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2023 Boat of the Year Best Multihull: Neel 43

• By Dave Reed
• December 16, 2022

Sailing World Magazine’s  annual Boat of the Year tests are conducted in Annapolis, Maryland, following the US Sailboat Show. With independent judges exhaustively inspecting the boats on land and putting them through their paces on the water, this year’s fleet of new performance-sailing boats spanned from small dinghies to high-tech bluewater catamarans. Here’s the best of the best from our  2023 Boat of the Year nominees »

The Power of Three

• Neel 43 2023 Best Multihull
• Stated purpose: Family cruising, casual pursuit racing
• Crew: Two to four
• Praise for: Easily handling, open interior layout, overall positive sailing experience
• Est. price as sailed: $600,000

In the sea of slab-sided catamarans that make up “multihull alley” in the US Sailboat Show, there’s a homogeneity that makes it almost impossible for one cat sailing condo to stand out among the others. (Gunboat and HH Catamarans being the high-ticket exceptions.)

Unique and mixed in among them, however, is the Neel 43 trimaran. From the dock perspective, it’s a big and imposing vessel. It’s also a proven bluewater performer that’s already won its share of hardware. While previous French-built Neel performance cruising tris have been overlooked by the racing set, that’s starting to change, as are opinions of multihulls. Ask the Texans in Galveston how many performance cruising multis are now doing their annual Harvest Moon Regatta—more than ever. And the Caribbean Multihull Challenge in St. Martin? It’s growing bigger by the year, and that’s because boats like the Neel 43 can be one heck of a ride and capable of being first to finish in a coastal overnighter.

“What surprised me is how much it sailed upwind like a monohull,” Allen says. “When you start flying the weather hull—when it’s just skimming the surface—the boat takes off. We didn’t have a ton of breeze for the test sail, but it was easy to see how you could really cover some ground with the right sail combination. I could see this boat being easily raced point-to-point by two people. With four crew on a coastal race, it would be a blast—go around the island and then park the thing and have a great night.”

Neel-Trimarans, explains Alex Sastre, the North American agent, was founded 20 years ago by Eric Brunel, founder of catamaran giant Fountaine Pajot. Neel now builds nearly 200 boats per year at its facilities in La Rochelle, France, and it’ll build plenty of these entry-level cruising tris.

The boat’s overall interior concept is to have one large and connected living space, visible from hull to hull. Step through the main salon sliding door and the living quarters are all right there before you with a near panoramic view. There’s an owners cabin in one hull, a guest cabin in the other, and a sunken V-berth forward. The layout is a striking change from similar-size catamarans, where cabins are down and low in the hulls. On the Neel 43, there’s a feeling of inclusion, like a loft apartment. It’s not necessarily better or worse in terms of owner privacy, the judges say. It’s just different. What the trimaran’s large center hull provides is a giant mechanical room below. Open a hatch and climb down a short ladder to an airy and brightly illuminated space with all the boat systems accessible.

The boat is primarily intended for family cruising, Sastre says, but it’s ultimately for a sailor who appreciates performance. “When you trim in the sails, the boat lurches forward,” he says, thrusting his hips forward, “like whoosh! It takes off!

“With four on a long-­distance race, it would be a blast [to] go around the island and then park the thing on a mooring and have a great night.” —Chuck Allen

“A trimaran,” he adds, “is more stable than a catamaran and is faster than a catamaran, so sailing this boat is a lot of fun because helming it gives a feeling of great sensation. With the keel, mast and rudder on the center hull, trimming the amas is like a balancing act. It doesn’t heel too much, and it’s very stable. This is a platform for adventure.”

“It was the least multihull-like of all the multihulls we sailed,” Powlison says. “It handled like a monohull, and the third hull really makes a difference in being able turn the boat easily without stalling.”

The boat is an impressive build of vinylester and foam core, with nearly the entire hull built off with one mold. Neel touts use of eco-friendly and recyclable materials, and even cork is used as coring in some interior elements. Solar panels on the roof power the fridge and electronics.

With a displacement of nearly 9 tons, there’s a lot of boat that spans 24 feet at maximum beam. Looking bow on, it’s a formidable-looking craft that glides quietly across the water when there’s all of 1,100 square feet of upwind sail area on the carbon rig. With its roller-furling gennaker deployed, the boat really lights up, as it should, Allen says.

The single helm is up high to starboard with good visibility, the judges note, with all the reef and control lines spilling into the helm area and into sheet bags.

The Dyneema cable steering, Stewart says, was very responsive: “This is Hull No. 25, which is a good indication they’ve hit it right with the type of owner drawn to this type of boat. It definitely meets its purpose and does what it is supposed to. It’s stable and powerful, and accelerated well, even with the small jib. It felt far more nimble than other big multihulls we’ve sailed in the past. The way that it tacked easily is a really appealing trait for the type of racing an owner can do, like in the Caribbean, where the races are around islands and there can be a fair bit of tacking.”

First around the island means the first ­relaxing, and that’s what the Neel 43 is designed to do.

