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16 Best Trimarans For Sailing Around The World (And a Few For Daysailing)

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Trimarans are growing in popularity worldwide, due to their light construction and high stability these multihulls are even faster than catamarans. Trimarans are still one of the lesser-known boat types so in this article ill be checking out some of the most popular models.

The best trimarans include: 

• The Neel 43 
• The Neel 47 
• Dragonfly 28 
• The Pulse 600 
• Corsair 37 

These tris are built with your safety in mind while also packing powerful speed and a wide array of comfort features to optimize your sailing experience , some are even foldable making them possible to load on a trailer and transport to the sailing destination of your choosing.

In this article, I have created a list of the 16 best trimarans in the market and their unique features. You’ll also learn the best options for different purposes such as circumnavigation, weekend sailing, racing, and more. 

Table of Contents

What Is a Trimaran?

A trimaran is a multi hulled sailboat with three individual hulls; the main hull ( vaka ) and a pair of outrigger hulls ( amas ). These smaller outrigger hulls are attached to the main hull using beams. 

While trimarans have a rich history dating back nearly four millennia, these types of sailboats have only gained popularity in the late 1900s and early 2000s. 

Trimarans are primarily used as personal boats for sailing enthusiasts or racing. These sailboats draw their versatility from their lightweight design, making them faster and easier to handle at sea when compared to single-hulled boats (monohulls). Additionally, the three hulls also contribute to better stability, making it very hard to capsize (although more likely than a cat according to this study)

Trimarans come in various sizes, and some can be as small as 19 feet (5.8 meters) in length, while others go up to 60 feet (18meters). They’re also used for different purposes. Most trimarans are used for racing and recreational purposes, although some units are still used as ferries.

As with all things, to find out which is the best we need to understand what it will be used for. There is a big difference in requirements between a boat used for day sailing compared to offshore around the world sailing.

The list below highlights the best trimarans for different purposes.

Best Trimarans For Cruising, Liveaboard and Sailing Around The World

The Neel 43 is a French trimaran best suited for cruising. Its key features include: 

• Easy maneuverability on the open sea by only a small number of crew members 

This unit is also built for comfort, ideal for more extended travels. This 43-feet (13-meter) trimaran is also made with recyclable and bio-sourced materials, highlighting the manufacturer’s commitment to environmental consciousness. 

This trimaran has a base price of  €329,000 excluding VAT. This translates to approximately $370,138. 

2.Neel 47 Possibly The Best

Named the best full-size multihull for 2020, the Neel 47 is a strong contender for one of the best trimarans in the market. This 47-foot (14.3-meter) long trimaran features optimized exterior and interior ergonomics for a unique design and look. 

Still on design, the Neel 47 is ideal for couples looking to take a weekend off or spend some time as liveaboard. It has a spacious owner’s cabin and two bedrooms. It also features a spacious living room and kitchen and is optimized to ensure comfort for a couple. 

The Neel 47 also has two basic guest cabins so your friends or children can tag along on your sailing adventure. Accordingly, this unit is ideal for those looking to explore the sea for the sheer joy of sailing. 

The Neel 47 comes at a 571,139 euro ( $643,600 ) price tag, excluding VAT. 

3. Rapido 60 The Fast and Comfortable Circumnavigator

The Rapido 60 offers a blend of performance, safety, and luxury, making it one of the best options for bluewater sailing. Measuring 59.3 feet (18 meters) in length, the Rapido 60 is an imposing unit. It’s made from lightweight sandwiches and carbon materials that provide speed and strength, allowing it to stand up to strong ocean currents. 

The Rapido 60 also has spacious living spaces and is built for comfort at all points of the sail. Its design also optimizes safety. While it’s an ideal option for circumnavigating, it’s also an excellent choice for racing due to its speed. 

This is also the same boat that The Youtube channel La Vagabond just purchased.

The Rapido 60 retails at $1,400,000 . 

4. Rapido 40

The Rapido 40 measures 39.4 feet (12 meters) in length and is ideal for cruising around the world. The Rapido 40 features twin “C” foils, which provide added lift, enhancing its speed and performance whether you are sailing downwind or upwind. 

Because it has C foils, this trimaran doesn’t have a central daggerboard, increasing interior space. Accordingly, it’s an excellent option for couples looking to cruise and enjoy great performances .

The Rapido 40 is made from high-tech all-carbon materials for a lightweight yet sturdy design. This material is also used for the countertops and furniture, and the cork flooring adds a touch of style.

This trimaran retails for $595,000 , making it a cheaper option than the Rapido 60. 

5. Dragonfly 40

The Dragonfly 40 measures 40 feet (12 meters) in length. It features high-comfort standards, making it one of the best trimarans in the market for taking your family for a cruise. Because of its larger size, it has a better capacity, being capable of accommodating six to eight people, so you can bring your family and friends along. 

It’s easy to navigate and extremely safe. With a maximum speed of 24 knots (44.5 km/h), this trimaran also provides fast speeds to make your cruise even more exhilarating. 

The Dragonfly 40 retails from €509,000 exclusive of VAT, which rounds up to $572,000 . 

6. Dragonfly 32

The Dragonfly 32 is a high-performance cruiser. Like the Dragonfly 28, this unit features a contemporary design for racing. This trimaran can accommodate five to seven crew members. 

Although slightly longer than the Dragonfly 28 with its 32-foot (9.8-meter) length, the Dragonfly 32 has a max speed of 23+ knots (42.6+ km/h), making it one of the fastest trimarans for racing. This unit also has comfortable accommodation, which makes it an ideal option for a weekend cruise with family and friends. 

The Dragonfly 32 has a base price of $350,000 . 

7. Corsair 37

Thanks to a variable draft with a retractable rudder, the Corsair 37 is an ideal choice for shallow water exploration. This 37-foot (11.3-meter) long trimaran features advanced foam-cored construction designed for safety, making it virtually unsinkable. 

The carbon hulls minimize weight, this makes for a lightweight ocean exploration sailboat with blistering speeds. One of its selling points is that this trimaran has previously been used for Arctic expeditions, possibly marking it as one of the better options for circumnavigation and offshore sailing in the northern waters. 

