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Derek Kelsall Interview

• Post author By Richard
• Post date February 19, 2021
• No Comments on Derek Kelsall Interview

We spoke with legendary catamaran designer Derek Kelsall. We cover his history and innovations in catamarans design and construction such as the foam coring, KSS. We ask him why his designs and build techniques are so heavily criticized. He talks about what size of a catamaran that a couple or family should purchase and where catamaran design is likely to go in the next decade.

Please find out more about Derek Kelsall on his website . You can email him to ask questions and purchase plans or built kit.

Thanks for joining us, just start by telling us about yourself.

Designing and boat building is my second career. I spent 10 years in survey work and in oil exploration that took me to Kenya, to Libya, and to Texas. It was in Texas that I built my first boat.. When I left school, I wanted to travel. I discovered hitchhiking and went around Europe.

First time I came home with money in my bank, I got a pilot’s license, which didn’t cost that much in that time. 130 pounds I think, but this is going back a long way. I wanted to sail in the Pacific Islands.

I was in the single-handed transatlantic race, which was a spur of the moment decision made in March 1964. It was a very low budget project. I was in the Bahamas at the time, spur of the moment, oh nothing happening here, I’ll go start building a boat and enter the trans-Atlantic race. We had six weeks to build the boat when it started, with three hulls supplied by a company called Cox Marine. Put them together, a standard Fiver, but without this accommodation, and I led the way out of Plymouth Sound.

But a week later, I had run over something at nine knots and broken my transiting weather and the daggerboard. So I was sitting there with no means of steering. I later found out that there was only one man further west than myself and that was Eric Cavalli. He was just five miles ahead of me and Francis Chichester was in second place finishing, and he was on the same longitude as myself, and let’s say it came in seconds. I made up a jury rig, sailed back to Plymouth, did repairs, set out again, and it took me 34 days. Only three men, I think, have done better than that.

Interesting story. So that’s how you got into designing boats?

Yes, that’s the background to it. During the trans-Atlantic Race I’ve met this man, this director of the company in Cornwall. This was a bit of a disaster in some ways. Anyway, they employed me for a few months, or for a few weeks actually, when we found the company was going bankrupt anyway. Eventually I took over the premises and finished some projects which were already in progress. Then I got the chance to build a boat which is my design, to enter the 1966 Round Britain Race.

It was the first foam sandwich, so we’ll be learning as we go, how to handle the foam. The design was very different to anything from before, but now everybody has followed that style, and we just ran away with a rounded race. It was a lovely race, two thousand miles and four harbor stops on the way, around this round island around the Chatham Islands and back into Plymouth. Anyway, we finished a day ahead of everybody else.

Then we got a contract to build a boat for the next single-handed trans-Atlantic race in 1968, both called Sir Thomas Lipton. Sir Thomas Lipton with Jeffrey Williams won the race. This was followed by several other multiples winning the Round Britain Race.

The next really really big one was, we built a boat for the Whitbread Around-the-World Race. This boat finished first around the world, so that was quite a big good start for my boat building career. I never really wanted to build. I wanted to be a designer. But you can get into the starting company to build a particular project, it’s quite hard to get out again.

There’s a lot of information out there on the internet about the Kelsall Swiftsure Sandwich Construction. Can you describe this method of construction?

The way I work, I keep on looking for better ways to do things. The first boat we did was fairly traditional, and we made the framework covered with the foam, fiberglass on the outside, take off the foam, and fiberglass on the inside. We did quite a lot of boats that way.

Then in the early 70s til the mid 70s, had a contract to build 50-foot catamarans, and I built a table that was 60 feet long and about six or eight feet wide. We put those panels on this table, and it just makes sense to be using resin. It’s better to put the resin on a flat surface, and then we can use our latest technology, which is there’s an infusion, so using vacuum to spread the resin, and it all works.

Eventually, you got to the point where every part of the boat could be built as a kitted panel. So on a whole, this ground build was made putting two panels together, leaving off some of the fiberglass, a few dark cuts, and they go into a perfectly fair shape. We’re still improving, still making some improvements, but they are minor now. We’ve been doing it this way for the last thirty years or so. Heavily criticized, yes. By every other designer, actually.

Particularly two or three others, and an incident which sticks in my mind. I had sold a trimaran to an American who was doing business in Houston, England. And yes, he said he would buy this trimaran and he gave me a check. Next morning, he rang up and said he’s sorry, he had had to cancel the check. He met another designer who told him how bad foam sandwich was, so that was the attitude of the few people at that time. A year later, I had one of his boats. He built a foam sandwich finally himself, and it was in my workshop for repairs. That’s kind of the situation I have dealt with quite a lot in my career. Obviously, it is so far ahead of anything else you can do, with designers who will find something to criticize.

