smallest catamaran to sail around the world

13 Best Small Catamarans For Cruising 2024

The best small catamarans for cruising are affordable and comfortable, making great sailboats for a number of different purposes. If you’re looking for the best small catamarans to start your cruising life then look no further!

When searching for a catamaran for our adventures we scoured the internet for any and all information we could find on just about every size, shape, and model!

Although in the end, we opted for a bigger catamaran, in the hopes of having more family and friends on board, we did heavily research the best small catamarans as an option.

Each small catamaran has different pros and cons. As with every sailboat, there will be compromises, but hopefully, this post will help you firm up what you’re really looking for in a multihull and find the right smaller catamaran for you!

Here are what we consider the best small cruising catamarans out there, costing anywhere from $40,000 to $300,000. You can also read up on the average costs of sailboats here.

Why choose a small catamaran for cruising?

The downsides to small multihulls for cruisers

The best small catamarans for ocean sailing

The best small catamarans for coastal cruising

Why Choose A Small Catamaran For Cruising?

The main advantage to choosing a small catamaran for cruising has to be the cost. Not only are smaller sailboats cheaper to buy initially, but they are also cheaper to maintain and to dock in marinas or dry storage.

Why buy a small catamaran over a monohull? This isn’t the post to go into the pros and cons of multihulls vs monohulls, but a few of the main reasons you might prefer to buy a small cat over a bigger, cheaper monohull is the living space and the comfort underway and at anchor.

Living on a sailboat is very different from taking the boat out for a sporty sail every now and again. Having a catamaran over a monohull means you won’t be heeling or rolling at anchor half as much, you can leave out your coffee cup, and you have the space you need to spread out a little.

A small catamaran will enable the more comfortable lifestyle you’re seeking at a more reasonable price tag. So what’s not to love about small cruising multihulls?

The Downsides To Small Multihulls For Cruisers

Of course, just with everything in sailing, there are always compromises to be made when it comes to small multihulls.

One of the biggest downsides for cruisers is the weight issue smaller catamarans present. You won’t be able to carry half as much as you would on a larger catamaran or monohull, which might be a problem if you live onboard full time.

The other negative is that smaller boats usually aren’t quite as seaworthy as larger ones. You might find you’re limited to coastal cruising if you choose a small catamaran, so make sure you have your cruising intentions in mind before you buy.

Another big thing to look out for when it comes to choosing the right small cat for you, is the bridge deck clearance. This is often worse on smaller catamarans, and can cause nasty slamming in any sort of sea, both when sailing and at anchor.

With these downsides in mind, we’ve split this post into the best small catamarans for ocean sailing and the best for coastal cruising. Obviously this is a little subjective, as many people have sailed around the world in much smaller and less seaworthy vessels!

The Best Small Catamarans For Ocean Cruising

#1 wharram tiki.

• Suitable for: Bluewater sailing
• Fixed Keels
• Draft (max): 2.08′
• Engines: Single outboard, though some versions have twin inboards
• Price: Roughly $100,000

We have lusted after the Wharram catamarans since our adventures began and would have opted for one of these if we had found one for sale this side of the pond.

Designed by the legendary James Wharram, these small multihulls are pretty unique. They are based on the Polynesian catamaran design, and the plans enable you to self-build these boats if you have the time, money, and space for a project of this magnitude.

If you aren’t keen on taking on a project then you can commission a boat builder to complete the design for you, or buy one second-hand. The advantages of having one made yourself are that you can tweak things to your personal taste, and you can even contact the Wharrams themselves to see if they can adjust the designs for individual requests.

The Wharram catamarans have a lot of charm dues to their traditional design, and the old-fashioned appeal continues inside the boat too. You won’t find the same huge hull space as some of the modern design catamarans now have, but the outside entertainment space is perfect for entertaining.

These small catamarans don’t have an inside space across the hulls, so all of your inside living space is below. If you’re used to monohulls then this won’t be a problem but if you like the idea of a galley-up then these boats aren’t for you.

Wharram catamarans, especially the Tiki 38, have great reputations as around the world, bluewater boats. They have fantastic bridge deck clearance so slamming is minimum and they sail well.

Most models have a double cabin and two singles, a galley, a head, and a small salon area below. They are smaller catamarans than many newer 38ft multihulls but this does make them more affordable.

A big appeal for us was the fact these boats are designed to be self-made. Although a secondhand model could potentially come with a lot of problems (get a decent survey before you buy!) it does mean that almost everything onboard can be self-fixed. This is a huge bonus if you plan on sailing your small catamaran around the world.

Another thing we loved about these smaller catamarans is the fact they have outboard engines, which we felt would be easier to maintain and replace if necessary. This is a personal choice though so consider this before you get your heart set on one!

One of the downsides to the Tiki 38 is that there aren’t many of them around. These are unique boats and they don’t come on the market frequently. When they do, they tend to be scattered all over the world so you’ll have to be prepared to travel to find one!

#2 Prout Snowgoose 37 : Small Catamaran For Ocean Cruising

Prout catamarans are a popular choice for cruisers, and you’ll find many owners who have circumnavigated in them. The Snowgoose is no exception. Prout no longer exists as a company, as it was bought by Broadblue in the 90s.

Broadblue still makes catamarans today, and they have very similar features to the original Prouts, though obviously they are far fancier and have all the benefits of a more modern design!

The Snowgoose is a great small multihull to go for as you get quite a lot of space inside and out. We weren’t sure about the berth in the salon area, but it might make a great space for a baby or small child while underway!

The compromise in the Prout Snowgoose is the bridge deck clearance and this was something that put us off these smaller cruising catamarans. A low bridge deck clearance makes the boat slam in waves, both at anchor and underway.

#8 PDQ 36 : A Small Catamaran Without Too Much Slamming

• Suitable for: Bluewater
• Draft (max): 2.82′
• Engines: Twin inboard or outboard
• Price: Over $100,000

These small catamarans have an excellent reputation among cruisers because of their solid build and use of decent materials. They come with either outboard engines for coastal cruising or inboard engines designed to withstand offshore use.

If you like the sound of the PDQ 32 but need a little more room then you’ve got that here! It’s also a boat that people have crossed oceans in, though you might want to consider something more tried and tested like the Prout Snowgoose or the Wharram if you’re planning longer ocean sails.

The boat has three cabins, a galley, salon and head, but there’s a more spacious feel compared to the smaller model. Again, the bridge deck clearance is good so you shouldn’t experience too much slamming.

#9 Lagoon 380 : One Of The Most Popular Small Multihulls

• Fixed keels
• Engines:  twin diesel engines
• Price:  from $100,000, used

The Lagoon 380 is one of the most popular catamarans out there, and you’ve probably already spotted a lot of them in your search! This is a great option if modern cats appeal to you, as it’s pretty ‘with the times’ as far as smaller catamarans go!

There are lots of different layouts of this boat available all over the world. Some were built for charter with numerous berths and others were commissioned for couples or families with differing cabin and head options.

This is a proven catamaran from a reputable company, but obviously with so many of these boats out there, they come in a range of conditions. Make sure you get a thorough survey done before purchase!

Lagoon 37 TPI

• Draft (max): 4′
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels 
• Price: Over $100,000 USD 

This is the smallest catamaran built by Lagoon, and unfortunately there aren’t many of them out there. These boats were built mainly for the charter market, and have a smaller rig than some similar sized catamarans.

There are two big queen-size forward doubles port and starboard and a smaller double in the starboard hull aft. The galley and salon are designed to be simple and timeless, with none of the fancy trims you’ll find in the newer Lagoons.

As this boat was intended for charter it probably wouldn’t make a great ocean-going vessel. For starters, it isn’t designed to carry too much in the way of provisions. That’s not to say it won’t be a suitable bluewater boat with a few tweaks. Sailors who have circumnavigated in them have increased sail area and added folding props to get more speed from the vessel.

#11 Catalac 9M/30

• Draft (max): 2.5′
• Engines:  two outboard engines or one diesel engine
• Price:  from $50,000

The Catalac 9M is a little different to a lot of the catamarans on this list, as it was built for sailing in the North Sea! This is a great small catamaran for anyone wanting a boat built to be safe!

The bridge deck clearance is reasonable but the boat is light, which can make it more prone to slamming. The unique feature of this small sailboat is the hard dodger, designed as somewhere safe and dry to stand in bad weather.

It sails well, though like a lot of catamarans there is technique involved in getting it to tack smoothly. Once you’ve got the hang of though, this boat will make good speeds for its size.

The Best Small Catamarans For Coastal Cruising

• Suitable for: Coastal
• Draft (max): 3.62′
• Engines: Twin inboard
• Price: Up to $300,000 for a newer model

The Mahe 36 is the smallest of the Fountaine Pajot range, and these small catamarans can go for a heafty budget if you find a newer model!

This tiny multihull packs a lot into a small space, and because of its modern features, you’ll feel like you’re in a much bigger boat when you step aboard.

This boat is a fast mover, with an ok bridge clearance and some attractive upgrades compared to their last small catamaran design. Most notably the full-length hard top bimini which has the reviewers raving!

If you have the money to splash out on a newer, more expensive small catamaran then this should definitely be on your list to consider! Although they come with a large price tag, these small catamarans are considerably cheaper new than some of the bigger models.

#4 Gemini 105Mc (34ft)

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Centreboards Draft (max): 5′ Engines:  Single inboard Price:  from $80,000

The Gemini 105Mc is still in production in the US, which speaks to its popularity. Obviously if you buy new you’ll pay a much higher price! This is one of the smallest catamarans on the list, but it’s still a great option for coastal cruising (or some have even successfully completed ocean passages on them in relative comfort).

For a small multihull this boat sails pretty well and is fast for a coastal cruiser. The living space is decent with good headroom. It has two double cabins and a master bedroom, and the interior finishes are nice too.

A big negative to this boat is the bridge deck clearance which really isn’t amazing, but as we said at the start, there’s always a compromise! This is a sporty-looking little catamaran that’s a good contender for the top smallest catamarans out there!

#5 EndeavourCat 36

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Fixed keels Draft (max): 3′ Engines:  two inboard Price:  from $100

Designed and built by Endeavour Catamaran, these American built boats are great cruising catamarans. A big advantage to this little multihull is that it will fit into most monohull slips, so if you anticipate using marinas a lot then this might be the small catamaran for you!

This isn’t a slow boat, and owners report speeds of 8-9 knots. Bear in mind though that the narrow beam does make it less suitable for any offshore passages. It has good interior space with 6′ standing headroom throughout, three double cabins, and a decent-sized galley below. The salon area can seat 6 people comfortably.

This cat is great for single-handed sailors, as all the lines lead to the cockpit and the main and jib are completely self-tacking.

#6 Prout Event 34

Suitable for: Coastal/bluewater Fixed keels Draft (max): 2.72′ Engines:  Single inboard Price:  from $30,000

These multihulls are quite hard to find, but if you like the Snowgoose but are on a tighter budget then they might be just what you’re looking for. They share lots of features with the Snowgoose and look very similar, only smaller!

There are three cabins, one head, a salon, and a galley, only they are rather squeezed in compared to the larger model. Personally, we thought there was plenty of space for a smaller sailboat but it’s worth seeing them in person if you’re keen on this model.

They do have the same downsides as the Snowgoose though, with limited headroom and low bridge deck clearance. These boats are known for their slamming!

Coastal Engines:  twin outboards Price:  from $80,000, used

The PDQ 32 is a great budget option catamaran and should be cheap(ish) to buy second hand and maintain. With two outboards that are easy to replace on a smaller budget, you’re looking at some of the usual pinch points on a boat becoming a lot more affordable!

This small catamaran only has two cabins, so sleeps less than a lot of the boats on this list, but it is roomier than you’d imagine inside with a decent galley and salon area. It has decent bridge deck clearance so shouldn’t slam too much in any waves.

This isn’t a boat for longer passages as it is a little small (and perhaps underpowered) to face serious weather. If you’re searching for something to potter around in then this is a fun boat to sail and live in!

#12 Dean 365

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• Suitable for: Coastal cruising
• Draft (max): 3′
• Engines:  one or two inboard
• Price:  from $45,000, used

These South African catamarans are great little coastal cruising catamarans that are hard to come by anywhere other than South Africa!

They’re pretty tiny, but have enough space for a galley, 3 or 4 cabins, and 1 or 2 heads. Some of the designs even have a bathtub, which speaks of their liveaboard suitability rather than their sail performance!

These boats are some of the smallest multihulls on this list, so don’t expect much in terms of headroom or bridge deck clearance. That being said, if you’re looking for a tiny catamaran to live on and you are prepared to compromise on sailing ability then these are a solid choice.

We have heard that the build quality can vary somewhat with these multihulls, so make sure you do some solid research and get a good surveyor when buying one of these. If you get a good version then they can make really solid boats.

#13 EndeavourCat 30

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Fixed keels Draft (max): 2.1′ Engines:  single or twin outboard Price:  from $70,000

This is a boat built for comfort over all else, so if you’re looking for a budget catamaran to live in then take a look at the endeavourcat 30. Some people don’t like the boxy design, but we quite liked how it looked in the water. I guess it’s personal taste!

This sailboat has two double cabins, a decent sized galley and salon for the size of the boat, and a head. The bridge deck clearance is low so that’s something to bear in mind before you buy, but the headroom is good (another reason why this would make a good liveaboard catamaran).

Hopefully this has given you some inspiration when searching for small catamarans for cruising, and helped you to find your dream boat!

We’re passionate about helping people live this incredible cruising lifestyle, so if you’re planning your dream liveaboard life make sure you check out our guide on how to run away to sea, with everything you could possibly need to know before, during, and after starting this adventure of a lifetime!

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Such small mention of probably the best catamaran for overall cruising, focusing on ease of helming, speed and livability. Simple rig, great ergonomic features, style and definitely a pedigree on the water. The FP Mahe duo! Sea proven. Most delivered on their own bottoms from France. Wide beams and light. Beautiful interior arrangements and easy to maintain. I’m confused about so little mention of probably the best entry level and beyond real cruiser out there.

You forgot the edelcat 35. Great boats, and have circumnavigated!

I wonder why Broadblue 346 is not on the list.

Appreciate it’s a bit more expensive than most cats listed here but what about the Aventura 37? Technically a small cat but with ocean going abilities and an actual live aboard!

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• Search Search Hi! We’re Emily, Adam and Tiny Cat, liveaboard sailors travelling the world on our 38ft sailboat and writing about it as we go. We hope we can inspire you to live the life you’ve always dreamed, whether that’s exploring the world or living a more simple way of life in a tiny home. Find out more. Patreon
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Choosing the Perfect Size Catamaran for Your World Sailing Adventure

Alex Morgan

Sailing around the world is a dream for many adventurers, and choosing the right catamaran size is crucial for a successful and enjoyable journey. A catamaran, with its stability, spaciousness, and ability to navigate shallow waters, is an ideal choice for long-distance cruising. In this article, we will explore the factors to consider when selecting a catamaran size for sailing around the world and the options available. We will also discuss important features and considerations, including stability, storage capacity, sailing performance, crew requirements, and cost. personal considerations such as budget, sailing experience, comfort, and navigational plans will be taken into account. We will provide some valuable tips for preparing and sailing a catamaran around the world, including safety measures, navigational tools, provisioning, weather monitoring, and communication. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or embarking on your first long-distance voyage, this guide will help you make an informed decision about choosing the right catamaran size for your global sailing adventure.

Key takeaway:

• Choosing the right catamaran size is crucial for sailing around the world. Factors like length, beam, draft, and displacement need to be considered.
• There are different size options available for catamarans, including small, medium-sized, and large ones, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
• Features like stability, storage capacity, sailing performance, crew requirements, cost, and maintenance should be evaluated when selecting a catamaran size.
• Personal considerations such as budget, sailing experience, comfort, and navigational plans also play a significant role in determining the ideal catamaran size.
• Preparation for sailing a catamaran around the world involves safety equipment, navigational tools, provisioning, water management, weather monitoring, and communication.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Catamaran Size

When it comes to sailing around the world, choosing the right catamaran size is crucial. In this section, we’ll dive into the key factors to consider when making this decision. From the length and beam to the draft and displacement, each sub-section will uncover essential aspects that can impact your sailing adventure. So, let’s sail through these factors and discover the perfect catamaran size to conquer the open seas!

The length of a catamaran is important when choosing a vessel for sailing around the world. It affects the boat’s performance and functionality . Consider the table below that shows the different lengths of catamarans and their characteristics :

When considering the length of a catamaran, it is essential to factor in personal preferences and needs. A longer catamaran may offer more space and stability but might be harder to maneuver in tight spaces. On the other hand, a shorter catamaran may offer better maneuverability but have limited space for amenities and storage.

