ASTUS 20.5 - A ONE-DESIGN CLASS STARTING NEXT YEAR!
TEST MW171
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This model, first presented to the public in 2018, is as fun to helm as it is practical and easy to set up. The Astus is a pocket trimaran designed by VPLP that has seen remarkable success, with 44 examples already built in less than three years. The most active owners have got together and are working, in association with the Astus Boats shipyard, to establish a one-design class. The immediate objective is to participate in the next Spi Ouest France regatta in France. The 20.5 is particularly exciting in the Sport version, as it offers 260 sq ft (24 m²) upwind for a weight of less than half a ton. Enough to have fun and sensation, especially when the gennaker is out! Like the other models in the range, it adopts a telescopic link system for the arms. The interior layout is compact, but still offers a mini saloon and a double berth. The strong points of the 20.5 for coastal cruising: pivoting appendages and a large 172 sq ft (16 m²) sailing platform.
Builder: Astus Boats
Architect: VPLP
Length: 19’6” (5.95 m)
Beam: 8’2”/14’9” (2.48/4.50 m)
Light displacement: 1,036 or 1,080 lbs (470 or 490 kg)
Draft: 10”/4’1” (0.25/1.25 m)
Upwind sail area: 226 or 260 sq ft (21 or 24 m²)
Sail area downwind: 366 or 452 sq ft (34 or 42 m²)
Gennaker: 215 or 280 sq ft (20 or 26 m²)
CE category: C5/D7
Engine: 2 to 6 HP
Price: € 23,166 ex-tax (Leisure)
CORSAIR PULSE 600 - RADICAL AND EFFICIENT
TEST in MW148
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The Pulse 600 is the smallest of the Corsair trimarans, but is no less attractive! As the name suggests, this little rocket weighing less than 1,000 lbs (500 kilos) is above all, made for racing, and some small fleets have begun appearing, notably in Australia. Its three sharp and inverted bows give it a great look... a design as radical as it is efficient because on the water, you’re immediately won over by the potential of this machine. The cockpit is large enough to accommodate three people – and you can quickly hike out onto the floats to give the Pulse even more power. The removable coachroof houses a large watertight locker. No fitting-out or berths: it’s simply a shelter that can be used at anchor. The Pulse 600 is of course transportable and foldable
Builder: Corsair Marine
Architect: François Perus
Length: 19’6” (5.95 m)
Beam: 8’/14’9” (2.45/4.50 m)
Weight: 992 lbs (450 kg)
Draft: 9”/4’ (0.22/1.20 m)
Mainsail: 205 sq ft (19.1 m²)
Jib: 76 sq ft (7.1 m²)
Spinnaker: 345 sq ft (32 m²)
Price: € 29,999/US$ 35,900 ex-tax
www.corsairmarine.com
TRICAT 20 - FOR RALLIES AND PERFORMANCE
TEST in MW163
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Introduced in 2018, the Tricat 20 is the smallest model in the range. Though designed primarily for day-sailing, it also excels on coastal trips, where its compact size, maneuverability and performance are outstanding. The Tricat 20, with over 40 units already built, naturally reflects the success of its predecessors, including the 25 Evolution’s intelligent folding system, with the advantage of offering a nice living space and irreproachable seaworthiness for its size. Inside, there is a double berth for the parents and two bunks for the kids. Enough to get out with the whole family and enjoy some cruising while having fun at the helm!
Builder: Tricat
Architects: Houdet/Michal
Length: 19’8” (5.99 m)
Beam: 14’9” (4.50 m)
Displacement: 1,275 lbs (580 kg)
Draft: 12”/3’11” (0.3/1.20 m)
Mainsail: 178/201 sq ft (16.5 m²/18.7 m²)
Jib: 97/110 sq ft (9 m²/10.2 m²)
Gennaker: 247 sq ft (23 m²)
Spinnaker: 301 sq ft (28 m²)
Engine: 3.5 HP
Price: € 31,667 ex-tax
www.trimaran-tricat.com
ASTUS 22.5 - WITH FOILS AS AN OPTION
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Astus Boats has confirmed the release of a new model right at the beginning of 2021. In line with the new range, the manufacturer is remaining loyal to VPLP. The Astus 22.5 will measure just short of 23 feet (7 meters) for the central hull; this small, infusion-built trimaran will of course be foldable and easily transportable. The interior volume will be sufficient to accommodate four proper berths. And as for performance, you won’t be disappointed: A foiling version already planned.
