outremer 40 catamaran review

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43′ outremer 40/43 – old school rocket.

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Some call the Outremer 43 the Porsche of the sea. The first official Outremer plan by Gérard Danson! The Outremer 40/43 version is the evolution of the well-known French shipyard whgich produces legendary performance cruisers. This 1999 model benefits from an extended transom from 40 to 43 foot (which was done at the yard during construction of the boat) and the famous large roof version which is the same as the Outremer 45. The result is the same saloon space as the 45 in a faster package with the advantage that one does not have to leave the saloon to access the hulls – as in the original 40/43. Best of all, this boat has been very well taken care of by her passionate sailor/owner and upgraded with sensible cruising systems, including twin diesel engines, solar panels…and even a beautiful carbon mast ! Don’t miss out on owning this rare collectible.

Additional Specifications

1999 Outremer 43 Yanneraud  – download specifications PDF.

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First look: Outremer 52 – serious adventure catamaran

• Toby Heppell
• July 24, 2023

If you’re after a serious round-the-world adventure and have the budget for a boat like this, the Outremer 52 could well be the cat you're looking for

Product Overview

Multihulls are clearly booming. They’ve been popular as charter boats for a long time, thanks to the sheer amount of real estate they offer, and the appeal of life on an even keel. The high-volume charter boats haven’t, however, done much to improve multihulls’ reputation for aesthetics or performance.

Outremer catamarans are cut from a different cloth. Light and fast, they are aimed at performance cruising with double-figure speeds, while still being comfortable to live aboard and without being extreme machines. They are serious blue-water cruising boats and are increasingly popular, albeit at a price that puts them on a par with the priciest top-end luxury monohulls.

French boat builder and owner of several mulithull brands, Grand Large Yachting has pooled serious knowledge, design and build experience to create what it deems to be an ideal family-sized fast catamaran for world voyaging. Outremer as a brand focuses on lightweight designs.

A proper chart table allows for watch-keeping below

The Outremer 52 combines the proven features of the 51 (over 100 built) with the fresh looks and success of the recently launched 55, which won a European Yacht of the Year award last year.

Outremer is aiming for 10-12 knot average speeds for this new model: ‘250 miles a day is enough for comfort and performance,’ said Outremer CEO, Xavier Desmarest, at the unveiling at Cannes Yachting Festival.

Its sister company, Gunboat, was involved to help lighten the structures while increasing stiffness, including the use of carbon bulkheads. The weight saved in structure allows more volume with slightly wider upper parts of the hull, and openings and glass surfaces have been increased.

In comparison to the 51 it is actually slightly heavier, but carries more sail area. VPLP, which spent two-and-a-half years developing the design with Franck Darnet and Patrick Le Quément, expects the performance to be similar if not slightly better than the 51. Sightlines and communication are also improved, with forward visibility from the bar area and saloon seating, and there are four opening ports in the saloon for ventilation.

Wheel and tiller options are offered or, uniquely, a choice of both on either side, while mechanical steering delivers the sporty feel for which the brand is renowned. The layout sees three or four cabins and three different ‘moods’ or styles. And, in line with its larger sister, a utility cabin option is offered so owners can choose an office, workroom, laundry or kids’ cabin.

Hull windows have been enlarged for panoramic views

The standard boat will have diesel engines, but the Grande Motte yard insists the yacht’s ability to sail well means these will be little used. It does already offer electric propulsion alternatives and – as seen on Roland Jourdain’s new 5X We Explore, which uses lots of flax fibre – it is increasingly building with recycled or recyclable materials.

The 51 has the potential to mount 2,100W solar panels, an option all owners are reportedly choosing. Outremer is continuing to increase its production capacity to try to meet the insatiable demand for its performance catamarans, but insists it will maintain its direct customer contact approach. The first boat has now been launched, although there is a four-year wait for those ordering now.

If you’re after a serious round-the-world adventure and have the budget for a boat like this, you’ll cover the ground at serious speed and in real comfort.

Outremer 52 specifications

LOA: 15.73m / 51ft 7in LWL: 15.71m / 51ft 7in Beam: 7.89m / 25ft 11in Draught: 1.07m / 3ft 6in Displacement: 12,800kg / 28,219lbs Mainsail: 95m2 / 1,023 sq ft Genoa: 60 m² / 646 sq ft Selftacking jib: 45 m² (484 ft²) Price: (ex VAT) €1.23m (sailaway €1.55m) Builder: catamaran-outremer.com

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• Descriptive

OUTREMER 40/43 Year 1997

Formerly ''No Limit'', this Outremer 40/43 is an outstanding machine: weight distribution, ultralight displacement, high bridge and maximum waterline length all make a her a super tradewind runner. She also benefits from great comfort thanks to the larger coachroof version. Her present owner partakes in every Outremer Cup. Sound, light, fast and well equipped, all she needs are solar panels and a windgenerator to go long range.

Owner's words

Always a speed enthusiast, I retained the choice of an Outremer immediately, and especially this one, which had been trimmed so well by her first owner to be fast without compromise. Since 2004, I take great delight everytime I time I sail her, as she relishes in the caprices of the breeze and provides great thrills to the crew doing so, despite my bringing more and more comfort aboard. She is genius!

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Outremer 45

Description

Lovely Lines The 45 is a great looking boat, well proportioned and designed to deliver the Outremer promise: fast, safe sailing in comfort. For the French yard, comfort is more about the motion of the boat and speed of passage than huge berths in fat hulls. This is an ocean crossing boat like a Looping catamaran : one that gets going quickly in light airs and which is a blast to sail in windier conditions. It’s incredible how catamaran design has evolved in 20 years (read our Prout 45 review for a comparison of a boat from the mid nineties).

Photos credit, catamaran-outremer.com, sailing-lavagabonde.com

• The Outremer 45 is a fast, seaworthy yacht designed for crossing oceans. She is probably the market leader in her category.
• With centralised weight and those long trampolines, she has a smooth ride in waves.
• She’s well built and sturdy, and great to look at.
• The Outremer after-sales service has an excellent reputation, especially compared to other French manufacturers which, how should we put this, …. are not so fast once they have sold you the boat. If you have a problem in Tahiti, these guys will do their best to help you out.
• Outremer also offer a thorough training program for purchasers of new boats. Their philosophy is one of building up a family of owners: something to be applauded.
• Outremers hold their value very well compared to other manufacturers. These boats are in demand.
• The compromise is living space compared to other 45 footers. So even though she’s the same length as, for example, a Nautitech 46, she feels like a 40 once you step inside. But you will be leaving the Nautitechs behind on the 45.
• With the aft cockpit covered by a long strip rather than a full bimini, you are more exposed on a 45 than other catamrans. You can opt for material or hard “ears” which extends the cover out to full width for some of the bimini length. Some owners opt for a dodger at the helm station as well.
• This bucket seats could be a little bigger.
• The base price is pretty competitive, but the options can add up.