Let’s share a true story about catamaran length. John , an experienced sailor, chose a 45-foot catamaran for his journey around the world. The moderate length allowed him to comfortably accommodate his family while still offering ease of handling. He appreciated the balance between agility and living space that the 45-foot catamaran provided, making his sailing adventure enjoyable and fulfilling.

When considering the size of a catamaran for sailing around the world, it is essential to take into account the beam . The beam , which refers to the width of the catamaran measured from one hull to the other, plays a crucial role in the stability and living space of the boat.

Smaller catamarans generally have a smaller beam , resulting in less spacious living quarters and potentially reduced stability. They compensate by being more maneuverable, and they also have lower initial costs and maintenance requirements.

For those seeking a balance between living space and stability, medium-sized catamarans with a moderate beam are an excellent choice. They are easy to handle, offer a good combination of living space and stability, and come at a reasonable cost in terms of both purchase and maintenance.

Large catamarans, with their wider beams , provide generous living spaces and enhanced stability. They may be slightly less maneuverable compared to smaller and medium-sized catamarans. They generally come with higher initial costs and maintenance requirements.

By considering your priorities regarding living space, stability, maneuverability, and budget, you can determine the appropriate beam size for your catamaran when embarking on a journey around the world.

When selecting a catamaran size for sailing around the world, the draft becomes a crucial consideration. The draft pertains to the vertical measurement from the waterline to the deepest region of the hull, including the keels or daggerboards.

– Opting for a shallower draft proves advantageous for navigating shallow bodies of water, such as coastal areas , lagoons , and coral reefs . A catamaran with a draft ranging from about 2 to 4 feet proves fitting for these particular conditions.

– A moderate draft achieves a desirable equilibrium between stability and performance . Catamarans with drafts ranging from 4 to 6 feet demonstrate versatility and aptitude in a broad array of sailing conditions.

– A deeper draft confers benefits in terms of improved upwind performance and stability amid rough seas. Catamarans with a draft of at least 6 feet emerge as a superior choice for offshore passages and ocean crossings.

– The draft of the catamaran also exercises influence on anchoring possibilities. A shallower draft allows for access to more shallow anchorages, whereas a deeper draft might necessitate anchoring farther from the shore.

Historical records illustrate the evolution of catamaran drafts over time. Early catamarans possessed comparably shallow drafts suited for coastal cruising. Nonetheless, advancements in design and technology facilitated the adoption of deeper drafts, thereby enhancing stability and performance. Presently, catamarans offer diverse draft options that cater to various sailing preferences and destinations.

Displacement

When choosing a catamaran for sailing around the world, one important factor is displacement . Displacement refers to the weight of the water a catamaran displaces when floating.

Size of Catamaran Displacement

Small 10,000 to 20,000 pounds

Medium-sized 20,000 to 40,000 pounds

Large 40,000 to 60,000 pounds

The displacement of a catamaran affects its stability and how it handles waves and rough weather. A catamaran with higher displacement will generally have better stability and a smoother ride in challenging conditions.

It is important to note that higher displacement also means a larger and heavier catamaran, which can impact maneuverability and sailing performance. Smaller catamarans with lower displacement may be easier to handle and more nimble.

Ultimately, the choice of catamaran size and displacement depends on personal preferences, experience, and sailing goals. Factors such as budget, comfort, and navigational plans should be considered when making a decision.

Catamaran Size Options for Sailing Around the World

When it comes to sailing around the world, choosing the right catamaran size is essential. In this section, we’ll discuss the different catamaran size options available for this grand adventure. From small catamarans designed for maneuverability to medium-sized ones offering a balance of comfort and speed, and finally, large catamarans ideal for luxurious long-distance voyages. Join us as we explore the world of catamarans and find the perfect vessel for your nautical journey of a lifetime.

Small Catamarans

When considering small catamarans for sailing around the world, keep in mind:

– Length: Small catamarans range from 30 to 40 feet . These compact sizes make them easier to handle and maneuver in tight spaces.

– Beam: The beam, or width, of a small catamaran is usually around 15 to 20 feet . This provides stability and ample space for living and storage.

– Draft: The draft, or depth, of a small catamaran is typically shallow, ranging from 2 to 4 feet . This allows for navigation in shoal waters and easy anchoring.

– Displacement: Small catamarans have a lighter displacement compared to larger ones, typically ranging from 8,000 to 12,000 pounds . This allows for increased speed and agility.

One true story highlights the benefits of small catamarans . John and Jane sailed around the world on their 35-foot catamaran . The compact size of their small catamaran allowed them to access remote anchorages and explore hidden coves that larger vessels couldn’t reach. The shallow draft of their small catamaran also allowed them to navigate safely through coral reefs and shallow lagoons. The smaller size made it more manageable for just the two of them to handle all aspects of sailing. Their small catamaran provided them with comfort, ease of handling, and the ability to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Medium-sized Catamarans

When selecting a catamaran of medium size, it is important to take into consideration various factors. These factors include:

Length: Medium-sized catamarans are typically between 40 and 50 feet in length. This size provides a good balance between spaciousness and maneuverability.

Beam: Medium-sized catamarans have a beam measurement of approximately 22 to 25 feet. This width ensures stability, which is essential for long-distance cruising.

Draft: The draft of medium-sized catamarans usually ranges from 4 to 6 feet. This shallow depth enables versatile sailing in different locations.

Displacement: Medium-sized catamarans typically weigh between 15,000 and 25,000 pounds. This weight range offers a harmonious combination of speed and comfort.

When making a decision on a medium-sized catamaran, it is crucial to consider your specific needs and preferences. Factors that should be taken into account include budget, living space requirements, and navigational plans. By thoroughly assessing these factors, you will be able to find a medium-sized catamaran that perfectly aligns with your sailing aspirations, no matter where in the world you wish to explore.

Large Catamarans

Large catamarans are the perfect choice for those looking to sail around the world. These magnificent vessels offer a plethora of advantages. They provide an abundance of living and storage space, ensuring utmost comfort during long journeys. Furthermore, large catamarans exhibit excellent stability even in rough seas, making them a safer option for extended offshore sailing .

Let’s take a look at a table that compares some key features of large catamarans :

Large catamarans are particularly suitable for individuals who prioritize space , comfort , and stability . It is crucial to consider the specific needs and preferences of the crew. For instance, a larger crew may be required to handle the size and complexity of a large catamaran .

Fun fact: Large catamarans often boast advanced navigation systems and modern amenities such as spacious cabins, lounges, and entertainment areas. These luxurious features provide sailors with an unparalleled experience while exploring the vast oceans of the world.

Catamaran Features and Considerations

When it comes to choosing the right catamaran for sailing around the world, understanding the key features and considerations is crucial. In this section, we’ll dive into the factors that can make or break your journey. From the stability that ensures a smooth ride to the storage capacity for all your essentials, we’ll cover it all. Plus, we’ll explore the catamaran’s sailing performance, crew requirements, and the cost and maintenance involved. Get ready to set sail with confidence!

Stability is important when choosing a catamaran for sailing around the world. A stable catamaran provides a comfortable and safe experience on long ocean passages. Here are some important points to consider:

1. Hull design: Look for catamarans with a wider beam for better stability. A wider beam offers a solid foundation and reduces the chances of capsizing.

2. Weight distribution: Proper weight distribution is crucial for stability. A well-balanced catamaran has evenly distributed weight across both hulls, ensuring stability at anchor and underway.

3. Center of gravity: The height of the center of gravity plays a significant role in stability. A lower center of gravity enhances stability, making the catamaran less prone to rolling in rough seas.

4. Bridge deck clearance: Bridge deck clearance is the distance between the bottom of the bridgedeck and the water. Sufficient clearance reduces the chances of ‘slamming’ when encountering waves, improving stability.

5. Wave-piercing bows: Some catamarans have wave-piercing bows that cut through waves instead of riding over them. This design can help enhance stability and reduce pitching in rough conditions.

Pro-tip: Find the right balance between stability and performance. While a highly stable catamaran is comfortable, it may sacrifice speed and maneuverability. Evaluate your sailing goals and prioritize stability accordingly.

Storage and Capacity

When considering storage and capacity on a catamaran, factors to take into account include:

• Storage Space: Evaluate the available storage space for belongings, provisions, and equipment.
• Cargo Capacity: Consider the maximum weight capacity for supplies, fuel, and water.
• Cabin Layout: Assess the number and size of cabins to ensure enough sleeping space.
• Deck Space: Consider the usable deck space for lounging, socializing, and storing equipment.
• Accessibility: Check if storage areas are easily accessible and secure against rough weather.
• Weight Distribution: Ensure even storage space distribution for stability and performance.

A true story highlights the importance of storage and capacity. A couple on a world sailing adventure underestimated their storage needs. The limited space caused inefficiency and frustration. This taught them the valuable lesson of considering storage and capacity for a smooth sailing experience.

Sailing Performance

Sail Area: The sail area of a catamaran greatly impacts its sailing performance, allowing for higher speeds and improved maneuverability in various wind conditions. The larger sail area provides better control and enhances the overall performance of the catamaran.

Hull Design: The design of the catamaran’s hull plays a critical role in optimizing its sailing performance. A sleek and streamlined hull reduces drag, enabling the catamaran to achieve faster speeds and increased efficiency during sailing.

Weight Distribution: Proper weight distribution is essential to ensure optimal sailing performance . A well-balanced catamaran with the correct weight distribution between the hulls maximizes stability and speed, ensuring smooth and efficient sailing .

Rigging and Sail Controls: The rigging and sail controls have a significant impact on the catamaran’s sailing performance. Efficient systems for adjusting sail shape, tension, and trim enable better control and enhance overall performance on the water.

Keel and Daggerboard: The keel or daggerboard on a catamaran provide stability and prevent lateral drift. The design and positioning of these components affect the catamaran’s ability to sail upwind and greatly influence its overall performance.

Fact: A well-designed and properly maintained catamaran can reach speeds of up to 25 knots or more , making it an ideal choice for those seeking exhilarating sailing performance on their journeys around the world.

Crew Requirements

When considering crew requirements for sailing a catamaran around the world, several factors need to be taken into account. These factors include experience, skills, physical fitness, teamwork, and emergency training.

A crew with sailing experience is important, especially for long-distance journeys. Crew members should have a good understanding of navigation, seamanship, and boat handling. Each crew member should possess the necessary skills for tasks like sailing, cooking, maintenance, and repairs. It is beneficial to have a diverse skill set within the crew.

Sailing around the world requires physical endurance , as crew members may need to perform physically demanding tasks, especially in challenging weather conditions or when handling sails. A harmonious and cooperative crew is essential for a successful voyage. Good communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work together as a team are crucial.

All crew members should be familiar with emergency procedures and have undergone appropriate safety training, including knowledge of life-saving equipment, man-overboard drills, and first aid. Ensuring that the crew meets these requirements contributes to a safe and enjoyable sailing experience around the world.

Cost and Maintenance

When considering the cost and maintenance of a catamaran for sailing around the world, keep in mind the following factors:

1. Initial cost: Catamarans can range in price from $100,000 to several million dollars, depending on size, brand, and condition.

2. Insurance: The cost of insuring a catamaran can vary based on factors such as boat value, navigational area, and owner’s experience.

3. Maintenance and repairs: Regular maintenance, including hull cleaning, engine servicing, and sail inspections, is required for catamarans. The cost of these tasks can add up over time.

4. Fuel: The cost of fuel for a catamaran can vary depending on the size and type of engines. Consider fuel consumption when budgeting for long-distance sailing.

5. Marina fees: Catamaran owners often have to pay mooring or berthing fees when docked in marinas. The cost can differ depending on location and facilities available.

Considering the cost and maintenance of a catamaran is crucial when planning to sail around the world. It is recommended to calculate a realistic budget that takes into account not only the initial purchase price, but also ongoing expenses. Research and obtain quotes for insurance, understand the cost of regular maintenance and repairs, and factor in fuel and marina fees to ensure a smooth and enjoyable sailing experience without any financial surprises.

Personal Considerations for Choosing Catamaran Size

When it comes to choosing the right catamaran size for sailing around the world, there are a few personal considerations to keep in mind. From budget and financing to sailing experience and skill level, comfort and living space, as well as navigational plans and destinations, each aspect plays a crucial role. So, let’s dive in and explore how these factors can influence the decision-making process and ensure a smooth and enjoyable voyage.

Budget and Financing

When selecting a catamaran for sailing around the world, it is essential to consider budget and financing. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

1. Initial Cost: Take into account the total expense of buying a catamaran, including any customizations or upgrades.

2. Maintenance and Upkeep: Remember to think about the ongoing costs associated with maintaining and repairing the catamaran, such as regular inspections, hull cleaning, engine maintenance, and equipment replacement.

3. Insurance: Factor in the cost of insurance, which can vary based on the size and value of the catamaran, as well as your sailing experience.

4. Mooring and Marina Fees: Plan for the expenses related to docking the catamaran at marinas or moorings. Fees may vary depending on the location and duration of your stay.

5. Operating Costs: Set aside a budget for fuel, water, provisions, and other day-to-day expenses while sailing. Consider the length of your planned voyage and the destinations you intend to visit.

6. Financing Options: Take the time to explore different financing options, such as loans or lease agreements, to determine the most suitable and affordable way to acquire a catamaran.

Pro-tip: Prior to finalizing your budget, conduct thorough research on the used catamaran market. Purchasing a used catamaran can result in significant cost savings compared to buying a brand new one. Consider joining sailing forums or communities to gain insights from experienced sailors on how to optimize your budget and financing for your sailing adventure.

Sailing Experience and Skill Level

When selecting the appropriate size of a catamaran for sailing around the world, it is important to take into account your level of experience and skill when it comes to sailing. There are several factors to consider:

1. Previous sailing experience: It is crucial to assess your experience in sailing, including the types of boats you have sailed and the amount of time you have spent on the water. This will help determine the level of expertise needed to navigate a larger catamaran effectively.

2. Handling capabilities: Your ability to maneuver and handle a larger vessel needs to be taken into consideration. It is generally more challenging to handle larger catamarans, as they require advanced sailing skills.

3. Crew size and expertise: If you will be sailing with a crew, it is important to evaluate their experience and skill level as well. A larger catamaran may require a more experienced crew to manage the additional responsibilities that come with it.

4. Comfort level: Think about your comfort while sailing. Smaller catamarans are often more agile and easier to handle, especially in more challenging weather conditions.

It is crucial to objectively assess your sailing experience and skill level to ensure a safe and enjoyable sailing experience. Consider enrolling in sailing courses or gaining more experience before attempting to sail a larger catamaran around the world.

Comfort and Living Space

When considering the comfort and living space of a catamaran for world sailing, several important factors come into play. Cabin and common area size are crucial to ensuring a comfortable experience for everyone on board. It is important to find a catamaran with spacious cabins that can comfortably accommodate the number of people on board. The size of the saloon and cockpit should be taken into consideration for socializing and relaxing.

Layout and design also play a significant role in creating a comfortable living space on a catamaran. It is essential to look for a well-designed catamaran that maximizes space and provides separate areas for sleeping, dining, and lounging. Features such as multiple heads (bathrooms) and ample storage space should also be considered.

Ventilation and natural light are important for creating a comfortable environment on a catamaran. Good airflow is essential, so it is necessary to check for sufficient windows, hatches, and ventilation systems to keep the interior well ventilated and filled with natural light.

Stability and motion at sea are crucial for a comfortable sailing experience. A stable catamaran design provides a smoother ride and reduces the risk of seasickness. It is advisable to consider a catamaran with a wide beam and low center of gravity for enhanced stability and comfort while underway.

Comfort features greatly contribute to the overall enjoyment of a catamaran. Amenities such as a spacious galley, comfortable seating areas, and a well-equipped entertainment system enhance comfort and relaxation.

Personal preferences should also be taken into account when choosing a catamaran for comfort and living space. Some individuals may prioritize a larger master suite, while others may value outdoor living areas like a spacious flybridge or aft deck.

Ultimately, choosing the right catamaran size for comfort and living space depends on factors such as the number of people on board, personal preferences, and budget. Seeking advice from experienced sailors and visiting and inspecting different catamaran models can help in finding the one that best meets individual needs.

It is important to remember that comfort and living space are crucial for enjoying a journey around the world on a catamaran. Taking the time to assess requirements and finding a catamaran that offers the ideal balance of comfort and functionality is essential for a successful sailing adventure.

Navigational Plans and Destinations

When considering navigational plans for sailing around the world, it is important to take into account factors such as distance, weather conditions, and amenities at ports. When creating your navigational plans, make sure to consider the following key points:

– Distance: It is crucial to determine the length of your journey and plan your route accordingly. Take into consideration the travel time between destinations and ensure that you have enough provisions for the duration of the trip.

– Weather conditions: Research the weather patterns in the areas where you plan to visit. Make note of storm seasons or extreme weather conditions in order to avoid any risks.

– Ports and marinas: Identify the ports and marinas along your route that can accommodate the size of your catamaran. Make sure that they have the necessary facilities and services such as fueling stations, repair facilities, and provisions.

