catamaran and enter the boldly modern, bright, spacious world of a cruising catamaran signed by Fountaine Pajot.

The new Fountaine Pajor Elba 45 boasts energetic lines and inverted bows, accommodating incredible interior living spaces, making her truly astonishing. This elegant new catamaran also has a newly designed helm station to improve handling, promising excellent performance.”

The Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 won the Best Charter Boat for 2020. According to the judges, the boat is well-built. It indicated that the Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 is a strong boat that will last a while. And the ‘four-by-four’ cabin-layout is ideal for chartering.

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Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

When you step aboard the Fountaine Pajot Elba 45, your expectations for a cruising catamaran of this size will be exceeded. Exceptionally modern, bright, and featuring the latest industry technology, the Elba 45 sets a new standard for yachts of its size.

With inverted bows and a completely redesigned helm station, this sailing catamaran boasts an incredibly inviting interior and offers high-quality performance out on the water. She provides the largest lounging areas of others in her category. In addition to the abundance of relaxation space on deck, the Owners suite and guest cabins below deck offer spacious privacy.

Complete with a Beach Club electric platform to ease your way into the water, fun will be had onboard and off!

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After seven years in production - and 259 units built - the Hélia 44 is stepping down, to be replaced by the New 45, whose name will be announced early September. We carried a preview test out on the occasion of the first very sail of this eagerly-awaited new model.

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Our rendezvous was scheduled on the Troia peninsula, south-east of Lisbon. In early summer, conditions here are most often quite windy - the famous Portuguese trade winds. But we were going to have to be satisfied with a few puffs of northerly breeze... which in the end turned out to suit the New 45 quite well. A pleasant surprise really, because this new baby is rather chubby: 14 tons as opposed to the 10.8 of the Helia 44. We’re not very far off the displacement of the Saba 50 - 15.7 t. The sail area logically follows this increase: upwind, it goes from 115 m² (1,240 sq ft) on the Hélia to 124 m² (1,335 sq ft). The Berret-Racoupeau team of naval architects and the yard's design office obviously took into account the wishes of customers in the market for a 45-foot catamaran intended for long-distance cruising as well as charter: to have maximum comfort. This means more volume - and therefore more material - and additional equipment. Hence a higher displacement. The architects' design feat is to have managed to maintain fluid and harmonious lines on this New 45: thanks to small details such as the very slender bimini, the skillfully cut side windows and the metallic grey trim on...

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Fountaine Pajot 45 Elba

Sail performance.

Description

Dynamic and stylish, the helm of our new catamaran offers easy maneuverability and will delight you with its performance. A true cruising catamaran, traversed by a magnificent luminescence, you will feel aboard the Elba 45 just as comfortable as at home. With two new dedicated spaces in the saloon, you’ll feel like you’re in business class. With the Elba 45, and its 13.45 metre size, all our creativity has been put to good use in meeting your expectations for comfort. We have oversized ordinary boating experience, with one of the largest lounge areas in its category, the Owner Suite and the breathtakingly large guest rooms, the 8.5 m2 relaxation areas at the front of the boat to enjoy the delights of the sea in the most relaxed way. The Elba 45 is available in two versions. Maestro, with an Owner’s suite and its ensuite bathroom, two double cabins and two adjoining bathrooms. Quatuor, with 4 double cabins and 4 adjoining bathrooms. The Elba 45 defies moderation, in the name of the pleasure you will find in sailing.

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Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design

Fixed keels

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2 x 50 - 60hp

Resin-infused vinylester with a balsa core

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20 Performance Cruising Catamaran Reviews

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Catamarans are exciting and fast sailboats that offer some great features. With so many types and brands to choose from, it’s hard to find which is worth your investment. So, what are the top performance cruising catamarans ?

The best performance cruising catamarans are the Manta 42, Dolphin 42, Leopard 48, and Fountaine Pajot Elba 45. The McConaghy MC50, Privilege 435, and Nautitech 441 are also impressive models. The best offer optimal performance and can sail a 250-mile voyage easily.

Have you just begun your catamaran research but don’t know which to buy? Are you looking for a performance cruising catamaran that’s worth the investment? Let’s take a closer look at 20 performance cruising catamarans and what makes them the best.

The Top 20 Performance Cruising Catamarans

Catamarans are racing ships that have slowly been making waves in the cruising world. The design focuses on lightness and simplicity. Combined, these two elements ensure a faster ship and make them great for long distances.

The multiple hulls on the catamarans offer optimal water displacement, allowing them to glide through the water with much less trouble than single-hull boats. Because of their design, a catamaran’s performance will vary depending on the conditions you sail them through. The ocean and wind will play a significant role in how fast your catamaran will go as well as how smooth the ride will be.

When comparing catamarans for speed, there are four numbers you’ll want to consider:  

• Bruce Number: The speed potential based on the power (sail-area) to weight ratio of the boat
• Texel Rating (TR): A formula that will calculate how long it takes to sail any distance
• Kelsall Sailing Performance (KSP): Potential speed of a vessel
• Base Speed: The average speed of a boat over 24 hours of sailing

These numbers signify a cat’s performance so that you can pick the one that best suit your needs, whether you’re looking for a fast catamaran or not.