The hulls and deck are constructed in vinylester with a divinycell core and beneath the waterline the boat is solid glass for safety in the event of a grounding. Carbon is used in high-stress areas and the bows have multiple “crash boxes” to contain the danger of taking in water in a collision. The daggerboard trunks are tough and the boards have been designed to fail on impact. The upshot is that this is catamaran with a considerable amount of time and effort that has been spent on safety aspects.

Those slender hulls mean that this is a quick boat, but the compromise is living space. Have a read of our Voyage 480 review if you are looking for a bigger living area: there are plenty of options out there, but if you want to get to your destination quickly and safely, no-one does it better than Outremer,

These yachts are designed to last 50 years according to Director of Sales Matthieu Rougevin-Baville.

Let´s talk about sailing first, shall we, as that´s the main reason for buying an Outremer 45. She is powered by a substantial fully-battened square-top main. Up front is a self-tacking solent and larger sails are flown off the bowsprit. With her narrow hulls, and decent length she moves through the water nicely, and the low-profile deck house is shaped to reduce wind resistance, just like her predecessor. The design has moved on from the older design of the earlier 45, but you can still spot the DNA.

Lines Back to the Helm All control lines for the mainsail and the self tacking solent come back to the helm, where you can also control the gennaker, code 0 or code D furler: all of these sails have halyards running to the helm as well if you want to set it up that way.

Her motion is kindly for a 45 footer and you can expect to be hitting speeds in the teens when the wind hits 15 knots and over. As long as you don´t overload her, you will see speeds of 5 knots and more, even in light winds: you don´t see these boats at the fuel dock that often. The plan on this boat is to achieve 80 to 90% of true wind speeds.  In a 5 knot breeze, for example, the Outremer 45 should hit 4-4.5 knots, and 15 knots is an attainable target in windier conditions. You’ll see 20 knots and over surfing if you can handle the adrenaline and you have your waterproof pants on.

With the daggerboards up, draft is only 85cm and the draft when is 2 meters: this allows the Outremer 45 to point higher into the wind and keeps the speed up will minimising leeway.

The 45 feels like a safe boat to clamber around on, with wide decks which are an easy hop up from the cockpit and plenty of handrails along the coachroof with patches of anti-skid in all of the right areas.

A Boat for Sailors You sail from a single port helm station and you can add the option of twin outboard tillers with bucket seats for maximum sailing feel at the back of the boat. I’d say that’s a compulsory option.

The main traveler runs along the width of the aft cockpit where you have a decent dining table. Other lines like the controls for the boards and the furling line for the headsail run all the way aft, and there are Lewmar winches, tracks and blocks with Spinlock clutches to help you manage the sails.

Centralised Weight For a Smooth Ride You’ll notice in general that the Outremer 45 has long nets and a shorter cabin top than many other catamarans. This helps to keep the weight in the middle of the boat and is one of the ways that they achieve such a smooth ride.

Up on those long nets, you notice that the trampolines are split by a central beam along which the anchor chain runs. You can drop anchor from the helm or directly at the windlass.

A great safety feature is the location of the life raft in the port trampoline. The water and diesel tanks (300 liters each) are forward of the mast and you will find two large, forward, lockers for your additional equipment and sails.

Of course, there is one area that you will need to compromise on in order to achieve all of this speed and centalised wieght and that is in the living area.

Clever Use of Available Space Compared to a production cruising cat, the space is more limited of course, but Outremer have done a great job of maximising comfort in the available space. You can choose between the 3 cabin Owner’s or the Four Cabin version.

The saloon is well designed with an L-shaped galley to starboard which flows through to the aft cockpit when the large sliding door is open. There is a decent nav station, and plenty of seating – it’s a well thought out design.

With those slender hulls, she slips nicely through the water powered by twin 30HP Volvos, comfortably achieving 6 knots with one engine going at 2200 RPM and 7.5 with 2. The idea is to get sailing as quickly as possible on these boats though. As soon as a breeze kicks in, you should be sailing.

Going Greener and Greener Solar panels are standard on all Outremers (the 45 has 560 W of power). Add a hydro-generator and lithium batteries, and you will achieve some very good generation and storage numbers. The 45 will come in an electric version (Outrememr 45E) which is being developed for Jimmy Cornell.

How much does an Outremer 45 Cost? What is the Price? This is highly dependent on the options you go for, but a figure of around €750 – 800k gets you in the right ball park for a new boat.

Do Outremer Produce Other Versions of the 45? They are developing an all electric version with Jimmy Cornell called the 4E. There will also be a hybrid model available called the 4H.

The Outremer 45 is built to sail:  she’s a safe and secure catamaran designed to be handled with a small crew. For long voyages, this boat is probably the market leader in her class.

Designing a catamaran to follow Gérard Danson’s much loved design was never going to be easy, but Barreau and Neuman have pulled it off once again, designing a catamaran that moves as well, but is more comfortable with the same length to displacement ratio.

Technical Specification

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Outremer 52 review: Exclusive 200-mile test

• Toby Hodges
• June 15, 2023

After an exclusive first test, sailing 200 miles over two days and nights, does this Outremer 52 prove the new benchmark for fast bluewater cruising?

Product Overview

Price as reviewed:.

They seem preternatural, our navlight giving the dolphins an oily reflection as they launch like dark green torpedoes in unison with our surfs. The fizzing noise when they clear the water helps communicate their effortless speed, while the boat hums as it accelerates into the mid teens. Subconsciously I count the surfs, 6, 7, 8… seconds; psychologically I’m wired, absolutely buzzing. But physically I notice I’m shivering, with numb fingers from being on the helm of the Outremer 52 so long, not willing to relinquish the wheel for a single minute even to don extra layers.

It’s exhilarating. Two days and nights aboard the Outremer 52 in March made for some of the most enjoyable sailing I’ve done in 20 years of testing yachts. That’s not to say this new model is faultless or that it’ll suit everyone – there are of course compromises that come with this performance. Then consider spending a seven figure sum yet still having to wait four years for one.

But there are very few production yachts I can think of that offer this amount of cruising space and comfort coupled with such engaging performance, and arguably no yards that are as successful in doing it as Outremer. Which makes me wonder, could this be my ultimate world tourer?

With its four decades of fast bluewater experience, Outremer (‘overseas’ in French), has been able to tap into the recent maelstrom of multihull demand perhaps better than any yard.

