{"id":45227,"date":"2019-12-09T16:00:21","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T21:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=45227"},"modified":"2023-05-06T17:56:33","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T21:56:33","slug":"neel-47-trimaran-best-full-size-multihull","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/story\/sailboats\/neel-47-trimaran-best-full-size-multihull\/","title":{"rendered":"Neel 47 Trimaran: Best Full-Size Multihull"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Neel <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n In the large multihull class, at least for 2020, the Neel 47 proved that three hulls are better than two. The Eagle Class 53 was easily the most unique boat in the long history of Boat of the Year.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle <\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s hard to imagine three vessels, in a single class, as different in layout, purpose and execution than the trio of multihulls that comprised the year\u2019s Best Full-Size Multihull class. Two of the three were catamarans, and the third a most unusual craft: a cruising trimaran. Sorting out these unique boats was a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The multimillion-dollar Eagle Class 53\u2014built in Rhode Island to exacting standards and a radical design brief (with potential foiling capability and a solid wing mast that also incorporates a \u201csoft\u201d mainsail on its trailing edge)\u2014was not, in any manner, a contemporary cruising boat. Yes, there is a pair of cabins with doubles aft, and the central living space includes a workable galley and one other notable feature. \u201cIt\u2019s the only boat we sailed that even had a full bar on deck with slide-out seats sitting on carbon fiber: custom-made carbon-fiber pods,\u201d panelist Ed Sherman said. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s just an amazing piece of workmanship. I don\u2019t know what else to say. It\u2019s a cool boat.\u201d And while it would be a reach to call the Eagle 53 a cruiser, it was certainly remarkable and couldn\u2019t be ignored, which is why the judges were unanimous in separating it for special recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Eagle <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Eagle Class 53 was easily the most unique boat in the long history of Boat of the Year.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle <\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

What it thus came down to was which of the two remaining boats\u2014the Bali 5.4 cat and the Neel 47 tri\u2014best addressed or met its stated design briefs. The 55-plus-foot Bali certainly has offshore bona fides\u2014the boats are delivered across the Atlantic from the boatyard in France where they\u2019re crafted\u2014but the yacht is most definitely laid out for steady work (and parties) in the charter trade. The final deliberations were lively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The first thing that struck judge Dan Spurr was the unusual sailing experience, with the steering station situated on a flybridge well above the waterline. \u201cIt felt like a floating island and kind of sailed like one, I thought,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing so high above the water, even though we were doing well in light air and making 5 or 6 knots, it was almost hard to tell whether we were moving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bali <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The flybridge steering station on the Bali 5.4 was a big topic of discussion.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle <\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

His fellow judge Ralph Naranjo concurred. \u201cThe main boom on the Bali is probably 15 or 16 feet high,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re giving away a lot of the foot of the sail, and you\u2019re sticking the masthead up a lot farther in the sky to get the same kind of drive. At anchor in warm climates in areas where you sail flat and don\u2019t have too much of a seaway, boats like this certainly fit the bill. And the Bali was an extreme version of that. The idea of doing an ocean passage up there aloft seems like a tiring situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\u201cUnder sail, the motion of the Neel through the water was very comfortable.\u201d\n\n<\/p>\n<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was actually pleasantly surprised that the boat sailed better than I thought it would, and by a significant margin,\u201d Sherman said. \u201cAnd let\u2019s not forget the chartering equation that\u2019s a big part of this boat\u2019s aura. The way it\u2019s equipped and laid out down below, it\u2019s built for calm seas and a bunch of friends to have one hell of a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

In some ways, that describes the reasoning behind what happened next. Viewing it as the better layout and configuration for serious cruising, the judges conferred the title of Best Full-Size Multihull<\/b> on the Neel 47<\/b>. For the BOTY 2020 awards, three hulls proved better than two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Neel 47 is a very \u00adinteresting boat\u2014the only \u00adtrimaran in our collection, which has quite a bit of significance just from a design perspective because it enables them to get all of their heavy gear and machinery in that center hull,\u201d Sherman said. \u201cIn terms of balance, it\u2019s a great way to go. Under sail, the motion of the boat through the water was very comfortable. It\u2019s a unique concept with the interior layout in that the \u00adowner\u2019s stateroom is at deck level with these giant picture windows overlooking the horizon, and the guest cabins are aft and in the amas. So even though we have a 47-footer here, it\u2019s really a couple\u2019s boat, though there is room for occasional guests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe trend of late in cruising multihulls has certainly been toward cats, so I appreciated their efforts to make a cruising trimaran,\u201d Spurr said. \u201cThere\u2019s a real trade-off\u2014the fundamental one being I believe you\u2019re going to get better performance with a trimaran, but you\u2019re going to sacrifice accommodations. So I feel that for most of the buying public, they\u2019re going to have to be leaning toward the performance end of the spectrum. The main owner\u2019s cabin on the saloon level is kind of fun and interesting, but it\u2019s adjacent to the galley and entertaining areas. So, I agree with Ed that this is a boat aimed at an experienced couple.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Those couples who go with a Neel will be going with a winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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See All Winners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

2020 Boats of the Year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Other Winners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n