XXL spaces, okay, but they also like them “compact”: 5 latest generation catamarans from 11 to 14 m

After weekenders, sport boats, and cruisers, it could only be their turn: catamarans. The cruising catamaran, whether for owner’s or charter, must first and foremost provide plenty of cabins and XXL exterior and interior space. The sailing part obviously does not become an optional extra, but it is not the top goal on the scale of needs of a pure cruising cat.

While the demand for “villas by the sea”-especially for the charter sector-is not letting up (just look at the new flagships from the leading large charter yards, such as the Bali 5.8 or the Lagoon Eighty 2…), on the other hand there is a push towards more owner-operated models where the comfort of a two (or three) hull is matched by good sailing performance, the kind that allows you to have fun at the helm and, why not, take some satisfaction in one of the many “long distance” regattas (ARC, Aegean 600, RORC Caribbean 600 to name a few). Super cruiser yes , but with nuances.

We tell you about 5 trendy models on the market.

Bali Catamarans / CatSmart 11.7 m

The Bali Catsmart is the French shipyard’s first 38-foot (11.78-meter) long catamaran, making it the smallest in the Bali Catamarans range. With a length of less than 12 meters and a width of 6.46 meters, the volumes on board are actually optimized for maximum space. For example, aboard this boat we find the enclosed bow, a hallmark of Bali catamarans, which allows all the space between the two hulls to be utilized with a true front cockpit with equipped sunbathing areas. We do not find a flybridge, which would be unthinkable on such a small boat, but the interplay between interior and exterior spaces brings this catamaran’s spaces closer to the openspace concept.

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www.adriaship.it

Fountaine Pajot / New 44 – 13 m

When one thinks of catamarans as spacious as a seaside villa, suitable for charter but also for cruising with numerous guests, the Fountaine Pajot cannot but come to mind. Champions of comfort, they are among the most popular sailing catamarans even in Caribbean areas, and the yard has also developed a motor line in recent years. The French brand has a fairly precise philosophy, never letting the range age but renewing it frequently, and so for this 2025 there are several new models on the way, starting with the new Fountaine Pajot 44.

The first novelty is actually a choice that the French shipyard has already made on its entire range, namely that the New 44 is available with the ODSea+ electric motor and solar panels up to 2,000 W. Then there are many small aesthetic improvements that Berret-Racoupeau Design has come up with for the successor to the Helia 44: the enlarged deckhouse, the deck horse that is now inverted, the hull portholes highlighted by a rib, the step above the waterline. Also inevitable is a convivial space in the bow and a large flybridge.

The inner saloon and outer cockpit are on the same level, communicating, with the galley positioned close to the two areas, separated only when necessary by the transparent sliding door. There is also an opening on the deckhouse towards the bow, to communicate with the forward convivial area.

www.fountainepajot.com

Excess Catamarans / Excess 13 – 13 m

“The project was simple and ambitious : to create an evolving and balanced catamaran that is reliable and offers good sensations, all combined with the comfort and interior volume that make the Excess so successful. The shapes of the hulls, the weight, the composite structure, the layout, the ergonomics, the efficiency of the sail plan… Everything in this new Excess is designed around the pleasure of easy sailing and comfortable living aboard,”explained Eric Levet, Lombard studio, architect of the new Excess 13

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We could describe it as a catamaran in some respects “Minimalist,” the designers in fact worked to reduce weight, with the goal of making the boat agile under sail, to do this smart choices were made.

“Less is more translates into a permanent quest for optimization. On the Excess 13, for example, we installed a rainwater recovery system on the roof, which is then stored in a tank. An efficient ventilation system limitsthe power of the installed air conditioner. In the cabins, the doors have a dual function, both as a front door and a closet door. When one is open, the other is closed. This may sound anecdotal. But less matter and more passage space are small details that put together make a difference.” Hervé Piveteau, product manager of Excess 13, explains.