Builder: Astus Boats
Architects: VPLP
Length: 22’8” (6.90 m)
Beam: 8’2”/16’1” (2.49/4.90 m)
Mast height: 29’6” (9 m)
Draft: 13”/4’7” (0.34/1.40 m)
Weight: 1,430 lbs (650 kg)
Headroom: 5’3” (1.60 m)
Mainsail: 215sq ft (20 m²)
Jib: 97 sq ft (9 m²)
Gennaker: 345 sq ft (32 m²)
Price: € 40,833 ex-tax
LIBERTIST 703 - FOLDING HULLS AND MINI-FOILS
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The Libertist 703, the little sister to the 853, is soon to be splashed; her small size prompted the yard to develop a quickfolding system to facilitate road transport. In addition to the centerboard and the two rudders, each float is equipped with a semi-foiling system. The aim is therefore not to fly, but to provide downwind lift - more power and the ability to carry more canvas. The marked chine of the central hull reconciles the finesse of the underwater hull and habitable volume – 5’ (1.50 m) headroom.
Builder: Rega Yacht
Length: 22’11” (6.99 m)
Beam: 8’4”/19’6” (2.55/5.95 m)
Light displacement: 1,875 lbs (850 kg)
Draft: 15”/3’10” (0.38/1.16 m)
Mainsail: 290 sq ft (27 m²)
Jib: 130 sq ft (12 m²)
Asymmetric Spi: 270 sq ft (25 m²)
Engine: 4 kW
Price: € 55,833 ex-tax
www.libertist.eu
F22 - IAN FARRIER’S FAVORITE
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There’s no need to introduce Ian Farrier, inventor of the folding arm system - he is responsible for more than 3,000 trimarans equipped with it worldwide. The naval architect/boatbuilder passed away in 2017 but his favorite trimaran, the F22, is now offered by Daedalus Yachts. This model is undoubtedly one of the most successful multihulls of this size. The F22, which has seen over 200 examples built since 2013, is available in standard version, R version (more canvas) and even a foiling F version for thrill-seekers…
Builder: Farrier Marine/Daedalus Yachts
Length: 23’ (7 m)
Beam: 18’1” (5.52 m)
Light displacement: 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
Draft: 12”/4’11” (0.31/1.50 m)
Mainsail: 250 sq ft (23.14 m²)
Jib: 144 sq ft (13.40 m²)
Motor: 4-8 HP outboard
Price: US$ 80,000 ex-tax, with mainsail, jib and gennaker
www.daedalusyachts.com
DIAM 24 - A ROCKET SHIP FOR EVERYONE!
TEST in MW172
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This little 24-foot one-design VPLP trimaran is not only the official multihull of the Tour Voile since 2015: with more than 100 examples sailing all over the world, this racing boat enthuses the world’s best crews as well as families who are fond of sports sailing or even racing beginners. Dismountable, transportable and storable in a specially-designed box, this clever little multihull also provides users with all the accessories you could ever need - launching and road trailers that don’t need a special permit, launching kit and various extra equipment.
Builder: ADH Inotec
Architects: VPLP
Hull length: 7.25 m (23’9”)
Waterline length: 23’9” (7.25 m)
Beam: 18’5” (5.62 m)
Draft: 8”/32”/4’11” (0.20/0.8/1.50 m)
Light displacement: 1,150 lbs (520 kg)
Max. load: 615 lbs (280 kg)
Upwind sail area: 355 sq ft (33 m²)
Mainsail: 258 sq ft (24 m²)
Jib: 97 sq ft (9 m²)
Gennaker: 398 sq ft (37 m²)
CE Category: C
Production: 100 units since 2014
Price: € 49,000 ex-tax/€ 56,670 ex-tax with trailer, safety equipment and sails
CORSAIR 760 - FOR CRUISING OR RACING
MOTY 2018 WINNER
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Like all Corsairs, the 760 is a folding trimaran, yet it remains easily transportable given that its displacement is just under a ton. The hull offers significantly more comfort than its predecessors in the range; the 760’s cabin makes a great shelter if you go rallying or on a coastal camping trip thanks to its marked steps above the waterline. We also love the hinged roof: in fine weather, it offers good headroom. When under way, the Corsair 760 shows great potential, especially in the Sport version (carbon mast and specific deck hardware). Boosted by a gennaker out on the bowsprit, 20-knot runs come easily... performance that has earned this trimaran the title of Multihull of the Year 2018 in its category
Builder: Corsair Marine
Architect: François Perus
Length: 24’3” (7.39 m)
Beam: 8’2”/17’11” (2.50/5.46 m)
Draft: 12”/5’3” (0.30/1.60 m)
Light displacement: 2,095 lbs (950 kg)
Mainsail: 268 sq ft (24.87 m²)
