While strolling the docks of the Annapolis Sailboat Show each fall for, let’s say, at least the past decade, one thing has become abundantly clear: Between the rows of charter catamarans lining the docks of the so-called Vacation Basin and the ubiquitous lineup of cats (and trimarans) on display on the Spa Creek Marina piers, the twin-hull phenomenon continues to resonate, and it easily remains the fastest-growing segment of the sailboat universe. That anecdotal observation was backed up by hard numbers in the 2024 Boat of the Year fleet, with more than half the contestants being multihulls. 

Fittingly, then, the most competitive category in this year’s contest was this class of four cruising cats. Amazingly, in features and layouts, each nominee was decidedly different from the others, a true benefit to potential owners, who now more than ever have real choices to ponder. 

Winner: Vision Yachts 444

It’s hard to say if it’s a definite advantage, but in recent Boat of the Year contests, when inspecting boats with their owners aboard—folks who have put some hard miles under their keels, and who can speak with authority on the positives and negatives of their vessel—the track record shows that such nominees do very well. Which is the case with the Vision 444, whose owner took delivery of the boat at its building site in Knysna, South Africa, cruised to Mozambique, and then sailed it up the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean. 

Judge Mark Pillsbury picks it up from there: “Many of the big cruising cats that we step aboard are a compromise by design because some of the fleet will go to private owners and the rest into charter. The Vision 444 was different, and after a 14,000-mile shakedown cruise, it clearly reflected the thinking of its owner, who was aboard every step of the way. This is a pure cruising cat, and a fine one. Gear was of good quality and well-sorted. Living accommodations were practical and proven. And build quality was readily apparent because the boat looked terrific after all those hard miles. I think it’s one of the only cats I can recall having a full and proper nav station. And the walk-in workshop forward in the starboard bow? Brilliant.”

Runner-up: Excess Catamarans 14

Text> Pillsbury has sailed the complete range of Excess cats, a relatively new brand from Groupe Beneteau, and has a unique viewpoint on how the range has evolved: “Each of the first three Excess catamarans we looked at brought us something new to talk about, and the latest, the 46-foot Excess 14, didn’t disappoint. The builder says that they want to try new things as they expand the lineup, and with the 14, they let the design team of VPLP push off in a couple of new directions when it comes to hull shape, and the width and depth of the keels to improve sailing performance. Unfortunately, we had pretty light wind for our sea trial in Annapolis, but in under 5 knots of breeze, we were still able to see speeds in the 3-plus-knot range. Visibility from the helms was good—our entire judging team are fans of the steering stations, located well aft and outboard— and the boat was easy to move around on. The 14 fits very well in what the builder is aiming to accomplish.”

Runner-up: HH Catamarans HH44

Text> Unfortunately, due to a shipping snafu, this latest offering from HH Catamarans arrived too late to Annapolis to be displayed at the boat show. But it did make it in time for the sea-trial portion of the Boat of the Year contest. The judges were very pleased that it did, for on a windy test sail, the 44 had the opportunity to strut its stuff, so much so that the panel awarded it with the Judge’s Special Recognition prize.

Runner-up: Seawind Catamarans 1170

The Seawind collection of cats has seen more than its fair share of success in previous Boat of the Year contests. As judge Tim Murphy summarizes, the builder’s new 38-footer is carrying on with that positive tradition: “Our test boat, Hull No. 2, was built at the company’s primary facility in Vietnam, but going forward with the 1170, the line will be produced in a new plant in Turkey to service the European market. The infused hull is vinylester throughout with a PVC core; it’s a good, cost-effective choice that avoids osmosis. Foam is perforated and ‘double-cut’ with kerfs around curved surfaces. It has a Mastervolt lithium-ion battery system, no genset, but with 990 watts of solar power (an optional 1,320 watts is available). I like the cabin top/boom relationship: It doesn’t invite lounging guests to lounge in the boom’s path, but does give the operator easy access to the entire foot of the mainsail. The galley is down—a good layout on a smaller cat. The sail plan is simple but effective. This is a very solid couple’s boat.”

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After stepping aboard the Vision 444 catamaran at the fall 2023 Annapolis Sailboat Show, it was immediately apparent that this was a cat of a different sort compared with the several other midsize production models on display. Let’s start with the handy fold-down boarding doors located on the aft quarter of each hull that allow you to take a simple, convenient step into the cockpit. It was an innovation introduced on an earlier model that was designed around the needs of a handicapped sailor and then adopted because, well, it was a good idea.

Then right inside the salon, to starboard, there sat a full-fledged forward-facing nav station. Does any other cat builder bother with a dedicated piloting space these days? Can’t think of one, but at sea, it’s mighty handy to have a place to settle in and update the log, work the computer, or check the charts—all while keeping an eye on instruments, systems, and the sea ahead.

At its yard in Knysna, South Africa, Vision Yachts produces one model, the 444, and each boat, so far at least, seems to evolve with the technology and gear available. Buyers’ ideas are also considered and put to good use when they make sense, said David Stein, the owner of Jubilee, Hull No. 8.

Stein picked up Jubilee at the yard in Knysna, sailed to Mozambique for a shakedown cruise, then crossed the Atlantic, via St. Helena, to Grenada. After a season in the Caribbean, he sailed the boat north (the rig is Intracoastal Waterway-friendly, he reports), arriving in Chesapeake Bay in time for the show. After 14,000 miles at sea, he said he was looking forward to sailing many more.