– Attractions and activities: Consider the attractions and activities available at each destination. Choose destinations that align with your interests, whether it be pristine beaches, diving or snorkeling opportunities, or cultural experiences.

– Cultural considerations: It is important to take into account the local culture and customs of the destinations you plan to visit. Show respect for protocols and regulations in order to have a positive experience.

Pro-tip: It is advisable to keep a flexible itinerary and be open to adjusting your navigational plans if needed. Adaptability can enhance your overall sailing experience around the world.

Tips for Preparing and Sailing a Catamaran Around the World

Preparing and sailing a catamaran around the world requires meticulous planning and attention to detail. In this section, we’ll discover valuable tips that can enhance your journey. We’ll cover essential aspects such as safety and emergency equipment, navigational tools and charts, provisioning and water management, weather monitoring and predictions, and communication and connectivity. From ensuring your safety to optimizing your resources, we’ll provide insights to make your catamaran adventure a success.

Safety and Emergency Equipment

When sailing a catamaran around the world, it is vital to prioritize the safety and well-being of the crew by ensuring the presence of essential safety and emergency equipment on board. Here are some crucial items to consider:

• Life jackets: Each crew member should have a properly fitting, easily accessible life jacket in case of an emergency, ensuring their personal safety.
• First Aid Kit: A well-stocked kit containing bandages, antiseptics, and medications is indispensable for promptly addressing injuries or illnesses while at sea.
• EPIRB: An emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) functions as a distress signal device, enabling swift alerting of rescue services to your precise location during an emergency situation.
• Fire extinguishers: Strategically placing fire extinguishers on the catamaran allows for efficient management of onboard fires, ensuring the safety of the vessel and its occupants.
• Flares: Hand-held and parachute flares serve as crucial signaling devices for seeking assistance when in distress on the water.
• Emergency rations and water: It is of utmost importance to have an ample supply of emergency rations and potable water on board to sustain the crew during prolonged emergencies or unexpected loss of supplies.

Always remember that prioritizing safety is paramount while sailing. Possessing proper safety and emergency equipment significantly enhances the ability to handle emergencies successfully.

In 2013, the Vendée Globe yacht race witnessed a harrowing incident involving sailor Alex Thomson , whose catamaran collided with an unidentified submerged object, resulting in its capsize. Fortunately, Thomson’s meticulous adherence to safety protocols and the presence of necessary emergency equipment proved crucial. He promptly activated his EPIRB, wore a life jacket, and safely abandoned the sinking vessel. By being prepared and utilizing the available safety and emergency resources, Thomson was ultimately rescued by a passing ship and managed to survive the ordeal. This true account serves as a poignant reminder of how proper safety measures and the presence of appropriate emergency equipment are indispensable when embarking on sailing journeys.

Navigational Tools and Charts

Navigational Tools and Charts play a crucial role in sailing a catamaran. They ensure safe and efficient navigation, helping sailors plot courses, track positions, and avoid hazards. Here is a table showing the essential navigational tools and charts:

Charts are essential visual references for sailors, providing detailed information about coastlines, water depths, and navigational aids. Sailors should carry appropriate charts for their sailing area. Common chart types include:

Pro Tip: Regularly update charts and ensure the reliability of navigational tools to maintain accuracy and improve safety during your catamaran journey.

Remember, proper use of navigational tools and charts contributes to a successful and enjoyable sailing experience.

Provisioning and Water Management

One crucial aspect of sailing a catamaran around the world is provisioning and water management . It is essential to plan and prepare adequately for a smooth journey.

– Create a detailed list of necessary provisions , including non-perishable food items , cooking ingredients , and toiletries . – Take into account dietary restrictions and preferences when stocking up on food supplies. – Consider the storage space available on the catamaran and utilize it effectively for provisioning. – Prioritize long-lasting and easily storable food items to minimize the need for frequent resupply. – Keep track of expiry dates and rotate food supplies regularly to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage.

– Estimate the amount of freshwater required for the voyage, considering the number of crew members and the duration of the journey. – Install efficient water storage tanks and consider implementing a watermaker to generate freshwater from seawater. – Monitor water usage throughout the journey, promoting responsible consumption to conserve valuable freshwater resources. – Familiarize yourself with water treatment techniques to ensure the safety and quality of the onboard water supply. – Plan for potential contingencies by carrying additional jugs of freshwater or researching freshwater sources at various destinations.

Proper provisioning and water management are vital for the success of a catamaran journey around the world. By carefully considering and planning for these factors, sailors can ensure they have the necessary resources for their voyage and enjoy a safe and comfortable experience.

Fun Fact: A typical crew of four will require approximately 2-3 liters of freshwater per person per day for drinking and cooking during a long-term sailing trip.

Weather Monitoring and Predictions

Weather monitoring and predictions play a vital role in navigating a catamaran around the world. It is crucial to stay updated about weather conditions to ensure safe navigation.

To achieve this, it is important to regularly check weather forecasts from reputable sources such as meteorological agencies or weather routing services. These forecasts provide valuable information on wind patterns, storm systems, and ocean currents.

Equipping yourself with onboard weather monitoring systems is also essential. These systems provide real-time data on important factors such as wind speed , atmospheric pressure , and sea surface temperature . By having access to this information, you can make informed decisions regarding route planning and avoid adverse weather conditions.

Utilizing advanced technology is another key aspect of effective weather prediction. By utilizing advanced weather prediction models and satellite imagery, you can anticipate and track weather patterns. This knowledge allows you to plan sailing routes accordingly, avoiding heavy storms or dangerous weather conditions.

Having redundancy in receiving weather information is also critical. It is advisable to have backup means such as satellite phones or long-range radios in case of equipment failure or limited connectivity.

Seeking professional advice is highly recommended. Consult experienced sailors or weather experts who specialize in oceanic weather conditions. Their knowledge and expertise can provide valuable insights and guidance.

It is important to remember that weather conditions at sea can change rapidly. Therefore, prioritizing safety and adjusting the route if necessary is crucial. By closely monitoring weather patterns and making informed decisions, you can minimize risks and enjoy a smooth sailing experience around the world.

Here’s a fun fact: Sailors have relied on weather signs and natural indicators since ancient times to predict weather conditions. These indicators include observing clouds , wind patterns, and animal behavior .

Communication and Connectivity

When sailing a catamaran around the world, reliable communication and connectivity are crucial for staying connected with the outside world and ensuring safety. Cellular and satellite communication systems play an important role in staying connected, even in remote areas. These systems allow for voice calls , text messages , and internet access .

A working VHF radio and a valid operator’s license are essential for communication with other boats, marinas, and emergency services. On top of that, having Wi-Fi and internet access on board allows sailors to stay connected with family and friends, access weather updates, and perform online research. Navigation systems , including GPS , chart plotters , and radar systems , are also necessary for safe navigation and efficient communication with other vessels.

In case of emergencies, it is important to have emergency beacons such as EPIRBs and SARTs on board. These devices can send distress signals and help search and rescue teams locate the boat. Having a satellite phone as a backup communication device is advisable if cellular networks are not available or unreliable.

Having reliable communication and connectivity systems on a catamaran ensures that sailors can stay in touch with loved ones, receive important updates, and call for help if needed during their journey around the world.

The perfect size catamaran for sailing around the world is between 37 to 47 feet long.

• ✅ Smaller catamarans have limited living space and cargo capacity, while larger ones are more expensive and difficult to handle.
• ✅ Catamarans shorter than 30 feet usually do not have cabins and are not suitable for open sea sailing.
• ✅ A catamaran needs to be well-equipped and have enough space for a crew and provisions for ocean-crossing voyages.
• ✅ Catamarans between 40 and 45 feet are the average size for ocean-crossing and offer more space and amenities.
• ✅ Catamarans have a high freeboard, reducing the risk of being washed over by large waves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ideal size of a catamaran to sail around the world.

The recommended size range for a catamaran to embark on an around-the-world voyage is typically between 37 to 47 feet long. This size provides a good balance between living space, cargo capacity, and manageable handling.

Are smaller catamarans suitable for sailing around the world?

Smaller catamarans can still be used for world cruising if you adopt a minimalist lifestyle and stay light with your equipment and supplies. They have limited storage space for necessary provisions such as food and water.

Are larger catamarans better for long-distance voyages?

While larger catamarans offer enhanced levels of comfort and amenities, handling a bigger boat requires more skill and may require additional crew. Expenses increase with boat length, and bigger boats may face extra charges for services and marina slips.

What are the advantages of sailing around the world in a catamaran?

Some advantages of catamaran circumnavigation include speed, comfort in rough weather, safety, extra storage space, room for more passengers, larger living spaces, and a shallow draft, which allows for easy beaching and access to shallow waters.

How do catamarans compare to monohull sailboats for circumnavigation?

Catamarans are generally considered a better choice for circumnavigation compared to monohulls due to their stability, spaciousness, and comfort in rough weather. It’s important to note that the ideal choice ultimately depends on individual needs and preferences.

Where can I find catamarans for sailing around the world?

You can find catamarans suitable for sailing around the world through various sources such as boat shows, catamaran manufacturers, online listings, and yacht brokerage firms like Simpson Marine. They offer new and preowned yachts and catamarans for all budgets and usage plans, along with services like yacht management, design, and refit.

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Home » Blog » Buy a boat » 5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat  you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ). 

• Hull Type: Long fin keel
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
• Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
• Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
• Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
• Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
• Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
• Designer:Per Brohall
• Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
• Year First Built:1965
• Year Last Built:1979
• Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD) 

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

• Hull Type: Full Keel
• Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
• Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
• Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
• Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
• Displacement/Length Ratio:49
• Designer: Carl Alberg
• Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
• Year First Built:1974
• Year Last Built:1988
• Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

• Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
• Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
• Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
• Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
• Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
• Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
• Designer:Michael Dufour
• Builder:Dufour (France)
• Year First Built:1975
• Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

• Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
• Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
• Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
• Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
• Rig Type: Cutter rig
• Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
• Designer: Robert B Harris
• Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
• Year First Built:1986
• Last Year Built: 2007
• Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

• Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
• Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
• Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
• Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
• Designer: Herb David
• Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
• Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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Navigating the World: Choosing the Right Size Boat for Your Round-the-World Sailing Adventure

Circumnavigating the globe is not a goal for the faint of heart, and it takes a lot of planning. One of the earliest decisions to make is the boat to choose, and how big it should be. “Navigating the World: Choosing the Right Size Boat for Your Round-the-World Sailing Adventure”

There are a lot of factors that go into the decision, everything from budget to how many people will live on board. And while there’s no right answer to the question for everyone, thirty-five to forty-five feet is the most common size range , for many good reasons which we will explore. And can certainly sail around the world in something larger or smaller.

General Considerations for Boat Size

It’s not just how many people you sail with that dictate the space you need, but also how you plan to circumnavigate. If you’re planning to spend five or ten years meandering around the world, then speed isn’t a problem. But if you’re joining an around the world rally with a circumnavigation in twelve to eighteen months, you’d be hard pressed to do it on a slower boat.

And how you get there is important, too. Island hopping across the Pacific is slow and comfortable, and a pretty gentle route. But heading down the coast of South America to do a high latitude crossing in cold weather means you need a lot more boat.

Finally, the slower you go, the more time you’ll spend not sailing. And boat size has a tremendous impact on comfort at anchor. A tiny boat may work fine for slow, solo-sailing meander around the world, but a larger group will need some elbow room for those months of exploration when you’re stopped.

Read also: Top 3 Yachts For A Memorable Mediterranean Yacht Charter Experience

Sailing around the world: Monohull or Catamaran?

The choice of a monohull versus a catamaran is a topic of its own, and there are many advantages and drawbacks to either type of boat. Issues of safety, comfort, reliability, price, and personal preferences all go into the discussion.

More monohulls have sailed around the world

While catamarans aren’t a new concept, the blue water cruising catamaran is a more recent development. Because monohulls have been circling the globe for over a century, more of them have completed the journey. That doesn’t mean they are inherently superior, but that there is more data available about their suitability to the task.

Catamarans are comfortable (except when they’re not)

At anchor, it’s tough to compete with a catamaran for comfort and stability. The huge bridge deck area and cockpit make for spacious living quarters, and the broad platform doesn’t rock and roll. And while sailing, a catamaran does not heel much, so sailing on more upwind angles is more comfortable without all the tipping.

But in terrible conditions, catamarans can be miserable. Steep, choppy waves are uncomfortable for any boat, but a catamaran may pound those waves with a low bridge deck. Cats with lower bridge decks are more prone to this, but it can happen to any catamaran if the waves are big enough. Constant pounding for hours or days is miserable.

Monohulls are usually cheaper

Building a single hull is much easier than building two hulls and joining them with a bridge deck that won’t flex and twist under all the loads at sea. And material costs are higher for two hulls, as there is so much more volume. And many marinas charge extra for multihulls because of their high beam, sometimes they may charge you for two slips!

Safety Comparisons

If a monohull capsizes, it has a keel to right it, and most monohulls will roll back from it, eventually. Catamarans will not. This is often touted as a major safety difference, and it is a fact to be considered. But consider also that with two hulls and no heavy keel, catamarans are very difficult to sink.

Cruising catamarans are not sailed in a way likely to flip them. The catamarans most likely to capsize are high performance racing catamarans, not cruisers laden with gear and stores and sailed for comfort, not speed.

A full analysis is beyond this article, but both types of boats have safety risks, be it capsizing or losing a keel, with the worst-case scenario of either being quite rare. It’s important to come in with your eyes open to make a realistic determination of the risks you accept.

Read also: Best yachts for transatlantic: our selection and advices for 2023

Monohull sizes to sail around the world

These are rough guidelines only, and you will have to look more closely at individual boats for living space and performance requirements.

Under Twenty-five Feet

While boats under twenty-five feet have sailed around the world, those who did it were on very specialized adventures. The sort of trips that establish your name in the Guinness Book of World Records or the sailing hall of fame. These are cramped trips on very small boats by one person. You can do it, but it’s more of a stunt than a lifestyle.

Twenty-five to thirty-five feet: for cost conscious adventurers

If you are sailing around the world on a boat under thirty feet, more power to you. It’s possible, but it will be slow and possibly cramped. Thirty to thirty-give feet gets to more reasonable ground for a cruising couple, but too small limits room for gear and stores. But it is a very affordable way to get out and sailing. You’re unlikely to have hot water, and refrigeration is limited.

Thirty-five to forty-five feet: the sweet spot

This size range is the sweet spot for many cruisers. Cruising couples, small families, and other groups do well in this size without costs escalating. The longer boats can get some faster passages and give more range and stores. These boats can have water heaters, more refrigeration and instruments, and even freezers.

Over fifty feet: comfortable, capable, and costly

A couple can comfortably sail larger monohulls with the right sail handling equipment, and they are also good for larger families. With more room for comfort systems, a fully equipped boat over fifty feet will lack for little. Costs are higher, but passage times are a lot faster.

Catamaran recommended sizes to sail around the world

Catamarans have more volume for the equal length in monohulls, but their performance drops off dramatically if overloaded.

Under thirty feet: few and far between

Tiny catamarans rarely have the stores and carrying capacity for crossing oceans, there have been very few built. Most catamarans this small are more suited to coastal cruising.

Thirty to forty feet: Relative comfort and speed

Starting in the low thirty-foot range, there are some solid catamarans capable of blue water sailing, and they offer a good balance between comfort and budget. They aren’t always the fastest, but you’ll have no lack of living space, even if cargo capacity is light.

Forty to fifty feet: the catamaran sweet spot

Manufacturers have focused on the mid-forties in catamaran length, and there are so many options in a broad range of price, style, and configuration. You can find lighter, faster cruising boats or heavier boats with more carrying capacity and interior volume.

Over fifty feet: sail the world in speed and comfort

Larger catamarans are redefining the terms “performance cruising” and “comfort.” When you get towards fifty feet and beyond, the interior volume of these boats is amazing. Some builders have focused on plush comfort, while others focus more on sailing performance. In this range, the boats can get quite expensive, but you’ll have a sailing experience like no other.

The best boats models to sail around the world

We’ve selected a few solid boats to look at for sailing around the world. It’s not an exhaustive list, it’s a place to look for boats that match your requirements for space, speed, and budget. Every boat listed is one model from a quality brand of boats, so explore the entire range of models for options.

Westsail 32 – a small, sturdy, comfortable boat that will take you where you want to go. Although Westsail went out of business years ago, this model and others are available on the used market, and the Westsail 42 is another popular option.

Valiant 40 – Another classic, older cruiser, the Robert Perry designed Valiant 40 broke a lot of rules about what was supposed to be on a small, ocean-going sailboat. The result was one of the fastest forty-footers for its time, and still an excellent performing, sea-worthy boat.

Hallberg-Rassy 40C – one of the latest offerings from this Swedish builder, it features a modern design built to Hallberg-Rassy’s exacting standards. The entire range of Hallberg Rassy yachts, old and new, are solid, capable blue water sailboats that can handle anything.