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NEW NEEL 52

With a racy, modern silhouette, elaborately designed hull and sleek lines, the  NEEL 52 exudes power, speed, safety and elegance.

About the construction

The NEEL 52’s construction mirrors that of the other models in the range, using the techniques and materials:  Vacuum-infused composite sandwich with triaxial fibre reinforcements.

It is worth noting that NEEL-TRIMARANS uses PVC and PET foams in the sandwich core – unlike other multihull manufacturers who use Balsa, which, though certainly cheaper, alters the quality of the sandwich core as it is more sensitive to water infiltration.

Resins and gelcoats have also been improved with a view to limiting styrene emissions.

NEEL-TRIMARANS once again entrusts the design of the NEEL 52 to  Lombard , following on from  NEEL 47  and the  NEEL 43 .

Basing their design on the NEEL 47 and NEEL 43’s sailing experiences, the Lombard firm has consolidated the positive attributes,  the hull’s voluminous floats and high freeboard.

The hulls of NEEL trimarans combine a central ‘rockered’ hull, which  facilitates tacking and manoeuvring  when in port, with streamlined floats that provide stability and prevent pitching.

The design of the hulls for the  NEEL 52  also had to consider the load on long distance voyages. The load capacity of the NEEL 52 is 19.5 tons.

Cruising programs, finesse of the helm and rigging

The  NEEL 52  is a beautifully-sized, fast, and voluminous trimaran. It therefore offers a vast range of sailing possibilities. Everything’s possible, from peaceful cruising to long-distance travel and rally racing.

The  various configurations of the NEEL 52  (4, 5, 6 double cabins), with 0,1,2 crew positions are suited to individual owners or charter companies.

NEEL trimarans are renowned for their  unrivalled steering . This stems from the unique rudder design, manoeuvred by textile steering lines on ball bearing blocks. The rudder stock is mounted on self-aligning bearings.

The sail plan comprises a mainsail (with 3 reefs) and a staysail on a rolling furler (on a structural wire inside the sail).

The asymmetrical spinnaker makes it easier to comfortably sail downwind.

There are 2 rigging options to choose from:

• Conventional rigging : the mast and boom are made of aluminium while the standing rigging is made of stainless-steel wires.
• High-performance rigging:  the mast is made of carbon with an aluminium boom and the standing rigging is made of textiles (except for the forestay which remains a wire) (70cm difference in height between the two mast versions).

Toutes les manœuvres sont ramenées au barreur qui bénéficie d’une vue à 360° depuis le poste de barre.

Life on board

The NEEL 52 features the renowned Cockloon® , an impressive interior/exterior living space made possible by the wide opening between the cockpit and the saloon. It also incorporates the Full Beam Cockpit®, an extra-wide cockpit with multiple seating configurations that can be rearranged to take full advantage of the different vistas

The helm station is particularly ergonomic and has a triple seat. Its access, from the cockpit via side steps or from the deck, ensures seamless communication between the skipper and the crew. 

The roof is reached by side steps leading up from the cockpit and on the helm side, rendering the mast, boom, sun-deck, and sun-lounging area easily accessible. Around this area, a secure handrail has been incorporated for safe movement aboard. The wide, well-protected stern skirts make it easier to access the sea and manoeuvre the dinghy.

In addition, the system for lifting and handling the dinghy has been greatly simplified.

There are various different versions of the NEEL 52 available, with 4,5,6 cabins, an owner cabin on one level or a huge saloon, 1 or 2 crew positions, so that you can set up your boat according to your preferences and requirements. 

The living space on one level is highly ergonomic and entirely open plan, offering exceptional luminosity. The kitchen and the chart table face forwards. The panoramic view from this huge saloon is breathtaking.

Both elegant and simple, the decoration ( high-end upholstery ,  top-quality carpentry ,  solid wood , bolon and corian) lends the NEEL 52 a look of  timeless distinction and gives the ample living space a calming atmosphere.  Flow of movement on board is smooth, and the cabins are accessed via private stairs.

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Three hulls better than two – how the Neel 51 trimaran is challenging its many twin-hulled competitors

• Toby Hodges
• June 6, 2017

The Neel 51 may have turned plenty of heads at La Grande-Motte boat show in April, but can three hulls really offer the style and accommodation expected these days of a luxury performance multihull?

Neel has found a clever niche offering the performance benefits of a trimaran with the type of accommodation offered in a cruising catamaran. This new trimaran, the Neel 51, was the most talked-about multihull at La Grand-Motte boat show in April, and of the year so far.

The La Rochelle company argues its trimarans are more stable than cruising catamarans. Cats, it says, reach their peak righting moment at 12º heel, beyond which sail needs to be reduced.

That peak for a tri, however, is not until 27º heel – an unusually steep angle for cruising. Neel also argues that trimarans are faster, particularly upwind, thanks to a more rigid forestay (attached to centre hull) and more central weight management.

The Joubert-Nivelt design incorporates the best assets of Neel’s previous 45 and 65 models – that of performance and comfort in a bluewater family yacht – and adds even more space for its size.

