Sail GP: how do supercharged racing yachts go so fast? An engineer explains
Head of Engineering, Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering, Solent University
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Jonathan Ridley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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Sailing used to be considered as a rather sedate pastime. But in the past few years, the world of yacht racing has been revolutionised by the arrival of hydrofoil-supported catamarans, known as “foilers”. These vessels, more akin to high-performance aircraft than yachts, combine the laws of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics to create vessels capable of speeds of up to 50 knots, which is far faster than the wind propelling them.
An F50 catamaran preparing for the Sail GP series recently even broke this barrier, reaching an incredible speed of 50.22 knots (57.8mph) purely powered by the wind. This was achieved in a wind of just 19.3 knots (22.2mph). F50s are 15-metre-long, 8.8-metre-wide hydrofoil catamarans propelled by rigid sails and capable of such astounding speeds that Sail GP has been called the “ Formula One of sailing ”. How are these yachts able to go so fast? The answer lies in some simple fluid dynamics.
As a vessel’s hull moves through the water, there are two primary physical mechanisms that create drag and slow the vessel down. To build a faster boat you have to find ways to overcome the drag force.
The first mechanism is friction. As the water flows past the hull, a microscopic layer of water is effectively attached to the hull and is pulled along with the yacht. A second layer of water then attaches to the first layer, and the sliding or shearing between them creates friction.
On the outside of this is a third layer, which slides over the inner layers creating more friction, and so on. Together, these layers are known as the boundary layer – and it’s the shearing of the boundary layer’s molecules against each other that creates frictional drag.
A yacht also makes waves as it pushes the water around and under the hull from the bow (front) to the stern (back) of the boat. The waves form two distinctive patterns around the yacht (one at each end), known as Kelvin Wave patterns.
These waves, which move at the same speed as the yacht, are very energetic. This creates drag on the boat known as the wave-making drag, which is responsible for around 90% of the total drag. As the yacht accelerates to faster speeds (close to the “hull speed”, explained later), these waves get higher and longer.
These two effects combine to produce a phenomenon known as “ hull speed ”, which is the fastest the boat can travel – and in conventional single-hull yachts it is very slow. A single-hull yacht of the same size as the F50 has a hull speed of around 12 mph.
However, it’s possible to reduce both the frictional and wave-making drag and overcome this hull-speed limit by building a yacht with hydrofoils . Hydrofoils are small, underwater wings. These act in the same way as an aircraft wing, creating a lift force which acts against gravity, lifting our yacht upwards so that the hull is clear of the water.
While an aircraft’s wings are very large, the high density of water compared to air means that we only need very small hydrofoils to produce a lot of the important lift force. A hydrofoil just the size of three A3 sheets of paper, when moving at just 10 mph, can produce enough lift to pick up a large person.
This significantly reduces the surface area and the volume of the boat that is underwater, which cuts the frictional drag and the wave-making drag, respectively. The combined effect is a reduction in the overall drag to a fraction of its original amount, so that the yacht is capable of sailing much faster than it could without hydrofoils.
The other innovation that helps boost the speed of racing yachts is the use of rigid sails . The power available from traditional sails to drive the boat forward is relatively small, limited by the fact that the sail’s forces have to act in equilibrium with a range of other forces, and that fabric sails do not make an ideal shape for creating power. Rigid sails, which are very similar in design to an aircraft wing, form a much more efficient shape than traditional sails, effectively giving the yacht a larger engine and more power.
As the yacht accelerates from the driving force of these sails, it experiences what is known as “ apparent wind ”. Imagine a completely calm day, with no wind. As you walk, you experience a breeze in your face at the same speed that you are walking. If there was a wind blowing too, you would feel a mixture of the real (or “true” wind) and the breeze you have generated.
The two together form the apparent wind, which can be faster than the true wind. If there is enough true wind combined with this apparent wind, then significant force and power can be generated from the sail to propel the yacht, so it can easily sail faster than the wind speed itself.
The combined effect of reducing the drag and increasing the driving power results in a yacht that is far faster than those of even a few years ago. But all of this would not be possible without one further advance: materials. In order to be able to “fly”, the yacht must have a low mass, and the hydrofoil itself must be very strong. To achieve the required mass, strength and rigidity using traditional boat-building materials such as wood or aluminium would be very difficult.
This is where modern advanced composite materials such as carbon fibre come in. Production techniques optimising weight, rigidity and strength allow the production of structures that are strong and light enough to produce incredible yachts like the F50.
The engineers who design these high-performance boats (known as naval architects ) are always looking to use new materials and science to get an optimum design. In theory, the F50 should be able to go even faster.
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How SailGP’s foiling F50 catamarans sail so much faster than the wind
Arguably the most technologically advanced sailboats on the planet right now, the one-design SailGP F50 foiling catamarans are capable of breathtaking speeds – at times, reaching four times the velocity of the wind that drives them. But how do they do it?
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How Fast Do Catamarans Go?
Last Updated by
Daniel Wade
August 30, 2022
Catamarans are known for their speed, and some vessels are fast enough to break world sailing speed records.
Catamarans can go between 15 and 30 knots, with the fastest achieving speeds well in excess of 60 knots. Sailing catamarans are sometimes twice as fast as monohulls and cut through the water with greater efficiency.
In this article, we’ll cover how fast catamarans can go based on factors such as size, sail area, and design category. Additionally, we’ll compare catamaran speeds to monohulls and trimarans and cover the reasons why multi-hull sailboats blow monohulls out of the water.
We sourced the information used in this article from sailing guides and hull speed calculations. Additionally, we sourced information directly from the manufacturers of common catamarans.
Table of contents
Catamaran Speed by Type
Catamaran design can be split into different categories. After all, different vessels are designed for different tasks, as speed isn’t always the most important design consideration.
The fastest type of catamaran is the ultralight racing catamaran. These vessels have extremely narrow hulls and a remarkable planing ability. They’re designed to pierce waves and often achieve speeds in excess of 45 knots or greater, depending on conditions.
The second fastest catamaran variety is the sport catamaran. Sport catamarans often include a fairly good level of creature comforts in the cabin. They’re technically hybrid designs, because they are envisioned as a combination between a racer and a cruiser. Sport catamarans can achieve 30 knots or greater.
Cruising catamarans are designed primarily for safety and comfort. They’re often used for long offshore passages, where speed is important, but comfort is king. Despite their accommodations, cruising catamarans can still achieve a respectable 15 to 20 knots of speed—sometimes 50% faster than similarly-equipped monohulls.
Why are Catamarans So Fast?
Catamarans are remarkable vessels that can achieve amazing speeds. As a result of their unconventional design, typical calculations for hull speed (such as those used for monohulls) don’t always apply.
But what makes catamarans so much faster than equivalent monohulls? The first and most obvious speedy design element are the hulls themselves.