Jib: 143 sq ft (13.30 m²)
Asymmetric Spi: 540 sq ft (50 m2)
Motor: 8 HP outboard
Price: US$ 69,999/€ 58,499 ex-tax
ASTUS 24 - THE ESSENCE OF COASTAL CRUISING
TEST in MW142
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In 2013, the Astus 24 caused a sensation with its more accomplished design than its smaller predecessors launched ten years earlier: the coachroof is elegant and the hulls are narrow at the waterline. At the helm of this, the largest Astus, it’s easy to imagine going on a coastal cruise very comfortably thanks to its four berths, its beautiful saloon, a pleasant galley area, a toilet and plenty of storage space. Skillfully designed off-center, the daggerboard well blends into the locker structures and becomes invisible. Transportable and foldable, the mast is easy to step on the Astus 24 thanks to an ingenious system. In the Sport version, it has a particularly favorable sail area-to-weight ratio. The Astus 24 gives a lot for a tight price, and above all it will reassure any new multihull converts. Easy to transport, to set up, to store, this is the carefree, fun and bohemian boat.
Builder: Astus Boats
Length: 24’3” (7.40 m)
Beam: 8’4”/17’3” (2.54/5.25 m)
Light displacement: 1,675 lbs (760 kg)
Draft: 14”/4’9” (0.35/1.45 m)
Mainsail: 226 sq ft (21 m²)
Jib: 130 sq ft (12 m²)
Motor: 9 HP
Price: € 58,160 ex-tax
DRAGONFLY 25 - PERFORMANCE AND A FLATTERING FINISH
TEST in MW142
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Thanks to its excellent performance, the smallest of the Dragonflys is easily capable of 100-mile days. Tropical cruising, discovering the East Coast of the USA, a trip round Italy, or Spain or even Denmark (why not head back to its roots?) are all within reach. Reliable and pleasant to helm, the 25 is positioned as a very high-end unit compared to its direct competitors. This folding trimaran - the arms swivel backwards – is available in Touring or Sport versions. Inside, despite the marked chines, the volume remains a bit on the small side, with headroom limited to 4’10” (1.47 m) and narrow bunks. But you’ve got the option to order various comfort elements such as toilets, additional hatches, etc.
Builder: Quorning Boats
Length: 25’1” (7.65 m)
Beam: 7’7”/19’ (2.30/5.80 m)
Light displacement: 2,535 lbs (1.15 t)
Draft: 14”/4’11” (0.35/1.50 m)
Mainsail: 258/312 sq ft (24/29 m²)
Genoa: 108/130 sq ft (10/12 m²)
Asymmetric spi: 495/645 sq ft (46/60 m²)
Motor: 6 HP outboard
Price: € 79,500 ex-tax
TRICAT 25 EVOLUTION - A NEW YOUTH!
TEST in MW141
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This model is Tricat’s best-seller, with more than 70 examples built. With its faired arms and its new floats developed six years ago, the Tricat 25 is in its second flush of youth: prepare to start out fast as soon as the first breeze picks up, and do without the services of your engine... Narrow at the waterline, but with a sensible beam at deck-level: the cockpit is well suited for four crew members. And then there are the trampolines to enjoy in good weather or at anchor. Inside, the volume is measured, but there are four berths, a table for everything, a galley unit and storage space. A top boat for cruising, especially when folded, as the Tricat 25 doesn’t exceed the width limit for the road!
Builder: Tricat
Length: 25’3” (7.70 m)
Beam: 8’/18’1” (2.45/5.5 m)
Light displacement: 1,720 lbs (780 kg)
Draft: 11”/3’11” (0.30/1.20 m)
Mainsail: 275/323 sq ft (25.5/30 m²)
Jib: 161/178 sq ft (15/16.5 m²)
Asymmetric spi: 410/580 sq ft (38/54 m²)
Engine: 6 HP outboard
Price: € 60,750 ex-tax
DRAGONFLY 28 - UNDISPUTED BEST-SELLER
TEST in MW110
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With over 200 examples boat, this model has been delighting lovers of cruising and racing alike for over ten years now. Foldable, it can be slipped into any harbor and can be easily transported on the road. The 28 offers great accommodation thanks to its large central hull - at deck-level because the hull remains narrow at the waterline, the 28 offers surprising comfort for its size. Three versions are available: Touring, Sport and Performance. The floats of this latter version have inverted bows (20”/50 cm longer and 20% more volume, i.e. 18 cu ft/500 L, giving more lift) and an extended and reinforced rudder.