Together with design partners VPLP, Patrick Le Quément and Franck Darnet, Outremer proved with the Outremer 55 two years ago that it could produce a modern, fast catamaran with real wow factor and a particularly bright, open plan main deck layout.

The Outremer 52 is very much in that guise, yet carries the heavy task of replacing the fabled 51 – the 101 of them Outremer built have clocked over 2.3 million miles. That’s a lot of owner feedback. Where the Outremer 51 is minimalist for today’s tastes, the Outremer 52 brings that instant boat show appeal. It sports a large cockpit, which links via retracting bulkhead doors to the galley and saloon, combined with an enormous amount of glazing, but in a more manageable size and layout to the 55.

‘As a gust ruffles the water you can harness it to catch a wave and really feel the 52 surge’. Photo: Robin Christol

For years we discussed conducting a multi-day test that might better suit Outremer’s ocean-oriented designs and thankfully we were given just such an exclusive opportunity on this freshly launched Outremer 52. It was a long, intoxicating couple of days. I arrived at 11pm and we departed at 4am to catch the best of the breeze for our 90-mile outward south-west sail across the Gulf of Lion

Outremer 52 – the sailor’s boat

Despite the rude awakening, the cold, early start was worthwhile. Once out of La Grande Motte’s marina, which is overlooked by the burgeoning Outremer yard, the full main and genoa were hoisted under headtorch light and we were soon averaging over 9 knots in 15, reaching at 120° true. By first light, the gennaker was unfurled, upping our average speed to 11-12 knots, with heady surfs up to 17 knots.

What an introduction to helming this boat! It felt so sporty: direct, with palpable acceleration. As a gust ruffles the water you can harness it to catch a wave and really feel the Outremer 52 surge before the forward buoyancy kicks in and drives those streamlined reverse bows up and through the waves. It quickly instils confidence, while bringing real pleasure.

The large forward-facing navstation, with its really comfortable swivel chair, makes for a great desk and chart table. Photo: Robin Christol

With the breeze dropping and backing further astern later that morning, we furled the gennaker and hoisted an A2 on a snuffer. Deep reaching in just 12 knots true we could still make a respectable 8 to 9.5 at 150°, but heat up 20-30° and it nudges into double figures and almost matches the wind.

These are such easy, pleasant passagemaking speeds. Three steps down from the helm and you’re onto the single level main deck to check on progress from the navstation, while making a brew as the crew dozes in horizontal comfort.

The owners of this first Outremer 52 opted for a versatile sail set up, choosing a genoa over the standard self-tacking jib, a removable inner staysail and the downwind furling gennaker. Upgrades to help get the most out of the boat also include Incidence DFi filament sails and a carbon Lorima mast. In the early afternoon sun I helmed for another lengthy spell under gennaker, and was again struck by how unwilling I became to leave the helm, only doing so to swap between the wheel and tiller.

View from the helm, as we plane and surf while I try to log the highest speed! Photo: Robin Christol

Best of both?

Unlike the dual wheel setup on the 55, this has a single wheel to starboard with control lines led to it, but there is also an option for a tiller on the portside. It’s a unique combination on this size craft, but tillers are part of Outremer’s DNA, and still a draw for sailors wanting the big kid, breeze-in-the-hair experience.

Tiller sailing proved a work out, particularly as I was heating it up at the time making a steady 12-12.5 knots at 110° true in 15 knots. It needed both hands firmly on the carbon rod and is perhaps better suited to light wind sailing. To activate the tiller you have to disconnect the steering wheel or vice versa – the Jefa steering is all mechanically linked directly to the rudders hence there is good feedback.

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With the cold spring breeze blowing off the snow-capped Pyrenees, I preferred the option of swinging the pedestal right out and sitting on the leeward bench in the sun with clear views of the tell-tales. It’s a comparable feeling and position to helming a performance monohull, though distinctly more comfortable!

The swing pedestal may not be an innovation, but it’s used to triumphant effect. It’s set back from the coachroof, leaving good space for working the winches and access between side deck and cockpit. The ability to cant it 180° gives the option to stand with views of the four corners, sit out on the side deck or steer from the cockpit. This, together with a bracing perch, which includes an arm for the throttle controls, windlass and autopilot controls inboard, works brilliantly.

Sailing from dawn till dusk – the Outremer offers multiple positions to enjoy fast cruising in comfort. Photo: Robin Christol

The winch layout is equally superb. Two starboard coachroof winches are used for the headsail sheets, mainsheet and reefing lines. However there are also inboard cockpit winches for daggerboard controls and kite sheets each side under the bimini. All lines have been designed to be cross-sheeted or led to these protected winches. A sheave by the coachroof winches allows you to lead the mainsheet or genoa sheets down to the inboard winches, for example. Couple this with the ability to swing the pedestal inboard, with views forward through the coachroof windows and of the main, and you can steer and trim while completely protected (especially with the fabric dodgers down).

Then there’s another trump feature in the large forward facing navstation, from which you can also stand a watch in inclement weather.

The social boat

Twelve hours after leaving the boat’s French home port we arrived in a tiny little cove on the Costa Brava for a photoshoot along with the 55, raising the daggerboards to anchor in 2m of clear water.

It was time to relax, launch the toys and enjoy the serious amount of real estate. That’s what the luxury side of this premium priced cruiser brings – a speed and space balance, together with easy circulation, light and surround views.

The davits can carry a proper working tender, up to 3.6m; the Outremer 55, for example, had an 3.4m aluminium hulled Highfield RIB (70kg) with 20hp outboard, which is a seaworthy people carrier-cum-recreation craft that can transform time at anchor.

The helm setup is superb. The swing pedestal allows you to stand. Photo: Robin Christol

The Outremer 52’s cockpit is the social heart of the boat, linking with the saloon and galley to create one zone. The crew of the 55 joined us, showing how 8-10 can sit around the table alone. The cockpit enclosure is a must-have option on this size boat to get the most out of this layout in colder climates, but removes completely to open it out.

The decor is simple but practical. The addition of lightweight removable outdoor furniture provides versatile stools, while a step box seat helps enclose the cockpit in the port quarter. A similar approach is taken with the lighting and sound system – on the test boat, for example, the addition of domestic style LED lamps and portable Bluetooth speakers avoids the need to hard wire such systems in. Keeping furnishings minimal helps emphasise the large open living area, with the focus on natural light and the environment around.

I particularly like the forward vertical windows, which minimise glare yet provide horizon views while standing in the saloon, and their four opening sections which help provide excellent natural ventilation. The polycarbonate panels (lighter than glass) are all individually glued and then bolted so can be replaced.