Catamarans don’t have a deep keel or a centerboard. This is because the second hull acts as a stabilizing device, and it helps the vessel track straight. The lack of a keel reduces weight (and equally important). It also reduces drag.
Additionally, catamarans behave in strange ways while underway. The hulls have a tendency to rise out of the water further the faster they go. This further reduces drag and makes it easier for the vessel’s speed to climb once it starts to move.
One additional characteristic is how the vessel’s sails point relative to the wind. Catamarans keep their sails perpendicular to the wind, which allows them to harness energy more efficiently. This is because, at a perpendicular angle, less wind energy is lost by spillage over the edge of the sails.
Are Catamarans Faster than Monohulls?
Yes, catamarans are typically faster than monohulls. They’re also a lot more stable, as their spaced-out hulls provide better motion comfort in rough seas. Catamaran hulls are narrower than monohulls, which also reduces drag and increases speed.
Catamaran vs. Monohull Speeds
We know that catamarans are faster than monohulls in most situations. But how much faster are they? Here’s a table of hull speeds for monohulls, which is a useful reference when comparing speed. Hull speed isn’t the absolute fastest that a boat can go, but it’s a good practical estimate for understanding the hydrodynamic limitations of single-hull designs.
Hull speed calculations for catamarans are more complicated. This is because catamarans have a greater length-to-beam ratio. And due to their narrow hulls and open center, they aren’t affected by the same hydrodynamic drag forces that monohulls are limited by.
For example, a 55-foot monohull sailboat with a waterline length has a hull speed of 9.4 knots or 10.9 mph. Its actual speed could exceed that in the right conditions, but rarely by more than a few knots.
Compare that to an efficient 51-foot catamaran, which can easily achieve speeds in excess of 20 knots in reasonable winds. That’s more than double the hull speed of a monohull with a similar waterline length and proves that catamarans operate under a completely different set of rules.
Wave Piercing
One aspect of catamaran design that makes them superior speeders is their ability to pierce waves. Specially designed catamarans have minimal buoyancy at the bow, which allows them to slice through waves instead of going over them.
This increases the speed at which catamarans can cover the distance. Think about it—a boat going over a wave has to use more energy to reach the same destination, as the height of the wave almost makes the distance further.
It’s like walking over a hill or on flat ground—you’ll take more steps walking up and down the hill than in a straight flat line. Wave piercing catamarans enjoy better stability, and they ‘take the flat road’ to a greater extent than monohulls.
Do Catamarans Plane?
Planing is when a boat’s hull rises out of the water due to hydrodynamic lift. This increases speed and efficiency, as there’s less drag but sufficient contact for stability. It also reduces rolling, as the bow only contacts the taller portions of the waves.
Catamarans have planing characteristics, but they generally don’t plane as dramatically as powerboats. This is still worth noting, as catamarans are specifically designed to use the phenomenon of hydrodynamic lift to gain speed and efficiency.
You’ll visibly notice a catamaran’s hull rising out of the water as it increases in speed. Compare that to a displacement monohull design (such as a classical cruising sailboat with a deep keel), which won’t rise out of the water in any significant way.
Are Catamarans Faster than Trimarans?
A trimaran is a catamaran with an additional hull in the center. Trimarans are usually less common than catamarans, but they have some of the same design benefits as other multi-hull sailboats.
At first glance, it would seem logical that trimarans are slower than catamarans. After all, they have an extra hull in the center, which likely increases weight and drag. However, there are more important factors at play here.
Trimarans are almost universally faster than catamarans. This has to do with weight distribution. Trimarans center their weight over the middle hull, using the outer hulls primarily for stability. This allows them to reap the benefits of a catamaran while increasing the efficiency of the wind power it captures.
Fastest Catamarans
Catamarans are popular for racing. There are several world records held by catamarans and numerous production boats with especially impressive speed-to-size ratios. Here are a few of the fastest racing and production catamarans ever built.
Fastest Sailboat Ever—Vestas Sailrocket 2
The Vestas Sailrocket is a specialized racing boat designed only for speed. This incredible vessel is actually the fastest sailboat ever built—and no wonder it’s a catamaran. A monohull simply can’t achieve record-breaking speeds when put head-to-head with a lightweight multi-hull.
The vessel, which earned the world sailboat speed record in 2012, has a modest 150 to 235 square feet of sail. Nonetheless, it managed to achieve a remarkable top speed of 65.45 knots in only 25 knots of wind. That’s about 72 miles per hour—in a sailboat.
Soon, a team of Swiss engineers will release their own version designed to beat the 65-knot speed record. Their vessel, which is a hydrofoil, will attempt to hit an incredible target speed of about 80 knots.
Outremer Catamarans
But what about production catamarans? How do they stack up, and how fast can they go? French boat builder Outremer Catamarans builds some of the fastest production catamarans ever built. These are not specialty racing boats—in fact, they’re average-sized cruising catamarans.
Let’s use the larger Outremer 51 as an example. This high-end cruising cat is known for its almost outrageous speed capabilities. In ideal conditions, owners of the Outremer 51 have reported speeds exceeding 20 knots for extended periods.
That’s a production catamaran with speeds that rival 20th-century warships. With such a fast boat, the world’s oceans start to appear a lot smaller. Plus, the genius design of the Outremer 51 allows it to be crewed by just two people.
But how do Outremer catamarans achieve such high speeds? The secret is in precise engineering and hull design, along with a sail plan that’s perfectly catered to the vessel. The hulls are sleek and narrow and designed to cut through the water with minimal drag.
From the bow, the Outremer 51 hulls look paper-thin. They increase in width gradually, which eliminates areas of sudden drag. These narrow hulls evenly distribute the vessel’s 21,825-lb displacement. Its low-buoyancy bows reduce drag and blast through waves instead of riding over them.
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Yachting World
- Digital Edition
Performance cruisers: the best new catamarans for racing and fast cruising 2018
- Toby Hodges
- August 20, 2018
This is where the worlds of racing and cruising multis meet, where we see high-tech lightweight craft that use exotic materials and daggerboards to help produce electrifying sailing. Gunboat was arguably the first to identify this market on a luxury level, and has since been joined by HH, McConaghy, Ice Cat, and ITA.
And then there are the performance multis that are more minimalist and lean more towards the offshore racer than cruiser – like Marsaudon, Dragonfly, Banuls, Dazcat, and Rapido… fun factor guaranteed!