In addition to speed, your catamaran should have everything you need to be comfortable on your voyages. There should be plenty of living space for you and your crew or family members. When choosing the best catamaran for your needs, consider how much gear you will have with you on any given trip and if the ship you’re looking at has enough space for all of it.

The Manta 42 is a favorite of many sailors. Its beautiful design has a high bow and an incorporated curved crossbeam, the latter being unique and making the ship easy to spot from far distances and onshore.

Typically, aluminum crossbeams are used, and they allow for more movement in the bows. Since the Manta 42 doesn’t use aluminum ones, the ship is more susceptible to cracks in the bow caused by stress. However, the width of the Manta 42 makes the ship stable on the water, and the narrow hulls make it great for slicing through the water with speed and agility.

The Dolphin 42 has the best balance of performance and cruising comfort . What is truly special about these boats is that they come equipped with daggerboards . These bad ass features allow the ship to pull into just about any anchorage, including the shallow ones. 

The Dolphin is made with a foam core, which is designed to make the entire ship lighter. However, this doesn’t compromise the performance of the boat. It makes it perfect for cruising through the ocean with high-performance levels.

One thing to keep in mind is those convenient daggerboards. If the ship were to run aground, the hull integrity could be compromised. And if the daggerboards are removed or lifted, they will expose the rudders underneath. These features don’t ruin the ship’s functionality, but it’s important to note them just in case.

The Leopard 48 is a catamaran that you’ll definitely want to see. The design uses some of the best techniques to ensure optimal speed, weight, and cruising performance. The hulls are narrow — like most catamarans — and are built to reduce the amount of water that flows on the deck. It also reduces the amount of sea spray along the sides.

The Leopard 48 has two bulkheads (one in the bow and the other in the stern) designed to keep water out of the ship in an accident. It’s designed for long journeys, and the vessel comes with everything you could want for everyday living.

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

The Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 is a fantastic powerhouse ship with luxury at its core. The living quarters of this catamaran are impressive and are sure to provide you with every comfort you could possibly want, no matter how long you sail it for.

The designers considered everything when designing this ship. They’ve simplified the prep work for the sails, making it easier than ever to get underway. The build of the Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 makes it fast when sailing or when under power. 

McConaghy MC50

The McConaghy MC50 is on the smaller side of catamarans in the McConaghy brand, but that shouldn’t disqualify it. This ship was designed with wide-open concepts and high bows. There’s no doubt it’s made for luxury but can hold its own in performance and speed departments.

Even with its luxury items (such as its full washing machine), this ship moves through the water gently. While it’s clearly designed for comfort, it’s still a relatively fast boat. However, there is a downside to the layout of the boat. The helms are much more exposed than other catamarans, which could be a potential safety hazard.

Privilege 435

The Privilege 435 is a catamaran designed to go long distances. It uses a heavy displacement so that the ship glides through the water with ease. The vessel is also built with a low-slung structure to help prevent winds. 

A slight drawback could be the heat buildup caused by the sun seeping in through the windows, as there aren’t any outside shades or ways to block the sun except for the internal shades. The other downside to this catamaran is that the Privilege’s bridge deck has low clearance . Other than that, the ship is an excellent option for those looking for a well-built cat.

Nautitech 441

The Nautitech 441 is another impressive catamaran to consider. The interior is slightly smaller than some others we have gone over, but don’t let that fool you. This boat is full of great features to make your trip comfortable and successful.

For example, the Nautitech 441 is equipped with a rain gutter situated around the entire coachroof. This gives you the option to collect the water for your freshwater tanks, or you can simply let it drain off the boat through the Y-shaped valve.

It’s a fast little boat that can use either the sails or fuel to reach 9 knots in moderate conditions. That’s not bad if you’re looking for a comfortable, decent-sized cruising ship with a bit of a kick.

The ICE Cat 61 is a catamaran designed and developed in Italy. The ship uses a carbon mast and is very easy to use.

The ship’s size and the power-to-weight ratio allow for reaching top speeds that isn’t possible with a monohull. The living areas are also large and are perfect for entertaining, making the ICE Cat 61 a great option to consider when shopping for your new catamaran.

The unique aspect of the Lagoon 440 is the engine. It doesn’t not have to run on diesel fuel because Lagoon offers a fully electric version. This is great for those who are looking for a more eco-friendly way to run their boat. This catamaran uses two electric motors, which are mounted on each hull of the ship, but the best part is that these engines are almost entirely silent.

The inside is just as luxurious as the engine is, designed with families in mind and for long-distance journeys. It’s a ship that would handle itself perfectly in deeper waters and even in harsh winds.

Antares 44i

The Antares 44i is a well-designed catamaran that is meant for long-distance journeys like most catamarans are. The layout is engineered to give you the best views throughout your trip, and the cockpit is fully equipped in the event you’re sailing single handed.

