Following the U.S. premiere of the Windelo 50 Yachting in Miami earlier this year, Windelo Catamaran made its first-ever appearance at the 2024 Annapolis Sailboat Show as a Boat of the Year nominee with its Windelo 54 Yachting. The Windelo 54 Second Star arrived at the Annapolis show fresh off a transatlantic journey on its own hull along the north route.

Designed by architects Christophe Barreau and Frédéric Neuman, and conceived with sustainability and performance as paramount, the Windelo 54 Yachting builds on lessons learned from the Windelo 50, such as sailing at 3 to 4 knots on true wind speed for minimal energy use, and has cutting-edge features that offer comfort and performance while significantly reducing the environmental impact of cruising.

Key features include:

• Eco-Friendly Structure: Constructed with an environmentally-friendly composite sandwich of basalt fiber and PET foam, which reduces the boat’s carbon footprint by 47 percent.
• Solar and Electric Propulsion: Equipped with 5,880 W solar panels, electric motors, and an under-sail hydro-generation system, offering zero-emission sailing and up to four hours of autonomy using purely green energies.
• Unique Interior/Exterior Design: The Windelo 54 offers enhanced interior/exterior modularity with a spacious nacelle and a forward cockpit at the foot of the mast, centralizing vessel operation for a safer and more comfortable sailing experience.

The Windelo 54, which earlier this year was named Multihull of the Year in the Premiere category at the International Multihull Show in France, has electric motors for more sustainable cruising and is built with an eco-responsible composite that reportedly reduces the environmental footprint of the production process by 47 percent. The composite is made of basalt fiber (volcanic rock) and PET foam (from recycled plastic bottles). Windelo architects Christophe Barreau and Frédéric Neuman developed this composite in collaboration with researchers from the École des Mines d’Alès in France. 

Windelo’s Electric Drive System & Green Energy Explained

Windelo’s team also reorganized the onboard space for additional guest comfort, with a forward cockpit and full-length nacelle that is open 360 degrees. Essentially, according to Windelo, the sailing experience has become more comfortable and social while entirely connected with the surrounding environment.

The Windelo 54 can use renewable energy, including solar and hydrogeneration, for up to four hours of engine range per day at 6 knots. That’s with all the navigation and “home comforts” being used, according to the builder. Windelo also used natural, eco-friendly or bio-based materials in the boat’s interior design. Examples include wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council along with recycled and organic textiles. Like the Windelo 50, the Windelo 54 can be ordered in three versions: Sport, Yachting and Adventure.

The Sport version is a high-performance boat built with carbon and technical fabrics to reduce weight, along with equipment and deck gear options to optimize performance under sail.

On the Yachting version of the Windelo 54, owners can choose the widest range of customizations, such as materials and detailed trims. 

The Adventure version—which is ideal for owners who want to offer their boats for charter—has upgraded hull protections with robust, easy-maintenance materials for exploration cruising.

Windelo 54 Specifications

About Windelo Catamaran

Windelo Catamaran, founded in Canet-en-Roussillon, is a shipyard dedicated to building eco-friendly, innovative, comfortable and high-performance catamarans. The family-owned company is driven by a passion for boating and a commitment to protecting the environment. For more information, visit Windelo’s website.

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Penned by naval architect Marc Lombard, the Neel 52 is a high-performance trimaran designed for fast cruising. With an average cruising speed of 10 knots—capable of reaching up to 18 knots in favorable conditions—and its ability to cover 200 nautical miles in a day, this boat is intended for serious sailors. Its hull design, inspired by racing trimarans, reduces drag and enhances maneuverability. Constructed with a composite sandwich core, the Neel 52 prioritizes strength and water resistance. Yet, this trimaran also caters to leisure cruising, with a spacious cockpit, a “cockloon” living area and panoramic salon views.

In the wake of the Neel 43, which was a finalist in our 2023 Boat of the Year contest, Neel Trimarans premiered the Neel 52 for the US audience at the Miami International Boat Show this past February. Penned by naval architect Marc Lombard, the Neel 52 is conceived for fast cruising, borrowing ­performance attributes from the Neel 47 and 43.

With an average cruising speed of 10 knots, the boat makes it possible to achieve 200 nautical miles in a 24-hour period underway, ­according to the builder, adding that speeds from 15 to 18 knots are possible when the breeze kicks in. The weight is centered to limit pitching, and the center hull design is optimized to facilitate tacking and ­minimize drag, leaving the side amas only lightly in ­contact with the water’s surface. With rigging derived directly from racing trimarans, and a sail area around 183 square feet per ton, the boat has full cruising speeds as much as two times faster than conventional multihulls, according to the builder.