Just launched: McConaghy MC50
Fresh from the Australian composite wizards McConaghy, the MC50 is the smallest series catamaran in a new range that runs up to 90ft. Drawn by Jason Ker, renowned for his IRC winners, the MC50 has performance in her DNA, designed as a fast cruising cat, capable of crossing oceans. The MC line has incorporated input of experienced owners and sailors, and includes some impressive features. For example, the doors between the saloon and the cockpit concertina, while the saloon windows slide open electrically for al-fresco living. A skylight down the middle of the coachroof lets light flood in, and can be specced as a large ‘solar glass’ generator to keep batteries topped up. Then there is the standard cross brace between the bows, which has been eliminated by using a carbon fibre longeron down the boat’s centreline, tensioned with Nitronic rod stays. The first hull launched in time for La Grande Motte boatshow in April and the performance predictions are bold. Polars from McConaghy suggest speeds of over 10 knots in a stiff Force 6, at 30° off the true wind. Bear away onto a broad reach and she is expected to manage 21 knots-plus. Upwind performance is boosted by 3.5m-deep hydraulic daggerboards in each hull, which include a fail-safe in the event of underwater collision. “We expect her to track upwind extremely well,” says James Kinloch of McConaghy. And yet this is no pared-down raceboat. The saloon has deep seating to starboard and an extending table gives dining space for at least eight, and can convert into lounging room if you drop the table and install the fill-in cushion. The galley and island unit to port are more penthouse than deckhouse, with induction hob and moulded-in sinks. Sensibly, there is a navigation station at the forward end of the saloon, with good visibility ahead and access to all the systems. The styling was undertaken by Design Unlimited. “The concept was to create a penthouse apartment on the living deck,” says Ole John, director of McConaghy Multihulls Europe. “The 35-40m2 of space must be the biggest for a 50ft yacht.”
First impressions
The MC50 is a clever boat. A Ker/McConaghy project, it might be expected to be all about the performance. That has yet to be proved, but the first MC50 to launch stole the show at its La Grande Motte debut in April thanks to the sheer amount of open-plan living space it offers. The natural light and ventilation offered by using sliding doors and windows needs to be seen to be believed, and the general feeling is that of a condo/apartment on the main deck. The view from the helms on the aft flybridge is excellent, but I wonder how these relatively high positions will feel in a rolling sea. The most impressive aspect for me, however, is the engineering detail, something Ker is known for. It can be seen in the length to which he and the yard has gone with the mast base and bowsprit longeron supports, and the hydraulic centreboards that swing into the hulls. The latter offer a clever solution to the problem of providing the performance benefits of 3.5m-deep boards without swallowing excessive accommodation space. The boards have fail-safe pins that break in a collision without risk of leaking hydraulic fluid; and they take just 12 seconds to raise. This is a boat that we are itching to sail.
At a glance…
LOA: 49ft 10in (15.20m) Beam: 26ft 3in (8.00m) Draught: 3ft 3in – 8ft 10in (1.00m – 2.70m) Displacement: 14.5 tonnes Price: from €1.33m Contact: McConaghy
Just launched: ICE Cat 61
Italy’s ICE Yachts has been on the scene since the turn of the millennium, but it is only now making a foray into multihulls. And it is starting big, with a 61, and a 67 further down the line. Its calling card has always been style at the service of performance, and the cats will be no different. Enrico Contreas has designed a dashing hull with just a hint of reverse bow and a long, curved quarter. It’s stylish, but also practical. “Avoiding highly reversed bows allows for easy recovery of the mooring lines,” says Marco Malgara, ICE Yachts’ CEO. Likewise, the shallow curve of the coachroof is more than just a flick of the designer’s pen: it is intended to reduce windage and help the catamaran go to windward. This is one reason that she can reportedly manage near 30° true wind angles. Another is the manually-operated carbon foils that reduce her displacement by about 15 per cent, and the way the rig is designed. “The angle going to windward is almost like a monohull,” Malgara says.
The yachts are built using ultra-modern techniques. On the standard version, the hull and superstructure employ a mix of glass and carbon fibre vacuum-infused with epoxy to ensure that just 35-40 per cent of the final weight is resin. Everything on the boat is foam-cored. Customers have so far unanimously opted for the RS version of the 61, which uses all carbon fibre. ICE has tried to mitigate the handling of a large, technical boat with electric winches and a self-tacking jib. The sheets of both sails are on travellers, giving maximum sail trimming options and a tighter sheeting angle for better windward performance. The helms are towards the aft end of the cockpit, behind a pod-like console, giving the skipper more the sense of a monohull. Dispensing with a raised helm station keeps the boom and the centre of gravity low, making for a more comfortable ride and better performance, predicted at 25 knots. The interior is more architectural than your average luxury yacht. Expect more of a kitchen than a galley in the large open space of the saloon. The configuration allows for three, four or five cabins, including a compact crew berth in the starboard bow.
At a glance…
LOA: 61ft (18.60m) Beam: 28ft 3in (8.60m) Draught: 3ft 3in (1.00m) Displacement: 15 tonnes Price: From €1.35m Contact: Ice Yachts
Coming up: HH50
HH Catamarans has been turning heads since 2012 with a line of sporty, high-tech boats that feature a luxury fit-out. What started off on the drawing board as a fast 48ft cruising cat has grown to 50ft in the building. “One of the biggest reasons was the addition of a second helm station aft,” explained marketing manager Will Hobbs. “That and, during the design review, we found we were able to increase sail efficiency by 6 per cent if we lengthened the hull.” The lay-up is all carbon, with twin bulkhead helm stations and long-skirted hulls. With a self-tacking jib and push-button controls at the helm station, she should be a breeze to sail short-handed. Her accommodation all looks very elegant – dark teak contrasting with lighter fabrics. The saloon windows are huge, letting light gush in, with a semi-horseshoe galley to starboard, a navstation forward and dining table to port. There are configurations allowing for three or four cabins. Morelli & Melvin’s design generally looks modern and aggressive (even if we question the aesthetics of the hard biminis above the helms).
LOA: 49ft 10in (15.20m) Beam: 24ft 4in (7.44m) Draught: 4ft 11in-10ft 6in (1.50m-3.20m) Displacement: 15 tonnes Price: Tbc Contact: HH Catamarans
Just launched: Marsaudon TS5
Even if you haven’t heard of Marsaudon, you’re likely to be familiar with its work. The Brittany-based boatbuilder is responsible for some of the world’s biggest and fastest multihulls, including the trimaran IDEC 2, in which Francis Joyon demolished the round-the-world record in 2008. Operating out of an old U-boat pen in Lorient, France, this composite expert has only been crafting its own brand of cruising catamarans for a few years, but it has already become its mainstay. It began with the TS42, which has reached 10 units, then the well-regarded TS50. The new TS5 is a remodelled version of this, with all-new tooling and a length overall of 55ft. Even before the first one hit the water, half a dozen boats had been pre-sold, such is the reputation of this builder.