This trimaran has a base price of $189,000 but can go up to $204,125 .

Best Trimarans For Day/Weekend Sailing

8. dragonfly 28.

The Dragonfly 28 is a 28-feet (8.75-meter) long sailboat that can accommodate up to five people. It comes in two versions: 

• Touring version: This version is ideal for families.  
• Performance version: This is built to provide optimal performance for the sports enthusiast within you. 

It clocks a maximum speed of 22+ knots (22+ km/h) and is beam-folded. It’s an excellent option if you want a high-performance, comfortable yet smaller unit for your day or weekend cruise. 

The Dragonfly 28 starts at  €188,280 inclusive of VAT, which comes to around $211,600. 

9. Dragonfly 25

Like other trimarans under the Dragonfly brand, this 25-foot (7.62-meter) trimaran is great for both racing and short term cruising. However, this high-performance boat delivers easy handling, making it perfect for couples looking to take a ride out over the weekend and seasoned sailors looking for an exhilarating racing adventure. 

The Touring version features a lightweight build and offers comfort and accommodation to keep you, and the few guests you can fit, comfortable during the ride. This trimaran also has a Sport version, which is optimized for racing. 

The Dragonfly 25 retails from EUR 86,800 . 

10. Pulse 600

The Pulse 600 trimaran is a compact sailboat. It’s made from lightweight, carbon-reinforced construction and vacuum-formed materials for optimal speed. This trimaran is an ideal option if you are looking for speed. 

It also features ample deck space, greater stability, and volume than most trimarans of similar size and build. 

This trimaran measures 19.8 feet (6 meters) in length and can be sailed single-handedly by one person with minimal effort. The Pulse 600 has a base price of $38,800 , which places it in the lower price range. 

The F-22 is one of the smaller trimarans in the market. Developed in New Zealand, the F-22 is a folding trimaran built for speed. The hulls are made from narrow fiberglass tied together using fiberglass beams and aluminum, minimizing bulk while optimizing speed. 

The F-22 is roomy and is not as pricey as other models in the market. This trimaran has two main versions: 

12. 2019 Weta Trimaran

The 2019 Weta trimaran is a 14.5-foot (4.4-meter) trimaran featuring a carbon frame, centerboard, rudder foil, and rudder shock. The hull is made from fiberglass and foam. The Weta is built for strength and speed based on these lightweight materials. 

The 2019 Weta trimaran is easy to sail and is worth considering whether you want to take a quiet sail, race with your friends, or take kids to a sailing lesson. It has a simple design and is easy to set up independently. Thanks to its collapsible design, this trimaran is easily stored away with minimal space demands. 

13. WindRider 17

The 17.4-foot (5.3-meter) WindRider 17 is one of the more versatile trimarans in the market. It packs high performance for a low cost. This trimaran has a light rotating mast to boost performance, and a full-battened mainsail optimizes visibility. 

This sailboat is made from rotomolded polyethylene, which is more durable than fiberglass and demands less maintenance.

The WindRider 17 has a comfortable interior and can fit six adults. This is an ideal choice for social sailing for a couple or a family and friends. It’s easy to ride, and a shallow draft allows easy maneuverability. 

14. Astus 22.5

If you’re looking for something small but still comfortable, this 22.5-foot trimaran is for you. Built for speed and maneuverability, the Astus 22.5 has optional foils to optimize speed. The modern design, coupled with the spacious interior, can fit up to four beds. Accordingly, this trimaran is suited for family outings. 

This trimaran also has a foldable design, collapsing to only 16 feet (4.9 meters) for easy storage. 

15. Multi 23 Trimaran 

The Multi 23 trimaran has a contemporary design, featuring a vinyl ester and PVC foam core construction. The section below the waterline is made of solid glass for a sturdy base.

The beams are made of lightweight carbon, and the trimaran features a 33-foot (10-meter) aluminum rotating wing mast for optimal harnessing of the wind. While ideal for weekend excursions with family, once rigged with the asymmetrical spinnaker will get your heart pumping.

This trimaran packs high performance at a lower cost than most other options in the market. It’s a good choice if you are looking for a high-performing unit without spending an arm and a leg. 

16. Challenger Class Trimaran

The Challenger Trimaran 15 is the best choice for persons with disabilities. It’s designed to provide disabled sailors an opportunity to explore their passion for sailing without worrying about aspects like safety or operation. 

A man named Geoff Hold circumnavigated the British Isles in 2007, becoming the first disabled person to achieve this feat. He had quadriplegia. 

Living up to its name, the Challenger can withstand harsh weather conditions while blending performance with speed. 

Final Thoughts 

Admittedly, no trimaran is best for everyone. But whether you are looking to race with your friends, take your loved ones or friends for a cruise over the weekend, or circumnavigate the ocean, you can rest assured that these lightweight trimarans will deliver speed, safety, and comfort to make it worth your while. 

These brands are innovatively designed and feature intricate safety mechanisms that make them virtually unsinkable. Give them a shot and begin your ocean adventure. 

• Basco Boating: A Comprehensive Guide & Introduction to Trimaran Yachts
• TheBoatAPP: New Trumarans: Which are the Best Ones
• Corsair Marine: Corsair 37
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 28
• Rapido Trimarans: Rapido 60
• Neel Trimarans: Neel 43
• Yachting World: World’s Collect Yachts: Maxi Trimaran MACIF
• Yachting Monthly: Dragonfly 28 Performance
• Rapido Trimarans: Rapido 40
• Dragonfly: Dragon 32
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 40
• Yachting World: Dragonfly 40 yacht tour: This cruising trimaran can do 24 knots
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 25
• NauticExpo: Dragonfly 25
• Yachtworld: Corsair 37 boats for sale
• Cruising World: Neel 47 Trimaran: Best Full-Size Multihull0
• Neel Trimaran: Neel 47
• Multihull Solutions: NEEL 47 Boat Review | Cruising World
• Yacht World: 2022 Neel 47 for sale
• Farrier International: F-22
• Weta Marine: The Boat
• WindRider: WindRider 17 Trimaran Sailboat 
• Astus Boats: Astus 22.5
• Boat-specs: Multi 23
• National Maritime Museum Cornwall: Challenger Trimaran #1 – BC26

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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Vaka Fanaua 15 meter (49.2') trimaran

By dick newick, talanoa & development project vaka fanaua.