Tell us about the KSS 46 design.

This is a design which is fairly standard. A few have been built in Peru by Georgio Balota. Still been building my boats now, for the best part of 15 years, if not more than that. We held the KSS workshops in various places, and he came to one in Texas. That’s the tale, and then he went back where he had a small boat that was in business, and he’s been building my designs ever since. He’s built 58-footers, he’s building a 64-footer now, and he stayed busy ever since. Obviously, the labor cost is fairly attractive in Peru.

What is the most popular design that you sell?

I don’t know actually, probably it is the 46. I probably sold more of those.

My competitors say about KSS, “That’s only for professionals.” But in fact is simply not the case. We get some of the best results from people who’ve never built before.

Anyway, there was a doctor and his wife, a very busy couple, they built their own catamaran in about a year of their mostly spare time. This is fairly typical.

Of course, home building has now gone out of fashion when I started. If you wanted to know how, you built it yourself. Now this policy is quite a lot on the market. One of the basic problems is that everybody claims that they have the best build method. But then other potential builders see how long it really takes, using the more traditional methods, and that kind of kills the market. Unless you can show people that method is really efficient, and now they think we see some ridiculous build time claims for some designs, like a 50-footer.

I know a couple of designers have 50-footers, and they take four thousand, five thousand hours. It was one of these built here in New Zealand, and they took fifteen thousand hours for a professional crew building. So now people find this out half, as they bought the plans, unfortunately. Then they look around and they visit other designs being built, and they will see that those claims are way, way out.

So in your opinion, why are some of your designs heavily criticized, as you said?

Well, basically because the path of the build is so good. Where I’ve looked at is over here: we’re using liquid resins to put it down on the top, that you can do 90% of the laminating on a table. It just makes sense rather than do it over a boat shape, or a hull shape, and then have to do the outside and put a finish on it on the inside.

Of course the big, really big, saving is that each panel comes off the table with a smooth gel coat finish. Because they’re full length panels, they will automatically take a fair line, so you’ve got a no compromise. I’ll shape everything else has a smooth finish, including the top sides of the hulls have a smooth gel coat finish.

Literally, most catamaran designs of at least 45-foot or over, the owners will be using traditional methods to spend four to five thousand hours just producing your thing, which is not a pleasant job, anyway.

I don’t know, I guess I’m not the best salesman in the world when it comes to selling my own prowess.

In your opinion what’s the ideal catamaran size for a couple that’s going cruising?

I think around the 40, 45-foot. My Atlantic sailing was on smaller trimarans. My first major Atlantic storm lasted about three days, not very pleasant. Now, we were running under the bare bones, and that was a trimaran which is far less stable than a 40-foot trimaran would be. I think from that point of view, it couldn’t go any worse. Obviously, size makes it much more comfortable, the size of the boat compared to the size of the waves makes a big difference.

How about the ideal size for a family, do you suggest bigger than the 40 to 45?

Not unless you know the expense is going to go up quite highly. But on the other hand, you know you’ve got a lot of space in there, in those boats. If you’ve got the crew, you can handle them, then go bigger. Maybe you’ve got instances of the 58-footers built in Peru, and the owners have done a lot of things, a lot of miles, to our owners in particular. A 70-footer was built here, I spent some time on that, it’s now in California. We’ve been spending time on the online boat and it was built 20 years ago now, and it’s still sailing today. Now normally you’ll have one or two people, which is key.

To wrap up today, looking ahead the next 10 years, where do you see catamaran construction going?

There will be more and more catamarans, and less and less other yachts. Everywhere here’s super yachts, emotional fishing boats, ferries. We’ve done quite a few ferries. We’ve got a 150-passenger, 82-foot catamaran molds that are being made in in the Philippines at the moment. They’re looking to do eight to ten a year of this particular model. We’ve got a lot in the Philippines, a lot of very old, great plywood boats that have been are operating, where you lose a few each year. I think there’s actually been a law they must replace these wooden boats with a composite boat and this friend of mine, a Frenchman, set up to build in the Philippines.

Derek what’s the best way for viewers watching this episode, if they’re interested in your designs, to find out more information and get in touch with you?

Email, by all means. Any questions far and away, I’m happy to answer. We’ve got study plans, we’ve got a lot of these different designs. We actually welcome customer design as well, adding to our range of boats. There are about 500 different designs over the last 50-odd years that we have designed.