The Neel 51 is quite a beast in the flesh. Her 9m beam (26cm wider than a Lagoon 52) helps support Neel’s signature coachroof design above the hulls and contributes to sumptuous living space.

Fine reverse bows give confidence in her ability to perform. Neel argues the 181sq m upwind sail area on the 51 is larger than any other equivalent cruising cat – yet its 107sq m usable space (living and storage combined) is much larger than competitors too.

This design primarily targets living space however. A focal point of the 51 is its sliding doors that stow away completely to leave an open, single-level cockpit and interior saloon. It is a concept that Neel has dubbed ‘cockloon’ – a strange-sounding word that fails to significantly differentiate this from the likes of catamarans by Bali and Nautitech, which are also based on these open designs.

The word does, however, help draw attention to a wonderfully large inside/outside saloon area. Neel President Eric Bruneel pointed out how the stiffness of three hulls allows for such a wide open bulkhead.

“We really wanted to have the cockpit working with the saloon,” he told me. Unfortunately, the downside of his ‘cockloon’ solution is the small external cockpit space.

The main deck level includes a vast galley forward (with prime views), and, as per past Neel models, the owner’s cabin shares this amazing deck-level outlook. The other three double cabins are all large and each comes with its own heads. Two forward berths can also be specified.

I particularly appreciated the mechanical/engine room below the saloon. It is like a ship’s engine room, with 7ft headroom, plumbing on one side, electrics to the other and the single saildrive contained in its own area aft. Bruneel argues that one prop pushing one hull is more efficient than typical catamaran set-ups and says the 75hp saildrive propels her at a cruising speed of 9 knots.

Fitted-out on the water the Neel 51 weighs 15 tonnes – over 10 tonnes lighter than the Lagoon 52, but a similar weight to the new Catana 53. The first 51 to launch reportedly achieved 290 miles in 24 hours during the first delivery, with jib and three reefs – and will hit the mid-teens with relative ease.

Neel’s build quality has also seen much-needed improvement with this new model. The three hulls are infused in one shot. That requires ten days to prepare the 160sq m of moulds for a two-hour infusion. As Bruneel admits, it’s a big step-up in technology for them.

Neel has built 23 of its 45ft model and is now building one boat every two months in its new La Rochelle facility.

Neel 51 Specifications

LOA: 15.60m (51ft) Beam: 8.9m (29ft 2in) Draught: 1.50m (4ft 9in) Displacement: 14 tonnes

Price: €700k ex VAT

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Neel trimarans are unique sailing boats that brilliantly combine unequalled comfort on board and incredible sailing pleasure. a good balance due to the experience, know-how and skills of a team of passionate people..

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The latest Lombard-designed addition to the range is even more innovative and impressive, and with a marked move towards the use of bio-sourced and recyclable materials. The NEEL 43 is available in a limited edition performance version.

The neel 47 successfully combines the benefits of cruising or blue water yacht : safety, performance and comfort living..

With its racy, modern silhouette, elaborately designed hull and sleek lines, the NEEL 52 exudes power, speed, and elegance. Moving inside and on the deck is smooth and safe.

The neel 65 evolution, the flagship of the fleet, offers unequalled comfort and navigation in "sport-chic" mode..

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Neel 52 trimaran – ocean greyhound with tons of space.

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The new NEEL 52 sailing trimaran is a brand-new concept by famed French designer Marc Lombard, who is also responsible for the  NEEL 43  and  NEEL 47  designs. The new NEEL 52 multihull is replacing the highly successful NEEL 51 cruising yacht of which over 40 units have been crafted.

The NEEL 52 trimaran has some dynamic improvements in her hull design. Her central hull embodies a deep rocker (for quick maneuvers and great load bearing) yet her fine and long waterline amas (outer hulls) help tracking, greatly improve stability and sail carrying ability. This all results in a quick sailing yacht that can already sail at wind speed at under 8 knots of breeze. This is a feat that hardly any other multihull with the same volume can achieve. The boat’s sailing systems are cleverly laid out in such a way that one person can easily sail, reef and maneuver the boat.

Her interior is cavernous, a mix of luxurious spaces and modern, clean styling.  The NEEL 52 can be ordered in 2 different Versions , one with the trademark master cabin and galley on the main deck or one with a larger chef- galley with an adjacent bar. Both versions can be configured with various number of staterooms in the amas. The new NEEL 52 also features the expansive salon/cockpit (Cockloon) as well as the cavernous systems and engine room under the main deck. Weight centering and access to maintain machinery has always been at the heart of NEEL’s design philosophy.

Pro-built at NEEL’s state of the art  production facility the NEEL 52 is crafted using a hybrid composite construction, utilizing carbon in high stress areas, PET recycled foam as a core and epoxy based Isophthalic resins. The boat carries the highest offshore Category A ECC certification.

Whether living aboard or shorthanded family circumnavigating, we think she is one of the best cruising sailing yachts on the market.

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