An "island freighter" trimaran designed by Dick Newick as affordable, safe, economic, flexible and regular transport for Pacific outer island communities.

Constructon began on the Vaka Fanaua , in Pipiroa, New Zealand on 1 April 2014.

• talanoa.org/TDP_Vaka_Update.html (many build photos)
• talanoa.org/TDP_Project_VF.html

VAKA FANAUA (Two masted sailing vessel in the Tongan language) combines old Pacific island tradition with modern construction to safely and quickly carry almost three tons of people and/or cargo on deep sea voyages.

She can average about 10 knots in usual trade wind conditions. A small diesel engine will give an economical 6 to 8 knots in a calm and increase her manoeuvrability in small, shallow harbours closed to larger vessels. A 14 foot tender is carried to load and deliver people and goods to islands without a harbour.

Wood construction, sheathed with epoxy and fiberglass, gives a moderate first cost, and, equally important, low maintenance by islanders.

An experienced skipper, helped by an apprentice and the passengers, when needed, keeps manning requirements to a minimum.

The lug schooner rig was developed by English Channel smugglers a few hundred years ago when seaworthy speed was necessary. They were quite successful until Revenue Services learned to copy their rigs.

- Dick Newick

Newick Home Page

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BOAT REVIEW

MODEL DETAILS

Specifications.

• Trailerable
• Easy to rig
• Performs very well
• Sail handling is easy
• Purpose built trailer
• Cabin spacious enough for comfortable overnighting or longer
• Different cnetreboard options
• Light, easily driven hulls need just 6hp to get along nicely under power

Latest Boat Reviews

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Specifications

General Details

• Length: 18.1m (59.3 ft)
• Beam: 11.7m (38.4 ft)
• Draft: 1.0m (2.5 ft)
• Average light displacement (subject to final options): : 9,700 kgs (21,385 lbs)
• Displacement (max load): 12,000kg (26,456 lb)
• Headroom (average): 2.1m (6 ft 11 inches)
• Mast height above water: 25.3m (83 ft)
• Storage volume of floats (at greatest dimension): (l) 4.5m x (w) 1.3m x (h) 1.5m
• Storage volume under cockpit (at greatest dim.): (L) 2.2m x (W) 3.3m x (H) 1.4m

Further information:

• For detailed specifications, click onto  Rapido 60 Specifications (30 Nov. 2021)
• Click to download Rapido 60 General Arrangement .

Sailing La Vagabonde post a video of the launch of La Vagabonde III (Rapido 60 #04) on 2 November 2023. See video below.

• Mainsail: 125m² (1,345 ft²)
• Solent: 71m² (764 ft²)
• Reacher: 130m² (1,399 ft²)
• Asymmetric Spin: 225m² (2,422 ft²)
• Stay sail: 25m² (269 ft²)

General Information

“I  sailed Rapido Hull #01 on the Mediterranean Sea the other day and we were doing 14 knots upwind while cooking in the spacious kitchen!" Ferdinand van West (former F18 World Champion working with designers, Morrelli & Melvin ). ( Click here for original article in Catamaran Racing.)

Billed as the World’s Ultimate Ocean Cruising Trimaran , the Rapido 60 really is the Queen of the Oceans . It offers speed, safety, performance – and luxury.

The inspiration behind the Rapido 60 comes from Paul Koch (co founder of Rapido Trimarans), arguably, the man who has built more production trimarans than anyone else on the planet.

The design is by world renowned naval architects, Morelli & Melvin Design and Engineering who use some of the most sophisticated technology in the world. Triac Composites  is our exclusive builder.

While the foam sandwich and carbon construction is lightweight which gives the boat its speed, it also provides an extremely strong and rigid structure that has been designed to withstand the might of the oceans.

An additional benefit of the foam sandwich construction is the high degree of insulation, protecting the Rapido when the sun beats down.

Morelli & Melvin enjoy a very strong international reputation. Their designs even include entries for the America’s Cup .

https://www.facebook.com/raceweek/videos/1868118026600225/UzpfSTM1ODI2NDQ5MTAwMzkyMjoxMDU2MjY4MzMxMjAzNTMx/

[Video caption: Take a tour onboard Rapido 60, Romanza with owners, Dougall and Jaz Love, during Hamilton Island Race Week.]

Morrelli & Melvin’s computer modelling said that the Rapido 60 was very strong. And so we tested it.

We bolted the centre hull of the Rapido to the factory floor in HCMC. We then brought in two mobile cranes – each took a diagonal corner of the two outer hulls. With one diagonal corner each, the two cranes began to lift while the trimaran’s centre hull remained bolted to the floor, causing it to twist. One tonne of lifting pressure… Two tonnes… Three tonnes…

As the trimaran twisted it began to creak and groan. But the sensitive electronic equipment we had measuring every move and twist remained unphased. Everything was within design parameters.

Seven tonnes… Eight tonnes… Nine tonnes…

The pressure was eased and the Rapido spring back into its original condition – totally unaffected by the enormous twisting pressure that had been placed upon it.

The computer modelling had accurately predicted the incredible structural strength of the composites used in the Rapido. The Rapido is built to take on the oceans.

Rapido is, simply, the Queen of the Oceans.

Incredible storage capacity

The Rapido 60 has amazing, dedicated storage capacity. Floats (4.8m x 1.3m). Beneath the cockpit seats (2.1m x 0.5m). Beneath the cockpit floor (2.1m x 2.9m x 1.3m). Forward of forward cabin (1.4m x 1.2m x 1.2m).

Other videos

[Video above: Rapido 60, Romanza, races effortlessly at 24 knots during the opening day of Airlie Beach Race Week (Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia) in August 2018.]

[Video above: Owners of Rapido 60, Romanza, take the organisers of Hamilton Island Race Week on a walk thru tour.]

[Video above: Owner of Rapido 60, Ineffable, Steve Bourne is interviewed about his boat for the 39th St Maarten Heineken Regatta.]