That wraps up today’s episode on catamaransite.com, thank you for joining us and don’t forget to click subscribe at the end of this episode. Thank you, Derek.

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Professional BoatBuilder Magazine

Obituary: derek kelsall.

By Dieter Loibner , May 31, 2023

Derek Kelsall in the cockpit of Toria sails with his wife, Clare, at the helm.

The sailing world has lost a pioneering multihull designer and boat-builder. Derek Kelsall, who famously introduced Eric Tabarly to multihulls, and who was one of the first to champion foam sandwich construction, died at 89 last December in Thames, New Zealand.

Born in rural North Wales on May 15, 1933, the son of a farm laborer and a schoolmistress, Kelsall spent his early childhood in humble surroundings. Later he studied engineering at Bristol University but was unable to finish the course for lack of funds. He entered the oil exploration business, working in Libya and Texas, but soon traded his desk job for sailing and building multihulls in the Caribbean. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, he entered the second edition of the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) in 1964, racing Folatre, a 35′ (10.7m) plywood Arthur Piver–designed trimaran.

The boat was ketch rigged and equipped with an early wind vane self-steering system, but there was much concern surrounding Folatre and her young skipper, as she was the first multihull to enter the race without ballast (two other catamarans in the race had been fitted with twin ballast keels). Sadly, five days into the race while lying in second place, Folatre struck an underwater object, destroying her rudder. Kelsall returned to Plymouth, fixed the rudder, restarted, and finished in Newport, Rhode Island, in the then-respectable time of 34 days. [With a otal elapsed time of 61 days, he officially finished 13th—Ed.]

He decided to produce his own trimaran design—the 45′ (13.7m) Toria, named after his newly born daughter. Toria was one of the most influential multihulls ever, establishing the fundamental concept of modern racing trimarans subsequently adopted by ORMA (Ocean Racing Multihull Association) 60s, Ultimes, and Ocean Fifties. Toria had twin akas connecting the relatively high-volume, fine-bowed amas to the main hull, their geometry such that at rest only one ama ever touched the water. Significantly, she was the first boat built in the U.K. using foam sandwich construction, with Airex foam as the core material.

Toria, built in foam sandwich and with high-volume amas, was ahead of her time and defined the genre of offshore racing trimarans in the 1960s.

Aboard Toria, Kelsall and Martin Minter-Kemp competed in the Royal Western Yacht Club’s first doublehanded Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race in 1966, comfortably winning and thus posting the first-ever multihull victory in a major offshore race. This success created considerable interest in offshore trimarans, including from famous French skipper Eric Tabarly, who two years earlier had won the OSTAR on Pen Duick II, a 44′ (13.4m) monohull. Tabarly helped Kelsall deliver Toria from Cornwall to London, where it was displayed at the 1967 London Boat Show. Impressed, Tabarly returned to France to work on his first trimaran with French naval architect André Allègre and builder Chantiers de la Perrière.

The 68′ (20.7m) Pen Duick IV was a groundbreaking trimaran design, fitted with a ketch rig on twin rotating wing masts. But compared to what Kelsall built at this time in foam sandwich, her aluminum construction and tubular crossbeams appeared quite conservative. Tabarly was unable to defend his title in the 1968 OSTAR when the autopilot failed after a collision.

Derek Kelsall Built Winners

As the builder of the 57′ (17.4m) monohull Sir Thomas Lipton—the winning yacht in that race, designed by Robert Clark and sailed by Geoffrey Williams—Kelsall shared in her success. It was ironic that a multihull proponent like Kelsall would build a monohull to win the OSTAR, which saw a rising tide of multihull entries. The top multihull finisher was the super-spartan 40′ (12.2m) proa Cheers, designed by Dick Newick, built on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and skippered by American Tom Follett.

Kelsall continued to enjoy success into the 1980s with his small trimaran designs, including Trifle, built for Royal Yacht Squadron Commodore Major-General Ralph Farrant; and the 44′ trimaran Trumpeter, which finished third in the gale-ridden 1970 Round Britain and Ireland with American Phil Weld at the helm.

His greatest series of raceboats were the various Three Legs of Mann trimarans built and sailed by Isle of Man–based Nick Keig. The most successful of these was the 53′ (16.2m) Three Legs of Mann III, which Keig raced to second place in the 1980 OSTAR; however the most innovative was VSD, a hybrid cattrimaran with a flying center pod, a concept subsequently adopted by catamarans like the D35s and Alinghi 5.