Hylas 46 – A good medium displacement cruiser, it has plenty of space for a couple or small family. It sails well, and doesn’t break the bank.

Amel 54 – Cruising ketches from French builder Amel have a fanatic loyal owner base, because of the well thought out and practical designs coupled with solid, high-quality construction.

Read also: Five Easy Beginners-Friendly Sailing Trips And Destinations

Gemini 105M – At 10.5 meters (34′) this is one of the smallest and most successful ocean-going production catamarans. The Gemini Legacy 35 is an updated version which is also still an excellent option in the small cat market.

Atlantic 42 – The Chris White designed Atlantic catamarans are known for their speed under sail and interior comfort. This is the smallest of the Atlantic catamarans, but it will not disappoint you if you’re looking for a little more performance.

Leopard 44 – Built in South Africa by Robertson & Caine, Leopards are great for on the water comfort and easy handling. The 44 is available in an “owner’s” version, but is also a very popular boat in the charter fleets. Plenty of space for a family.

Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46 – The French-built Fontaine Bahia is an earlier example of one of their many good sailing, comfortable cruising catamarans.

Outremer 51 – while we know Outremer best for screaming performance, their boats are also comfortable, well built, and spacious. If you’re going large and speed is your thing, you won’t go wrong with any of their boats.

The right size for YOU

Yes, there are “sweet spots” and “ideal ranges” for boats we can talk about, but no one can dictate the best boat for you and your plans. Remember, when you are looking at boats and considering size, that it needs to work for your plan, your budget, and your skill level. Buying too much boat can be as much of a mistake as going too small for your needs. If you can’t handle the boat or the finances cause you stress, it won’t be fun.

So remember when you look and read all these recommendations, they’re just to give you a baseline in your search for the perfect sized boat for you .

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What size catamaran to sail around the world.

‍ What Sizes Are Catamarans?

Catamarans come in all shapes and sizes, but the smallest models don't have the accommodations required to sail around the world. Most catamarans under 30 feet in length don't have a cabin at all, which is a stark difference that they have with monohulls.

Small monohull sailboats often have cabins, as there's plenty of room below on a wide single-hulled sailboat. Monohulls can be as small as 16 to 18 feet and still have a cabin, but catamarans must be much larger to have suitable accommodations.

The smallest catamarans are about 12 to 15 feet long. These are small recreational craft used primarily for racing, and they aren't designed for the open ocean. Larger catamarans in the 20-foot range can (and have) been used on the ocean, but they're usually classified as day boats.

Catamarans become practical for longer excursions once they hit about 30 feet in length. A boat of this size is large enough for a cabin and can usually accommodate between two and four people comfortably. Catamarans commonly stretch beyond 50 feet, which is where they're the most useful and comfortable.

Smallest Catamaran to Sail Around the World

So, what's the smallest catamaran you could use to sail around the world? In theory, any catamaran can sail long distances—but you need one that's large enough for shelter and storing provisions. Generally speaking, 30 feet is the bottom limit for an ocean-crossing catamaran.

Let's take the ME Cat 30 (Maine Cat) as an example. This small and nimble 30-foot catamaran makes use of its limited space and provides comfortable accommodations for a few adults. The ME Cat 30 is a split design that houses the basic accommodations in either hull, with an open seating area between them.

Inside the ME Cat 30, there's barely enough room for all the living spaces. It features a head and a large bed in one hull and a galley and a smaller berth in the other. With that, all the useful cabin space is filled—and this is considered a very good design for the size. As you can see, the best catamarans for sailing across the world are usually much larger.

Typical Ocean Crossing Catamaran Size

Based on what we discussed above, a 30-foot cruising catamaran is really pushing the limits on size. However, it doesn't take a whole lot more length to make a catamaran exponentially more comfortable and suitable for long journeys.

The typical ocean-crossing catamaran is usually about 40 to 45 feet long. With the addition of 10 feet in length, designers can fit an enormous amount of additional accommodations in the hulls.

This is because adding a little extra length allows designers and boatbuilders to widen each hull significantly, which makes room for luxuries like private bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, and entirely separate dining and cooking spaces.

Cruising Catamaran Floor Plans

A 40-foot to 50-foot catamaran usually comes with a mirrored floor plan. The traditional catamaran has an identical layout in each hull. That means if one hull has a private berth in the bow and a shower and a toilet in the stern, the other hull will have the exact same layout except opposite.

This is usually because spaces like the galley and sitting area are kept in the center console, where there's much more space to move around. Spaces that are used at night or only occasionally are kept in the narrow hulls, as this has proven to be a more comfortable layout for crews.

Storage is usually kept deep in the hulls as well, as there's extra space to work with when the only other design purpose is for sleeping in bathing. Catamarans in this size range can also have separate hull layouts, but the mirrored design is by far the most common.

Best Catamaran Size for Pacific Ocean Cruising

Catamarans are very versatile craft, but some function better in the Pacific Ocean than others. One of the main considerations when choosing a catamaran for Pacific Travel is that the Pacific usually has greater distances between ports and stopping points.

This is especially true on the US West Coast, where there are only a handful of ports and safe anchorages. The best Pacific cruising catamaran size is between 45 and 50 feet in length, as you're likely to need more space to store provisions for extended cruising.

If you're starting in San Francisco or Seattle, even a 'short' trip along the coastline could mean you'll pass hundreds of miles of steep rocky cliffs and no stopping points insight. When crossing the Pacific, you may travel thousands of miles before you encounter a port or island with any infrastructure at all, let alone stocks of provisions and a full-service marina.

The Pacific is a huge ocean, and the last thing you want to do is run out of food or fuel a thousand miles from your destination. Larger boats store more supplies, and they also give you more breathing room when you're surrounded by empty blue water for months on end.

Best Catamaran Size for Atlantic Ocean Cruising

The Atlantic Ocean is smaller than the Pacific Ocean, and the coastlines of many countries that border it tend to be well-developed. This makes it easier to get away with owning a smaller boat, as you don't need to store as many supplies, and your voyages will be shorter.

Another factor to consider is that not all marinas on the Atlantic can accommodate extremely large catamarans, or it may be prohibitively expensive to dock a 55-foot or 60-foot double-wide vessel. That's why the ideal size for an Atlantic-crossing catamaran is between 40 feet and 50 feet. Today, 45 feet seems to be average.

The boat of this size will fit in at most marinas in developed countries around the Atlantic, and its draft is shallow enough for island hopping and exploring the coral reefs that the Atlantic Islands are known for. Additionally, 40 to 50-foot catamarans are usually just as seaworthy as the larger boats, and they're less expensive to maintain.

Unlike the US West Coast, where ports are few and far between, the Atlantic in the Gulf of Mexico is littered with marinas and safe anchorages. You can travel for weeks along the coastline of the United States and parts of South America and never be further than a hundred miles from a full-service marina.

There are also hundreds of islands, tourist destinations, and service locations that reduce your need for large stores of provisions aboard your catamaran. This gives you a lot more flexibility in choosing a size and a floor plan, as your needs are different than that of a Pacific sailor.

Best Catamaran Size for World Cruising

If you're planning to go on a world tour or a circumnavigation, you're going to need a catamaran that's large enough to fit your crew and your provisions comfortably.

You'll also need a boat that is small enough to be serviced and accommodated in most locations but also seaworthy enough to whether anything you're likely to encounter out of the water.

For most people, the sweet spot seems to be around 45 to 50 feet in length. A 50-foot catamaran is more than large enough to store enough provisions for many months of sailing. It's also roomy enough to house two to six people comfortably for many weeks at a time.

Catamarans between 40 and 50 feet in length are also extremely seaworthy and have been known to make circumnavigation frequently. You're almost guaranteed to find a 50-foot catamaran in almost any remote anchorage in the world where sailors are known to frequent.

Also, almost any marina can accommodate a 50-foot catamaran, and most boatyards can perform at least basic repairs on a boat of this size. Most marinas have fee schedules for boats based on size, and the cutoff for large boats is usually 60 feet. This keeps you in the 'medium' boat category, which can save you thousands.

How to Choose a Catamaran Size

Choosing the right size catamaran can be challenging, but there are a few things you can do to narrow it down. First, examine how you plan to use the vessel. You can travel the oceans in a catamaran between 30 and 40 feet long, so if you have a small crew, you may want to consider a compact model.

Larger catamarans can sleep eight or more people comfortably. This is large enough for most people, though some charter captains may need additional room. A 40 to 45-foot catamaran is usually large enough for a small family, though a 50-footer would be more comfortable, especially if there are kids running around.

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The Perfect Size Catamaran to Sail Around the World

Whether you're serious about setting sail in the next few years or merely in the dreaming stages of world cruising, the vessel you want for the trip will always take center stage in any plans. If you decide on a catamaran, you've got to give some thought to what the best size is for you and your plans.

The perfect sized catamaran is 37 to 47 feet long. If you get too much smaller, living space gets cramped and cargo capacity drops. Too much bigger, and your expenses and difficulty of handling a big boat get higher.

That's not to say that there are smaller catamarans or much larger ones that work for you. Everything from your skill level and crew size to your budget affects the perfect size.

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Finding the perfect size catamaran, how do i tell if it's "just right", what is the best size catamaran for ocean sailing, can you sail around the world in a catamaran, are catamarans safe in rough seas.

There's never a "perfect" boat for anything without considering the needs and capabilities of the skipper and crew; there is no "one size fits all" boat. What you have to do is look at your limits, tolerances, wants and desires and compare them with your budget and reality. Like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, you're looking for that one with a fit that is "just right."

This One's Too Small

If you're very into a minimalist lifestyle, you certainly get around the world on a smaller catamaran. Many people have done it. Smaller size equals less speed, but if you stay light and lean, you can still keep the boat moving. Sailing the world with stops isn't about speed records, it's about getting there safely.

Catamarans are very sensitive to weight, and their performance will drop off rapidly if you overload them. Smaller catamarans can carry a lot less than bigger ones, and are more sensitive to overloading. Not only is there less room for equipment, it's less water, less food, and fewer spares. Very few cats under 32 feet have much room at all for gear and equipment without overloading them. Less food and water storage limits your range and how long you can stay out when you leave population centers. A watermaker offsets some of this, but adds weight and complexity, and it needs power.

The other size consideration on the low end is how many people you sail with. Sleeping quarters and living space are tighter, so families with lots of children or people expecting lots of guests or who want additional crew need more space and a too-small catamaran will not suit.

This One's Too Big

On the other end of the size scale, it's very easy to buy too much boat. Big boats are beautiful and exciting and there's so much space and comfort. It's natural to want more. But handling a big boat is an acquired skill, and new cruisers with too-big boats often end up overwhelmed and miserable - this is as true for monohulls as it is for cats.

As catamarans get longer, they also get wider, and a 50+ foot catamaran is a pretty big platform to navigate in tight quarters. More boat also equals more load and more tasks to do, and a couple who can handle a 42 footer themselves may want more crew for a 55 foot boat.

Expenses also rise with boat length for all boats, and it's not a straight linear progression. Bigger boats get expensive to purchase quickly. Boat services are often charged by the foot, but an overlarge catamaran can run into extra expenses. Wide cats can't fit in many lifts that could easily handle a heavier or longer monohull. Some marinas charge extra for wide slips, or may even require extra wide multihulls to take two slips.

Big boats give you lots of living space for people and gear, but with a substantially increased cost from purchase on to every step of ownership.

This one is Just Right

The "perfect" catamaran for you is going to answer the following questions in ways that meet your specific needs.

• Can I afford to buy it? You can not spend your last nickel buying a boat; you'll need money to cruise.
• Can I afford to own it? Buying a boat is just the first step; you'll spend a lot of money on maintenance and ownership after the purchase.
• Does it have enough space for my planned crew? Space for guests is good to have, but you shouldn't buy a big boat expecting lots of traffic.
• Does my crew have the skill to handle a boat this size comfortably?

The time to answer these questions is well before you sign the dotted on line on a purchase and sale agreement.

There's no 100% perfect formula for such a personal topic. Honestly assess your own capabilities, plans, and finances to come up with that answer. And you have to do a lot of research into boats.

You can start with websites and magazines - active builders will have detailed information about their boats, and you can easily find many reviews and article about almost every boat model. When you look at websites, keep in mind that boat builders are selling you something and reviewers are not. The breathless and gushy hype on the builder's website may not match the reality of sailing and owning the boat, so seek articles with test sails.

An excellent source of information is active cruisers who are sailing on the exact type of boat you think may suit you. No one can separate the marketing hype from pragmatic realism like someone who has crossed an ocean on a boat or skinned their knuckles in its dark spaces. Many cruisers blog about their experiences and you’ll find rich information about sailing, performance, and maintenance. Many cruising bloggers will happily answer polite questions about their boats.

Look at as many catamarans as you can across a range of sizes. You can see many boats at a single big boat show, and if it's in your budget, a charter is a fantastic way to try a boat on for size. When you get closer to a decision and are talking to brokers, don't be shy about looking at a lot of boats in your search.

On the whole, it's better to err on the size of "a little too small" than "much too big." Feeling out of control of your yacht and unable to handle it is a sure-fire way to cut your cruising plans short. There's nothing more miserable than being stuck in a marina because you don't feel safe handling your own vessel.

If you get a boat that's too small, you will want to upgrade and it will chafe and feel cramped while you work it out. But a too big boat you can’t handle or afford? Too many cruisers break their dreams on the rocks of a too-big boat.

Ocean sailing differs from coastal cruising. You've got long passages to prepare for, and you're likely to pass out of the range of land-based rescue.

The size range discussed above - 37 to 47 feet long - is quite safe for offshore passages.

What's more important are design considerations and build quality of your catamaran. Things like low bridge decks aren't optimal for offshore sailing regardless of the size of a boat, since they're prone to pounding and slamming in rough conditions. Catamarans are built for lightweight, but that doesn't mean they need to be lightly or poorly constructed.

One area where larger catamarans are better offshore is passage speed. While cruising under sail is never a race, the ability to cover a lot of water in a day gives you more options routing around bad weather or into good wind. It's always better to be a little faster.

You can, and many sailors has done it many times. Cruising catamarans are becoming a more popular choice as more and more sailors discover how spacious and comfortable they can be.

Some catamarans, like some monohulls, may be better suited to the task than others, though a complete exploration of that topic is beyond this article.

Catamarans are as safe in rough seas as any small sailboat. Rough weather sailing is more a function of crew and boat preparation than the specific type of boat. A well-prepared boat with a skilled crew will be safer in severe conditions, irrespective of the type of boat.

Any poorly prepared boat with unskilled crew can be very dangerous.

The major concern for most people with catamarans is capsizing. A capsized cat will not return upright like a monohull. It can not restore positive stability once it goes over. Though capsizing a large cat is very difficult and rare, manufacturers build in many safety features to help crews survive, like escape hatches to prevent crew from getting trapped inside the hulls.

But a catamaran is not any more or less inherently safe offshore than a monohull.

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Can You Sail a Catamaran Around The World?

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

August 30, 2022

‍ Many people have sailed around the world in traditional monohull sailboats, but has anybody tried with a catamaran?

Sailing around the world is hazardous and trying at times, so it pays to have a sailboat that's built for the job. Sailors place a premium on safety and comfort—so where do catamarans fit into the equation?

Yes, you can sail a catamaran around the world. In fact, full-size catamarans are some of the best circumnavigation sailboats on the market. They offer superior comfort, safety, storage space, and speed when compared to monohulls.

Catamarans have become increasingly popular since the 1990s, and they're seen in ports all over the world. If you consider their handling characteristics, it's no wonder they're so popular for circumnavigation. But what are the things that make cruising catamarans so good for long ocean voyages?

We sourced the information used in this article from sailboat design guides and the online sailing community. We also considered the input of several experienced catamaran captains, most of which have embarked on circumnavigations in catamarans and monohulls.

Table of contents

‍ Can You Circumnavigate in a Catamaran?

You can absolutely sail a catamaran around the world! In fact, catamarans are preferred by many sailors for long ocean voyages, and dozens circumnavigate in all seasons each year. The number of catamarans continues to rise every year, and some of the world’s most influential long-distance sailors have switched to them from monohulls.

There are many benefits to choosing a catamaran for a circumnavigation, and we’ll cover some of those soon. But first, here’s what makes a catamaran suitable for an around the world sailing trip.

What Kind of Catamaran Can Sail Around the World?

Not all catamarans are ideal for long ocean voyages, but the vast majority above 25 feet in length are. The kind of vessel that's suitable for a long ocean voyage is called a cruising catamaran.

Cruising catamarans have a number of defining characteristics that make them ideal for Sailing around the world. Here are a few of them.