[Video above; Rapido 60, Romanza wins the PIC Coastal Classic in New Zealand in November 2020. And it wasn’t all hard sailing out there over the 21 hours.]

• For more videos, visit the Rapido Trimarans’ You Tube Channel .

FAST AND POWERFUL

Trimarans are safe, powerful and fast as demonstrated by the fact that they consistently win races and hold the solo speed record for circumnavigating the world.

Safety at sea is the No. 1 priority and this thinking is reflected throughout the design and construction of the Rapido.

The Rapido 60 has some truly amazing living spaces which provide more open, private and intimate areas than monohulls or catamarans.

stable and comfortable

Trimarans are comfortable on all points of sail.

The combination of safety, performance and comfort put the Rapido in a league of its own. The enormous trampoline nets add fun and excitement as you watch the blue water rush underneath you – or as you lounge on the nets while gently floating over a reef. You will be instantly hooked..

look inside the

Rapido 60 in action.

See more Rapido Trimarans videos (You Tube)

View all Rapido 60 photos

60 in the media

Below is a list of articles which have appeared in various publications regarding Rapido Trimarans.

• Sailboat Review, Rapido 40, A sailor’s dream boat , by Mark Pillsbury, Cruising World magazine, 6 May 2024
• Rapido host much anticipated launch of first Rapido 53XS , Sails magazine, 1 May 2024
• Rapido 53XS – a peak speed of 24 knots during initial sea trials , by Emmanuel van Deth, Multihulls World, 19 April 2024
• Rapido 53XS, the new 16m globetrotter of a trimaran , by Aldo Fumagalli, Vela magazine, 24 January 2024
• First look – Rapido 53XS, a 20 knot cruiser , by Toby Hodges, Yachting World, 29 December 2023
• Video. Sailing Bliss: Unveiling the Rapido 40 Trimaran – GIDDY UP!!! , by Naval Gazing at Camp David, December 2023
• Video. The Rapido 53XS: Tour, review and ideas , by Naval Gazing at Camp David, December 2023
• Rapido 53XS Review , by Yachting World, 9 November 2023
• Video. Der Kat-Jäger: Carbon-Trimaran Rapido 40 aus Vietnam (“The cat hunter: carbon trimaran Rapido 40 from Vietnam”) by Yacht TV, 12 October 2023
• Cruising World announces Rapido 40 as Boat of the Year 2024 nominee , Cruising World, 26 September 2023
• Rapido 40 carbon trimaran from Vietnam – the test , by Michael Good, German Yacht Magazine, 21 September 2023
• C-foils on a fast cruising trimaran? This looks rapid!, Rapido 40 tour, Yachting World magazine video by Toby Hodges, 8 September 2023
• Rapido 40: The Alternative Trimaran , by François-Xavier de Crécy with photos by Ludovic Fruchaud, LE MONDE DU MULTICOQUE #24 by Voile Magazine. July, 2024.
• The Rapido 40 is a 20 knot cruising tri , George Day, Cruising Compass, 24 May, 2023
• Boat Review of Rapido 40, Zuzana Prochazka, Sail Magazine, 4 May 2023
• Rapido 40: ultra fast cruising in complete safety on three hulls , Maxime Leriche , SailboatNews.com, 25 April 2023
• Boat anomaly: Rapido 40 Trimaran , No Frills Sailing, 19 April 2023
• Rapido 40 – Fast, foldable and worry free!,  Multihulls World magazine, No. 189, May-July 2023
• Shipyard Focus: Rapido Trimarans , by Kevin Green, Multihulls World, August / September 2022.
• Rapido, changing the game , by Zuzana Prochazka, Sail Magazine, 23 March, 2022
• Rapido 40: A livable sailboat for cruising on 3 hulls , Briag Merlet, Sailboat News, 23 February 2022.
• Rapido, changing the game , (takes a detailed look at the cutting edge design and technology of Morrelli & Melvin) by Zuzana Prochazka, Multihull Sailor, December 2021
• Boat Review: Rapido 50 , Kevin Green, Boating New Zealand, November 2021
• Harnessing Speed , by Kevin Green, Boating New Zealand, November 2021
• Rapido 60 Trimaran Boat Review: A Bold Gamechanger For Performance Bluewater Cruising , by Zuzana Prochazka, Yacht World, 23 September, 2021.
• Harnessing the wind , by Kevin Green, Multihulls World, September / October 2021 issue, 6 page spread on Rapido Trimarans.
• Sailing La Vagabonde choose Rapido 60 to sail world’s oceans , video announcement by SLV to their 1.59 million subscribers, You Tube, 8 June 2021
• The Ultimate Racer-Cruiser: Clients on Romanza are turning heads on the racetrack when they’re not cruising at high speed , North Sails, 19 April, 2021
• Making Short-handed Short Work – Onboard Rapido 60 , Anna Merchant, Sail-World, 11 February 2021
• Rapido 50 News from the Shipyards , Multihulls World, 2 February 2021
• Buyers’ Guide 2021, Rapido 50 , Multihulls World, 18 December 2020
• “New breed” Rapido 40 & 50 , Yachting World magazine, November 2020
• Cruising Helmsman reviews Rapido 60 , October 2020
• Romanza takes top spot in Yates Cup , SEA Yachting magazine, September 2020
• Rapido Trimarans relocates production arm into Vietnam ,  SEA Yachting  magazine, Nov/Dec 2019.
• Rapido Trimarans, On the March, Seahorse Magazine , October 2019.
• (French)  Rapido 40, un trimaran repliable de 12 m , Bateaux.com, 29 August 2019.
• Rapido 60 – The most exciting production multihull in the world?  (or  click here  for selection of quotes), Multihulls Magazine, Summer (July) 2019.
• Rapido , Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, June 2019 (pp23-24)
• Ineffable’s Steve Bourne: I’m a nutter for sailing , Daily Herald, 26 February 2019.
• Rapido 60′ the fastest production multihull in the world? , International Multihulls World, December 2017
• RAPIDO 60’ : Le multicoque de série habitable le plus rapide du monde? , Multihulls World, 23 November 2017
• Finding Mrs Right , Boating New Zealand, August 2016
• Blue Water Cruising Trimaran , Australian Multihulls World, August 2016
• Rapido 60 , Cruising World, 25 August, 2016
• Rapido 60 , by Emma Bamford, Sailing Today.