LOA: 49ft 10in (15.20m) Beam: 28ft 3in (8.60m) Draught: 3ft 11in-9ft 10in (1.20m-3.00m) Displacement: 8.6 tonnes Price: from €620,000 Contact: Marsdon Composites
Coming up: ITA 14.99
ITA Catamarans is a new brand, but the team behind this 14.99 are no strangers to the trade and have experience from many of the major Italian shipyards. The naval architecture is by Francois Perus, whose Yacht Design Collective has worked with brands such as Catana and North Wind on their multihulls. The result is a sleek-looking craft with stylish dreadnought bows and refreshingly low-profile coachroof. This sets the tone for the boat, due to launch this summer, which is all about stellar performance within the envelope of a fast cruiser. Take the twin helm stations, for instance – they are perched on the aft coaming. This frees up the cockpit for socialising, without compromising the boat’s stability by putting the weight of the helm on the coachroof. The result looks as if it could feel exposed in bad weather, although there is a wraparound seat, and the Jefa pedestal can swing inboard if necessary. The outer position gives you optimal views ahead and to windward. The dreadnought bows are designed to give extra waterline length for speed, while the long, fine underwater profile of the hulls is optimised for comfort through the waves. The flatter sections aft mean that she should plane at speed, and the winch-trimmed daggerboards improve performance to windward. High-tech foam sandwich lay-up and the use of carbon fibre in key areas keeps the hulls light and stiff.
There should be plenty of power from her fathead main and self-tacking jib. “Since most cruisers consists of one couple for sailing, the deck and running rigging had to be of a design so that one person can easily manage all sailing manoeuvres from the safety of the cockpit,” says Sonia Segato, head of marketing at ITA Catamarans. The mainsheet runs back to blocks on the aft crossbeam, where Harken 50 winches are within easy reach of the helm. It is a set-up that has worked well for monohull sailors, and this boat’s low profile coachroof makes it possible here too. The designer’s ambition is clearly bluewater, because the boat’s equipment and latest technology includes a Schenker watermaker and Oceanvolt electric propulsion, backed up with twin regenerating props that allow you to recharge the lithium-ion batteries as you sail. There’s scope for owners to choose their own interior design. “Nothing is set in stone”, says ITA. The heart of the boat is its comfy saloon, which has wraparound toughened glass windows, and the starboard hull is turned over to the owner’s suite. There are several configurations to choose from, including one with an office and another with bunks. Weight management is taken very seriously. The complete hulls weigh 2,250kg, and the whole boat is infused in one shot to come in under five tonnes. The first 14.99 will be shown at Cannes, before the owner takes it on a circumnavigation.
LOA: 49ft 2in (14.99m) Beam: 25ft 7in (7.80m) Draught: 1ft 10in-7ft 8in (0.57m-2.35m) Displacement: 14.5 tonnes Price: €890,000 Contact: Itacatamarans
Coming up: Gunboat 68
Gunboat is back to what it does best with a show-stopping design for a 68ft oceanic catamaran. An all-carbon build again, the new 68 has heavily reversed wave-piercing bows and super low-profile coachroof, giving it an elegant but muscular look. There’s something of Gotham City about this yacht. Gunboat, which is now under French ownership, has brought in VPLP design for the naval architecture. They are veterans of some of the world’s biggest, fastest racing multihulls. The design team has broadened the beam of the boat and moved the mast further aft to make her more stable and easier to handle. That said, she’ll be no slouch, particularly if you select some of the turbo options, including longer rig for bigger sails, lighter weight and longer daggerboards. Speeds in excess of 25 knots in a blow, and up to 16 knots in a Force 4 are predicted. Benoit Lebizay, Gunboat’s managing partner, says: “500 miles per day is an achievable target”.
LOA: 68ft (20.75m) Beam: 29ft 11in (9.1m) Draught: 3ft 11in-13ft 6in (1.20m-4.10m) Displacement: 23.8 tonnes Price: from €4.75m Contact: Gunboat
Best of the rest:
Unlimited yacht c53.
Vittorio Malingri, Italy’s first Vendée Globe sailor, is the nautical brain behind a new fast cruising catamaran, christened the Unlimited C53. With no website, his is a stealthy operation, but the first hull is sold and already in-build on the Adriatic coast between Ancona and San Marino. The boat has been designed with an experienced navigator’s eye, so the beams connecting the two hulls are an unprecedented 1.3m above the waterline, to minimise slamming in heavy seas. Tankage and heavy equipment are all positioned low and in the centre of the hulls for balance. And there is a heavy longeron, which makes for a stiffer forestay and therefore better windward performance. The twin helms are on swinging pedestals, and the boat uses foils and T-shaped rudders to provide lift to windward. There are three broad specification levels, depending on budget, with the top spec including full carbon lay-up.
Dazcat D1295
Launched at the end of last season, the D1295 is a potent new addition to the cruiser-racer cat market. It is the smaller sister to the very impressive D1495 we tested two years ago and leans on more than three decades of successful offshore racing builds from this Cornish yard. These cats can outrun weather or look after crew if caught out. Weight is kept low and central, including the engines, to create a fast smooth ride. It is also minimised wherever possible, with carbon used for the rudders, spinnaker pole V-striker, davits and bimini sections. “She points really high and is the fastest tacking Dazcat so far,” says Dazcat designer Darren Newton. “We did a two-second tack where she lost no momentum at all, which for a cruising cat is phenomenal!”
- Nacra F18 Evolution
The evolution of sailing
Record-breaking winning design. The next step in Formula 18 sailing. (r)Evolutionary on every level.
Using the most advanced technology in Formula 18 sailing, the Nacra F18 Evolution is a racing catamaran built to win – a sophisticated design combined with 45 years of experience make it the best all-round performing Formula 18 multihull, across the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor.
The literal evolution in Formula 18 sailing, it’s the next iteration of the boat that won it all, the Nacra F18 Infusion . Using the same unique construction process, this catamaran will take you to heights in performance you’ve only dreamed of.
Usage Competitive One Design racing
Crew 2 Sailors
EVOLUTION IS THE SECRET TO THE NEXT STEP
The main purpose of the new F18 Evolution design was to build upon the unique pedigree of the Nacra F18 Infusion MKII as the previous best-in-class allrounder. Taking all the best parts from its predecessor, redesigning its flaws, improving where we could, we’ve created a worthy successor. The main visual difference is of course a completely new hull shape, but the real improvement is
in the details. Built to push through in even the toughest conditions on the water, the Nacra F18 Evolution is truly the next step in Formula 18 sailing. Built upon a great legacy, it’s only a matter of time before the F18 Evolution makes its unforgettable mark in Formula 18 sailing.
NEW HULL DESIGN An already winning design. The Nacra F18 Evolution has the same overall specifications as the Infusion MKIII , but incorporates a new hull design with reverse raked stems. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars. The hulls feature transom-hung carbon fibre rudders controlled by a tiller and dual retractable carbon fibre daggerboards. The rudders are a kick-up design.
CONFIGURABLE SAIL PLAN Next generation sailing performance. Close collaboration with the aerodynamic sail design of Performance Sails has ensured an optimized sail plan which features the regatta proven Pentex™ Decksweeper mainsail and an optimized jib design tailored to the new mainsail. A tough polyester spinnaker, available in 3 colours and 2 types of different strength cloth, completes the sail plan.