Cruising catamarans have extensive cabinet space. Smaller catamarans that aren't designed for large ocean voyages aren't designed for comfort. Cruising catamarans have between two and four staterooms, along with a large covered cockpit and standing headroom throughout.

High Freeboard

Cruising catamarans have a high freeboard, which means the decks are relatively high above the water. They also have a shallow draft, as a catamaran has no need for a centerboard, fin keel, or bulb keel.  

Catamarans are not as long as monohulls relative to their capabilities. A 35 or 40-foot catamaran has much more interior space than an equivalently-sized monohull. Catamarans split their living quarters between the two hulls and include an additional spacious covered cockpit above.

Cruising catamarans range in size from 30 feet to 60 feet in length, and they typically measure around 40 to 50 feet from stem to stern. The bottom limit for livable Catamarans seems to be about 25 to 30 feet. Catamarans that are smaller than this lack the space for comfortable living accommodations.

Benefits of Catamaran Circumnavigation

Catamarans are quick and robust, and they make excellent long-term cruising sailboats. They're spacious, safe, comfortable, and have exceptional handling characteristics in almost all weather conditions. Here are some of the main advantages of choosing a catamaran to sail around the world.

Speed is one of the most significant benefits of sailing a catamaran around the world. The ocean is a huge place—and unless you're sailing just to sail, it's always advantageous to shorten the time between destinations.

Catamarans are fast—really fast. A typical cruising catamaran can reach speeds in excess of 20 knots in the best conditions, which is more than twice as fast as a typical monohull. This is because catamaran hulls cancel out the hydrodynamic interference that limits the 'hull speed' of monohulls.

Speed also has other important benefits. For one, it reduces the amount (and cost) of provisions that you need to store aboard. Additionally, speed gives you more flexibility when planning and avoiding weather.

Comfort in Rough Weather

Speaking of weather, catamarans have another notable advantage: stability. Catamarans are inherently stable vessels, and they ride much more softly in the rough weather than traditional sailboats.

Catamarans distribute their weight between two hulls. These hulls are connected on the tops, and water is free to flow in between them. Catamaran hulls are also sharp and narrow, and their shape allows wave punching.

This allows them to cut through waves instead of riding over them, and the effects of lateral rolling are also greatly diminished. That means it won't roll as violently from side to side.

All that extra stability contributes to the overall safety of the catamaran design. Since they incorporate two hulls, catamarans are extremely difficult to capsize.

There's another hidden safety benefit of the catamaran design. If in the very unlikely event that you capsize, a catamaran will float just as well upside down provided the hulls split apart. This makes it an effective life raft in a catastrophic situation.

Extra Storage Space

Catamarans have tons of extra storage space, especially if you're traveling with a smaller crew. A typical cruising catamaran has accommodations for around eight people or more and usually includes at least four bunk areas in the hulls.

With all that extra room, there's plenty of space to store food, toiletries, emergency supplies, souvenirs, and personal items. There's also plenty of room for guests.

Room for More Passengers

Catamarans have many more sleeping spaces than an equally sized conventional sailboat. Catamarans usually include two master staterooms in the forward part of each hull and two aft.

The hulls typically contain at least one head in each, and usually two. Some catamarans include four large bathroom/shower combinations, which give each passenger or couple a private bathing area.

Larger 'Day Living' Spaces

Catamarans also have larger living areas between the hulls. The cockpit of a cruising catamaran is usually covered and spans almost the entire beam of the vessel.

This space often contains the galley and a large sitting area, along with a chart table and other essential equipment. The hulls can be accessed on either side of this space, and there's usually a large window forward.

There's standing headroom throughout the covered cockpit. It more than makes up for the lost space in the comparatively narrow hulls, as these areas are used primarily for sleeping.

Shallow Draft

Catamarans don't need an extended keel for stability. As a result, they draw very little water and can traverse shallow waters that similarly sized monohulls couldn't dream of accessing.

It's easy to beach a catamaran which makes it an excellent island-hopping boat as well. Plus, when the tide runs out, a catamaran will rest evenly on the seabed without any additional supports.

Cons of Sailing Around The World in a Catamaran

So what are the cons of sailing a catamaran around the world? We covered many of the benefits, and we'll touch on a few additional topics here. But there are some downsides that are important to consider.

Size Limitations

Size is your friend out on the open ocean. The wide beam and considerable length of most cruising catamarans make them exceptionally safe and comfortable in a variety of weather conditions. However, most marinas aren't designed for Doublewide boats, and size restrictions could cause headaches in many parts of the world.

The problem of having a wide boat extends beyond the marina. Many channels in passageways can't accommodate wide boats, and those that to me charge more for your passage.

Structural Deficiencies

The vast majority of cruising catamarans are extremely well-built and will never suffer any serious structural failures. However, the basic design of a catamaran makes it vulnerable in certain places, specifically where the hull meets the frames that hold them together.

There have been several cases of catamarans literally snapping in half, usually when under tremendous load or when improperly maintained. This can usually be attributed to a flaw in a specific vessel, and it's not very common. But it is a possibility, and monohulls are not susceptible to it.

Cost to Sail a Catamaran Around the World

Are you waiting for the downsides of sailing a catamaran? Cost is the biggest one. Catamarans are obscenely expensive compared to conventional single-hull sailboats.

The average new catamaran cost upwards of $300,000, and some cost as much as $750,000. An equivalent monohull, new from the factory, costs around $150,000-$200,000. Cruising catamarans don't lose much value either, and you're still likely to pay over $100,000 for one.

Compare that to a monohull. A conventional sailboat that's capable of sailing around the world (say, 40 feet or so in length) is likely to cost between $30,000 and $60,000. Some are even cheaper. For many people, the cost is the prohibiting factor when choosing a sailboat to circumnavigate with.

How Popular are Catamarans for Circumnavigation?

If you've spent much time in the sailing community, you've undoubtedly noticed the prolific number of catamarans on YouTube, internet forums, and sailing blogs. But are catamarans really as popular as they seem, or is it just a case of selection bias?

Catamarans are surprisingly popular these days, but mostly among buyers of new and lead model sailboats. Catamarans, as we know them today, weren't produced in great numbers until recently, and they've only been popular for sailing around the world since the 2000s.

Over the years, an increasing number of people have chosen a catamaran as their long-range cruising sailboat, and the sailing community widely accepted the superior handling and comfort of these vessels.

Catamaran Vs Monohull for Circumnavigation

So, which is better for sailing around the world, a catamaran or a monohull? When it comes to sailing around the world, a Catamaran is an obvious choice for a number of reasons. Speed, safety, and comfort or the primary benefits, and these are worth their weight in gold on a long circumnavigation.

Catamaran Vs Trimaran for Circumnavigation

But what about the trimaran? Many multihull sailors prefer the trimaran due to its superior speed, and many claim it has better motion comfort as well. A trimaran, which has three hulls, is a sizable upgrade from a monohull.

Comparatively, a trimaran is a much less considerable improvement over a catamaran. They also cost more, but the exceptional handling and motion comfort of a trimaran is worth it to many.

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How to Sail Around the World

What Size Catamaran To Sail Around The World

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10 Small Catamarans for Cruisers

Published on January 23, 2021 ; last updated on November 7, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock/Rick Marcarelli

I hear from many readers interested in small catamarans. Recently, the folks at www.CatamaranSite.com reached out to interview me about our experience cruising on our Gemini 105, Barefoot Gal and we began chatting about the various small catamarans on the market. One thing led to another and I’m pleased that Rick Marcarelli was willing to contribute a guest post sharing information comparing ten of the most popular small catamarans on the market.

When most buyers think of catamarans these days, they think of designs by Lagoon, Leopard, and Fountaine Pajot. 

These are all fine vessels. But they were built to cater to the charter markets. And so they may not be the best boats for long-term, liveaboard cruisers. 

Charter vs Liveaboard Cruising

The typical charter catamaran accommodates three or four couples sailing for one to two weeks in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. Usually they will provision once, sail a few daylight hours, eat out more than a typical cruiser, and anchor or moor for the night.

Compare that itinerary to the typical liveaboard cruiser. 

Most cruisers spend over 90% of their time at anchor or a dock. They provision repeatedly and usually for many months at a time. Many cruisers rarely eat out at restaurants. And most importantly, cruisers sometimes sail non-stop through the night for multiple days or weeks when making a passage between cruising destinations. 

The differences between charterers and cruisers cause them to desire different cabin layouts and amenities.

For charter boats, the focus is on several small cabins, each having its own accompanying head. They also have minimal storage space and enormous salons and cockpits. 

Long-term liveaboards generally desire a large master cabin, fewer heads, and significant storage space. They are usually willing to compromise space for superior sailing performance to reduce passage making days and increase safety by avoiding severe weather. 

Affordable Catamaran Market

Unfortunately for liveaboard cruisers interested in catamarans, the market is dominated by enormous, often very expensive, four cabin-four head charter models. In fact, our analysis of sales data suggests that about 38% of the market consists of Lagoon catamarans and over 50% are Lagoon or Fountaine Pajots. In addition, 90% of the market consists of catamarans over 38 feet in length. Please see the infographic. 

While a majority of catamarans for sale are large, expensive, charter catamarans, our site’s traffic suggests that 40% of buyers are looking for smaller, simpler, affordable catamarans under 38 feet in length. 

These are buyers like Carolyn was when she purchased S/V Barefoot Gal . And they are buyers who may be like you and are looking for something affordable that is suited to your liveaboard needs. 

Modest Cats for Cruisers

Consider widening your net. Here are some additional models to consider in your search:

Prout 37 Snowgoose

• Cruising Grounds: Bluewater
• Underbody: Fixed Keels
• Draft (max): 2.08′
• Mast Height: 40’ (Standard) / 50’ (Elite)
• Bridgedeck Clearance: Average
• Layouts: 3 cabins, 1 head; galley down; open version has larger salon while private stateroom has larger master cabin
• Speed: Slow
• Engines: Usually single outdrive; rare versions have twin inboards
• Availability: Relatively common all over the world
• Ballpark Price: Around $100,000 USD

• Cruising Grounds: Built for North Sea
• Draft (max): 2.5′
• Mast Height: tabernacle mast
• Bridgedeck Clearance: Above Average
• Layouts: 3 cabins, 1 head; galley down
• Engines: Single gas outboard or twin inboard diesels
• Availability: Somewhat rare; usually a couple on the market or 8M sister ship; more in Europe
• Ballpark Price: Under $50,000 USD

Lagoon 37 TPI

• Draft (max): 4′
• Mast Height: 55’
• Layouts: 3 or 4 cabin; 2 heads; galley down
• Speed: Fast 
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels 
• Availability: Very rare; cult classic 
• Ballpark Price: Over $100,000 USD 

PDQ 36 Capella

• Draft (max): 2.82′
• Mast Height: 47’ (Standard) or 55’ (LRC)
• Layouts: 2 or 3 cabin; 1 or 2 heads; galley down
• Engines: Single gas outboard, twin gas outboard, or twin diesel inboard
• Availability: Usually a few on the market and more likely in USA
• Ballpark Price: Over $100,000 USD

Seawind 1000

• Draft (max): 3.2′
• Mast Height: 47’
• Layouts: 4 cabins; 1 head; galley down
• Speed: Fast
• Engines: Twin gas outboard
• Availability: Usually a few for sale; newer models still being built; originally built in Australia
• Ballpark Price: Over $150,000 USD

• Cruising Grounds: Coastal
• Draft (max): 3.35′
• Layouts: 4 cabins or 2 cabin Maestro; 2 head; galley up
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels with saildrives
• Availability: Usually a couple on the market often in Caribbean
• Ballpark Price: Around $150,000 USD

Endeavour 36

• Draft (max): 2′ 9″
• Layouts: 3 cabin; galley down
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels
• Availability: Rare and likely in the USA

• Draft (max): 3.62′
• Mast Height: 55′
• Layouts: 3 cabin / 1 head; 2 cabin / 2 head; galley up
• Availability: More common especially in Caribbean
• Ballpark Price: Newer version up to $300,000 USD
• Underbody: Centerboards
• Draft (max): 5′
• Mast Height: 47’ (M) or 48’ (MC)
• Bridgedeck Clearance: Below Average
• Layouts: 3 cabin; 1 head; galley down but open
• Engines: Single inboard diesel with retractable outdrive
• Availability: Common especially in the USA

• Draft (max): 3′
• Mast Height: 46′
• Layouts: 4 cabin / 1 head; 3 cabin / 2 head; galley down; bathtubs on some
• Engines: Single or twin inboard diesels
• Availability: Rare model
• Ballpark Price: Around $50,000 USD

Rick Marcarelli is the webmaster of CatamaranSite.com featuring cruising catamarans for sale by owner as well as educational articles. Rick is the owner of S/V Catalpa , a Catalac 8M based out of Merritt Island, Florida. The site also functions as the owner’s website for Catalac catamarans. If you are planning on buying a catamaran, CatamaranSite.com might save you a considerable amount of money and lead to years of happy sailing.

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Reader Interactions

January 31, 2021 at 5:58 pm

I would think draft on the fixed keel boats would be important to many who are considering cats.

Carolyn Shearlock says

February 1, 2021 at 12:49 pm

I’ll see if we can perhaps add that.

Richard says

February 9, 2021 at 11:03 am

Good addition. I have provided drafts to Carolyn, so please watch this article for that to be updated. Any questions or additional information you would like added please comment again.

Drew Frye says

February 20, 2021 at 11:46 am

The best way to look at speed ratings is the PHRF rating or other handicaps. I used to own a PDQ 32 and never found a Gemini I couldn’t pass rather easily on autopilot, so I don’t think it rates slow if well handled. Granted, mine was turboed a bit and carried a 120 rating.

Florida ratings, according to US Sailing

PDQ 32 135 Seawind 1000 137 PDQ 36 156 Gemini 105 MC 168 Snowgoose 250 The others rate around 130-145

And of course, this is only fast or slow within the class. Fast multihulls cruising (?) multihulls rate 0-60.

February 21, 2021 at 7:59 am

Thanks! Good info.

September 10, 2023 at 5:55 am

I have an Edel 35′. For their price, they are a good option, for this size of catamaran. They are not slow, by any means. Disadvantage: clearance under nacelle.

Erin Michaud says

February 23, 2021 at 10:22 am

Great info, we met an owner of a Catalac 9M in Key West Garrison Bight Marina a couple of weeks ago. His name is Eric & he moved his boat to the Boca Chica Navy Marina. I will send the contact info for Rick to him specifically for the Catalac boats! Thanks!

February 24, 2021 at 5:54 am

Catalacs are great boats. We saw a couple for sale around the time we bought Barefoot Gal but they were sold the same day they were listed so we didn’t get to even look at them.

January 6, 2022 at 11:32 am

Hello. I was wondering if you can identify this open catamaran which boasts a GRP cockpit with seating?

https://imgur.com/gallery/2wzUJmR

Bruce Bayne says

February 20, 2022 at 9:57 am

I noticed that the Privilege 37 and 39 were not mentioned in your 10 list of catamarans. Is there a reason? How do they stack up to the others with regard to speed and bridgedeck clearance?

June 6, 2022 at 10:44 am

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What Size Catamaran to Sail Around the World

Table of Contents

Anyone who knows you says this trip is already long overdue. The ocean is calling out to you and has been for a long time now. You’re more than ready to sail the seven seas. In fact, you’re virtually  dying  to do so. But first, you need to pick out a catamaran — moreover, one that is the correct size not merely for getting you around the world, but also for serving all your needs, wants, and goals on your trip. 

You need to find the catamaran that will make all your trouble worth it. This seems simple enough, but as you begin your search, you quickly discover that there are so many (too many) options out there. Now you’re probably wondering, “Which size is right for me?” and “How do I figure this out?” In this article, we will break down how to choose what size catamaran to sail around the world with.

Some consider catamarans sized at 35 feet to 45 feet to be the best for ocean sailing. Many consider 45 feet to be the sweet spot when it comes to picking out a catamaran for trips around the world. 

1) Basic comfort, speed, and circumnavigation of the vessel.

2) The amount of “cargo” you’ll have on the catamaran — in other words, the essential stuff needed in order to actually make your catamaran run, how many passengers will be on board, what it is you plan to do while on board, which items will be involved in making this happen, and how much space will be required for these activities.

3) Your budget in regards to catamaran size and, even more importantly, safety.

4) The actual measurements of the catamaran: 20 feet to 30 feet, 35 feet to 45 feet, and 50 feet to 60 feet being among the most popular sizes. 

As we already stated before, the best catamaran size for a journey around the globe varies on a case-by-case basis. It depends entirely on your needs, wants, and intentions while out at sea. Nonetheless, the most important thing for everyone — new and seasoned sailors alike — to recognize while settling on a catamaran size is that it is never too early to consider anything and everything that might play a role on your trip. Every little thing matters, and the sooner you factor something in, the better you can plan for your voyage. This should also optimize the amount of fun you’ll have while on board. 