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Multihull Solutions offers an extensive range of new and pre-owned multihulls for sale in New Zealand, with our office based in the popular Gulf Harbour Marina in Auckland.

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Head Office: + 61 (0) 7 5452 5164 P: +64 (0)9 217 0600 M: +64 (0)21 426 600 – Bryn Jensen E: [email protected]

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From the drowned valleys of Marlborough Sounds to the stunning Bay of Islands, New Zealand is a sailing enthusiast’s paradise. This country is home to some of the world’s most beautiful natural scenery, so it’s no surprise that sail and power catamarans and trimarans can be seen daily across every bay and coast.

With that said, to have the best experience traversing the stunning seascapes of NZ, you need to have the right vessel. That’s where we come in.  At Multihull Solutions, we have a range of new yachts for sale in New Zealand, as well as a selection of pre-owned catamarans and trimarans to choose from.

With Sales Centres across some of the world’s leading sailing destinations, including Australia, Tahiti, Phuket, and New Zealand, you can be sure that you’re buying from experienced multihull specialists. So, explore our range of catamarans and trimarans for sale in New Zealand for yourself, and find your dream boat today.

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Farrier International

a Division of Daedalus

The F-22 is a new design that has been developed in New Zealand by Farrier Marine (NZ) Ltd. The production F-22 is now available and is being built in the United States.

First Ever Sailing Review and Video of the F-22

2017 production f-22 specifications and options.

The F-22 was initially available in plan form for those who wished to build their own, but the production version is now readily available, so plans have been withdrawn from sale in order to concentrate on ramping up production.

Folding trimarans are more complex craft and difficult to build at low cost, particularly when combined with the desired low weight. Some trailerable multihulls are available for much less, but can often be no more than two or three very narrow fiberglass hulls, with little or no room, all tied together with a couple of basic aluminum or fiberglass beams.

Value is hard to find with many such boats, and the quality or configuration frequently does not justify the expense to buy, or the time required to build. In some cases it is surprising that they can cost so much when one gets so little. The F-22™ is intended to solve this problem, as a brand new entry level design, and intended to be a light weight, roomy, low cost trailerable trimaran, which is available as a full production sail-away boat.

The F-22 comes in two basic models, the full cabin cruising version as per current production version, with a standard rig, or taller racing rig.

Overall, the main design object was to achieve just the right balance between room, performance, and safety. Like all Farrier designs, the F-22 is a true and practical cruiser, but one that also happens to perform very well. The other main requirement was to keep both cost and building time low, and, to help achieve this, many aspects of the F-22 from design and building to marketing are being done quite differently.

General Background

The F-22 is intended to be a modernized version of the Farrier Trailertri 680/720, which pioneered the folding trimaran concept back in the seventies and eighties. Hundreds of such Trailertris were built from scratch, by many who had never built a boat before, and these first generation Farrier designs proved that the trailerable trimaran had a great future.

The production F-27 then followed, this being the first ‘second generation’ design and represented a major leap forward in hull shapes with its low rocker, and planing center hull, while retaining the same basic well proven beam structure and folding system. Construction also advanced significantly with round bilge hulls and foam core becoming standard. It was also one of the first production boats in America to use extensive aerospace vacuum bagging techniques for most parts, along with significant use of carbon fiber.

The F-22 features an even more integrated and further improved third generation beam and folding system, as developed for the F-32 and F-33. It retains the current and well proven hull lines, with evolutionary improvements, coupled with many detail upgrades.

Design Overview

The F-22 has been designed as a very versatile boat. It has more usable room the F-24 due to the many design refinements, and being a light and very simple boat, it is also towable by a 4 cylinder car, a very important factor with high fuel prices.

Hulls: Main hull lines have been optimized further with a higher displacement being achieved, but with a lower wetted surface area, while it has a slightly flatter bottom with less rocker so it will plane earlier. More interior room has also been created by optimizing main hull ‘underwing’ shape to exactly match the folded float sides.

Floats : These are significantly larger , with much more buoyancy lower down and further forward, for the maximum performance, and a lower heel angle.

The extra buoyancy in the bows is very important for today’s taller rigs, as just adding a larger rig onto an older hull design can generate bad habits and control problems. In comparison to the older F-24, besides having greater buoyancy overall, the F-22 floats have 43% more buoyancy in the first 200mm (8″) of float bow immersion for significantly greater fore and aft stability.

Floats are also flangeless as with the F-32 and F-33, for a cleaner, smoother look, along with less drag. Flangeless floats have significant structural advantages with the join seam being loaded under compression, rather than shear or peel, which means that water pressure will actually supplement the join seam glue, holding it together, rather than trying to break it apart as is shown by the following comparison:

More Details On Float Options

Deck: The cockpit is very long and a little wider than earlier designs, for a more spacious feel. The usual cockpit mid-bridge is to be eliminated by some careful engineering, and replaced by a removable compression strut for when needed (such as racing). This will leave the aft mounted traveler as the only obstacle across the cockpit, but one that is well out of the way.

The cabin roof camber and edge rounding have both been reduced to make cabin top more user friendly, safer to walk on, and easier to build. For lower weight and cost, only one winch will be required on most models, and this will be able to control all sheets and halyards.

Beams: The new F-33 style third generation beams and folding system are probably the biggest difference over earlier designs, with slimmer, more curved beams, that are set significantly higher. Beam tops are wide and relatively flat, for convenient and safe walking areas, while the wide overlapping flanges deflect any spray down, and cover lashing gap along wingnet edges, eliminating any chance of feet going through this area.

Folding struts are anchored directly to the beams (no metal brackets), but using an even simpler system to keep costs low. The shorter beams are mounted externally to the cabin, for more interior room, and give a significantly lower trailering height with less windage when towing (less fuel required).

Compared to the F-24/C24/Sprint750, still the best benchmark for this size boat, the F-22 beams have 18% less frontal area, are higher off the water (see drawing further below), and are significantly lighter at only 10kg or 22lb s each. This, coupled with the F-22’s larger floats, all add up to a faster, and much drier boat.