Nacra Sailing strives to always be on the forefront of development. We don’t get it right all the time, but the F18 range has been a benchmark in design- and construction processes for decades, and the front line of box rule racing. The Nacra F18 Evolution truly reveals our DNA, everything Nacra stands for. As an early adopter of the since perfected Infusion process, our development has taken a rapid flight that allowed us to be on the bleeding edge of Formula development limits. And we’re unabashedly proud of that. Not only have we poured 45 years of knowledge in this boat, we coupled that with feedback from pretty much all F18 legends and engineers, some of whom have since evolved to America’s Cup teams. From fluid dynamics to optimizing hull strength, to working with optimal sail shape and weight rules, ‘Scuderia’ Nacra’s 9th (!) generation F18 is built on a rich history of strife, success, hardship and perseverance.
- Nacra Users & Owners Manual
- Trimsheet Nacra F18 Evolution V2 (2024)
- Assembly Manual F18 Evolution
Specifications
| Standard ● Optional ○ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Nacra / Morelli&Melvin | ⬤ | ||||
| Hull | 5.52m (18') | Glass foam sandwich FRP epoxy resin | ⬤ | |||
| Beam | 2.6m (8'5") | ⬤ | ||||
| Mast length | 9.15m (30') | Aluminium | ⬤ | |||
| Boat weight | 180kg (418 Lbs) | Ready to sail | ⬤ | |||
| Trapeze system | 2 person | ⬤ | ||||
| Mainsail | 17m² (183ft²) | Pentex™ | ⬤ | |||
| Jib | 4.3m² (46ft²) | Pentex™ | ⬤ | |||
| Spinnaker | 21m² (226ft²) | Nylon | ⬤ | |||
| Spinnaker retriever system | ⬤ | |||||
| Mainsheet system | 1 to 10 | ⬤ | ||||
| Mainsail cunningham system | 1 to 16 | ⬤ | ||||
| Jib cunningham system | 1 to 4 | ⬤ | ||||
| Daggerboard set | Full carbon FRP epoxy resin | ⬤ | ||||
| Curved daggerboard set | Full carbon FRP epoxy resin | ◯ | ||||
| Rudder | Full carbon FRP epoxy resin | ⬤ | ||||
| Rudder system | Kick-up aluminium / Cassette aluminium | ⬤ | ||||
| Rudder & daggerboard cover set | ⬤ | |||||
| Standing rigging with adjustable turnbuckles | ⬤ |
| Sport Catamarans | 30 knots |
| Cruising Catamarans | 15 knots |
| Racing Catamarans | 45 knots |
| Power Cruising Catamarans | 70 knots |
| Swath Catamarans | 30 knots |
Average Speed For Sailing Catamarans
Catamarans can vary in size from 14 ft to over 100 ft. Catamarans can come in a wide variety of design types.
Sailing Catamarans have been attempting to make advancements over their mono-hulled counterparts.
These advancements include:
- Foils that assist with lifting the vessel out of the water.
- Stability advancements.
- Racers that can maintain their speed while out in the ocean.
3 Different Types of Sailing Catamarans:
1) sport catamarans.
One type of sailing catamaran is a sport catamaran, which is otherwise known as recreational. These are typically supposed to have a small crew and launch and land on beaches.
Sport catamarans do not normally have living quarters and are ideal for day trips. Resorts or other rental services often use these.
These can also be used for racing.
Sport vessels have been known to travel over 30 knots but can speed over 40 knots in the proper conditions.
2) Cruising Catamarans
Another type of sailing catamaran is a cruising catamaran. These often come with complete living accommodations, so they sacrifice speed over their sportier counterparts.
They can average between 9 and 10 knots, depending on the conditions. The top speed is typically around 15 knots.
It would be best if you were careful with catamarans that have living quarters. The more you weigh it down, the less speed you will have.
3) Racing Catamarans
The final type of sailing catamaran is an ocean racing catamaran.
These boats are large and can reach over 100 feet in length.
The top speed of this type of catamaran is around 45 knots.
Because of the prize money for entering these in races, much research goes into their advancement.
Average Speed Of Power Catamarans
Catamarans with power motors fill a different type of boating category.
These are commonly used when speed and smoothness are favored over space or capacity.
Because of their stability, catamarans are good vessels for combating seasickness as well as transportation. We have a separate article here with all you should know about catamarans and (how to overcome) seasickness .
On a commercial level, these can be used for ferries for both people and vehicles. They are used for short term travel, often to or from islands.
Like sailing catamarans, there are a few types of power catamarans.
1) Power Cruising Catamarans
Similar to sailing cruising catamarans, they also have power cruising catamarans. These also have living quarters and are stable while out on the water. The speed of these vessels highly depends on the motors equipped and the size of the boat itself.
Like passenger transport or ferries, catamarans have a high speed of about 40 to 70 miles per hour.
These are made to travel at great speeds to allow their commuters the shortest possible ride to their destination.
The military also utilizes power catamarans. They use power catamarans to transport military cargo. These ships are ideal because of their speed, holding capacity, and ability to venture into shallow ports.
2) Swath Catamarans
They also have small-waterplane-area twin-hull vessels. These are called SWATHs.
These differ from the average catamaran because they also have submarine-like hulls that stay completely under the water.
Due to the hulls being submerged, they are not normally affected by waves. These are used most often in the ocean as research vessels. They can also be used for certain types of yachts. Because of their stability, they are good vessels for furniture that will not require as much securing.
These often travel between 20 and 30 knots.
Some catamarans are designed for wave piercing. These are made to pierce through waves rather than sail over them, causing them to be faster. These can be used as passenger ferries, yachts, and military vessels as well.
3) Whitewater Catamarans
There are also recreational catamarans made for whitewater travel. These are sometimes called “cata-rafts.”
They are made using two inflatable hulls connected with a scaffold. These are lightweight and perfect for whitewater sports.
They are even able to be packed away in a backpack. They can take up to 20 minutes to assemble, including inflation.
They have high speeds on white water rivers and can be most compared to a canoe, kayak, whitewater raft, or other white water vessels.
Performance Characteristics Of Catamarans
Catamarans require four times the power to double their speed. A mono-hull vessel, however, would require eight times the power to double their speed.
This is because a Catamaran has less resistance in the water.
This is also good for conserving and using less energy.
Catamarans are also more stable in the water. This stability is effective at resisting heeling or capsizing. A multi-hull vessel would require four times the force to capsize as a similar-sized mono-hull vessel.
The general sailing in a catamaran is smoother and allows for activities that are not always possible on a mono-hull sailboat.
Are Catamarans Faster than Mono-Hull Vessels?
Because catamarans have less water resistance, they are generally faster than mono-hull vessels.
