{"id":47563,"date":"2021-12-15T16:02:48","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T21:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=47563"},"modified":"2023-05-06T18:17:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T22:17:39","slug":"2022-boat-of-the-year-best-cruising-catamaran-under-50","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/sailboats\/2022-boat-of-the-year-best-cruising-catamaran-under-50\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 Boat of the Year: Best Cruising Catamaran (Under 50\u2019)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During and in the four days immediately following the US Sailboat show in Annapolis, Maryland, the\u00a0<\/em>Cruising World\u00a0judges inspected and sailed on 27 boats vying for recognition. Learn more about the boats in our\u00a02022 Boat of the Year<\/a>\u00a0\u00bb<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sweet spot for cruising catamarans, for most multihull sailors, is right there between 40 and 50 feet: manageable by a couple, not so large that finding a place to park or dock is prohibitive, and with lots more room to spread out and bring the toys and kids than a monohull of similar length. This year\u2019s set of nominees features industry stalwarts Leopard and Fountaine Pajot\u2014both of which have enjoyed plenty of success in previous Boat of the Year competitions\u2014and a pair of relative upstarts from Bali, the cruising offshoot from French builder Catana. The former are all-around cats with plenty of versatility; the latter aim to cater more toward the cruising\/liveaboard part of the equation. Choices, choices! It proved to be a challenging quartet of cats for the judging panel to evaluate and sort out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The larger sibling of the two Bali cats entered for BOTY 2022\u2014all the Bali offerings feature an innovative \u201cgarage door\u201d separating the saloon and cockpit, which when raised creates a seamless indoor\/outdoor living space that has proven to be highly popular\u2014was the 46-plus-foot 4.6. It\u2019s yet another one of this year\u2019s catamarans with the ever-popular flybridge that has become a design staple for many cat builders. Judge Tim Murphy found it a pleasure to sail. \u201cOn some of the other cats, you felt you were fighting the sail controls,\u201d he said. \u201cNot here. It\u2019s laid out nicely. It has a double-ended mainsheet system with no traveler but control at both ends, so you\u2019ve got a port and a starboard sheet, and I think that\u2019s a fine way to control the mainsail. It\u2019s arguably easier to jibe with that system than a standard traveler; you have good athwartships control throughout the maneuver. Bali cats are known for comfort, but this one sails well too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bali <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The stepped hulls on the Bali 4.6 create lots of interior volume in the sleeping cabins.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bali <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n With large windows and a transom door that lifts up and stores overhead, the Bali\u2019s interior and exterior spaces blend together.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bali <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The 4.6 feature a solid fiberglass foredeck and lounge area that stays dry underway.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