Rig: This is very simple, with rotating mast, all synthetic shrouds – turnbuckles and all metal parts have been eliminated wherever possible.

Sails: Three sails are standard, for simplicity and ease of use, these being main, jib, and a larger screacher. Mainsail is boomless, to save both weight and cost (and sore heads), while the longer luff of the boomless main is more efficient, and gives a lower center of effort. A roller furling boom is also optional if desired. Jib tack and/or furler (if used) is mounted partly below foredeck, for a deck sweeping jib for maximum efficiency, while also keeping sail area low down where it should be. Screacher mounts to the end of the aluminum bow pole, which can be pivoted up when needed.

The standard F-22 performance level is quite high due to the light weight, but not scaringly so due to the efficient low profile rig. This rig is designed to be very suitable for the average cruiser, and not over powering as can be the case with some more extreme designs. However, for experienced sailors who like to sail more on the edge, the F-22R with its taller racing rig is optional, and this is even faster than the F-24, and competitive with the much longer F-82 (26′ 10″).

The F-22 has more beam and more buoyancy further forward than any other Farrier design, and while this makes the F-22 very safe, it should be noted that the 35.1′ (10.7m) F-22R mast is very tall, and with a very powerful sail plan, so the F-22R is not a good choice for cruisers in heavy wind areas.

Foils: Daggerboard or centerboard options are available. The daggerboard is the simplest and most efficient and its case helps to support the mast. The centerboard can be more convenient, its offset case taking up less room in the cabin, plus it will kick back should it hit bottom. Tapered foils are being used, as these can be longer with less wetted surface area – or more efficient. Daggerboards are never used in the floats as these have major drawbacks, including being twice as complex, and heavier. They also do not save any interior space compared to an offset centerboard, which is much more practical and simpler.

Directional control is via the latest transom mounted retractable daggerboard rudder system, for maximum efficiency and simplicity.

Auxiliary : An outboard of 4 to 8 HP is recommended, and this is mounted on an offset pivoting bracket, forward of the stern, to minimize cavitation.

The basic interior layout is very similar to the F-24, with a double forward and two single berths on each side, which will also extend down the cockpit sides as quarter berths.

CRUISING CABIN VERSION

Galley expands out into cabin for when used, and can folded away when not in use, for more cabin room (full details in Specifications). Head can be located as shown and a full width screen across cabin center can give basic privacy when needed. An additional aft berth is also be possible under the cockpit for those who don’t mind limited headroom (plenty of width). A future aft cabin option will however make the aft berth very comfortable.

Cabin sides have been moved outboard to be more parallel to centerline than earlier designs, which creates more interior storage room. The early Trailertri designs had wing berths, which work well, except there was no storage underneath. Thus, when one loaded up the boat, gear tended to be thrown on the wing berths, and this then ended up on the floor or settees when sleeping, creating a very messy boat. To overcome this on later designs, the wing berth areas were turned into dedicated storage areas while the settees were used for berths, and this has worked out far better.

There is standing headroom under the large pop-top. This can also slide forward for quick cabin access, have the aft end only lifted to act as a dodger, or lift completely up to considerably increase comfort and room below. Sides can then be fully enclosed/screened.

The new externally mounted beams increase the interior room significantly, and a good example of this can be seen with the forward beam bulkhead opening. This is now a min. 6″ (150mm) wider than earlier models (at 4′ 4″ or 1.32m), giving a very spacious feeling to the cabin, and making the forward double berth area noticeably roomier.

Folding and Trailerability

The F-22 uses the well proven Farrier Folding System™, easily the most popular folding system world wide, and now further improved with the new ‘third generation’ beams and folding system. Besides making building easier, the new configuration uses shorter beams and eliminates the ‘nuisance’ beam recesses in the main hull deck of earlier designs, improving safety, while giving a much cleaner look.

Early designs, including the F-27, always had longer beams than necessary, with more hold down beam bolts than required structurally, in order to provide a ‘fail safe’ folding system. The beams actually ended near the center line, and took up as much interior room as telescopic beams. Double or even triple beam bolts were also used which made the beams strong enough on their own, even if the primary structural member (the lower folding strut) failed. This ‘fail safe’ factor was very important to help reassure early buyers that this totally new type of craft would be strong enough, but this is no longer a factor.

The Farrier Folding System has now proved itself beyond doubt, and there has never been a single failure of any lower folding strut, in over 30 years. Thus it was possible to begin eliminating beam bolts and shorten the beams, as with later designs such as the F-24 and F-31. The F-22 goes even further, with beam length set at the minimal optimum, with no interior intrusion at all. The resulting short beams, braced by the lower folding struts, are the most efficient beams available for a trailerable trimaran.

The F-22 third generation beams are shown above. These are much cleaner, with a lower trailering height, plus they eliminate the nuisance recesses into the cabin as shown below (F-24/Sprint 750). This gives the F-22 more room inside, plus any need for awkward covers as are sometimes used is eliminated. Such covers also tend to get in the way when folded, and are easily broken.

The old style beams also have the join flanges along the lower edge, and any spray from wave tops hitting the beam fronts is deflected upwards. The F-22 join flanges are instead on the top, where they can trap any such spray, and deflect it downwards, away from the crew, giving a much drier boat.

The wider deck of the F-22 can also be seen, with less rounded corners, which gives a safer walking area forward beside the mast, as well as more room inside. The rounded corners seemed a good idea for the F-24 at the time in 1991, but proved to be a mistake, as walking along the deck became more difficult and riskier, particularly when on the trailer. The F-27 was always right on the mark here, with its flatter roof with smaller radius corners, and thus it was decided to use this again for the F-22. Similarly, the F-22 beam tops are flatter making them significantly more comfortable to both sit and walk on.

The F-22 beams and folding struts have also been lifted higher than earlier designs, with lower folding struts now being anchored inside the beams. The struts are thus even higher, and this will help eliminate any nuisance spray that can come from folding struts on occasion at high speeds. The differences are shown by the following comparison drawing of the F-22 and the F-24 design (blue lines).