This is because their hulls are smaller, which means they have a smaller bow wave to fight.
A bow wave is a wave created by the displacement of water by the bow of a ship. After a certain speed, a boat has to start hauling itself over its own bow wave.
The larger hull a ship has, the larger its bow wave will be and the more power required to fight it.
Catamarans have two small and narrow hulls, so they do not have much of an issue with their bow wave. This is one reason they are usually faster than a similar-sized mono-hull vessel.
Catamarans can be between 20-30 percent faster than their monohull counterparts.
Issues with catamarans over mono-hulls are that they can take more time to turn.
How Is The Speed Measured?
Boats commonly measure speed using GPS tracking devices to measure distance traveled. Speed while sailing is measured in knots. A knot is one nautical mile per hour, which equals about 1.15 miles per hour.
How Fast Are Catamarans Compared To Other Boat Types?
- Sailing catamarans typically average about 10 knots.
- Pontoon boats average about 20 mph.
- A powerboat cruiser can average anywhere between 30 and 50 mph.
- Cigarette boats can even reach close to 90 mph in the proper conditions.
- Sailboats average between 6 and 12 mph depending on wind conditions. This includes mono-hull between 6 to 8 mph and catamarans and trimarans between 9 and 10mph
Two different factors can determine the speed of sailing ships:
1) The hull type as listed above.
Different hulls rest in the water more or less than other types. The less of the hull that is underwater, the faster it can go.
This is because the less of the hull in the water, the less drag created while sailing.
2) The length of the boat
The longer the boat, the faster it can go. Every boat has a maximum hull speed that cannot be exceeded unless the boat can plane on the water’s surface or be lifted on hydrofoils. For most boats, the longer the boat, the higher the maximum hull speed is.
Speed Vs. Comfort Considerations For Catamarans
If you are looking for a catamaran, you have a lot of options.
You can choose to prioritize speed or comfort.
After deciding to purchase a catamaran, the type of catamaran you should look at depends on where and what you are using it for.
You will want to make sure that you look at what type of water you will be traveling in, how many people you are traveling with on average, and what type of speed you hope to achieve.
One thing you will want to keep in mind before the purchase of a catamaran is storage. If you intend to store your boat in a marina, you are often charged for two slips due to the beam, or width, of a catamaran versus the standard mono-hull vessel.
Catamarans can be beneficial for those who get seasick because they offer a steadier ride and the ability to have more open air space. Because the living quarters are not inside the hull and under the water’s surface, you have more windows and visibility.
Both sailing and power catamarans are viable options. Also, sailing catamarans can come with back-up power engines for low winds or situations such as docking in a marina.
Catamarans that have twin engines can offer more control and precision than those on a mono-hull vessel. This is good for tight and busy areas or navigating marinas.
Overall, there are plenty of options for you, and they offer many benefits over their mono-hull counterparts.
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Cruising Catamaran Speed! With Examples and Explanation
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One of the most popular cruising vessels is cruising catamarans. Cruising catamarans are popular thanks to their stability and space, but some sailors have concerns about cruising catamarans’ speed. So, how fast are cruising catamarans?
Sailing cruising catamarans can travel at an average of 9-15 knots and max out around 35 kts. Power Cruising catamarans have a maximum speed of 70 knots but averages around 20-25 kts. How fast a catamaran can go also depends on the load it is carrying, its structural design, and its engine power.
This article explores details of what affects a cruising catamaran’s speed. It also considers how fast sailing and power cruising catamarans can go, along with some of the most rapid cruising catamaran models available today.
How Is a Cruising Catamaran’s Speed Measured?
To better understand a cruising catamaran’s speed, it is essential to consider how a boat’s speed is measured. Boat speed is measured in knots , which is one nautical mile per hour, (or 1.15 mph). One nautical mile is approximately 1.15 land miles.
The speed of a catamaran is calculated by a GPS tracker that records the distance sailed every hour.
How Fast Are Sailing Cruising Catamarans?
The wind powers sailing cruising catamarans – their speed depends on the speed of the wind. If there is a lot of wind, more wind equals higher a faster boat. However, if there is little to no wind, the catamaran won’t move very fast or very far.
At about 14-16 knots of wind speed, sailing catamarans can average 9-12 knots . Some high-end sailing catamarans can be even faster. For instance, the Gunboat 62 Tribe can sail up to 36.6 knots when the wind is between 35-45 knots.
How Fast Are Power Cruising Catamarans?
Unlike sailing catamarans, power catamarans do not rely on the wind to move. Instead, they are powered by fuel (usually diesel). This means that they can travel faster than sailing catamarans and that their speed is more reliable.
Under light loads the Power catamarans can travel at between 20-25 knots. When the load is higher, power catamarans speed drops to 15-20 knots.
Some high-end catamarans, such as the Freeman 47, can reach up to 70 knots .
What Affects the Speed of a Cruising Catamaran?
There are several features of a cruising catamaran that impact its speed. These include:
- The type of hull. The less the hull is submerged into the water, the faster the catamaran will go. When they are submerged, hulls create drag which slows the velocity of the boat.
- The beam/length ratio. When a catamaran has a higher surface area (stable base), it can better withstand stronger winds, therefore allowing it utilize more of the wind before needing to reduce sail area.
- The material used to construct and reinforce the vessel. When areas of the catamaran are filled with foam, it decreases the catamaran’s weight while ensuring that stability is maintained. As a result, the catamaran has a lighter weight, making it faster.
- The type of propellers. Propellers are an essential part of a vessel as they act as brakes, which are necessary to slow down and stop a boat. However, many modern cruising catamarans have folding propellers that reduce the boat’s water resistance when the engine is turned off. As a result, the catamaran can travel faster under sail.
- The engines. The higher the horsepower of the catamaran’s engine, the faster it can go. Most newer catamarans have two engines which makes them faster than the older, one-engined counterparts.
- The load of the catamaran. Each catamaran has a load-carrying capacity. If the amount of weight the catamaran has onboard exceeds this capacity, it will “sit” lower in the water and significantly slow down the catamaran’s speed.
- The sail trim and reef. When sail area is reduced (called reefing), the catamaran slows down (in most situations). Properly trimming the sails will also enhance performance.
In addition, catamarans will be faster downwind . Going downwind removes the headwind and will many times allow you to surf with the waves.
Why Should You Look for a Faster Cruising Catamaran?
The old adage is that “slow and steady” wins the race. However, when it comes to cruising catamarans, many sailors believe the faster, the better. Faster catamarans are preferred because they:
- Allow the crew to quickly move the catamaran out of bad weather conditions, protect the vessel and passengers on board.
- Allow the captain to more predictably calculate Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA).
- A shorter time spent in bad patches of sea making big ocean crossings safer and more enjoyable.
What Are the Fastest Cruising Catamaran Models?
Some catamarans have been recognized and won awards for their speed. Some of these models are explored below.