After Sir Thomas Lipton’s 1968 OSTAR victory, Kelsall used his skills in foam-sandwich construction to build the Alan Gurney–designed Great Britain II for Chay Blyth, at 78′ (23.8m) LOA the largest composite boat ever at the time of her launching in 1973. In the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973–74 she was the scratch boat, took line honors, set the elapsed time record at 144 d 10 h [correcting out to 6th place overall—Ed.], and went on to compete in five further editions of that contest.

Kelsall with his partner, Paula Hesterman, in New Zealand.

Subsequently, Kelsall designed and built two large trimarans for Chay Blyth: the 80′ (24.4m) Great Britain III, and the 53′ Great Britain IV, which won the 1978 doublehanded Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race. Spearheaded by the likes of Eric Tabarly and Alain Colas, large racing multihulls became popular in France during the 1980s, but Kelsall never rose to prominence there, even though Eugène Riguidel and Gilles Gahinet won the double-handed 1979 Transat Lorient– Kelsall with his partner, Paula Les Bermudes–Lorient on Hesterman, in New Zealand. VSD, passing Tabarly and Marc Pajot aboard Paul Ricard before the finish. Kelsall also designed the giant William Saurin for Riguidel, at 93′ (28.3m) LOA the world’s largest trimaran when she was launched in 1982.

From the mid-1980s Kelsall’s work as a yacht designer focused on cruising catamarans and the Kelsall Swiftsure Sandwich technique (KSS), in which flat panels are laid up on a table to speed construction. He first used KSS in 1973 and kept improving the process over subsequent decades, building everything from small day boats to giant passenger ferries, catamarans such as the Space 55, Suncat 40, Islander 39, and larger one-offs.

After Kelsall’s first wife, Clare, succumbed to Parkinson’s disease, he continued to build boats, and with new partner Paula Hesterman made his home in Waihi, just north of Tauranga, New Zealand.

-James Boyd

[A version of this obituary appears on YachtsandYachting .com. —Ed.]

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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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Multihull Centre Brokerage

The multihull specialists.

Mill Road, Millbrook, Cornwall PL10 1EN, UK.

++44 (0)1752 823900

SPECIFICATIONS

Draft: 0.32 – 1.29m

Lying: Multihull Centre

Design: Kelsall Kss-r-30

Designer/Builder: Kelsall Ian Bevan/assembled by Multimarine

Built/Launched: 2008/ Wales / Millbrook

Polyester foam sandwich hulls. Dagger boards are composite construction.

Accommodation:

2 x double berths and 2 single berths, in the spacious hulls.

Heads area with sea toilet.

Galley area fitted with single burner gas hob.

Standing headroom of 5ft 10 inches.

Rig & Sails

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Spars: Alloy

Standing rigging: SS

Running Rigging: Dyneema

Spar Maker: Z Spars

Some repair work needed on the bowsprit

Reefing: Slab

Spinnaker gear: Yes, including top-down snuffer.

Sails Main and Genoa in white.

Fully battened, flat top main

Spinnaker coloured.

All made by Banks. New sail cover.

1 x Suzuki 15HP EFI outboard with electric start, fuel injection & remote control.

150 hrs, 6 knots cruising speed, tiller steering.

Last serviced 2021

Navigation Equipment:

Compass :  2

Speed :  Yes Autohelm Tri Data

Depth :  Yes

VHF :  Yes + emergency antenna

AIS :  Connected lat/long to VHF

Ground Tackle:

Bruce                           

10kg 20m chain, 20m warp + bow roller

2 Spinnaker

All Lewmar 40

Electrics: 

Type :  12 v

Batteries: 1 x 120Ah “House”, 1 x 60Ah Starting

Switched: Yes

Shore power: Yes – cable + 3 pin + battery charge

Solar Panels: 1 25w + controller

Charging: Alternator/Solar Panel

Autopilot: TP10

Fuel:    1 x 20l Polypropylene, 2 x 5l

Fresh water: No

Holding tank: No

Water system: No

Heating: No

Sea Water: No

Other Equipment:

Fire Extinguisher :  2 x 2kg

Bilge pumps :  2 manual

Nav lights :  Masthead LED

Dinghy :  Avon Redstart + oars

Warps, Fenders, boathook and bow fender.

Horseshoe buoy and light

Guard wire, pushpit and pullpit

Viewing by appointment with the Multihull Centre, Foss Quay, Millbrook, Torpoint,

Cornwall, PL10 1EN, Tel. 01752 823900, Option 2    

These details are believed to be correct but cannot be guaranteed and do not constitute any form of contract.   All statements made therein are made without responsibility and the intending purchaser must satisfy himself as to their correctness.   Survey by a qualified marine surveyor is also strongly recommended.

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