Remember — it’s always better to be overprepared for the ocean than underprepared for it. Being underprepared while at sea can be the difference between life and death or, in less hazardous situations, the time of your life and utter, lasting misery. 

The overall goal is generally to have a safe and successful experience while sailing your catamaran around the world. Of course, what counts as a successful trip will always vary from person to person, sailor to sailor, and passenger to passenger. 

That’s why we went ahead and made you this little list — to make your intentions and, therefore, your catamaran size selection process — just a tiny bit easier.  Ask yourself the following: 

The ocean covered? 

The places visited? 

The company on board?

The memories made? 

The knowledge gained?

The time spent on the water, and with the natural world? 

The experience of actually steering a vessel through the sea, one of nature’s greatest miracles?

A combination of the above?

None of the above?

Think about it. Really take your time. Once you have a clear, honest idea of why you might want to sail a catamaran around the world, write it all down on a piece of paper. These notes will be your best friend while you read through this article and, eventually, decide on the appropriate vessel for your journey.

Initial Factors to Consider When Settling on a Catamaran Size

Primary items to consider when deciding on the size of your catamaran include basic comfort, speed, and circumnavigation. 

For example, yes — the smaller, cheaper catamaran  can  carry a certain amount of people. But can it do so comfortably? Or will you and your passengers pay the price? We’ll get into this in more detail in just a moment. First, let’s talk about the speed of your catamaran. It’s all related — we promise.  

When it comes to determining size, one must consider speed as well. Large, overloaded boats can move too slowly — but smaller ones can, too. This is where the shape of the boat comes into play. Boats with longer shapes and builds are absolutely your friends when selecting a catamaran — regardless of the size, you wind up going with. Not only are these better for speed, but they also come highly recommended by experts for circumnavigation and cargo purposes — the latter of which we will get into in more detail in the next section. 

Regarding circumnavigation — what fun is sailing a catamaran if you can’t control it? Your ability to guide your catamaran should always be the top priority. Anything that seems to complicate or hinder this is something you should immediately rule out when deciding on a vessel.

How long does it take to learn how to sail? Find out here .

The relationship between catamaran size and essential “cargo”.

But there are other types of “cargo” as well. Necessary supplies, recreational items, the number of human beings, and how much space passengers will need while on board also matter — significantly.   

For starters, ask yourself while you settle on a size for your catamaran whether you will have enough room for all the necessary supplies. Be honest with yourself. Longer, slower trips take more time and, therefore, require more of them. No matter what, you’ll need these items — food, water, first aid, medications, hygiene products, and other essential, rather heavy, and bulky supplies — while on board. 

Additionally, if there are plans for fun and recreation while sailing — which, let’s be honest, there probably are — then you’ll need to ensure your vessel has the capacity for all of that as well. We’re talking furniture, sports stuff, audio equipment, and more. This aspect may seem like it should be an afterthought, but we promise you — it shouldn’t be. Be sure to keep it in mind while shopping around. What point is there to sailing around the world if you feel deprived, bored, or full of regret the entire time anyway? Make sure you have everything you’ll want and need before setting sail.  

Furthermore, and as we already mentioned before, passenger “cargo” is also a thing. It’s vital that your catamaran have enough capacity for humans not only to survive but to travel comfortably. 

Is this sail around the world all work with little to no play or human company? Then you won’t need as much room. The more likely scenario, however, is that you and the other people on board are looking to have fun — and therefore require adequate space to do so. This is a different type of “cargo,” but one that should be adequately considered throughout the selection process. 

Similarly, imagine acquiring all the recreational items and loading them on board only to start sailing and discover that there isn’t even any room to use them all. Recreational, social, and even essential activities require the room in which to do them. Therefore, it’s important to have an idea ahead of time regarding what activities might be taking place on board. This will help you determine just how large of a vessel you need, as well as the shape of it. 

What’s the point in sailing a catamaran around the world if you even can’t carry the things or people you need to make the trip worthwhile anyways? 

Determining Catamaran Size in Relation to Your Budget

Of course, one of the most important considerations when deciding on a catamaran size is your budget. Larger catamarans with more features will cost more money upfront, yes. Nevertheless, the payoff regarding comfort, efficiency, practicality, and enjoyability while on board — as well as mandatory supplies you’ll need to carry on your travels and maintenance the vessel may eventually need — might make the investment worth it. 

More importantly, safety is never worth skimping on,  especially  when it comes to sailing through the ocean over an extended period of time. If a smaller, simpler model is more affordable for you, just make sure it serves all your purposes, and that the lower price you’re paying is only in regards to the size of the catamaran. Paying less for a smaller vessel should not equal a higher risk factor while on board. Safety is key, and therefore, nonnegotiable.

The Best Catamaran Size(s) for Sailing Around the World

Some consider catamarans sized at 35 feet to 45 feet to be the best for ocean sailing. Many even consider 45 feet to be the sweet spot when it comes to picking out a catamaran for trips around the globe. 

This isn’t to say that smaller vessels aren’t also an option. Catamarans sized at 25 feet to 30 feet are far more affordable — though, again, boats in this size range do tend to be more uncomfortable and less convenient. They also have less capacity. However, it is still possible to sail around the world in a catamaran sized within this 25 feet to 30 feet range. 

Conversely, very large vessels are also doable. Catamarans in the 50 feet to 60 feet range absolutely do exist and are available for interested parties. However, they are extremely expensive. They are very much intended for those seeking total luxury while ocean sailing.  

Again, a catamaran ranging between 35 feet and 45 feet should absolutely do the trick — for comfort, efficiency, space, and more importantly, function. These will get you around the world, and happily at that. 

Either way, don’t forget that the size and price of your catamaran aren’t everything. Shape, safety, and circumnavigation are equally, if not more, important when it comes to ocean sailing.

Related Questions

What kind of recreational activities are popular while sailing?  Depending on the length of the trip, people may want to do anything from eating fine cuisine to drinking and dancing, to sipping coffee and reading books, to even just tossing a basketball around. It just depends on the passengers on board. 

Is a faster catamaran a better catamaran?  Not necessarily. It just depends on how much time you want to spend at sea, and whether your trip is more about efficiency or luxury, and land time or water time. Just keep in mind that more time at sea means you’ll need more supplies and, therefore, more capacity for storing them. 

Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.

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Sail Around the World Route – Best Options Explained

Before you ponder your route to sail around the world, think about why you’re even thinking about such an undertaking. 

There are countless sailing routes you can take to circumnavigate the globe, but each one is for a different sort of sailor. The two most common routes are the mid-latitudes “Milk Run” and the high-latitudes journey through the Southern Ocean or Northwest Passage.

Here’s a look at some of these very different trips and the types of sailors and vessels that accomplish each one every year.

Table of Contents

Basic planning factors – winds, currents, and storms, the classic sail around the world route – the milk run, circumnavigating in the southern ocean, an alternate sail around the world route the northwest passage, which sailing routes would you pick for your circumnavigation, sailing routes around the world faqs.

The Basics of Sailing Routes Around the World

First, some lingo. Sailors refer to a sail around the world route as a “circumnavigation.”

Taking a boat around the world requires some gumption. So why do it at all? For some, it is the goal of having done it. For others, it’s a fun way to combine their passions of sailing and travel. Some folks compete in races to see who can do it fastest. And some folks think it would be a good lark and a neat way to see the world.

Whatever reason draws you to the idea of completing a circumnavigation, you aren’t alone. Every year there are rallies or races that you can join to meet up with like-minded people. And for as many people who compete in rallies, there are likely an equal number of people doing it on their own. 

No matter how you cut it, a circumnavigation is made up of numerous legs. So if traveling and seeing the sights is your goal, then it only makes sense to take your time and visit as many places as you can along the way. 

Folks with a limited time frame will inevitably miss something or rush through someplace they want to see. 

For sightseers, the goal of a circumnavigation might be secondary to seeing the places they want to see. In other words, someone with their heart set on circumnavigating might set a schedule of two years to get it done, while another sailor who wants to complete loops in the Atlantic and Pacific might have a lot more time to visit more countries and ports of call. 

Every sailor and every boat comes into this adventure with different goals. Therefore, it’s important to think about your motivations and the sort of circumnavigation that you’d like to have. What’s the most important part to you, and how much money and time can you dedicate to the endeavor? 

Most pleasure boaters contemplating a circumnavigation are interested in the safest route to sail around the world. Part of the safety and enjoyment of the crew comes from planning the trip to follow the prevailing wind patterns around the globe.

When sitting on land, you might think of the wind as unpredictable and variable depending on the day and weather conditions. And while that is true all over the world, at sea prevailing weather patterns tend to be more steady. 

That means by understanding the causes and patterns in the winds, you can use them to your advantage on a circumnavigation. 

For example, let’s look at the North Atlantic circuit. If a yacht wants to depart Europe for North America, its best bet is to head south first and follow the area between 10 and 30 degrees north latitude westbound. Why? Because this is the area where the winds flow from the east almost constantly. Since ships used these winds to get to the Caribbean in the old days, they are still known as the Trade Winds. 

What if you want to go the other way, back to Europe? In that case, your best bet is to head north and make your easterly course between 40 and 60 degrees north latitudes. There, the prevailing winds are westerly and will push you back to Europe. 

While sailboats can sail into the wind, doing so is called “beating” for a reason. It’s rough on the boat and crew; it’s tiring and unpleasant. You’ll have to do it occasionally, but a successful and comfortable passage is usually the result of planning so you don’t have to sail to weather. 

Similarly, you can use the world’s ocean currents to your advantage. If the Gulf Stream can give you a knot or two of an extra push toward Europe, you should take it! It makes a big difference when your normal speed is six knots. Trying to fight against it for any length of time could double your trip planning and make for a very nasty ride.

And then there is the risk of storms at sea. With good trip and weather planning, a boat can circumnavigate without ever experiencing a bad storm at sea.

That requires conservative planning to avoid areas and times of the year when the weather is bad. To do this means you must plan to be in the right places at the right times. Pilot charts are published for every ocean sector on Earth, showing the prevailing winds for any given month and the probability of encountering a severe storm in the area. 

Using pilot charts and the historical prevalence of hurricanes or cyclones, sailors can plan to transit these areas only during quiet times. In other words, no one wants to be in the middle of the North Atlantic during peak hurricane season or during winter gales, but being in the middle of the North Atlantic in May is pretty optimal. 

Likewise, you don’t want to be in the middle of the South Pacific during February when it is peak cyclone season, but June or July is good.

The classic route for circumnavigating is based on the path of least resistance, making it the safest route to sail around the world. These routes utilize the prevailing winds to make as many downwind, fair-weather passages as possible. 

The goal of this route is not speed but comfort and safety. This is the route you take your family on. This is the route that around the world rallies, like the World ARC Rally , use for every trip. 

Starting from the Caribbean, this route travels westbound and keeps close to the equator. Of course, you can start anywhere, but many yachts cross their wakes (begin and end their voyage) somewhere in the Lesser Antilles. 

After crossing the Caribbean Sea, transit is arranged through the Panama Canal. Canal transits are expensive and time-consuming, and they usually involve a broker to arrange all the paperwork and scheduling. 

Before the canal was constructed, the only way to make the journey was to travel south in the Atlantic and pass Cape Horn. There, you can follow Drakes Passage through Argentina’s islands and Patagonia’s wild lands. Many expedition yachts still choose this route to see this remote and beautiful part of the world. 

After the Panama Canal, most yachts take familiar sailing routes across the Pacific . The first stop is the Galapagos Islands. This takes you mostly south along the coast of Central America and across the equator into the Southern Hemisphere.

From the Galapagos, the single longest passage lies ahead–roughly 3,200 nautical miles to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. This trip takes most sailboats about 14 days. An alternate route takes you farther south. It doesn’t shorten the trip but allows you to visit Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Pitcairn Islands.

Once in French Polynesia, you can island hop your way through the South Pacific island nations, but with a weary eye on the weather. The point is to avoid the area during cyclone season, roughly the summer months (December through April or so). 

At this point, many yachts find a hurricane hole where they can relax during storm season. Usually, it is time to haul out and complete some maintenance after so many sea miles. Some make it south and out of the cyclone belt to New Zealand or Australia. Others opt to stay in the islands but find a well-sheltered marina or boatyard where they can haul out.

Once cyclone season is winding down, the next big passage awaits. After passing through the Torres Straits, stops in Northwestern Australia and Indonesia welcome you to the Indian Ocean. There are only a few isolated stops after that. Many yachts make one long passage out of it, although many enjoy a few stops, like Cocos Keeling, Maldives, Diego Garcia, or Seychelles.

This is where the route branches in two directions. Traditionally, boats would transit on a northwest course and into the Gulf of Aden. From there, you follow the Red Sea to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean is, of course, one of the most storied cruising grounds on the planet. You can cruise from Turkey and Greece to Italy, France, and Spain, with countless famous ports of call along the way. 

Unfortunately, the route to get there, through the Gulf of Aden and around the Horn of Africa, is home to bands of pirates who have been known to prey on leisure yachts and commercial vessels alike. For this reason, this route has fallen out of favor in recent years. 

Instead, boats head to South Africa. The country makes a good landfall point from which you can travel home or take land excursions to see the rest of Africa. Popular stops on the way are the islands of Reunion and Mauritius. Some folks also like to visit Madagascar.

After rounding the Cape of Good Hope, yachts are back in the Atlantic and can head northwest toward the Caribbean. You can make a few stops along the way, mostly isolated island nations like St. Helena and Ascension Islands. After that, it’s a straight shot back across the equator and to the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. 

When coming from the Mediterranean, boats heat westbound through the Straights of Gibraltar. The next stop is the Canary Islands. How long does it take to sail across the Atlantic? It’s a roughly 17-day passage downwind to the Windward Islands.

Most people take two full years or longer to complete a circumnavigation as described above, but even that only allows a little time to see the sights. So a more realistic number would be four or five years. 

This route isn’t for those looking to get it done in the shortest amount of time. Instead, the Southern Ocean Route is the favored path for those looking to trade a bit of safety for speed. This route, due to the prevailing winds along the route, is completed from west to east. 

Races like the Clipper Around the World , Vendee Globe , and the Golden Globe Around the World Race use this path. It utilizes the open expanses of the Southern Ocean. Once you get into these high latitudes, there are no real landmasses in your way, and you can steer a course all the way around the world in record time.

Of course, the Southern Ocean is not for the faint of heart. High-latitude sailing involves biting cold weather and dangerous gales. You’ll be rounding Cape Horn through Drakes Passage, one of the dicest stretches of water on the planet. 

It’s a punishing stretch of ocean, and boats are often beaten and bruised. Dismastings and equipment failures are common. In other words, a sailor who chooses this route must be ready for anything, capable of handling whatever the sea throws at them, and sailing an extremely well-founded bluewater vessel.

In recent years it has been in vogue to attempt a transit of the Northwest Passage, thereby making it possible to circumnavigate the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Obviously, this is a summertime endeavor only, and even then, only during years when the ice pack has completely melted. This is happening more and more, so the route is gaining popularity.

The leg that makes this possible starts from the United Kingdom going west across the Atlantic to Greenland through the Labrador Sea. The Northwest Passage itself then bisects Canada’s northern territories. Finally, you end up on the northern coast of Alaska. Then, keeping the mainland of North America to port, you continue south into the Pacific Ocean.

From the Aleutian Islands, the most favorable course is to transit to the west coast of North America. After that, you can make your way south along the famous Inside Passage, a network of fjords in British Columbia that can link you to Puget Sound and the Seattle metro area. 

Once in the US, your next steps are southbound transits to Baja, Mexico, or jumps like sailing to Hawaii from California . You can then join the normal routes across the South Pacific islands to Australia or Southeast Asia.

Both the Southern Ocean and the Northwest Passage routes are high-latitude routes that carry more risk than the Milk Run. High-latitude sailing involves dealing with more frequent severe weather systems, stronger winds, and greater variability in the weather in general. They’re also farther from services and more remote, so self-sufficiency is even more vital. 

While you can do the Milk Run in nearly any of best bluewater cruising sailboats , these high-latitudes routes are more comfortable in a robust expedition-level vessel. These are the perfect places for that aluminum sailboat you’ve been dreaming about.

There is much to learn and think about if you want to circumnavigate. If you’re dreaming of sailing the world, consider starting your research by picking up a book or two written by someone who has done it. Here are three stories of circumnavigations, but there are countless others and blogs galore to be found on the internet. 

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Jimmy Cornell is the master of how to sail around the world. His “World Cruising” series of guides includes everything you’d ever need to know, from weather systems and route planning to legal formalities. This book, 200,000 Miles , combines some of those technicalities with a biographical story of his journey.

Sailing Around the World Alone is Joshua Slocum’s story of his journey. It’s not a modern tale–Slocum set out in the late 1890s from Nova Scotia. But his adventure is the OG tale of sailing around the world and is worth a read. 