The bluewater boat

With the bulkhead doors fully retracted, the galley connects seamlessly to the cockpit.

The galley’s double bin with its sweep-in top and a separate chute directly through to the sea for compostable goods/peelings are pragmatic features clearly born from liveaboard feedback, as is the space for a herb garden. That said the huge single sink wastes water, where a second or 1.5 style draining sink would be more practical. The layout of the hob is also somewhat awkward, as only one person comfortably can use this or the worksurface at the same time. A solution might be to swap the sink to that outboard position.

The winch layout makes shorthanding easy and facilitates trimming from inboard as well. Photo: Robin Christol

Galley stowage is quite spread out when you include the essential tall locker to starboard and the useful tins and dry goods storage below the saloon sole. And the extra freezer aside the 130lt fridge should perhaps be included as standard on this type of craft. But the space is all used well.

We raised anchor that evening, motoring the short distance round to Cadaques to pick up a buoy for the night, and opted for the more intimate saloon table for dinner.

Once down in the hulls it’s a similar layout to the 55, in that you can choose three or four cabins with the main decision concerning the adaptable forward port cabin. This involves five different options, the most popular being a combination of desk, folding bunk and stowage.

In terms of finish, it’s a lot of Alpi beige veneer – nice and bright, but a wipe clean look that says more volume production than seven figure pricing. This is arguably the Outremer 52’s main payoff: the accommodation is kept simple and relatively easy to reproduce in favour of keeping weight down and speed up. The effort and labour goes into the structure and foam sandwich furniture.

‘The galley connects seamlessly to the cockpit’. Photo: Robin Christol

Living aboard

Despite the comparatively narrow hulls, accommodation is plenty comfortable enough to live aboard long-term and with abundant natural light. The aft berths are queen size (1.6m wide), with shelving and alcoves inboard, which I found really practical for storing books, water, and personal items. Reading lights with dual power USB ports in them proved equally useful.

Stowage is abundant, particularly below the aft berths, while space below the sole boards has been maximised and includes trays to keep items out of the bilges. Those choosing a full owner’s hull also get a bank of wardrobes, with room for a washing machine, plus a vast bathroom and shower area forward.

In a sensible use of space, the portside separate heads and shower areas are shared by the two cabins. However, the shower area is a sparse cubicle, so drying it – and towels – could be an issue. Equally there’s no sliding door on this side, so no privacy between that and the aft cabin.

Space, light and ventilation, together with surround horizon views from standing (1.98m headroom) are formidable. The compact saloon area to starboard suits cosy family breakfasts or off watch napping. Photo: Robin Christol

The access to systems for maintenance or diagnosis is a discernible improvement over the 55. The batteries and solar controllers are below the forward saloon settee, for example, while plumbing is neatly installed with intelligible manifolds colour-coded.

Outremer’s sister company Gunboat helped it to add stiffness, using full carbon bulkheads below the mast, sliding doors, and traveller bench aft. The weight savings gained help allow for all the additional glazing on the Outremer 52. It’s the same in the hulls, where modern structures allow for much less inhibitive bulkheads and therefore a more open feel compared to Outremers of yesteryear.

The three cabin version includes masses of stowage and a sizeable heads area

Weight is key to sound insulation of course, so when you strip as much as possible you have to accept the acoustic penalty. In the silence of a night time anchorage for instance the noise of a water pump activating sounded like a chainsaw in the aft cabin (mounted on the bulkhead directly behind the headboard of the aft berth), and you certainly know about it when the heads flush or there is anyone on deck above. I also found the creaking noises of the vast hull window in the aft cabin of the test boat disconcerting.

Despite these irritations, however, I still felt highly confident in the boat’s structure – to perform to this high ability you know it’s been built strongly in the areas that really matter. These are proven catamarans built to circle the globe for decades.

Easy speeds

After a late lunch stop in Cala Culip cove, we departed Spain for the return leg. With no wind inshore we elected to motor out to the east for over 20 miles to try to hook into the forecasted southerlies, preferring the use of one engine (for less wear and tear) at 2,000rpm for 7.4 knots.

The test boat had an optional 2,050W of solar panel power feeding a battery capacity beefed up to 2 x 6,000W of lithium ion. Veteran Outremer sales manager Matthieu Rougevin-Baville feels that this, together with high power alternators and a short period of occasional engine use to keep the batteries topped up, is still the most prudent power generation method for bluewater cruisers.

Remember that Outremer has already built a fully electric 45 for Jimmy Cornell and a 5X made from 50% flax fibre for Roland Jourdain, so its eco skillset is there.But it deems its focus on making its production yachts as efficient as possible, thereby minimising the need for engine use (the largest cause of C02 emissions), as still the most sensible for ocean cruising.

Just when I feared a long motor back the wind showed up right on cue, increasing from 5 to 17 knots in a couple of minutes and bringing with it a nice following swell (and the accompanying dolphins). The gennaker was unleashed and we were straight into full-bore deep reaching for the next eight hours straight.

‘This is what it’s all about!’ I noted after helming for hours in 16-20 knots breeze from our aft quarter. When you connect a gust with a wave, you feel the acceleration, then the rudders bite and give you that control as you bear away and the apparent wind shoots forward. You play the wave, watching with anticipation as the speedo rises.

Queen size berths in the aft cabins show there’s volume enough in the hulls. Photo: Robin Christol

Most good waves saw the log rise from 11 or 12 to the late teens. Our top speed was 20.5 knots, a record we chased well into the darkness of that night.

Even at 3am with less than a mile to run to the marina, I was still revelling in the last small surfs, selfishly clinging onto the wheel. It’s addictive sailing alright.

Size or price?

The Outremer 52 costs over €1.5m with options. That’s premium pricing, but something Outremer can do thanks to insatiable demand. It has already sold 69 boats, so you can’t currently get one till the end of 2027! Is this model a victim of its own success already? And despite opening a new facility just for the Outremer 52 production line, will it be able to maintain quality at this volume?

A friend commented that for the price of the Outremer 52, why not go for the 55? The logic being if you have that money maybe you can afford the larger version (from €1.6m).

Sailing alongside us for part of our test sail, the 55 was consistently a notch quicker on passage and offers that bit more entertaining space and payload carrying potential. But for me, the crucial difference between these new models is that the Outremer 52 is just that bit more manageable – less weight, less loads, less sail area, winch sizes etc. And it’s set up for easier short-handing.

If you enjoyed this….