During a walk-through, he was meticulous about detailing innovations developed before his boat was built, and what’s available on models that can be ordered now. The evolving design means each new boat carries the latest equipment, such as the lithium power system on Stein’s boat.

Vision’s hulls, deck, and house are vacuum-infused using vinylester resin and foam coring. The hulls, which sport mini keels, are fabricated with a matrix of watertight boxes beneath the soles. Composite water and fuel tanks are also built into the hulls.

Jubilee is powered by a pair of 40 hp Yanmar diesels (38 hp Nanni diesels are standard on current models), and the engines are located under the aft berth in each hull. The beds lift up, providing good all-round access to the motors, and maintenance can be done out of the elements. Despite their interior location, under power, the Vision was a relatively quiet boat with sound levels ranging from 60 to 68 decibels, depending on engine speed. (The Nanni’s are approximately 30 percent quieter.)

On Jubilee, the owner’s cabin is located aft in the starboard hull, and includes a spacious head and shower. Far forward, in place of a guest cabin, there’s a handy tool shop/man cave, complete with workbench and vice for making repairs underway. In the port hull, there’s an athwartships berth forward, with a head and shower in the forepeak; a double berth aft, also with head and shower, is located aft. 

Large storage lockers sit amidships in each hull. Inside them, electrical circuits, systems and plumbing are easily accessed; every wire and hose is clearly labeled.

Jubilee was well-mannered under sail. The rack-and-pinion steering is silky smooth and responsive. In 10 to 12 knots of wind, our speeds were consistently in the mid 7s to over 8 knots in the puffs. 

Seated at the raised helm station, with sail-control lines within easy reach and with good visibility all around, the boat loped comfortably along. With its practical layout, plenty of solar power and lithium batteries for living off the grid, and a well-thought-out sail plan, clearly the 444 is a boat built for sailors with visions of going places.

For more information about the 444, visit https://visionyachts.com/

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Built by sailors for sailors, the Vision 444 was inspired, according to the builder, by thousands of miles spent at sea understanding the demands of a vessel and her crew, years of experience building custom catamarans, and a passion to produce the perfect bluewater cruiser. Boatbuilder James Turner and Vision Yachts have created this 44’4” lightweight performance vessel with unique features and an impressive standard inventory that sets this catamaran above the rest.

The Vision 444 is constructed with an innovative resin infusion technology with all support struts and davits made from advanced composite and integrated into the hull to create a strong yet lightweight vessel. Key features of the 444 suggest that form follows function. All furniture is structurally bonded to the hull in an ergonomic design. Midship service lockers in each hull offer easy access to shut-off valves, filters, sea strainers, and pumps. Two bilges line each hull, one in the service locker and one in the engine room. Fuel line hoses and electrical wiring have their own dedicated conduits. The lithium ion batteries are under the salon seats, and the engines are under the bunks, allowing safe and easy access. A bench seat in the engine room with dedicated tools, storage for spare parts, ventilation, and lighting make servicing the engines a breeze. Access to the rudder system is in the starboard stern locker. Every locker has ample space for access or storage, and a room in the starboard bow (accessed through the master shower walk-through) contains a complete work bench with a vice and additional storage. And, exhale…

The interior is equally functional, and with a healthy dollop of form mixed in. All windows and hatches in the salon provide superb vision of the horizon. From the forward-facing navigation station in the salon, GPS can link up to the TV for a Spielberg-sized chart-plotter display. Flooring is flush throughout and an L-shaped door between the cockpit and salon doubles the space while open and offers an alfresco ambiance. In the salon, the U-shaped settee is standard with leather. Windows are single-panel flat glass. All vertical finishes are quarter sawn reconstructed oak veneer with an oil finish, which is easy to maintain or to replace without matching wood grains if needed. Quartz composite countertops with stainless steel refrigerator/freezer and all high-end appliances surrounded by stainless grab rails throughout yield a dual sense of openness and safety when underway.

On deck, the side access door is great for boarding, loading and accessibility. Wide, level decks are clear of all running rigging, and the flush mount hatches allow the crew to move around safely. Two standard electric winches and running rigging led back to the helm provide ease of operation for single-handed sailing. The mainsheet bridle system (eliminating the traveler and tracks) is simple to use in conjunction with the self-tacking jib. Atkinson’s-theory-calibrated rudders help to maintain drive when tacking and jibing. The working helm seating for two has a commanding position with a view over both bows and 360-degree visibility.

The deck sole in the cockpit, and on the side decks and foredeck is EVA foam padding, a UV resistant material that is resilient—like a high-quality yoga mat with grip. The cockpit has ample seating with a large teak table. Stainless steel tubing that retracts into the transom bulkhead provides additional safety at sea.

“A sense of certainty in any sailing vessel begins with strength” says a Vision Yachts representative. “We use an innovative resin infusion and gel-coat technology to form the Vision 444’s durable hulls. Decks are extra-tough while still maintaining impressive performance due to the weight-saving process. The result is a better, lighter, faster, stronger and safer vessel which will hold its investment value longer.”

Vision 444 Specifications

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