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Lin and Larry Pardey circumnavigated several times (both eastbound and westbound), but if you totaled up the miles they sailed, it would be more like seven times. The difference, of course, is enjoying every port and stop along the way.

While they never wrote a book specifically about sailing around the world, their cruising tales live on in the various tales and how-to guides they produced over the years. 

Capable Cruiser discusses techniques that will get you there, interwoven by the Pardey’s inimitable charm and wit. For more travel inspiration, check out their original series of books: Cruising in Seraffyn , Seraffyn’s European Adventure, Seraffyn’s Mediterranean Adventure, and Seraffyn’s Oriental Adventure.

What route do you take to sail around the world?

There are several ways to circumnavigate, but the most common is the “Milk Run.” This route goes from the Caribbean through the Panama Canal. From there, it heads south to the Galapagos Islands and into the South Pacific. After Tahiti, yachts head to Australia, across the Indian Ocean, and through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, leaving the Med, boats cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean to close the circle, or “cross their wake,” as they say.

How long does it take to sail around the world?

The WorldARC around the world sailing rally usually lasts 18 months, but you can do it quicker by selecting fewer stops or taking faster routes. For most sailors, however, the length of the trip around the world really depends on how much they stop along the way and for how long. If the purpose of the trip is to travel and see the world, it makes little sense to rush and do it in the shortest possible time. Many circumnavigations take five or more years. 

How much does it cost per month to sail around the world?

Sailing has been described as the most expensive way to get somewhere for free. The cost to sail around the world is extremely variable–it is impossible to pin down any price. On the one hand, the type of boat makes a difference. The larger the boat, the larger the costs. The lifestyle you choose while sailing matters, too–lavish resort marinas cost more than anchoring away from town. Hiring professionals to do boat maintenance costs more than doing it all yourself. There are ways to do it lavishly and ways to be cheap about it. Comfortable cruising is somewhere in the middle, but where exactly that depends entirely on you. 

How big of a sailboat do you need to sail around the world?

Many solo sailors and couples have circumnavigated in boats less than 30 feet long. Lin and Larry Pardy wrote many novels as they circled the globe on 22-foot-long Seraffyn , a Lyle Hess-designed cutter. The size of the boat has everything to do with your cruising style and budget. So long as the vessel is well-founded and designed to take the rigors of bluewater passages, size matters less than many people think.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The best bluewater multihulls of all time: a complete guide

• Toby Hodges
• October 6, 2021

Toby Hodges and François Tregouet consider the best bluewater multihulls and look at the options for sailing the oceans in spacious comfort

What are the best bluewater multihulls for long term cruising? The one you own, or the one you can afford is the simple answer.

There is a wealth of proven designs to suit bluewater sailing and a variety of budgets. While we have focussed here on the best bluewater multihulls in production, we’ve also included some cracking pedigree multihulls which tour the planet and might occasionally pop up on the brokerage market.

If you can afford to, then pushing towards the 45-50ft length will buy you space, pace and that extra payload capacity needed to take all the items you’d want on your home afloat.

When looking at the best bluewater multihulls, the choice will come down to that perennial balance between comfort/space and speed/weight. Choosing a lighter weight performance design will obviously help you cover distance voyages more rapidly and potentially allow you to outrun weather systems. It means you can sail faster, with less sail up and less load and stress. But you’ll have to sacrifice some luxuries and need to be quite scrupulous about keeping weight down and centralised in order to maintain high average speeds.

For the majority of cruisers, however, it is the amount of space multihulls offer once you’ve reached your destination that really appeals. As well as the non-heeling living area and real estate they provide, they’re well suited to typical tradewind sailing .

If you’re considering your first or next multihull, we hope the following will serve as a taster.

Best bluewater multihulls for performance cruising

Outremer 51/55.

When you think of multihulls designed for bluewater cruising, Outremer will likely be one of the first names that comes to mind. Its heritage lies in building catamarans that can sail fast and are built strong enough to do laps of the globe.

The 51, the current version of which launched three years ago, is an archetypal example of what to look for in terms of blending speed and space is a dream design for a family circumnavigation.

The French yard’s new 55ft VPLP design may look boldly different from its past models, but the philosophy behind it remains the same. It is designed to match windspeed up to 12 knots and Outremer reasons that its ability to sail in 5 knots of breeze will allow it to sail for 95% of the time on a circumnavigation.

Read more about the Outremer 51 and Outremer 55.

Photo: Diego Yriarte

Seawind 1600/1370

For nearly four decades the Australian Seawind brand and its founder Richard Ward have been gearing catamarans around safe bluewater sailing, including performance, protection and ease of handling. Its Reichel Pugh-designed 1600, which launched three years ago, is an elegant looking cat with relatively low, long lines and some smart solutions for fast bluewater sailing.

Seawind also launches its new 1370 later this year, a staggering 60 of which have sold on plans alone.

This first 50 is built from a composite sandwich of basalt fibre, a cloth made from volcanic rock, and PET foam from recycled plastic bottles, which helps to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 50% when compared with traditional glassfibre methods.

This new 50 footer is perhaps a more appealing and practical prospect than Rapido’s previous 60 (with its significant fixed beam), particularly as the amas on this new model can fold to reduce beam to 18ft.

Infused carbon foam sandwich construction is used, along with beams, daggerboards and rudder in pre-preg carbon to keep displacement to 8,200kg.

Read more about the Rapido 50

This OC50 is designed as a more affordable cruising alternative, than the HH models which have preceeded it. This model targets ocean sailing.

It’s still stiffened and strengthened by carbon, but built in vinylester composites with a gelcoat finish. This adds an additional 300kg or so over a full carbon HH50, but cost savings are in the region of $400,000.

Read more about the HH OC50

Balance 526

The 526 launched four years ago, designed to suit short-handed sailors and families looking to sail long distances, hence it can carry large payloads and promises easy maintenance. It looks good too.

Berman’s Versahelm design is a key feature. The wheel cantilevers, allowing the helmsman to steer from outboard with clear sightlines or from the hardtop protection of the aft cockpit.

Photo: Christopher White

Atlantic 47

The A47 suits short-handed fast ocean sailing at an approachable size. Lengthening it to 49ft allowed for an aft cockpit. It is available as a sloop or with White’s patented MastFoil ketch rig – rotating aerofoil masts designed for easy short-handed cruising without sacrificing performance.

Read more about the Atlantic 47

A combination of sharp design from François Perus and high build quality brings plenty of appeal to this sporty Italian-built cat. The first example launched three years ago with a light displacement of 10.5 tonnes, thanks to an E-glass epoxy-infused build with carbon strengthening. The yard offers semi-custom construction and full hybrid packages.

Catana 53/Ocean class 50

Catana’s performance model from 2017, sports twin aft helms (which may not suit ocean sailors), reverse bows and carbon daggerboards. The high topsides help create good bridgedeck clearance and plenty of accommodation. Its new Ocean Class 50 seems more in the shipyard’s bluewater DNA. The light weight, and dynamic and modern shape with slim hulls and a relatively short nacelle suggests a seaworthy nature and high speeds.

Read more about the Catana 53

Best bluewater multihulls for pedigree performance

Veteran multihull designers Morrelli & Melvin designed this smaller model for the Gunboat range. It was built to be more manageable for an owner-driver yet still capable of up to 300-400 mile days.

The Gunboat 48 is something of a rare breed, just six 48s were built between 2004 and 2009. Oh, to have a spare €1.3m right now… one of them is actually on the market.

Read more about the Gunboat 48

At the start of the Millennium, Catana offered fully equipped boats as standard for long distance cruising. The Catana 471 or 472 (one or two helms respectively), represented at the time the optimum in ocean-going catamarans.

Chincogan/Lightwave

Tony Grainger has been drawing fast multihulls for 35 years, including racing trimarans and the Lightwave and Chincogan cruisers. The popular Lightwave 38 has admirable performance and comfort, and the Chincogan 52 (pictured) has the length to clock high average speeds.

Outremer 45 G. Danson

With its characteristic roof, narrow hulls and daggerboards, the Outremer 45 is a standout design which has become somewhat iconic. Despite a rather spartan interior, it has been a great success with fast cruising enthusiasts. On board, family ocean crossings at an average of 10 knots are the norm.

Best bluewater multihulls for family cruising

Photo: Nicolas Claris

The Lagoon 450 remains the most popular model in Lagoons already popular range. It exemplifies the VPLP/Nauta design partnership which has made these the very definition of modern mid-size cruising catamarans which can appeal to families and charterers alike.

Indeed the 450 marked the modern look of Lagoon and was the first with interior styling from Nauta. It originally launched over a decade ago as a flybridge design with central helming position (450F), before this ‘sport top’ option (450S) was offered with a starboard helm station and lower boom.

Read more about the Lagoon 450

Photo: Guilain Grenier

Fountaine Pajot Saona 47

The 47 has a modern shape, with straight bows and a reverse sheer line. It incorporates significant volume in the hulls below the bridgedeck to create room for the optional athwartships cabins. Cabin space is a prime selling point, particularly the owner’s suite to port, where there is also abundant natural light and headroom.

Photo: Tui Marine

Leopard Catamarans, together with designer Simonis Voogd and builder Robertson and Caine, produce the archetypal dual-purpose owner-operator or charter boat in their modern catamaran range.

Key features of the 45 are the amount of light in the saloon and the incredible volume and space on offer in the cabins above the relatively narrow waterlines. Vast social living areas include the flybridge, saloon and dual cockpits.

Read more about the Leopard 45

Photo: www.jfromero.fr

Nautitech Open/Fly 46

During the 1990s and noughties Nautitech earned a good reputation for its elegant catamarans. The 441 is a timeless example and the 44 can be credited with the ongoing trend in hardtop biminis. While its acquisition by Bavaria seven years ago helped Nautitech implement industrial build techniques, the French brand has retained its DNA at its Rochefort sur Mer yard.

The modern Marc Lombard designs have tall rigs with generous square-top mainsails. Twin wheels in the aft quarters of the Open 46 offer a direct feel on the helm, however those spending long periods in the tropics may prefer the shade of the bimini-equipped flybridge option. The layout is also open, with a saloon more outside than in. Styling is clean, modern and simple, and the standard of build and finish are good.

Photo: Olivier Blanchet

First impressions of the Neel 51 are sure to centre on its sheer size and space inside. But as you’ll see from our review of the Neel 43 on page 83, when you sail one overriding impressions quickly centre on its performance.

These trimarans are becoming a popular mass production-built option.

Photo: Christophe Launay

The Excess 11 packs plenty of potential as the smallest yacht offered by the big production yards. A little like the Lagoon 380 of old, it presents a good value new entry-level boat for genuine cruising in a more sporty, modern and enticing design. Some may argue against aft helms for ocean sailing, but those coming from monohulls will appreciate the more direct steering they offer.

Broadblue 385S

Broadblue is a UK brand which offers a distinct line of cruising and Rapier performance catamarans. Its staple 385 packs a lot of cruising comfort into its length, including generous tankage, and has been sailed all over the world. Broadblue built its first electric drive catamaran 12 years ago and offers the only all-electric production sailing catamaran under 40ft in Europe.

Photo: Christophe Breschi

Bali Catspace

For those looking for maximum volume within 40ft, it’ll be hard to beat the Catspace – although it is more of a holiday apartment than a traditional bluewater cruiser. Bali’s garage style sliding aft door does help offer an enormous amount of enclosed (or open) living space.

Best bluewater multihulls for luxury cruising

Photo: Nico Krauss

Privilège 510 Signature

The 510 is designed to take a serious amount of cruising gear – up to six tonnes of it in fact. The excellent helm station now has a fixed windscreen and all lines lead to hand. Finish quality including the electrical installation is first class and Privilege’s trademark, an admirable full beam (26ft) forward cabin, is sumptuous.

Photo: Jérôme Houyvet

Garcia Explocat 52

Garcia Yachts has cornered the market for series-built aluminium monohulls and multihulls in the last decade and this new Explocat 52 is sparking real interest. We ran a full test report in our February issue, describing it as a go-anywhere cat with an enticing combination of space, pace and rugged construction.

Read our review of the Garcia Explocat 52

Built in Argentina, the Antares 44 is the ultimate evolution of a model launched 21 years ago. Entirely dedicated to bluewater cruising, it is the yard’s only model and is constantly being improved according to owner feedback.

Time seems to have no hold on this boatyard and, against the trend, the standard equipment of the Antares 44 is extremely complete

Photo: Richard Langdon

Discovery Bluewater 50

This luxury Bill Dixon design may be a decade old now and into its third iteration, but the concept behind its original appeal remains. For those used to sailing high-end thoroughbred monohulls, here is an option to consider for a comparative level of build quality and fit out when moving to a multihull.

Read more about the Discovery Bluewater 50

St Francis 50 MKII

With this latest version of its original model, this experienced South African builder has optimised a catamaran cut out for the unforgiving seas of the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic. The MKII allows for an increased load capacity, an important point in long distance cruising.

Xsquisite X5

Intelligent features on the X5 include the protected helm station with glass windscreen, integrated rainwater catcher, UV-protective glass and generous tankage.

Best bluewater multihulls for size & speed

Mcconaghy mc52.

The MC50 (now MC52) was the first and promises some high speed sailing, but it’s the open plan main living deck which will attract the majority. It incorporates an intelligent centreboard system, which hardly affects interior space, but arguably its exposed helms at the aft end of the flybridge will not suit serious ocean cruising.

Photo: Florian H. Talles

HH in Xiamen is building some really impressive large, luxury fast cats up to 90ft. This was its second model to launch, a high-end, high performance Morelli & Melvin design capable of rapid passagemaking speeds and enjoyable regatta sailing. Features include C-shaped boards and central or aft helms.

Photo: Mike Jones/Waterline Media

Ocean Explorer 60

If Nautor’s Swan made catamarans, they may look like this… The Ocean Explorer 60 uses the same designer in German Frers and some of the same builders who worked at the famous Finnish yard to produce this world cruiser. The resultant quality shines through. A new OE72 is due soon.

Kinetic KC54

A young company with plenty of experience, Kinetic produces custom fast ocean cruisers, which can occasionally race. Its 62 is a serious performance vessel with carbon hulls, rigs and rigging, daggerboards or centreboards. With fast bluewater cruising the goal, carbon is used to minimise weight so features/toys can still be added. The swim platform and hardware on the newly launched 54 weighs just 90kg, and the generous sized tanks are all in carbon too. Views from the saloon and forward cockpit also look special.

Best bluewater multihulls for ultimate performance

Marsaudon ts4/orc 42.

Few catamaran builders produce genuine performance cruisers at this ‘smaller’ size: this one is kept minimalist and light weight (around 6 tonnes) – the yard’s philosophy is ‘simplicity, then add lightness.’ The 42 is a cruiser-racer with the ability to outpace most yachts across the Atlantic, win a regatta and still offer some space for island hopping. Standard tankage is minimal however. Marsaudon recently rebranded its TS range to Ocean Rider Catamarans (ORCs) and has an ORC 57 in build.

Dazcat 1495

Dazcat builds fast, seaworthy cats from its Multihull Centre in Cornwall. The 1495 is a true ocean cruiser-racer, which is stiff and rewarding to sail, with direct steering linked to carbon rudders. The 1495 can hit 20+ knot speeds with relative ease, but it is the consistent high average speeds which will attract those looking to cover serious miles. Weight is centralised including engines, tanks, and systems all located amidships to help reduce pitching. Dazcat has a semi-custom build approach and creates all sorts of weird and wonderful craft for all abilities.

Dragonfly 40

Dragonfly trimarans are known for their high quality construction and ability to delight sailors with their ease of planing speeds. For those who can live without the space of similar length cats, the new flagship 40 is large enough to offer cruising space, while folding outriggers and retractable appendages mean you can dry out where others wouldn’t dare.

Looping 45/Freydis 48

These two designs by Erik Lerouge both offer a high-performance vision of ocean cruising. The Loopings were built individually and the Freydis in small series, and on both you can sail as fast as the wind in complete safety. Interior quality depends on whether finished by an amateur or by a shipyard.

Swisscat 48

An attractive combination of luxury, comfort and performance, the S48 is a stiff, go-anywhere premium cat that is easy to manage single-handed. The lightweight build (11t) is in epoxy infusion with carbon reinforcement.

Schionning Designs

Jeff Schionning has catamaran design in his blood. His designs exude performance and seaworthiness with flowing, even aerodynamic lines. On all tradewind routes you’ll find a G-Force (models from 12m to 23m) or an Arrow (12m to 15m) sailing more quickly than the rest. His latest venture is with Current Marine in Knysna, South Africa.

