New boat news

New boats

A look at the latest launches from around the globe

Excess 14

Excess Catamarans is an offshoot of Lagoon, the best selling cruising multihull manufacturer of all time. The aim of Excess was to draw in a younger audience essentially. The first few models used existing Lagoon hulls and spruced them up but the project has now evolved and an entirely separate range is being developed. The new boat is 44’ on the waterline and features the nowtrademark twin helms aft. The boat features a relatively low freeboard compared to Lagoon and, although daggerboards have been eschewed, the keels are somewhat deeper – pointing to the line being trod between speed and comfort.

l sea-ventures.co.uk

Dehler 46 SQ

The Dehler 46 first hit the market back in 2016 and this Judel/Vrolijk design proved itself to be a polished performer, striking a pleasing balance between performance and comfort which is, after all, the key to producing a successful cruiser/racer. The manufacturers have decided that it is time for a bit of a refresh and, rather than go for a full on redesign, have stuck with the same hull but with significant modifications. Perhaps the most striking one is the interior which, although slick on the original 46, was extremely muscular and perhaps a touch too individual for all tastes. The new interior is lighter thanks to bigger portlights and brighter materials, while the old curved lockers have been replaced with more conventional ones. On deck, there is now an option of an arch over the cockpit with the mainsheet fixed to it. This allows for a bigger bimini and removes the traveller – making for a more cruiser friendly option.

l inspirationmarine.co.uk

GT 325

British boatbuilder GT Yachts hit the headlines some years ago by unveiling an exciting range of pure blooded cruisers. Their first model off the production line, the GT 35 gained big plaudits and the company is now back with a big financial backer and a second boat, the Stephen Jones designed 325. A yacht that looks to fill the substantial gap in the market for a small (ish) ‘go anywhere’ cruiser. As such, the boat comes as standard with bilge keels (a single fin is an option), meaning the boat can be beached and making her ideal for coastal cruising in the UK. The boat can accommodate six and offers generous volume.

Persico Fly 40

The recent innovations pioneered in the AC75 America’s Cup class are showcased in miniature in the Persico Fly 40. This 40’ one design racing yacht is set to hit the water in 2023 and uses many of the principles seen in the Luna Rossa America’s Cup campaign, which Persico Marine was intimately involved with. This foiling monohull is designed to take flight in 7kn of true wind speed and can accommodate a crew of 4-5. Maximum speed is projected to be a somewhat hair raising 40kn. Persico has partnered with renowned designer Pininfarina to produce this pocket rocket and in the interests of safety and ease of handling, the Fly 40 will be equipped with Electronic Flight Control. Persico has extensive experience in the world of production yachts, having worked on Numerous Wally designs plus the Club Swan 85.

ORC 57

Marsaudon Composites has been hitting the headlines regularly in recent years due to eye opening results in regattas and races across the world. What makes the results so impressive is that these catamarans offer decent levels of both comfort and space while also dishing up superlative performance. The Marc Lombard designed 57 is their biggest boat yet and that means more speed. The boat certainly looks the part too, with the manufacturers stating that they want their yachts to look like the multihull equivalent of an American muscle car. As such the styling is aggressive. At the same time the interior is extremely light, stylish and comfortable. Granted, it’s not as lavish as, say, an Outremer but, then again, it will outsail an Outremer.