The motors are installed in a discrete location and are almost completely silent, allowing for outstanding performance without sacrificing your comforts. There’s tons of storage available as well for all of the gear that comes with sailing.

The Catana 50 has a well-built design that is meant for high speeds and effective sailing. The daggerboards help the hulls cut through the water with little trouble. There is also excellent storage for your gear located throughout the boat.

What is genuinely superior in this catamaran is the ability it holds to turn itself around with ease and speed. There is no struggle to reverse the ship and maneuver it around the dock. Walking around on the boat is easy enough, but the cockpit setup and helm are situated awkwardly, so it requires a bit of walk around to use all of the ship’s controls. 

The Voyage 44 is a performance cruising catamaran that is well-built for a bargain price. It’s something that you just can’t beat when looking for a new yacht because this ship has everything you could ask for.

It’s designed with day cruising in mind, but that won’t limit it to short distances. What’s also great about this boat is the amount of seating it offers, fitting 32 people comfortably. The ship is functional, and the layout is designed to make traveling onboard the vessel as simple and straightforward as possible.

Atlantic 42

The Atlantic 42 is a fan favorite. This loyal following stems from the Atlantic’s look and effectiveness, and consumers seem to love how easy this ship is to sail and how capable it is for deep ocean sailing.

The size of the Atlantic 42 is something fans of this catamaran love. It might look small from the outside, but the inside layout is well done and feels spacious. The cockpit location in front of the mainmast takes advantage of the rest of the ship’s structure, making it a more flexible design than some other catamarans available.

Outremer 45

The Outremer 45 is designed a bit differently from other catamarans because the hulls are narrower than usual. This helps make the Outremer 45 a fast ship, but it’s done for safety reasons as well. The narrower hulls will prevent the vessel from skidding on the water as much as other catamarans. It also reduces any pitching you might experience from flying through the water at top speeds.

The interior is smaller than many other boats in this article, but the design doesn’t sacrifice your comfort. The cabin has an open concept to easily pull the outdoor seating into the indoor living space, meaning it’s perfect for entertaining and comfortable living. 

The Bahia 46 is on the bigger side by catamaran standards. It’s designed by the brand Fountaine Pajot, which has been building catamarans for years. In fact, Fountaine Pajot is one of the leading brands in cruising catamarans.

The foam core’s overall design, the high bridge deck clearance , and the low center of gravity make this ship an excellent option for deep ocean sailing. It will hold its own on rough waters as well, and there’s also plenty of space for entertaining on the inside of the ship. 

The Prout 45 is an excellent catamaran to consider if you plan to sail with a limited crew. The positioning of the mainsail and the mast make it simple to use and easy to reach. Also, the mainsail itself is smaller than other ships and easy to handle.

The interior isn’t like some of the newer models. In new catamarans, the concept is more open and free-flowing between inside and outside. In the Prout 45, things are more traditional but still comfortable. Don’t worry; you still have plenty of room to entertain and plot your voyage.

Gemini 105MC

The Gemini 105MC is a unique catamaran. That’s because instead of being designed solely by the builder, it’s a collective effort from the builder and many sailors who used the vessel. They wrote in their suggestions to improve the Gemini, and the builder used the most relevant ones to build the newer models.

If you’re looking for a ship for a cross-ocean voyage, you may want to consider another catamaran. Due to the ship’s size and weight, it’s less likely to make it across the ocean. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not a great ship, and this vessel is perfect for sailing near the coast. 

The Gunboat 62 is the first catamaran of this brand. The Gunboat 62 is an older model, but it’s still considered one of the fastest. These ships were also the first to introduce luxury to performance cruising. 

The interior is slightly outdated, and technology has advanced since the brand launched these ships. However, this boat’s overall performance is unmatched, though there also isn’t as much space available for storage. 

Marsaudon TS5

The Marsaudon TS5 is one of the fastest catamarans available. It’s designed with panoramic views from the interior, and the ship speeds up quickly due to its lightweight design and shape.

The ship can be challenging to maneuver, which makes it better suited for experienced sailors. While the interior still has plenty of luxuries, it can be considered bare. The designers want to keep the ship light to increase its speed, meaning some comforts have been sacrificed, such as space in the living quarters.

Unlimited C53

The Unlimited C53 is a fast racing catamaran with all the comforts of a cruising ship. The design uses a new technique of connecting the two hulls at 1.3m above the waterline. This is unheard of in most catamarans, and this feature minimizes how the ship handles rougher seas.

The ship uses all of the necessary tanks and equipment to keep the boat balanced on the water. Perfect weight displacement throughout the vessel makes it ideal for racing and long-distance sailing. The interior is also spacious and provides all of the comforts you could need. 

In the end, the best performance cruising cat for you is going to come down to your personal preferences and what you want in a boat. Each catamaran on this list is going to provide you the best features you could ever imagine in a ship. Hopefully, the reviews of the top 20 performance cruising catamarans will help you find your dream boat!

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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