Freeman 47 (Power)
Freeman catamarans are symmetrical catamarans that have especially been designed to carry a heavy load without sacrificing speed. Released in 2020, the Freeman 47 has quad 450R Mercury outboards that allow it to travel at 70 knots.
In addition to the outboards, many features of the Freeman 47 allow it to move faster. It has a fuel capacity of 1000 gallons (3785 liters) and a maximum power of 1800 HP.
If you’re interested in purchasing or finding out more about the Freeman 47, register your interest on Freemanboatworks.com .
Glider SS18 (Power)
The Glider SS18 is a power catamaran that was launched in 2017, after eight years of development. It is powered by 300 BHP supercharged engines that allow it to travel for up to 50 knots. It also has a built-in Stability Control System (SCS), ensuring that the catamaran remains stable and comfortable, even when traveling at top speed.
To buy or get a quotation for the Glider SS18, visit glideryachts.com .
ICE Cat 61 (Sail)
The Ice Cat 61 is a luxury catamaran. At 61 feet (18.60 meters) long, it is a large catamaran that has been designed with both speed and stability in mind. While its average cruising speed is 12 knots, it can achieve up to 25 knots.
The ICE Cat 61 has been designed with carbon and glass fiber – materials that allow the boat to be lighter. It has two engines with 55 HP each and a fuel capacity of 206 gallons (780 liters).
If you’re interested in an ICE Cat 61, you can learn more at iceyachts.it .
Gunboat 68 (Sail)
At 68 feet (20.8 meters) long, the Gunboat 68 makes for an impressive sight on the open ocean. It averages 20 knots but can reach 30 knots depending on the amount of wind power.
The Gunboat 68 has been designed by VPLP, also known as the ‘ fastest naval architects in the world .’ It has been designed with large sails, long daggerboards, and material that has lighter weight. This vessel also has retractable rudders, which reduce the boat’s drag.
To find out more about the Gunboat 68 or register interest in purchasing one, visit Gunboat.com .
Conclusion
A catamaran’s speed depends on its design, its load, its type, and on a variety of other factors. However, on average, most sailing catamarans can achieve between 9-15 knots, while power catamarans can, on average, achieve between 20-25 knots. If you are looking to splurge for the best on the market, some power catamarans can reach 50-70 knots.
If you’re looking to buy a cruising catamaran, make sure you use the information you have gained to assess the speed of the catamaran you are considering. A faster catamaran can make for safer and more exciting sailing. Ultimately, it will make your cruising experience more enjoyable and satisfying.
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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The Phoenix lineup of catamarans by Smart Performance Marine may be new to the consumer market, but their design and construction are the product of two decades of modifying, designing, rigging, and building high-performance outboard catamarans for offshore racing and pleasure boating.
Founder, owner and designer Chris Schoenbohm bought his first race boat in 2003 and won the Super Boat International (SBI) World Championships in 2014 driving a Doug Wright-built catamaran that he had cut in half, widened and modified heavily for better turning.
That boat’s modified running surface was the genesis of today’s Phoenix Variable Speed Running Surface, a third-generation design that places primary importance on handling, turning and driver feedback without sacrificing world-class acceleration, speed and efficiency.
Every Phoenix is built to the highest standards in the industry with state-of-the-art engineered laminates and coring, epoxy resin, and full vacuum infusion of hulls, deck and bulkheads, yielding not only an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio but also class-leading safety. We back our hulls with a limited LIFETIME warranty.
Explore our lineup of performance offshore catamarans, including the purebred 32XR race boat, the 34XPR and 37XPR race-inspired poker run boats, and the innovative 37XCC and 40XCC, high-performance, air-packing catamaran with a versatile center console layout. The Phoenix offshore racing and poker run boats are the premier performance catamarans. Contact us to get details on your next performance boat .
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There are numerous catamaran speed boat manufacturers offering racing, poker run, and even center console configurations. they vary widely in performance, build quality, aesthetics, amenities, and, of course, price point. most of them represent a good fit for the right kind of buyer, whether that buyer is most concerned with speed, versatility, luxury, value, or some combination..
So where do Smart Performance Marine and the Phoenix line of catamarans fit in? We’re guided by an unwavering commitment to several key ideas and characteristics:
Safety and Strength
Building safe, strong boats is our utmost priority. Our designs, materials and construction techniques are tested and proven on the offshore racing circuit under the most rigorous conditions on the planet. No production Schoenbohm-built hull has ever failed on the race course or anywhere else. We’re so confident in our hulls that we offer a lifetime warranty against structural failure.
Superior Drivability
Anybody can go fast with enough power hanging off the transom. We emphasize speed and performance through design. The Phoenix running surface has been exhaustively refined not just for acceleration and straight-line speed but also superior handling, especially through turns. Our hulls provide proper driver feedback for comfort, confidence and fun behind the wheel.
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Higher-volume production builders can turn out more boats for fewer dollars than a smaller, semi-custom shop like Smart Performance Marine. But it’s important to us that buyers have the opportunity to see everything about how we build boats and to be an integral part of the construction of their own. Each of our boats is personally built by owner Chris Schoenbohm and a core team of craftsmen.
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We’re not trying to be the lowest priced performance cat on the market, but we do strive to offer the best value. Counterintuitively, our 100% vacuum resin infusion process helps us do that by dramatically reducing waste of resin and other consumables and streamlining lamination. With resin infusion, we’re able to produce a lighter, stronger product using roughly half the resin and far fewer man-hours than would be required for conventional hand lamination or even vacuum bagging.
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Owner and founder Chris Schoenbohm is a widely experienced powerboat racer with a world championship under his belt. He has personally refined the Phoenix platform over the span of nearly a decade and is directly involved in the construction and rigging of every Smart Performance Marine boat. The Phoenix catamarans we build for our customers are identical in design and construction to the catamarans we race in the superboat stock class.
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We innovate every day. Our team has a proven approach to creating some of the highest-performing catamaran boats available, but we never miss the to improve on everything we do. We constantly pay attention to our chemical mixtures, our infusion process, flow rates and ultimately weight and rigidity of every boat. Each boat includes a lifetime warranty that we fully back due to the quality, innovation and science used to hand-craft Phoenix boats.
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An F50 catamaran preparing for the Sail GP series recently even broke this barrier, reaching an incredible speed of 50.22 knots (57.8mph) purely powered by the wind. This was achieved in a wind of ...
Gunboat 68 (+35Kts) Gunboat 68 is a cruising catamaran designed to reach the highest speeds possible. Made by Gunboat, the ship uses Grand-Prix racing boats' designs to develop the speediest cruising catamaran on the market. Gunboat 68 is made entirely from carbon composites, which keeps the ship lightweight and fast.