F-22 to F-24 Comparison

The significant improvement with the F-22 can be clearly seen, along with the F-22’s wider overall beam, and larger floats.

More information on the many advantages of the Farrier Folding System can also be seen at:

Farrier Folding System Advantages

For ease of use, everything is being designed so that rigging and launching can be done single-handed. The target setup time from arriving at ramp and having boat rigged, and in the water, is 25 – 30 minutes.

Production F-22 Availability

The F-22 was initially available only in plan form, but is now only available as a full production sail away boat. This will come as a ‘boat in a box’, that can be shipped anywhere around the world and can be assembled by anyone, or by a local boat builder for those without the time or inclination to do it themselves.

The production F-22 will be marketed differently from earlier designs, with enthusiastic owners being sought, who are willing to buy their own boat, and then use it for demonstration sails, and/or local promotions, in return for a commission on sales. This could become a very enjoyable part time business for those interested, and may be eventually be setup as full time F-22 franchise opportunities.

An Important Note On Performance

Like all Farrier designs, the F-22 is intended to be a comfortable, safe cruiser, and one that can also be fast, but the performance is achieved by efficiency, not excessive power. However, many competitors over the years have put a great emphasis on performance and race results, with very tall rigs and minimal room. It would be easy to make the F-22 faster than the F-31 for instance – just eliminate most of the room, and put on a big rig. But what is usually not mentioned with such boats is the greater danger of capsize or pitch pole, with wind capsize speeds that can be lower than 25 knots.

Such boats have very little practicality, are scary to sail, their crews soon get tired of the lack of comfort, lack of room, and the need to rent a nearby motel when participating in race events away from home. They also get tired of the hours trying to assemble them, or the hassles in retracting the floats.

Others have found that if they really want to go fast with no comfort, a cat with a couple of slender 30′ (10m) hulls with a tall mast is better value (eliminate the center hull altogether), and such a cat may be able to at least sleep two in each hull instead of just two in one. However, while such boats can be cheap, they are not good all round performers, and remain very impractical for cruising or safe family sailing. One currently available appears to have a wind capsize force of less than 15 knots, and capsized during a recent race in only 14 knots. Not a good feature and any multihull that needs such a big rig to compete is not a very safe or efficient boat.

All Farrier designs (except racing versions) use a minimum wind capsize speed of 30 knots or more, to ensure safety for crew and families, plus provide both room and performance. Even racing ‘R’ versions seldom use a wind capsize speed of below 25 knots. A few good race results are just not worth the extra risk and discomfort.

4 Sailors’ 118 Days at Sea: Survival Tale or Hoax?

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Four sailors’ survival at sea for 118 days in an upturned trimaran ranks as one of the world’s greatest survival stories--or one of its greatest hoaxes.

If the tale is to be believed, the trimaran Rose-Noelle was flipped over on June 4 by a huge wave in a 60-knot gale three days out of New Zealand’s South Island. It made land on Sept. 30.

Despite losing up to 40 pounds each, the three New Zealanders and an American survived the stormy southern winter in good shape--such good shape that some people doubt their story.

An official investigation into whether the sailors’ story checks out--and if so, why search and rescue efforts were so far astray--is not expected to be completed for another three weeks.

The investigator has declined comment until his inquiry is completed. But Capt. Melvyn Bowen, who conducted an initial investigation, is convinced that the four are telling the truth.

After visiting the wreckage on isolated Great Barrier Island north of Auckland where the Rose-Noelle drifted ashore, Bowen said he found convincing evidence, such as marine growth on the boat’s topside. “Personally I don’t feel it is a hoax,” he said.

But some questions linger. Local yachtsmen ask why, after such a long time at sea in appalling conditions, the men had no pressure-point or salt sores, which are almost universal for a long sea voyage.

Other points baffling investigators are how two radio messages were supposedly received from the Rose-Noelle by another yacht after the flip and how the Rose-Noelle drifted from 140 miles off the east coast of New Zealand around the top of the island to the west coast.

The pattern of the currents should have taken it farther east toward South America.

Plausible explanations to these mysteries have been suggested and, although skepticism remains, it is hard to imagine a motive for a hoax.

Skipper John Glennie has signed contracts for his story but the payments are hardly likely to compensate for the $145,000 loss of his 40-foot trimaran, which was smashed to bits on rocks.

“All those who think it’s a hoax are bloody idiots,” said crewman Phillip Hofman. Asked if there was any conclusive evidence, he said: “Yeah, the fact that I know we did it and three other people did it.”

The story as they tell it is a remarkable one.

Their 118 days adrift exactly equals the time Maurice and Maralyn Bailey of England spent in a tiny life raft and dinghy after their yacht was pierced by a whale off the Galapagos Islands in 1973.

Other than the undocumented story of a Hong Kong seaman who was reported to have been picked up during World War II after 133 days adrift, it is a record for survival at sea.

Here is their story:

After the boat capsized, they spent their first day trapped in the cabin. Then they hacked a hole in the hull and spent a nightmare four months crammed in a space the size of a double mattress.

For the first month water was desperately short, augmented by soft drinks and meager rations.

But after they rigged a system for collecting rain water, conditions improved and were considerably better, although colder, than those experienced by the Baileys.

Marine growth on the boat attracted more and more fish, and a large grouper even swam into the cabin one day.

“Toward the end we were eating better than you guys at home,” crewman Rick Hellriegel told a news conference on his return.

Glennie dived into the main cabin to retrieve more and more equipment. They had a gas cooker and even rigged up a barbecue on fine days.

But relations were strained. American Jim Nalepka said tension seethed among the four, who barely knew each other before the voyage. He and Hellriegel said they never wanted to see Glennie again. Glennie said the feeling is mutual.

Battles, not physical, were fought over half a biscuit or over who could sit on the well-lit side of the makeshift cabin where reading was possible.

“At one time, one of us, I won’t mention the person, was a liability, but we worked really hard to get that person out of that position. We thought the worst, you know, slitting his throat and pushing him overboard. But we did that in jest,” Nalepka said.

Despite the friction, the four knew they had to depend on each other and gradually jelled into a team. Hellriegel said it was a great help just having the body heat of four people during freezing winter weather.