The build employs ­vacuum-infused composite sandwich construction with triaxial fiber reinforcements. PVC and PET foams are used in the sandwich core, as opposed to balsa, which can be more susceptible to water infiltration.

The 52-footer offers a variety of options for sailing preferences, from leisure cruising to competitive racing to charter. The boat is available in a four-, five- or six-stateroom layout, with options for an owner stateroom on one level or a larger saloon. Crew quarters are also flexible. 

According to the builder, the goal is to keep the sailing “looser” for better performance, with a rudder design maneuvered by custom steering lines to improve responsiveness. The sail plan includes a mainsail with three reefs, a staysail on a rolling furler, and an asymmetric spinnaker for downwind sailing. Two rigging options—conventional and high-performance—are available.

Noteworthy features include what Neel calls a “cockloon,” which is an interior/exterior living space created by the opening between the cockpit and the saloon. The full-beam cockpit has multiple seating configurations that can be rearranged for personal preference. The ergonomic helm station has a triple seat and is accessible from the cockpit or deck via side steps. 

Side steps leading to the coachroof allow access to the mast, boom and sun-lounging area, and handrails are strategically positioned for safety underway.

The open-plan living space includes a forward-facing ­galley and chart table. Staterooms are accessed via private stairways. From what we could tell while we were aboard in Miami, the panoramic views from the saloon should be stunning.

Neel 52 Specifications

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Leopard Catamarans has unveiled the Leopard 46 sailing cat.

“The Leopard 46 is a testament to Leopard Catamarans and Robertson and Caine’s commitment to engineering excellence and elevated onboard living,” Franck Bauguil, global sales manager at Leopard Catamarans, stated in a press release. “We have meticulously designed and built a vessel that not only delivers exceptional performance but also provides an unparalleled level of luxury and comfort.”

The Leopard 46 has an exterior design inspired by powercats. Its wraparound coachroof windows allow for panoramic views and lots of natural light inside. The companionway sliding door fully retracts abaft the helm station, connecting the saloon and cockpit as a single area for relaxation and entertainment.

Other key features include a hybrid electric drive option and integrated solar panels, both of which have the potential to make cruising more sustainable and efficient. Available with two standard 45 hp Yanmar diesel engines (or optional upgraded 57 hp versions), the Leopard 46 answers the call for sustainability with its optional Hybrid Electric Drive System. The system includes a power management box, electric propulsion pod, high-voltage lithium-ion battery, solar array, and range-extending generator. The boat’s power can be sourced from solar panels, sailing regeneration, shore power, and a range extender. The system can manage charging and discharging, providing power for both propulsion and house loads. Testing shows speeds over 8 knots and regeneration capabilities up to 1.8 KW per hour per hull.

Leopard allows owners to personalize the 46 by ordering one of several layouts. Options include three staterooms plus a utility room; or four- and five-stateroom variations. Owners also can choose the configuration of tables and furniture in the saloon and cockpit.

There’s an optional performance-sail package, as well as an optional lifting tender platform.

The Leopard 46 will be available for charter through The Moorings and Sunsail.

Leopard 46 Specifications

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Xquisite Yachts, which offers lines of power and sail catamarans, premiered the new flagship of its solar sailing line, the Sixty Solar Sail, at the Annapolis Sailboat Show in October 2024.

Dixon Yacht Design says the goal for the model is “to create the ultimate luxury yacht for cruisers, where performance, safety and innovation blends together, offering unmatched comfort for adventurers who wish to explore our oceans without giving up their comfortable lifestyle.”

To that end, the Sixty Solar Sail has a 60-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, 6 kW of solar panels and style to spare. There are king-size walkaround berths, controls set up for singlehanded sailing and carbon-fiber reinforcements in the build.

Features range from a multizone Fusion Apollo stereo system to a vented washer/dryer, a dishwasher and a wine chiller—all of it in tandem with Fireboy automatic fire extinguishers, CZone functionality and Garmin equipment at the helm.

The Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail is certified CE Category A, which means it is constructed for significant voyages and serious weather. At the same time, this boat is made to feel comfortable from the inside out. The builder offers a choice of styling with packages called Cape Town Classic (anigre wood), Baltic Modern Fresh (silver-gray) and Istanbul Cozy Warm (light oak).

“This is a vessel with the highest sustainability credentials: a large bank of lithium-ion batteries stores solar energy generated by her 38 solar panels integrated into the deck design,” Dixon Yacht Design added.

Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail Specifications

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