Speed boats are not known for fuel efficiency, but catamarans are more fuel-efficient than V-bottoms. If you want a fuel-efficient boat, you should buy either a sailboat or a hybrid alternative. Mercury Racing works at the frontier of high-performance outboards, manufacturing options providing from 250 up to 600 horsepower.
Performance Boat Center's Jason Billmeyer ran the latest Performance Powerboats P-280 catamaran to a top speed of 102 mph. With its 119-mph run on Sunday, the Valvoline Powerboat Racing Norway team led by owner and veteran driver Per Taraldsen matched its best speed from Saturday in its Twister 24 catamaran powered by a Mercury Racing 450R ...
The longstanding premier class of offshore racing. The Super Cat Class boasts twin hull catamarans ranging from 38′ to 44′ in length powered by twin 850 horsepower engines of various manufacturers, with speeds reaching 140 mph. M•CON | US-1.
How the world's fastest sail racing boats fly above the water ... As breathtaking as the current speeds of the F50 catamarans may be - the top speed in the 2022 season of SailGP was just under 100 kilometres per hour (km/hr), highway driving speed on most European motorways - it seems they are set to go even quicker. ...
August 30, 2022. Catamarans are known for their speed, and some vessels are fast enough to break world sailing speed records. Catamarans can go between 15 and 30 knots, with the fastest achieving speeds well in excess of 60 knots. Sailing catamarans are sometimes twice as fast as monohulls and cut through the water with greater efficiency.
These fast boats are ideal for racing and long cruising. ... The Gunboat 62 is a true high-speed catamaran capable of sailing at 20 knots (37 km/h or 23 mph) over true wind speeds and known to notch up speeds of 36+ knots (66.7+ km/h or 41.45 mph) on a surf. The initial 3 Gunboat 62 boats featured epoxy, E-glass, and carbon fiber construction ...
Aronow's murder essentially marked the end of an era for speed boat racing, and the U.S. DEA redoubled its efforts and began using go-fast boats to stanch the flow of drugs coming into South Florida in the 1980s. ... Catamaran Speed Boats. Catamarans like this Outer Limits SC 46 can go even faster than a V-hull with similar power. Photo via ...
HH Catamarans has been turning heads since 2012 with a line of sporty, high-tech boats that feature a luxury fit-out. What started off on the drawing board as a fast 48ft cruising cat has grown to ...
Using the most advanced technology in Formula 18 sailing, the Nacra F18 Evolution is a racing catamaran built to win - a sophisticated design combined with 45 years of experience make it the best all-round performing Formula 18 multihull, across the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor. The literal evolution in Formula 18 sailing, it's the next iteration of the boat that won ...
Historically, however, Catana has made many beautiful boats. Notably, the 471 is a fast cruising catamaran that is a favorite among long-distance cruisers. On the smaller side, the 431 and even the 401 and 381 are quick and fun sailers that move better than their competition.
The final type of sailing catamaran is an ocean racing catamaran. These boats are large and can reach over 100 feet in length. The top speed of this type of catamaran is around 45 knots. Because of the prize money for entering these in races, much research goes into their advancement. Average Speed Of Power Catamarans
The Ice Cat 61 is a luxury catamaran. At 61 feet (18.60 meters) long, it is a large catamaran that has been designed with both speed and stability in mind. While its average cruising speed is 12 knots, it can achieve up to 25 knots. The ICE Cat 61 has been designed with carbon and glass fiber - materials that allow the boat to be lighter.
To this end, the team invested in three separate boats: a Decision 35 one-design catamaran for inshore racing, an MOD 70 trimaran and—most spectacularly of all—the 131-foot maxi-tri Spindrift 2. ... The boat is now available for sale to speed freaks in the United States. The beach cat world will never be the same. phantom-international.com.
The evolution of the DCB Performance Boats high-performance catamaran lineup continues with its first true-tunnel-style boat—the extraordinary M37R, a new outboard engine-powered 37-foot cat designed with a 65-inch tunnel and no center pod. At 37 feet, 6 inches long with a 10-foot, 6-inch beam, the 37-footer features the company's ...
Before the first 15 runs were done during the first day of the 36th Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in Sunrise Beach, Mo., the two fastest catamaran and V-bottom speeds were laid down on the event's three-quarter-mile course this morning. Of course, the nine-time-defending overall Top Gun champion American Ethanol team was one of those boats—the other was last year's Top Gun V-bottom ...
Catamaran Performance Boats for Sale Preowned high performance powerboats, cruisers, and yachts for sale by owner. ... Powerful Racing Mercury 500 EFI Motor.Experience thrilling speed and performance on the water. Great Stereo System as it has 2 kicker amps, 2 10" kicker subs, 4 6x9's and 2 6.5's up front. ... 2014 Nordic 26-deck boat with 565 ...
Activities: Overnight Cruising, Racing, Fishing, Day Sailing, Liveaboards. Length Range: 25 - 160 ft. Average price: $607,000. 2-12 cabins. Whether you're shopping for a new fishing boat, a sailing cruiser, or anything in-between, you'll come across catamarans.
Doug Wright Designs is known for their High Performance Racing and Pleasure Catamaran style boats with multiple national and world titles. ... get to the first stop in style Focused on building high performance catamaran boats that have both luxury and speed. View our complete list of boat sizes and options. ... Click on the link below to learn ...
Blending Art and Science. The Phoenix lineup of catamarans by Smart Performance Marine may be new to the consumer market, but their design and construction are the product of two decades of modifying, designing, rigging, and building high-performance outboard catamarans for offshore racing and pleasure boating.. Founder, owner and designer Chris Schoenbohm bought his first race boat in 2003 ...
The calculations for a catamaran are more complicated. The formula for catamaran hull speed is 1.34*(wetted length)1/2; however, this drag formula is generally not the limiting factor for catamaran hull speed. This is because boats with waterline length to beam ratios greater than 8:1 are not limited by hydrodynamic drag factors, whereas smaller boats need to plane to do so (planing requires ...
Marine Technology Inc. specializes in crafting top-of-the-line High Performance Racing and Pleasure Catamaran style boats, Center Console Vee-Bottoms, and Twin Outboard Catamarans. Each boat is custom-built to meet the specific needs and desires of the client. The company is known for its superior craftsmanship and the incorporation of the latest technology in electronics and modern features ...
Evolved from Safehaven's 75-foot XVS20 monohull launched in 2018, Kowalski used his expertise in building commercial, work-boat power catamarans to design the twin-hulled T-2000 Voyager to offer ...
This is the second iteration of the AC75 after they were also used in New Zealand at the 36th Cup. The "75" in AC75 stands for 75-feet, the length of the boat.
Here's what the boat looks like when it's not in 20-foot seas. Evolved from Safehaven's 75-foot XVS20 monohull launched in 2018, Kowalski used his expertise in building commercial, work-boat power catamarans to design the twin-hulled T-2000 Voyager to offer speed with stability. "The stability in beam seas is what's key here," he says.
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