At 40 feet, the Bali Catspace\u2014the second of two boats from the brand entered in the 2022 BOTY contest\u2014is the smallest offering in the Bali line, but judge Murphy found the open floor plan particularly alluring: \u201cThe living experience of being able to open up the back end of these cats so you create an indoor\/outdoor platform is terrific. I didn\u2019t give it much thought until I chartered a Bali, and it was totally delightful. The sailing performance was actually fine, but it was that back porch that made the trip.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dream Yacht Charters has added more and more Bali cats to their fleets, and it\u2019s easy to see why. With their vast interior space; plenty of amenities including air conditioning and multiple fridges, including ones that would not be out of place in any well-equipped household kitchen ashore; and surprisingly effective sailing prowess given their systems and accommodations, these boats are almost synonymous with the word \u201cvacation.\u201d Take the interior layout of the Catspace: It has four staterooms with private heads, the forward pair with berths aligned athwartships and the aft set laid out in a fore-and-aft configuration. It\u2019s hard to imagine a better use of space for four couples or a family in 40 feet of waterline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bali <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n A self-tacking jib makes the Bali Catspace easy to handle under sail.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bali <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The chef gets the prime view out of the Bali Catspace\u2019s large forward windows.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bali <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n In the three-cabin owner\u2019s version of the Catspace, the master suite features a roomy head and shower.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Yes, a 40-foot catamaran is a design challenge; it\u2019s fairly easy to accommodate loads of features in a 50-foot multihull, but it\u2019s quite another to include all the creature comforts and niceties in considerably less real estate. But Murphy felt that the Isla 40\u2014another 40-footer like the Catspace, but this one from longtime cat leader Fountaine Pajot\u2014pulled it off well. The Isla also had a tall order to fill in that it replaced a previous cat of the same size in the builder\u2019s lineup, the highly successful Lucia 40. \u201cThe mission for this boat was described in thirds,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cBareboat charter, crewed charter and private ownership. I think they\u2019ve created a boat that accomplishes all those missions. The boat sailed well, but it was also laid out well. In fact, the owner\u2019s cabin to starboard was superb, one of the nicest places on any boat we inspected. We toured a lot of much bigger boats that didn\u2019t have that sort of space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Isla <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Fountaine Pajot has a reputation for building good performing production cats, and the new Isla 40 continues in that vein, thanks in part to its overlapping genoa.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Isla <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Cats have a way of making it to warm places, and the Isla\u2019s cockpit table awaits those who dine al fresco. Note the excellent access to the helm from both the cockpit and side deck.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Isla <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The owner\u2019s hull on the Isla is open and inviting, with a desk amidships and a berth aft with storage under.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

But when all was said and done, the Bali Cats and the Isla ran into a juggernaut with the Leopard 42, which proved to be a powerhouse BOTY entrant. It\u2019s pretty clear by now that the relationship between South African builder Robertson and Caine; their lone client, the Moorings; and naval architects Simonis and Voogd, who bring the Leopard brand to life, is strong and fruitful. And they have a wall full of BOTY award-winning plaques to prove it. It\u2019s time to make room for another. The judges found much to like about the latest Leopard, including the offset steering station to starboard and the lounge space forward accessed via a front door in the saloon. But the Leopard sealed its victory with an awesome sea trial in which it overhauled and passed a popular new monohull that shall remain nameless. Cats can\u2019t point? Wrong!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Leopard <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The double mainsheet on the Leopard 42 is anchored by blocks on either side of the bimini. The arrangement offers lots of fine tuning to shape the mainsail and control it during jibes.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Leopard <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n A door on the forward side of the 42\u2019s saloon lets in breeze and opens onto a lounging area on the foredeck.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Leopard <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The helm set up on the 42 is designed with a shorthanded crew or charter skipper in mind. Straight ahead are a pair of winches for the jib sheets; to port is a winch dedicated to the mainsheets.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

What put the boat over the top wasn\u2019t just the sailing performance, which was obviously terrific, but also the tools with which to sail the boat, and its overall deck layout, all of which optimized the experience. Murphy said, \u201cWith the Leopard, you have visual eye contact from the raised helm station to starboard down into the cockpit, you’ve got a visual line of sight into the saloon, and you’ve got a pretty good visibility over the top of the cabin top everywhere. You had access to your main sheet right there where you needed it. This was one of the boats that had no traveler, but instead had a windward and leeward block on the mainsheet. I think that’s a fine system, I like the control you have. Jibing works fine and is easily controlled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was one little thing in a series of them, all of which added up to a boat\u2014the Leopard 42\u2014that was the unanimous winner in the 2022 category of Best Cruising Catamarans (Under 50\u2019).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the proven partnership and collaboration between South African builder Robertson and Caine and the Moorings, the Leopard 42 is an ideal platform for private ownership and\/or bareboat chartering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":47576,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Cruising World Editors","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"167","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"With an exquisite blend of comfortable, live-aboard accommodations and superb sailing performance both inshore and offshore, the Leopard 42 is a versatile vessel that earned the title of Best Cruising Catamaran (Under 50\u2019) in a very competitive class.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","sponsored_url":"","social_share":true,"ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true},"categories":[167],"tags":[488,282,1880,265,352,195],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47563"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47563"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47563\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}