Five or six times they were forced by the weather to stay below for days on end. That’s when spirits sagged and tensions ran high.

“Cabin fever, we called it. That’s a real condition,” Nalepka said. “Fighting over a half a biscuit seems trivial but no, it was too real. It was classic what we went through.”

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Ainslie set to begin bid for America's Cup glory

Ben Ainslie is at helm of the British America's Cup contender for the third time

• Published 21 August 2024

Ben Ainslie's Ineos Britannia team are set to start their bid to become the first British crew to win the America's Cup.

After almost three years of meticulous planning and testing, six teams will race their new AC75 boats against each other for the first time on Thursday in the final preliminary regatta.

The four-day event takes place within sight of the port area of Barcelona, the host city for the 37th America's Cup. , external

The competition begins in earnest on 29 August, with a series of races to decide which boat will take on defending champions New Zealand for the trophy in October.

Four-time Olympic sailing champion Ainslie is the skipper and chief executive officer of the Britannia team, , external which is backed by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Group.

They have worked with the Mercedes Formula 1 team to develop their boat, and with the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team to help the crew reach their physical peak.

First held around the Isle of Wight in 1851, the America's Cup is the world's oldest sporting event.

Here is our guide to the 37th edition, which includes a women's series for the first time in the competition's 173-year history.

How does the America's Cup work and what's the schedule?

Ineos Britannia skimming over the water off the coast of Barcelona

Team New Zealand automatically qualify for the America's Cup final match having won the trophy - known as the Auld Mug - in 2021.

The British team will take on rivals from Switzerland (Alinghi Red Bull Racing), Italy (Luna Rossa), the United States (NYYC American Magic) and France (Orient Express Racing Team) in the Challenger Selection Series leading up to the final series.

Known as the Louis Vuitton Cup, there are three competitions from 29 August to 7 October:

29 August to 8 September: Louis Vuitton Cup round-robin stage - all teams race each other twice, with the top four going through and the leading team choosing who they face in the semi-finals

14-19 September: Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals - first to win five races advances

26 September to 7 October: Louis Vuitton Cup final - first to win seven races qualifies for the America's Cup match

12-17 October: the 37th America's Cup - the Louis Vuitton Cup winner takes on holders Team New Zealand, with the first to seven race victories winning the trophy

• Races start at 13:00 BST and reserve dates are scheduled if required. You can watch the action live on TNT Sports.

How fast are the America's Cup boats?

Ineos Britannia have enlisted the help of engineering experts at the Mercedes Formula 1 team in Brackley, Northamptonshire in a bid to find a technical advantage over their rivals.

The AC75, or America's Cup 75, is a 75ft foiling race boat with one carbon-fibre hull (a monohull instead of catamaran or trimaran) and has been described as like a "large windsurfing board with towering sails" by Sailing World. , external

The AC75s - which have sails up to 26.5m high - have extendable hydrofoil wings which can lift the hull up and enable the boats to skim the surface of the water so they appear like they are flying.

This helps the boats to reach exhilarating speeds of more than 50 knots (57.5mph), despite weighing about 6.5 tonnes.

But make a mistake and the boats could capsize.

What is a cyclor and why are they key?

Britannia's crew features Olympic medallists and world champions from the sports of sailing and rowing

Fast starts are key, race tactics and weather conditions will all play their part, but it could be human effort which determines who wins the America's Cup.

Each boat has eight crew members, reduced from 11 last time, with two helmsmen and two sail trimmers on different sides.

Joining Ainslie as co-helm will be Olympic gold medallist Dylan Fletcher, who won the 49er class at Tokyo 2020, while Leigh McMillan and Bleddyn Mon are the trimmers.

The other four sailors on the boat provide the hydraulic power to trim the sails by pedalling static bikes fixed inside the hull.

Four of the nine "cycling sailors" in the Britannia squad have an Olympic rowing background - including 2016 gold medallist Matt Gotrel and Tokyo silver medallist Harry Leask.

Known as "cyclors", they have been put through their paces on dry land by Grenadiers’ top cyclists to build their endurance levels.

Double Olympic gold medallist Giles Scott is the team's head of sailing.

There is also a big onshore team including sailmakers, engineers, software technicians and even meteorologists.

It is estimated that the average America’s Cup campaign costs about £100m.

Ineos Britannia's performance, operation and support team in Barcelona with the AC75 boat Britannia

Ben Ainslie's mission to win the America's Cup

Ainslie won medals at five consecutive Olympics from 1996 onwards, including gold at four consecutive Games from 2000 to 2012.

Competing initially in the Laser category, he switched to the larger Finn boats and won nine World Championship titles across both classes.

Since winning gold at London 2012, Ainslie's goal has been to claim the America's Cup for Great Britain.

He set up his own British team to compete in the America's Cup World Series in 2012-2013 with the aim of gaining experience for a full challenge in 2017.

Ainslie went on to win the Auld Mug in 2013, using all his tactical nous to turn around Team Oracle USA's fortunes in spectacular style.

His two subsequent attempts in a British boat have ended in disappointment.

In 2017, Ainslie's Land Rover BAR team were knocked out in the semi-finals.

In the Covid-hit 2021 campaign, his Ineos Team UK won the round-robin stage but lost 7-1 to Luna Rossa in the final selection race series.

What about the Women's America's Cup?

Women have competed in the America's Cup before - most notably American Dawn Riley, who has sailed in the competition three times and was team manager of the French entry in 2007 - but have never had a standalone series.

The inaugural Women’s America’s Cup takes place in AC40 boats - a smaller version of the AC75 - from 5-13 October in Barcelona.

Great Britain's Athena Pathway will be one of 12 teams to start the qualification series from 5-9 October.

Hannah Mills, Britain's most successful female Olympic sailor - with two golds and a silver - leads the 12-strong British squad.

The 36-year-old from Wales has assembled a team full of Olympic and world medallists, including her former partner Saskia Clark and Paris 2024 kite sailing gold medallist Ellie Aldridge.

They will hope to advance to the final on 11 October, and from there reach the match race final on 13 October.

Great Britain are also represented in the Youth America’s Cup, taking place from 17-26 September.

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