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I’ve spent a lot of time looking at cars recently, searching for something small enough to zip into town, large enough for load and people carrying, sporty to drive yet economic to run. My conclusion? There’s no such thing. Nor is there with boats – except this comes pretty close to offering all the values I’d want. The Outremer can delight on the helm and tick off ocean miles easily at high average/double digit speeds – speeds that could help you avoid weather systems. Then it can tuck into the shallows. While you may be able to tell I revelled in sailing this cat, that’s not to say it would suit everyone. Were money no object, perhaps this might be my ultimate bluewater boat, but in all honesty, I’d probably choose something smaller... the 45 (or next version of it) perhaps! Niggles include the galley layout which could potentially be improved, as could the finish and noise insulation. Nevertheless, this has the space, speed, and style to bluewater cruise for years. Coupled with the sail handling layout, living area and emphasis on natural light and ventilation, the Outremer 52 offers reaching fun and the ability to enjoy single-figure windspeed sailing. In short, it sets a new bar for bluewater cruising.

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Outremer 49 catamaran.

The main objective of the Outremer 49 catamaran is to provide a prime seaworthy performance. To achieve this end, Outremer 49 has sacrificed the space available not only on-deck but also inside the cabin in favor of high speed. With its slender hulls, pulled- back foredeck, and rounded trunk cabin, Outremer 49 offers enhanced performance, faster sailing, and increased structural integrity. 

Table of Contents

DESIGN – INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

With the 49, Outremer has kept its goal of optimum blue-water cruising clear, but while doing so, it has not compromised on its aesthetic. Architecture by Christophe Barreau and Frederic Neuman, along with interior designing from Franck Darnet, Outremer 49 integrates a sleek look with high-standard functionality.

Outremer 49 has two carbon-fiber tillers which, tied together with the steering wheel-mounted to starboard of the coachroof, make up the intimate tiller-steering system. As the wheels turn the tillers and the tillers turn the wheels, the system is well-united and free of resistance. This system also offers a true sense of sailing for sailing enthusiasts, as one can intimate sail the catamaran by hand with tillers on a good day and choose to stay comfortably behind the wheel on a bad day. The jib sheet, main halyard, and the rotating masts are controlled from the coachroof, but everything else is controlled from behind the two coachroof stations via two dedicated winch pedestals. All navigation stations provide a complete and clear view of the rig. All the halyard and reefing work can be easily carried out at the base of the mast, owing to the generous space it offers. 

The cockpit, on the same level as the saloon, has an outdoor dining area consisting of a table and a U-shaped lounge. This cockpit area is protected from sea-spray and harsh weather with two canvas wings. The foredeck of the Outremer 49 also offers a large trampoline area while there is no dedicated seating space.

The saloon of Outremer 49 offers pretty much the same features as any other Outremer with U-shaped seating for six people wrapped around a foam sandwich table and a galley aft to starboard, accessed by a large sliding glass door. Removable bench seat for additional two people is also available to be placed opposite to the settee, and there are storage lockers underneath the seating.

The galley itself has a stainless steel double sink, 4-burner stove, and an oven fitted with grills along with a fridge and a freezer. The galley is open to the cockpit and also has an opening hatch above the stove for air circulation.

The navigation station in the saloon has a spacious desk for charts and is fully equipped with an electric multifunction control panel and a panel of navigation electronics. The seat at the navigation station is also comfortable, but space in the saloon, again, has been cut back since the mast of the catamaran is located amidships and not forward which reduces the saloon length. There are slightly slanting windows lining the saloon which offer a view of the ocean with two opening hatches up forward allowing for light and ventilation.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The hulls of Outremer 49 are cored with PVC foam above the waterline while below the waterline, they are resin-infused and solid fiberglass laminate. The hulls themselves are high and narrow, offering headspace of up to 2 meters. The unique feature of Outremer 49 is the asymmetric nature of the hulls, which made the boat stand out in the crowd.

With fine maple interior finishing, the aesthetics of the Outremer 49 are light and comforting. As mentioned earlier, because the focus of the catamaran is on performance cruising, the space inside the hulls is slightly cramped when compared to other cats. However, there is still enough space in both the hulls to have large double beds aft while smaller double berths can be easily accommodated in the forward cabins too.

There are different versions of Outremer 49 layouts also offering three separate, individual berths. Layouts can also be customized according to one’s needs. In the owner’s version, there is an aft queen bed in port hull with a forward head and a separate shower while the starboard hull has a queen bed in the aft cabin, double bed in the forward cabin, a head, and a separate shower. There is also a wardrobe or an office in the port hull.

Outremer 49 is powered by two Volvo-Penta D2, four-cylinder diesel sail drive engines of 40 hp each with folding three-blade propellers. The access to these engines, however, is not ideal, and maintenance checks might pose a risk to some.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Outremer 49 has an overall length of 14.98 meters and beam of 7.45 meters. The maximum draft of Outremer 49 is 2.35 meters and the maximum displacement is 12,600 kg. It has a total fuel tank of 340 liters and a freshwater capacity of 380 liters.

PRICE RANGE

The price of the Outremer 49 catamaran varies from $800,000 to $850,000.

In conclusion, the Outremer 49 is built for those seeking an optimum catamaran performance experience. Although later discontinued by Outremer and succeeded by the Outremer 51 , the Outremer 49 did win the Sail’s Best Boat Award for 2012. It offers an excellent bluewater cruising experience, while still comfortably inhabited by a family seeking offshore adventures.

Outremer 49 Specs

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Strong Breeze Sailing: Outremer 45!

• April 16th, 2023
• Sailing Yacht

Being in La Grande Motte in the French Camargue to attend the Multihull Boat Show of 2023, I of course look for cool boats and new things to write about. My personal highlight of this boat show and therefor the first article to be published about this year´s La Grande Motte edition, was the sea trial of the Outremer 45 sailing catamaran: Honestly, a very exciting and above all instructive lesson on catamaran sailing and performance.

The Outremer 45 is a true classic and one of the bestselling catamarans by the French shipyard which has their headquarter right vis-à-vis the boat show venue right here on La Grande Motte. By this, it was no wonder that Outremer has a full display of the whole range of their products. It is not been since the media boost generated by LA VAGABONDE that the Outremer 45 is the dreamyacht for many (I shall say “generations”) of sailors. She is truly a classic, constantly updated by the yard.

This blue water ocean cruising catamaran is a designated long haul boat made for mile-eating and the circumnavigation. At 14.63 meters in length she is just 7.15 meters wide: A first hint oh her capabilities. With 106 square meters of upwind sail area and a weight of just between 9 to 11 tons, she can be rightfully considered as a powerful and lightweight multihull. I am very grateful and happy that the shipyard – as the only brand attending the boat show – provided two cats for sea trials for the general public: The Outremer 45 and a brand new 55.

