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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The Windelo 50, which first grabbed our editors’ attention at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, is an eco-conscious cruising cat that prioritizes functionality in a comfortable package that’s capable of crossing oceans. Add to that a powerful rig, modest displacement, daggerboards and genuine electric autonomy, and it’s easy to understand why the boat turned heads at its US premiere in Miami this past spring. 

Since Hull No. 1 rolled off the factory line in Canet-en-Roussillon, France, in fall 2019, the Windelo naval architecture team of Christophe Barreau and Frédéric Neuman has given this crossover cat a racy, stylish look. The new version is billed as the Windelo 50 Yachting, and it underscores a substantial move upmarket with a sleek, dynamic appearance and solid craftsmanship. Significant upgrades have been made to the decks and superstructure, and the layout is reimagined for greater comfort and flow. 

The aft deck is expanded to create a more comfortable relaxation area with enhanced protection from the elements. The builder uses large molds, which is why the surfaces have a notably smoother finish. A new nonslip surface, with a more attractive diamond-shaped texture, is directly integrated into the mold.

The Windelo 50 is also built with a composite sandwich structure that includes environmentally friendly materials, basalt fiber and PET foam, which reduce the boat’s carbon footprint by nearly 47 percent, according to the builder. The integration of two electric motors, 5,880-watt solar panels and an under-sail hydrogeneration system facilitates zero-emission sailing. The combination also allows daily recharging of the battery bank, providing up to four hours of autonomous ­propulsion using exclusively green energy sources when cruising at 6 knots.

At the base of the mast, the forward cockpit centralizes all boathandling activity, while enabling the skipper to remain near the center of social activity. The cockpit can be fully enclosed, providing protection from the elements. The deck housing creates additional space for relaxation, and the living area can be transformed into a terrace via a winch mechanism and sliding or removable bulkheads, along with sliding glass doors. 

According to the builder, even in light air, the Windelo 50 can sail at true-wind speed, courtesy of the hull-design weight distribution.

The post Sailboat Preview: Windelo 50 Yachting appeared first on Cruising World.

The team at Windelo is celebrating the news that the Windelo 54 has been named Multihull of the Year for 2024 in the Premiere category at the International Multihull Show in France.

“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor and a real recognition of all the work accomplished by our Windelo family,” Gautier Kauffmann, Windelo’s co-founder, stated in a press release.

The Windelo 54, which has electric motors for more sustainable cruising, 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 team also reorganized the onboard space for additional guest comfort, with a forward cockpit and full-length nacelle that is open 360 degrees. “Your sailing experience has become more comfortable and social while entirely connected with the surrounding environment,” Kauffmann added.

Creation of the Windelo 54 follows the builder’s Windelo 50, which was named European Yacht of the Year in 2022. The Windelo 54 builds on lessons learned with that design, such as sailing at 3 to 4 knots on true wind speed for minimal energy use.

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.

Where does Windelo build its catamarans? In a 17,200-square-foot facility in the Occitania region of France, at the port of Canet-en-Roussillon.

Where to learn more: go to windelo-catamaran.com

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The Windelo 50 is an environmentally friendly fast cruising catamaran designed for long-distance sailing adventures. With its outstanding performance, high comfort levels, and sturdy construction, it inspires confidence in sailors to embark on vast ocean voyages. The yacht’s slightly fuller lines, powerful rig, and daggerboards ensure efficient sailing even when fully loaded, allowing travelers to cover vast stretches of the ocean without compromising on essential equipment. Cruising World got on board during the 2024 Miami International Boat Show.

Key Features:

• Performance blue water cruiser
• Electric hybrid engines
• Indoor loft – reimaging indoor/outdoor living
• 6,000 watts of solar panels
• Full electrics cruising at six knots or four hours

Specs at a Glance:

• Length 15.24 m
• Beam 7.92 m
• Maximum draft 2.32 m
• Minimum draft 1.03 m
• Light displacement 11.2 t
• Freshwater tank 400 l
• Blackwater tank 200 l
• Max. number of cabins 4 (+1 skipper)
• Max. number of people 12
• Type of engines Electric and hybrid engines
• Engines power 2 x 20 kW
• Generator 18 kW (or 2 x 18 kW on option)
• Batteries park 1120 Ah 48V battery bank (53.8 kWh)
• Green energies Solar, hydrogeneration, wind turbine
• Fuel tank 500 l

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Addressing growing American demand for more environmentally friendly performance multihulls, Windelo Catamaran—a French shipyard specializing in eco-advanced performance catamarans—and US-based dealer Just Catamarans, have announced a new partnership to better serve the United States. Just Catamarans, who specialize in the performance cruising segment, will take a strategic role in the growth of Windelo Catamaran within the US market. 

The new partnership will be in place as the Miami International Boat Show kicks off in February 2024, where the Windelo 50 Yachting is set to make its US premiere, after its successful launch in Europe in 2023. 

Designed in collaboration with the architects Christophe Barreau and Frédéric Neuman, and designer Charlotte Schiffer, the Windelo 50 is a fast, bluewater cruising catamaran that features an electric propulsion system, which includes two electric engines and an inventive hull construction technique that utilizes volcanic basalt laminates, presenting a more sustainable alternative to traditional fiberglass matting.   

“Our entire team looks forward to working with Windelo,” said Thomas Chambers, president of Just Catamarans sales. “Representing a bespoke brand of performance multihulls that focuses more on sustainability and introducing electric-hybrid propulsion in this market is exciting for us and our clients.”   

Founded in 2004 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Just Catamarans is a recognized catamaran service specialist that also offers sales for brokerage and new boats for clients across the full spectrum of catamaran ownership.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Just Catamarans aboard the Windelo family,” said Gautier Kauffmann, founder of Windelo. “The reputation of Just Cats in the US, and their expertise in developing and supporting high-end performance cruising multihulls, will be an undeniable strength for the development of Windelo in the US market. Just Catamarans will be a key partner to the service footprint for all of our clients visiting the US and the Bahamas aboard a Windelo. While Just Catamarans will boost the visibility and service of our brand in the territory, we understand how important it is for our customers to maintain direct contact with the shipyard throughout the lifecycle of their boat. This is why, together with Thomas’ team, we set up a partnership that [creates] a joint approach to sales and service of our owners’ catamarans.”

Windelo Catamaran is a French boatyard based in Canet-en-Roussillon. It builds innovative, eco-advanced performance catamarans. After three years of research on eco-friendly materials and guided by strong family values, Olivier and his son Gautier Kauffmann, both passionate about sailing, founded Windelo in 2018 to build comfortable, environmentally friendly recreational craft.

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