The spread of foil-equipped models is an integral part of the new explosion of sports camatarans. “Classic” models respond with an evolution of their weapons and a busy calendar of appointments suitable for all levels

Ten models chosen for you

Bimare Stunt S9

An all-Italian soul for this foil model designed by Michele Petrucci that is especially popular in France, focusing so much on ease of use thanks to a special foil system. Lung. 4.16 m; wid. 2,36 m.

Class A

One of the longest-lived and most popular classes in the world still turns out to be very modern today: carbon and Kevlar are used for mass production of hulls and masts. There is also a truly spectacular foil version. Lung. 5.49 m; wid. 2,30 m.

RS Cat 16

British shipyard and multihull expert Jo Richards developed this catamaran that can also be used in single-handedness. It can be considered a suitable model for those who are taking their first steps in the world of multihulls but still want to have fun already. Lung. 4.7 m; wid. 2,35 m.

Formula 18

This is probably the class with the richest calendar of appointments in Italy, both nationally and locally. is the ultimate dual sport catamaran, a great breeding ground for talent. Lung. 5.52 m; wid. 2,60 m.

Hobie 16

Say catamaran and you think of the American shipyard’s 16-footer, of which more than 135,000 have been produced in the forty-five years since its inception. is the progenitor of a diverse range today. Lung. 5.05 m; wid. 2,41 m.

Minicat 420

The inflatable that is gaining most popularity, available in several more or less sporty versions, even with carbon fiber booms. It is disassembled and transported in a bag. Lung. 4.20 m; wd. 2,15 m.

Nacra 17

Born in 2011, it is the symbol of the entry of flying catamarans into the Olympic Games, moreover with mixed crews, demonstrating the great versatility of this model. Is the tip of the iceberg. Lung. 5.25 m: larg. 2,59 m.

Phantom 18

The largest of the models produced by Centro Nautico Adriatico is a catamaran with a watertight aluminum mast for easy righting and is constructed of sandwich laminated fiberglass with special fiber reinforcements. Lung. 5.45 m; wid. 2,45 m.

Topaz 16

One of the catamarans that has become very popular in the United States in recent years, especially because of the different configurations in which it can be equipped. He also has two younger “brothers.” Lung. 4.87 m; wd. 2,25 m.

Whisper

Constructed of epoxy resin and with extensive use of carbon, this model weighs, excluding foils, less than 80 kilograms overall. All it takes is four knots of wind to lift it out of the water. Lung. 5.40 m; wid. 2,30 m.

Our market analysis

Is the time of classic drifts, days on 420s or 470s over? Perhaps finished no, however, what is certain is that catamarans have literally invaded the world of sport sailing, breaking free from the “catamaran-beach-holiday” association. It used to be almost only Formula 18 was talked about, today the choice is really rich.

The reason, in our opinion, is to be found in the different way of understanding sailing among younger people, who are abandoning historical dinghies and converging on boats with foils or catamarans, looking first and foremost for more speed. Technically, this transition involves a different approach to maneuvering and greater mobility on board. Not to mention the difficulty in tacking: this is the time when two hulls are definitely not better than one.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks in choosing a catamaran over a classic dinghy concerns transportation. It is true that they are easily disassembled, but they still need more effort. This is also why the increasing popularity of those models with inflatable hulls, which can then be transported in a bag in the trunk, should not be underestimated. Once relegated to pure beach games, they are now evolving and it cannot be ruled out that they may in the future reach a level where they can also have respectable performance. An example of this is the Minicat 420, which is also experiencing widespread use along our coasts.

Propotypes are also appearing on the market that currently do not even know if they will actually be put into production, a sign of a race for innovation that seems to know no rest. These include the French Voilavion project, a catamaran with a foil but, more importantly, equipped with a mast that runs on a rail, effectively mimicking that of windsurfing. Genius or madness?

FLYING OR CLASSICAL?

The first question when choosing a catamaran is whether we want it with foils or classic. Current fashion leads to the first choice, even for emulation with respect to the great and spectacular world circuits, without going so far as to touch the heights of the America’s Cup.

In fact, although the number of models equipped with foils is steadily increasing, the popularity of “classic” sport catamarans makes those who also wish to try their hand at a racing circuit lean toward this second choice. Indeed, two great classics such as the Class A and the Formula 18 remain on the crest of the wave, which especially in Europe are experiencing a second youth.

AN EVOLVING MARKET

There is no nation in this market segment that has developed innovative models more than others. The “sport catamaran” phenomenon is truly across the board. There are also several Italian producers, such as BiMare, which launched the Stunt S9, a foil catamaran whose first prototype saw the light of day in 2012 and was then refined in recent years and launched on the market in 2015.

Also among the foil models, one of the latest additions is Whisper, a model from the British shipyard that is intended to serve as the first step for those approaching the world of foils, thanks to a “self-balancing” system that should help maintain balance. Impossible then not to mention the Nacra 17, which in some ways can be considered the tip of the iceberg, being the only catamaran among the Olympic Classes. Its success has actually put the Nacra range, which has as many as eight models, on the back burner.

Also numerous is the production of the sacred monster in the world of catamarans, that Hobie Cat whose Hobie 16 has become almost synonymous with multihulls (over 135,000 produced from 1971 to the present). The American manufacturer has diversified its offerings, also launching a range of models without a trampoline, but with a rigid polyethylene platform.

Finally, among the models that have seen the greatest growth in recent months, we cannot fail to mention RS Sailing‘s RS Cat 16. The British boatyard, which is undermining the dominance of the Laser in the world of dinghies, is focusing heavily on this model, focusing among other things on ease of use: the assembly holes between hulls and transoms do not go through the skin of the boat, which can thus be assembled or disassembled in about 15 minutes using only a wrench.

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