Builder: Quorning Boats
Length: 28’9” (8.75 m)
Beam: 8’4”/21’4” (2.54/6.50 m)
Light displacement: 4,630 lbs (2.10 t)
Draft: 16”/5’7” (0.40/1.70 m)
Mainsail: 398/463 sq ft (37/43 m²)
Genoa: 205/226 sq ft (19/21 m²)
Asymmetric spi: 645/895 sq ft (60/83 m²)
Engine: 6 HP outboard
CE category: B5/C7
Price: € 147,000 ex-tax
www.dragonfly.dk
LIBERTIST 853 - FIXED ARMS. WELL, WHY NOT?
TEST in MW167
On the trimaran market, fixed arm models are rare... apart from offshore racing boats and Neel, but these aren’t in the sub-thirty-foot sector. The Libertist’s ambition is to establish a fixed structure in the 23-40’ (7-12 m) category. Bearing the signature of Erik Lerouge, the Polish shipyard Rega Yacht is offering everything of the 853 folding version. A formula that allows them to join a small but active market, mainly occupied by Dragonfly, Corsair, Astus and Tricat. The 853 is elegant, extremely fast and manages to offer an amazing volume in a central hull of only 28’ (8.50 m).
Builder: Rega Yacht
Architect: Erik Lerouge
Construction: Glass/epoxy foam sandwich (infusion), carbon arms
Length: 28’ (8.53 m)
Beam: 23’4” (7.10 m)
Draft: 18”/6’5” (0.45 m/1.95 m)
Light displacement: 3,085 lbs (1,400 kg)
Height and surface area of the rotating mast: 44’8”/43 sq ft (13.60 m/4 m²)
Mainsail: 430 sq ft (40 m²)
Self-tacking jib: 205 sq ft (19 m²)
Asymmetric spinnaker: 840 sq ft (78 m²)
Engine: 6kW
Price: € 75,333 ex-tax
TRICAT 30 - YOUR PASSPORT TO GOING OFFSHORE
TEST in MW152
Designed for semi-offshore cruising, it offers all the comfort a crew of up to 6 could wish for, thanks to a very comfortable central hull - panoramic saloon - and a vast cockpit. Powerful, the Tricat 30 remains easy to handle for the whole family or on your own. In port, it folds easily while afloat to limit its beam to 11’6” (3.50 m). Its structural stiffness allows it to have exceptional speed potential: the 30 has already been caught at over 20 knots. And you’ll be reaching these speeds all the more easily as the mainsail is now bigger thanks to a new rig. At least ten Tricat 30s have been delivered since 2016.
Builder: Tricat
Length: 30’ (9.14 m)
Beam: 11’6”/23’ (3.50/7 m)
Light displacement: 4,960 lbs (2,250 kg)
Draft: 16”/5’3” (0.40/1.60 m)
Mainsail: 410/474 sq ft (38/44 m²)
Jib: 237/264 sq ft (22/24.5 m²)
Engine: 10/15 HP outboard
Price: € 161,667 ex-tax
CORSAIR 880 - WORTHY SUCCESSOR TO THE F-27
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We waited until this summer to discover the 880, though its arrival was scheduled sooner. But we weren’t disappointed: An easy-to-transport trimaran that’s comfortable for both cruising and racing. This is how the 880 comes across, a worthy heir to the famous F-27 launched back in 1986. This time, the yard started from a blank canvas and integrated elements of comfort previously unknown on board a trimaran of less than 30’ (9 m): complete lighting system, refrigerator, manual or electric toilets, and even reversible air conditioning are available! Performance enthusiasts can rest assured: the air conditioning and generator are removable... And the Corsair 880, available in a Sport version with its carbon mast, should be able to fully convince them!
Builder: Corsair Marine
Length: 28’11” (8.80 m)
Beam: 22’4”/8’3” (6.8/2.5 m)
Light displacement: 3,660 lbs (1,660 kg)
Draft: 18”/5’3” (0.45/1.60 m)
Sail area: 555 sq ft (51.50 m²)
Mast height: 39’4” (12 m)
Max engine power: 15 HP outboard
Price: $ 128,000/€ 106,999 ex-tax
www.corsairmarine.com
