Dragonfly 32 Evolution

Denmark’s Quorning Boats has been systematically upgrading its line of folding, performance-cruiser trimarans in recent years as part of a long-term effort to incorporate the latest developments in yacht design, with the latest to receive this treatment being the company’s the Dragonfly 32 Evolution. Among other changes, Quorning designers have added just a smidge more beam along with 20 percent more buoyancy in the boat’s amas, all with an eye toward improving initial stability and sail-carrying ability. Complementing these tweaks are wave-piercing bows that will serve to smooth things out in a seaway. Belowdecks, the company has also upgraded the boat’s interior design, which is now available in varnished elm. As always, a powerful rig with fully-battened mainsail provides plenty of get up and go, while a flared main hull and chines keep the spray down and help create some additional interior volume. For traditionalists, the boat is also still available with its original amas in a “touring” version. Quorning Boats APS, dragonfly.dk

LOA 32ft 6in (9.9m) LWL 32ft 6in (9.9m) BEAM 12ft 8in (3.85m) folded; 27ft (8.25m) amas extended DRAFT 1ft 10in (0.55m) board up; 3ft 4in (1.9m) board down DISPLACEMENT 7,605lb (3,450kg) light ship

Bali 5.4

The latest from the folks at France’s Bali/Catana, the Bali 5.4 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors with scads of lounging and living space and nice solid construction. Designed by Xavier Fay, the boat’s hull is infused in polyester with a PVC foam sandwich and an outer vinylester layer for blister protection. Like other Balis that have come before it, the 5.4 features an “open concept” layout, with a large saloon/cockpit area completely free of bulkheads creating a tremendous amount of living space. (And an easy-to-operate tilting aft door providing shelter in the event of inclement weather.) There’s also an expansive additional lounging area forward of the cabintrunk; a truly massive flybridge/lounging area overhead; and aft of the tilt-down door is yet another bench seat with an integrated grill to port and a narrow dinghy storage platform aft of that. Suffice it to say there’s plenty of living space belowdecks as well, with layouts including four to six cabins. Bali Catamarans, bali-catamarans.com

LOA 55ft 11in (16.8m) LWL 53ft 2in (16.2m) BEAM 28ft 8in (8.74m) DRAFT 4ft 5in (1.48m) DISPLACEMENT 48,500lb (22 tonnes) light ship 

Excess XCS 12 and XCS 15

Group Beneteau, which already includes multihull giant Lagoon as part of its manufacturing portfolio, is now making a play to snatch up yet more market share with its new Excess line of sport cruising cats, of which the XCS 12 and XCS 15 are the first two launched. Designed by VPLP, the boats definitely include some Lagoon in their DNA. However, they are also very much their own designs, thanks to such features as twin outboard helm stations aft, just a hint of reverse sheer to complement their plumb bows, and a high-aspect rig and square-top main. To cut weight and add a sportier look, the company has also included a nifty retractable fabric roof instead of a full hardtop over the cockpit. There is a choice of three or four cabins in the XCS 12 and three to six cabins in the XCS 15. A turbocharged “pulse” line with even more sail area is also available for those in search of extra horsepower. Excess Catamarans, excess-catamarans.com

XCS 12

LOA 38ft 5in (11.73m) LWL 37ft 6in (11.46m) BEAM 22ft 1in (6.73m) DRAFT 4ft 5in (1.35m) DISPLACEMENT 22,712lb (10,300kg) light ship

XCS 15

LOA 48ft 5in (14.76m) LWL 46ft 11in (14.31m) BEAM 26ft 4in (8.03m) DRAFT 4ft 7in (1.4m) DISPLACEMENT 49,572lb (22,485kg) light ship

Privilège 510 Signature

For those of you who haven’t yet had a chance to experience a Privilège catamaran, let’s just cut to the chase here. Unlike most other cats, aboard which the owner’s cabin monopolizes one of the two hulls, Privilège catamarans offer an owner’s cabin spanning both hulls forward that has to be seen to believed—no exaggeration. Beyond that, the Privilège 510 Signature looks to be a truly striking catamaran in general, with an aggressive and functional aesthetic that doesn’t just follow the rest of the pack. Practical details include a raised helm station to port, flush hatches throughout and vacuum-infused construction with a PVC core and carbon reinforcement in the deck and bulkheads. A carbon mast and carbon boom complete the performance package aboard this luxury cruiser. Privilege Catamarans America, privilegecatamaransamerica.com

LOA 56ft (17.1m) LWL 49ft 8in (15.1m) BEAM 26ft (7.9m) DRAFT 5ft 10in (1.6m) DISPLACEMENT 37,000lb (16.8 tonnes) light ship 

 Corsair 880

When people think trimarans, they often think speed. One of the neat things about even the speediest of tris, though, is that they often offer a surprising amount of accommodation space as well, making them great little pocket cruisers. Case in point, the all-new Corsair 880, a foldable little speedster that is as comfortable as it is quick, with standing headroom belowdecks and berths for five. In fact, so serious is Corsair about keeping people comfortable, it’s offering such options as a bimini, boom tent, 12-volt cooler, solar panels, manual or electric toilet, and even a generator and heater/AC unit! Of course, a boat like this is also all about performance, and to this end the 880 comes equipped with a centerboard and high-aspect rig with square-top main. For those in search of yet more horsepower, a “sport” version of the 880 is also available, complete with an even taller rig and carbon spars. Corsair Marine, corsairmarine.com

LOA 28ft 8in (8.8m) LWL 28ft 8in (8.8m) BEAM 22ft 4in (6.8m) amas out; 8ft 2in (2.5m) amas folded DRAFT 1ft 5in (0.45m) board up; 5ft 3in (1.6m) board down WEIGHT 3,660lb (1,660kg) light ship

Neel 65 Evolution

The latest installment in the fast-growing Neel trimarans line, the Neel 65 Evolution is a truly spectacular new yacht, offering many of those same features that put its award-winning predecessors on the map. Among these are Neel’s “cockloon” (in which the cockpit and saloon successfully blend into one) and the same slippery, wave-piercing hulls that not only provide excellent boatspeed underway, but promote a more seakindly motion in the rough stuff. Like its predecessors, this flagship of the Neel fleet also provides scads of accommodation space, as is evident in the fact it includes an entirely separate second interior lounge forward of the saloon, complete with an ever-so-comfy “sea view” sofa. Topside, there’s another expansive lounge aft of the boat’s elevated twin helm stations, and even room for a dinghy garage aft in the central hull. Neel Trimarans, neel-trimarans.com

LOA 65ft (19.8m) LWL 63ft 3in (19.3m) BEAM 39ft 6in (12m) DRAFT 5ft 11in (1.8m) DISPLACEMENT 49,600lb (22,500kg) half-load displacement

MHS Summer 2019