Very strong breeze: Outremer goes out!

This year we have been lucky with the weather: No rain at least so far, as everyone concluded. But wind we´ve had plenty. With constantly between 18 and 22 knots in the marina, gusts powering up to 34 knots (!) an ice-cold breeze was coming in from the East. Nevertheless, Outremer kept on providing the sea trials. When I went to the departure pontoon, the boat just came in from a previous sea trial. A picture-book perfect example of professional boat handling!

The skipper had toc pe with sheer winds and really violent gusts. The light weight of the catamaran made him powering up the engines almost all the time at full throttle to prevent her from being pushed off course. The parking slot was terribly narrow: The stony breakwater just 3-4 meters away from the outside hull and literally one meter to either side of the boat, it was pure joy and excitement to witness this master class in boat handling. Chapeau, Captain, I shouted as he landed her safely without hitting any pillar or the pontoon: Wow!

Out Captain works as full time skipper for Outremer, he told me. In this he of course is well trained and safe handling the boat even in these violent conditions. Remembering my own efforts maneuvering my catamarans during the handover and delivery trips , I was paralyzed in awe and stood in admiration for this kind of excellence. Well, handling a catamaran in the marina, especially such a lightweight specimen, calls for crew excellence and absolute control.

Boarding the Outremer 45: Inspecting its wings

We had been a party of six persons on this trip: A family with a teenager and a sailing couple. The family stated they are first buyers with virtually no cat-experience, just looking for a fast cruising cat. The couple, as they told me, were experienced catamaran skippers coming from multiple years and thousands of miles experience on an older Fontaine Pajot Bahia, looking for more speed and fun. The guests could not have been more different, I shall say.

Before casting off again, I took the chance to walk around the Outremer 45. At 44 feet she indeed is a big boat, no question that she is made for the long trip, the open seas and all kinds of weather conditions (which we would experience just a few minutes later). I felt safe but I must say that the Outremer is slimmer and much “racier” than the dedicated cruising catamarans. Compared to our own brand, the Excess, this boat clearly was clearly made for much more “serious” sailing families or crews.

This fact is underlined by the presence of daggerboards in the Outremer 45. This is a deciding feature of this class of catamarans. Taken out mainly on upwind courses these deep daggerboards will provide longitudinal stability and act like the keel in a monohull: Keep the boat on her due course and prevent too much leeway. In this, the Outremer 45 is more pointy and powerful on these points of sail, clearly an advantage over classic cruising cats with their fixed and often small fins.

On the Outremer 45 the daggerboards are lowered by easing a daggerboard halyard which is running all back to the cockpit. As it is a straight “wing” gravity will make it go down when the clamp is opened and the halyard is eased. There are two winches in the cockpit´s aft over which the daggerboards can be taken up again – depending on the point of sail and the speed of the boat, the sailor can lower them stageless, which our Captain explained later to me.

Of course, we were lucky, and a rain shower set in upon casting off. Since I was prepared for spring temperatures I did not had any sailing gear at hand and so I retreated under the solid bimini. 22 knots within the marina, I observed the calm but determined actions of our skipper who masterfully brought our brand new boat away from the pontoon and out of the marina.

Sails up! Operating the Outremer 45

The boat started to move up and down upon leaving the marina. Having a constant easterly wind – is this the famous Mistral, by the way? – her motions became instantly violent. Moms and the one sone went into the saloon to be protected from the wind and the rain that increased ever so slightly. The Captain and his aide went into the waves and started to hoist the main sail.

Somehow the aide went out to the mast foot. I did not really understand why as I suppose that the reefing system in the Outremer 45 is a one-line-system as well so that there should not be the need to have a man at the mast, I guess it was just for observing and keeping the sail´s head from getting entangled with the lazy jacks.

This was a good chance to inspect the Skipper´s workplace. The Outremer 45 is steered from a central steering post on the starboard side. It is not a full flybridge yet not a helmsman-position “inside”, a mix of both, I shall say. From up here the helmsman has a great view of the boat, especially the port side. Berthing her alongside to starboard may be tricky, her chocolate side is to her left. Nearly all lines to operate the sails are diverted to two working winches on the roof. Halyards, sheets and reefing lines. There is a big 12 inch-plotter and some secondary displays for example for the autopilot well within sight.

A nice feature of the Outremer 45 and clearly something that enhances her handling is the foot-button over which the electric winches are operated. In this, all two hands are free to handle the ropes. Another sign that this catamaran is made for sailors. We´he had the sails up and in the wind quickly, sheeting in the canvas the catamaran sprung to life.

The acceleration was impressive: The boat sped up from 3 knots to two-digit SOG in mere seconds. Our skipper had lowered the leeward daggerboard and handed over the wheel to us so that we might get an impression of how it feels to sail an Outremer. With waves of 1 to 1.5 meters it was quite a bumpy ride – and this was among the most interesting parts of the whole sea trial.

Impressive upwind sailing performance by the Outremer 45

The catamaran mastered the waves exceptionally, I shall say. No slamming at all, no pumping in the mast or the rigging. Even if we would hit a wave head on, being decelerated a bit, the boat immediately catched up to full speed within a short time. We sailed her upwind at around 40 degrees. She can point higher but will loose too much speed with increased stress in the rigging, so there was no point. In this, we sailed out to make some leeway.

Tacking an Outremer 45 is especially easy since she was equipped with a self-tacking jib. We´ve had her mainsail close hauled and tacked a number of times. I had the feeling that – like with any other boat too – the Outremer 45 at this particular day liked sailing on port tack more than starboard tack, so engaging this maneuver from starboard to port side tack almost brought the boat to a complete halt going through the wind, just to have her speeding up at an impressive rate of acceleration again when through. Wow.

We´ve had 22 to 20 knots true and the boat always transformed 50 to 60 percent of the windspeed into speed over ground. Two-digit sailing upwind was no problem. When we had the luck to sail through two or three smaller waves before getting hit by another big smasher, the boat managed to scratch 12 knots SOG. Upwind!

Calming down, looking around

As the boys took helm above and tried the boat, I took the time to inspect her cockpit and layout a bit more in depth. Of course, as rain was coming down and the icy-cold wind was clearly something we didn´t appreciated, nobody dared to take a seat in the tiller-seats on the aft section of the Outremer. These are a kind of signature of the Outremer and a picture like this might instill this longing for a lush, warm Pacific Ocean sundowner …

The Outremer 45, I mentioned it before, is clearly a boat made for serious sailors seeking serious sailing sensations. She was not conceived to be pretty or complaisant: Everything aboard is subdued to the idea of providing a performance oriented sailing platform. One sign of this is the layout of the winches and the running rigging.

Whereas on dedicated cruising catamarans and even monohulls the designers try to have all lines and trimming accessories diverted in a way that the helmsman or skipper can control the whole boat and trim all sails from one single place, this is different on the Outremer. Up at the helm station the sails are operated, but the cat has two more winches down in cockpit.

One dedicated winch to port side to operate the mainsheet traveler and the portside daggerboard, one another for the starboard daggerboard. For lightwind sails, meaning Gennaker and Code-sails, both winches are used to operate the sheets. Facing this fact, it is clear that the whole cockpit was filled with a big sheet mumble , lines laying around virtually everywhere: This would not be acceptable in a dedicated cruising or vacation-oriented boat.

Speeding away: A true mile-eater

We left the vicinity of the unmistakable waterfront of La Grande Motte – which by the way always reminds me of a movie set taken from 60ies James Bond or Fantomas movies – and sailed out into the Mediterranean. I tried to imagine the feeling that a real owner-crew of this catamaran might have at this moment: Just leaving the dockside to start a journey of a lifetime. What a great feeling this must be.

The guys tacked their way upwind which just for short periods of time almost stopped the cat only to let it pick up speed when the sails catched new wind on the opposite side. I went aft in the cockpit and listened to the “Swoooosh” of the two thin hulls sliding through the water: No vortexes at her stern, just two clean nice wakes.

Apparently, we weren´t the only boat outside: Three crazy kite-foilers rounded out cataraman for a while, waved and disappeared. We met two monohulls on a reaching course, partially reefed and tumbling in the seas. The one big-time advantage, sailing comforts-wise, of a catamaran that could not have been demonstrated clearer: Whereas we could stand upright and had no heeling whatsoever, just coping with the motion of the cat within the waves a bit, our monohull-sailors over there in the boat surely could not move around on their boat without grabbing firm hold on their violently swinging boat. Let alone the speed and the sailing sensations.

The interior of the Outremer 45

As tacking upwind became a bit boring, I used the time to make an excursion into the Outremer 45´s internals. As I mentioned before, the boat is made for sailing and as such her dimensions and more so the internal volume are comparably narrow. The saloon, albeit being on a 45-footer, reminded me more of the Excess 11 saloon . A big U-shaped settee around the main table where our freezing passengers gathered.

Everything inside is rather functional. I don´t want to call this “cold” but the design is clearly not done to achieve a comfy atmosphere. You may compare the interior of the Outremer 45 to a Pogo or similar performance-oriented brands: Functional, clean, clear but not appealing or rather pretty. On the other hand, owners of such a boat have much more freedom to add their personal style, color and material.

To starboard side right at the front windows a proper navigation station is positioned. I especially loved the swing stool which is a clear plus and the size of the chart table. Main switch panel and electric/electronic controls are situated here and the front board has more than enough space to have a secondary chart plotter and sister-displays installed.

As this catamaran is made for long haul cruising the skipper clearly needs a working place like this as chartwork, logbook entries and paperwork in general must be done plenty of. It´s not like on the dedicated vocational boats for occasional cruising where the chart table is just a reminder of itself and a mere nod to seamanship.

The galley is also rather small for a 45-footer, I´d say. Compared to the Excess 14 for example a ship´s cook does not have significant stowage or working space. It is more than enough for providing for meals, but I guess this is something Outremer salesmen will have to talk about a lot in their negotiations with potential buyers. Nevertheless, furniture quality of finishing wasn´t that much apart from big production boat quality, I especially like the big sink and the stove.

Down below decks: Cruising comforts of the Outremer 45

Let´s inspect the quarters and living conditions below decks. The Outremer 45 is available in two layouts. The “owner´s-version” with a dedicated hull to starboard just for the owner. One big berth in the stern, big bathroom and shower to the bow. This catamaran however was the 4-cabin-version with one bathroom per hull.

First thing you notice going down the ladders into the hulls are the big bulky daggerboard housings. I was surprised, at first, that there wasn´t any noticeable sound either from the water nor from the daggerboards which I somehow in my imagination thought would rumble around within the husings. That´s a plus.

Also, the daggerboard housings are covered with a thick, soft damping material so that even in heavy seas one won´t be injured or bruised when slammed against them. Nevertheless, having such narrow (speedy) hulls with less lateral area as possible, the daggerboard housing take away much interior volume. The pathway passing these is narrow, also taking away space for lockers or a desk/workplace as seen in many other catamarans.

The beds are not the biggest either. Two persons will have sufficient space here, no questions, but compared to the bed size of the Excess 11, a much, much smaller 38-feet catamaran, these beds are very slim. Kudos to Outremer: The cabins were light-suffused as they are fitted with two windows and one big skylight hatch.

Same goes for the fore cabins. Beds are even slimmer as the hulls at this position are almost as thin as arrows, but I reckoned on the other hand that in heavy seas or when the boat has big time sea motion you anyway prefer to snug into some corner and wedge in between the walls. So, a disadvantage turned into an advantage. I otherwise would say that if occupied by just one person, the cabin sizes are absolutely okay. When sailing in warm regions most will anyway prefer to sleep on deck …

The bathrooms are of a decent size, given we sailed in rocky seas I though as well that a narrower space is a safer space as there is no room to fall and always a wall or a handle near to grab for a safe hold. The Outremer 45 4-cabin version has a much smaller owner´s bathroom than the 3-cabin version of course.

I really loved the kind of integration of the washing machine in the Outremer 45. This is a huge thing in cruising and serious long haul cruising: Getting your clothing clean and dry. Outremer apparently provides a solution here with this little machine that has been integrated very well and is a definitive plus for this cat. I wish we´d had a solution like this to offer.

The guest bathroom in the port side hull was even more attractive as it features two windows, one of them being the emergency exit in case of a capsize , but the light of the blue ocean playing around in this room was awesome, creating a great atmosphere. Also, this bathroom is positioned much more to the pivot of the boat itself so less influence of sea motion: The better toilet when sailing.

At last: Downwind racing with kite up!

After one hour of tacking our way from the shore of the French Camargue we´ve had made enough leeway and distance to the marina. Our Captain ordered to bring about the boat to a downwind course. Opening the traveler and the mainsheet after shaking out the reef to full mainsail, we took in the jib by a short foot-pressing the electric winch.

Our Outremer 45 featured a furling Gennaker. We were all keen on experiencing the downwind race in the Outremer. Catamarans are not made to sail upwind and will unfold their full potential on reaching courses. With a big smile on our faces we were excited when we´ve heard the word “… downwind …” against the backdrop of the swirling ocean and the gusty wind.

Unfurling the Gennaker took us under a minute and just like that the catamaran accelerated to full speed. The wind had eased a bit to 16-18 knots true. Nevertheless, the cat managed to sail at 11 to 12 knots average, in spikes we hit the 14. The Gennaker this boat carried was an A2, so a bit smaller and made of stronger material so that it may be used in stronger winds. I guess with a classy A3 Gennaker we could have added a knot or 2.

As I would consider myself more of a socket-type Gennaker fan, I was especially interested in the handling qualities of the furling Gennaker aboard. Of course, or crew of two consisted of professional Outremer skippers and as such their handling was flawless, but as I´ve heard a lot negative things about sandclocks and handling problems with furling Gennakers, I looked twice here. But even gybing wasn´t a problem, as it seemed, the furling-style worked flawlessly.

What took us winning about one hour of upwind tacking was eaten away by downwind flying in roughly twenty minutes. The catamaran flew before the wind, sometimes doing some bigger wiggly lines. I guess this is a matter of programming the autopilot to a more speedy and determined intervention when veering off course, though steering those sinuous lines on a running course in waves from behind is a matter of course.

My overall assessment of the Outremer 45

Again, masterfully handling the throttles, our Captain brought the cat back to pierside in a jaw dropping display of skillful steering qualities. After having tied up the cat at the pontoon, we shook hands and I thanked for this exceptional sea trial. What have I learned?

First of all, the Outremer 45 indeed is a thorough, seaworthy and surprisingly stable fast performance catamaran. She is made for serious sailors who are interested in active sailing, trimming and working the lines. She is a mile-eating boat, fast and superior to most of the boats around her. I haven´t heard any noises, squeaking or screeching. No slamming, wobble or noise announcing material problems. The structural finish is awesome – furniture quality is a bit less than expected.

For a cruising family seeking a great vacation or a sabbatical, I´d say she offers less comforts. But this is always the big question: As comfort sacrifices performance, which of both do you seek? Which of both you´d like to be dominant? If you (and your crew!) are a big-time sailor seeking speedy offshore sensations, I am sure that the Outremer 45 will remain to be an absolute dreamyacht for ambitious skippers and she will go on being a best-seller.

Thanks so much, Outremer, for providing this exceptional experience, especially under these conditions.

You might as well be interested in these articles:

Catamaran boost: My first catamaran delivery sailing trip

Biscay Trap – too much wind for our Excess?

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Characteristics, technical specifications.

The ideal single-handed catamaran

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A legendary model

Easy to handle whether a beginner or expert

The Outremer 45 is a 48 ft catamaran. Easy to control from the helm station, everything is within reach and the clear view over the four corners of the boat guarantees perfect maneuvers, even single-handed.

With its narrow hulls and light weight, the feeling of gliding, well wedged in a comfortable seat with tiller in hand, is exhilarating.

But don’t worry if you leave the helm to the autopilot or if the wind gets stronger: the Outremer 45 is the most forgiving of catamarans. Peace of mind while cruising is non-negotiable on an Outremer, including on this single-handed catamaran.

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Ideal sailing ergonomics

All maneuvers are accessible from the helm station, located at the center of the boat. With a perfect view of the four corners of the catamaran and the sails, single-handed maneuvering is child’s play! After hoisting the mainsail on your own, using the electric winch in front of you, trimming and fine-tuning your sails with the mainsail and solent sheets, take the tiller, comfortably installed in the ergonomic seat, to enjoy unique steering pleasure. Returning to port, the engine controls and windlass are also within easy reach, guaranteeing seemless maneuvering.

Unmatched view of the horizon

The 360° view from the saloon and cockpit of this blue water catamaran provides exceptional visibility of the water and the surrounding environment, contributing greatly to onboard comfort. Aboard the Outremer 45, whether sitting or standing, inside or outside, the vision is perfect. A crucial factor for serene cruising! No need to climb on deck to scan the horizon, night watches will never have seemed as comfortable as at the chart table!

Easy access

The very low boom allows easy access to the mainsail, lowers the sail’s center of effort and optimizes performance and comfort at sea. Access to the coachroof is made simple with just one step near the mast, and even the youngest can take part in maneuvers under the watchful eye of the skipper. When it’s time to reef or stow the sail, no acrobatics are required, and you stay safe. All these well-thought elements make the Outremer 45 the ideal catamaran for either beginners or a single-person crew.

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« Sailing La Vagabonde » Elayna, Riley and Lenny

This Australian couple, initially with little sailing experience, have been documenting their journey around the world under sail since 2014. If you don’t already know them, it’s time to discover these celebrities that we love to follow…

Do you have any questions?

What is the difference between the outremer 45 and the 4x, what are the latest innovations on the outremer 45, what is the payload of the 45', can you sail around the world in complete safety on a 45'.

Beyond building your boat, Outremer brings your dreams to life by being by your side at every stage of your project. To always better support you, we have created Outremer Services. This structure, integrated within Grand Large Services is able to meet all your needs, from the start of your project to the resale of your catamaran.

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OUTREMER 4.ZERO - Electric propulsion put to the test on a round-the-world voyage

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• Available in issue # 175

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By the time you’re reading this, the Outremer 4.Zero and her crew will most likely be mid-Atlantic, in the wake of Magellan and his faithful second mate Elcano. Though Jimmy Cornell has presented in person, and in detail, his technical and historical challenge, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to test ELCANO 500, this Outremer of the future also known as Aventura Zero. As soon as the catamaran was launched, we took advantage of a short weather window in early October to test this prototype for you. We were able to take part in one of the very first sea trials, before the boat cast off for Seville, Magellan’s port of departure some 500 years ago.

Test location: La Grande Motte, France Wind: 8 to 12 knots southeasterly Sea state: smooth to slight

For any multihull and cruising enthusiast, this 100% electric 4.Zero Outremer is a double surprise. The first is to find Jimmy Cornell at the helm of a composite multihull that’s fairly performance-oriented. Trailblazer of four round-theworld voyages aboard monohulls and champion of the aluminum centerboarder, Jimmy was back from the Northwest Passage on his Exploration 45 - twice as heavy as his new two-hulled vessel, yet of the same length. The promise had been made to Gwenda, his stainless-steel crew/ spouse, that this time he would retire from the sea. We imagined him pruning his roses in the beautiful house in the South of France that he uses as his base camp. Yes, but then Jimmy had a new idea. And Gwenda gave in, aware that the happiness of her sailor husband cannot be satiated without cruising plans to implement (see MW173).

Test pilot for an all-electric boat The second surprise in all of this is to find Outremer Yachting as part of the project. Above all, the...

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