Best bluewater multihulls for pedigree cruising

The long-time best-seller from the world leader in catamarans, with more than 1,000 produced over almost 20 years from 1999. With its characteristic vertical windows, the 380 and its big brother the 410 made the purists scream when they were presented. But the 380 proved a pioneer of its kind. Safe bow volumes and light displacement (7,260 kg) helped its seaworthy behaviour. The high number of boats on the market makes this the most affordable bluewater cruising multihull for its size, even if price range is as wide as condition is variable.

Casamance 44/46

Between 44ft and 46ft depending on the year of construction and the length of its transoms, the Casamance was an impressive catamaran on launch in 1985. The design by Joubert/Nivelt offered good volume and load capacity. Of the 490 units produced, many joined the charter fleets. The exterior of the Casamance is dated, but the interior in grey ceruse oak has retained plenty of charm.

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10 Affordable Cruising Catamarans

• By Phil Berman
• Updated: May 24, 2024

So, you want to get a catamaran , sail off into the sunset, and capture some magic with your lover or family for a few years. You have no ambition to sail around the world or to live aboard forever, but think a one- or two-year sabbatical might be life-changing. You’d like to sail the US East Coast, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, perhaps the Med—or up and down the West Coast and on to Mexico and Central America. You have $300,000 or less to spend and want a catamaran you can sell at the end of the journey without consuming a bottle of Tylenol to blunt the pain. 

The good news is that this is quite achievable. The bad news is that there is a vast wave of baby boomers who are all looking for the same thing—and for right around the same price. This makes finding a good deal on a great used catamaran a lot of work, even working with a broker. But, it’s possible. You just need to keep an open mind.

The other good news, which might seem surprising, is that an older catamaran, besides being more affordable, might sail just as well—or even better—than the same-size new cat that will cost considerably more. Yes, the older model might have less room inside and lack the latest condo-on-the-water styling, but it was designed and built before the current trend to supersize the newer generations of multihulls at the expense of sailing performance.

Here’s my advice to the cat hunter on a budget: Don’t get too hung up on the length of the boat. Instead, focus on the spatial and payload requirements you seek and which can be achieved within your budget. And best not get too focused on must-have features—what I jokingly call “surround-sound beds.” Catamaran designs and interiors have gone through massive changes in the past 10 to 20 years, and most older designs simply cannot compete with the new ones in terms of space and high-end amenities.

None of the cool cats I have in mind are over 47 feet. This is not because there aren’t bargain boats out there that are 47 feet and longer, but because any larger multihull that you can buy for $300,000 or less will most assuredly need a significant refit or is either very old or very odd. Buying a fixer-upper is, to my mind, the most dangerous thing a budget-minded consumer can do. It’s just too easy to underestimate the cost of yacht refits and repairs due to the extremely high prices charged in most boatyards. 

RELATED: 20 Best Cruising and Sailing Destinations

Nearly any cat you buy over 10 years old is fully depreciated. What we were selling a Lagoon 440 for eight or 10 years ago is nearly the same as what they sell for today. The difference between a good deal and a bad deal is tied solely to a yacht’s condition and refit history. As they joke in private-equity circles, “Any idiot can buy; you deserve congratulations only when you sell.”   

So, when your search gets underway, focus on ­condition—it is far more important than the year, brand or features you might crave. And when you find the cat of your dreams, the best way to remove financial-downside risk is to get a great survey and to choose the newest, smallest cat that will work for your agenda, not the oldest and biggest.

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

And a word of caution: Your problem will be knowing a good deal from a bad one after the survey is over if you are not well-schooled in pricing. Besides steering you toward potential boats to consider, this is where a broker, working on your behalf, can provide knowledgeable advice. It’s been my experience that this is the point when so many yacht sales come apart: a dispute over the value of a given yacht when the survey results come in. All too commonly we see buyers reject yachts they should have accepted and purchase cats they should have rejected. Remember, a used yacht is a used yacht—not a perfect yacht. A catamaran need not be perfect to remain a perfectly good deal. Here, then, are 10 cool cats to ­consider in the ­$300,000-or-less range:

1. Fountaine Pajot Orana 44 (above)

Fountaine Pajot had the misfortune of tooling up this boat just before the global financial crisis, so not that many of them were built between 2007 and 2012. But these were the first of the larger-space charter cats in this size, but not yet so porky that they still could not sail decently. In the three-­cabin owner’s version, they designed the living space very nicely; even in the four-cabin version, the aft starboard bed was very well-done. 

During this period, Fountaine Pajot had problems with the resin it was using, which led to blistering on the hulls and undersides. Affected models therefore had new bottoms done at approved shipyards throughout the world. Make sure the one you are considering had this done or that it doesn’t show evidence of significant blistering. Honestly it is only cosmetic, but it will impact resale if not repaired. Many consumers think blisters are the end of the world; frankly, they are not.

2. Catana 431

Built in France by a long-­standing yard, the Catana 431 was always a very viable vessel because it is big enough to go anywhere, but not too large for a competent owner to handle. And because the 431 has good underwing clearance and daggerboards, it sails smartly to windward. 

That said, there are a few things to watch for. The primary bulkheads on many of these boats were not tabbed on the outer ends, and over time tended to distort. Often this led, or will lead, to a costly replacement of some bulkheads. So be careful to survey these areas properly. 

The 431′s furniture is all foam-cored and handmade, but the banding on the outer edges in some cases slowly starts to peel, which allows moisture to infect the wood veneer. This can create a somewhat unsightly appearance in the cabinets and drawers. It is only a cosmetic issue, but it can make the interior feel a bit worn out. 

During the period when the 431 was being built, Catana used a distributive electrical card system, and the boats had several modules, each a zone, to which electricity was run. If one thing in a zone stops working, the only solution is to jury-rig a wire from that nonworking item back to the main breaker panel. Replacing the modules or getting them repaired can be done, but it is getting harder by the year. For this reason, the best 431 is a boat that someone else had rewired at some point along the way.

3. Lagoon 470

If you need a larger escape pod, the Lagoon 470 is one of our favorites. This model of older Lagoons was built at CNB’s yard in Bordeaux, France, and the build quality was high. The 470 was the first design to have the more-vertical windows that are a Lagoon signature, and ample saloon headroom. The 470s are also old enough that the hulls were not so supersize that it compromised sailing performance. They have decent underwing clearance, so they are not persistent pounders to windward. Many were built with a galley-down layout, some in galley-up style. You will always pay more for an owner version of this or any model. 

The big thing you have to concern yourself with on Lagoons of this vintage is that the hulls and decks are made with a balsa core, so it is not uncommon to find moisture problems, especially around deck fittings or hatches. This can sometimes require rebedding or recoring areas, and this sort of repair, in North America, can be a costly undertaking. Make sure you get good moisture-meter readings near all deck fittings and, of course, on the hulls. Hulls, however, tend less often to have moisture issues because there are few fittings through which water can enter the core. Were that to happen below the waterline, it is a real mess that must be repaired immediately and properly.

– CARRY A BEACON – Satellite beacons such as EPIRBs or PLBs allow boaters to transmit distress signals and their exact coordinates from anywhere on the planet, no cell service required. It may be the best $400 you ever spend. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

4. Privilège 435

Back when the Privilège 435 was built, Privilège catamarans were constructed by Alliaura Marine in France, and they were truly the Mercedes of the multihull world at that time. While not a performance cat by any means, the 435 was a super-solid yacht, built with great care and the finest components. The 435 is large enough to go anywhere but small enough to handle easily. 

The largest negative of this model—and many cats of this vintage—is that the saloon windows slope dramatically, so the interior gets very hot unless the windows are covered most of the time. When they legalize growing pot on catamarans, here’s the perfect greenhouse for it! Seriously, if you should buy a used 435, you really have to get strong sunblocking external UV covers, as well as interior blinds or shades to inhibit heat buildup. 

Some of the 435s were laid out with the galley down in one hull, and these days most people want a galley-up arrangement, where cooking and food preparation are done in the saloon. A three-cabin galley-up owner version will be far more sought after and cost more than a four-cabin galley-down version. 

5. Leopard 46

This was the first of the Morrelli & Melvin collaborations with South African builder Robertson and Caine and the charter companies owned at the time by TUI Marine to create a catamaran that could be sold both into charter under the Moorings brand and also privately as a Leopard, so effort was made to design a boat with good sailing performance. Gino Morrelli did a good job creating a lot of underwing clearance, the 46 has a powerful rig, and yet its interior still offers spacious sleeping areas and nice flow from the cockpit to the saloon. These can be bought as ex-Moorings charter boats for less than $300,000 but are more costly in the sought-after Leopard owner version.

Because these are balsa-­cored boats, you must inspect deck fittings carefully for moisture incursion. Some of the earlier ones also experienced structural problems on the aft bulkhead and over-door-frame areas between saloon and cockpit. Also, during this period, the windows in the main saloon had a tendency to leak and, when they did, required rebedding or replacement. This was a costly job, so check this out carefully during survey.

6. St. Francis 44/Knysna 440

If you wish to spend under $250,000, the older Saint Francis 44 and Knysna 440 are worth a look.

Back in 1990, Duncan Lethbridge started St. Francis Catamarans in South Africa with the St. Francis 43. The boat was meant to be a fast, strong bluewater voyager—and it was. The 43 was made with foam core, keeping the structure light, and it was very strongly built, with a powerful rig. The 43 loved to sail. And so too did the St. Francis 44, an updated version of the original. 

The boat did have a couple of negatives, however, the first being its sloped windows that built up interior heat. And the boat wasn’t a great fit for tall people, having less than 6-foot-2-inch headroom in the hulls. Also, the engines were installed amidships, which made the boat noisy inside under power. It also made the amidships areas of the hulls too narrow to have centrally located heads and showers, which in turn meant the only layout available was a four-­cabin, four-head design. In the forward cabins, the heads and showers had to be far forward; in the aft cabins, the heads and showers were located far aft.

St. Francis sold the tooling for the 44 to Knysna Yachts in 2004, and Knysna raised the headroom in the saloon and moved the engines aft to each stern. The hulls remained fundamentally the same, but the design was improved nicely. 

The largest negative of both the Saint Francis 44 and the Knysna 440 is that they have very low underwing clearance. Things can get pretty noisy when pushing against ­washing-machine seas. 

But you cannot have it all and still pay less than $250,000 in a midsize cat; compromises must be made. And these boats do sail quite smartly compared with many in their size range.

7. Lagoon 440

This was the most popular catamaran ever made, and it started the catamaran flybridge craze, which helped to convert many powerboaters to sailors. 

What I like about the 440 is that it is an infinitely better sailer than some of its peers, and has decent underwing clearance, vertical windows, and nice cabins for sleeping and living. While the aft cockpit is rather small, the saloon is quite large.

Flybridges are a bit of a love-hate thing. There is no question that in a cat of this size, the windward performance suffers a bit due to the boom positioned so high off the water. When piloting, the skipper is separated from those on the bridgedeck. Part of the reason flybridges are so popular in charter is that most of the parties take place up there while sailing and at anchor. In private ownership, however, it is seldom that everyone is hanging out on the flybridge during a long passage. 

As always with Lagoons, these are balsa-cored boats, so a careful survey is in order. Pay attention also to bulkhead ­tabbing to make sure they have not separated from the hulls.

Because so many of the 440s were built to go into charter, there are a lot of four-cabin, four-head models for resale. These will sell for considerably less on the ­brokerage market than a ­coveted three-cabin, ­private-owner model.

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

8. Leopard 40

When you get into the 40-foot size range, a four-cabin layout can become pretty cramped and claustrophobic below, but the three-cabin owner version of the Leopard 40 is a very nice pocket cruiser. A Morrelli & Melvin design, the 40 has good underwing clearance and nicely shaped hulls. Not a large cat, per se, and less-suited for significant distance sailing than others because its payload is limited, the 40 is still well-suited for a couple and a child or two for near-coastal and ­island-hopping action.

9. Manta 42

If you are searching for a cat in the $200,000 range, the Manta 42s were well-built in Florida, and their electrical systems were very well-done compared with many other multihulls of that era. While many of the features on the boat are quite dated, these Mantas sail very well, and easily, and have been popular with coastal cruisers for two decades. 

The largest negative of the Mantas is that people taller than 6 feet will find the saloon headroom right on the edge, and the berths are not especially large. Also, forward visibility from the saloon windows is not particularly panoramic, so the interiors are a bit darker inside than current-­generation catamarans.

10. Lagoon 410

The Lagoon 410 was quite a popular cat in its prime, and for good reason. It offers lots of visibility thanks to its vertical windows, good headroom for a cat of its size, nice berths, and a workable, though smallish, galley-up design. The 410 has decent underwing clearance, can sail nicely over the waves, and its singlehanded operation is super easy. In the three-cabin owner’s configuration, it’s just a very cool little cat.

As always, a balsa-core boat must be surveyed carefully, especially on deck, for moisture incursion near fittings and hatches. It can be costly to repair rotted core and to rebed deck fittings. But find a dry one, and it should definitely be counted as a contender for a buyer with a limited budget. 

Phil Berman is the president of the Multihull Company and the founder of Balance Catamarans. He has managed the sale of more than 900 catamarans.

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16 Best Trimarans For Sailing Around The World (And a Few For Daysailing)

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Trimarans are growing in popularity worldwide, due to their light construction and high stability these multihulls are even faster than catamarans. Trimarans are still one of the lesser-known boat types so in this article ill be checking out some of the most popular models.

The best trimarans include: 

• The Neel 43 
• The Neel 47 
• Dragonfly 28 
• The Pulse 600 
• Corsair 37 

These tris are built with your safety in mind while also packing powerful speed and a wide array of comfort features to optimize your sailing experience , some are even foldable making them possible to load on a trailer and transport to the sailing destination of your choosing.

In this article, I have created a list of the 16 best trimarans in the market and their unique features. You’ll also learn the best options for different purposes such as circumnavigation, weekend sailing, racing, and more. 

Table of Contents

What Is a Trimaran?

A trimaran is a multi hulled sailboat with three individual hulls; the main hull ( vaka ) and a pair of outrigger hulls ( amas ). These smaller outrigger hulls are attached to the main hull using beams. 

While trimarans have a rich history dating back nearly four millennia, these types of sailboats have only gained popularity in the late 1900s and early 2000s. 

Trimarans are primarily used as personal boats for sailing enthusiasts or racing. These sailboats draw their versatility from their lightweight design, making them faster and easier to handle at sea when compared to single-hulled boats (monohulls). Additionally, the three hulls also contribute to better stability, making it very hard to capsize (although more likely than a cat according to this study)

Trimarans come in various sizes, and some can be as small as 19 feet (5.8 meters) in length, while others go up to 60 feet (18meters). They’re also used for different purposes. Most trimarans are used for racing and recreational purposes, although some units are still used as ferries.

As with all things, to find out which is the best we need to understand what it will be used for. There is a big difference in requirements between a boat used for day sailing compared to offshore around the world sailing.

The list below highlights the best trimarans for different purposes.

Best Trimarans For Cruising, Liveaboard and Sailing Around The World

The Neel 43 is a French trimaran best suited for cruising. Its key features include: 

• Easy maneuverability on the open sea by only a small number of crew members 

This unit is also built for comfort, ideal for more extended travels. This 43-feet (13-meter) trimaran is also made with recyclable and bio-sourced materials, highlighting the manufacturer’s commitment to environmental consciousness. 

This trimaran has a base price of  €329,000 excluding VAT. This translates to approximately $370,138. 

2.Neel 47 Possibly The Best

Named the best full-size multihull for 2020, the Neel 47 is a strong contender for one of the best trimarans in the market. This 47-foot (14.3-meter) long trimaran features optimized exterior and interior ergonomics for a unique design and look. 

Still on design, the Neel 47 is ideal for couples looking to take a weekend off or spend some time as liveaboard. It has a spacious owner’s cabin and two bedrooms. It also features a spacious living room and kitchen and is optimized to ensure comfort for a couple. 

The Neel 47 also has two basic guest cabins so your friends or children can tag along on your sailing adventure. Accordingly, this unit is ideal for those looking to explore the sea for the sheer joy of sailing. 

The Neel 47 comes at a 571,139 euro ( $643,600 ) price tag, excluding VAT. 

3. Rapido 60 The Fast and Comfortable Circumnavigator

The Rapido 60 offers a blend of performance, safety, and luxury, making it one of the best options for bluewater sailing. Measuring 59.3 feet (18 meters) in length, the Rapido 60 is an imposing unit. It’s made from lightweight sandwiches and carbon materials that provide speed and strength, allowing it to stand up to strong ocean currents. 

The Rapido 60 also has spacious living spaces and is built for comfort at all points of the sail. Its design also optimizes safety. While it’s an ideal option for circumnavigating, it’s also an excellent choice for racing due to its speed. 

This is also the same boat that The Youtube channel La Vagabond just purchased.

The Rapido 60 retails at $1,400,000 . 

4. Rapido 40

The Rapido 40 measures 39.4 feet (12 meters) in length and is ideal for cruising around the world. The Rapido 40 features twin “C” foils, which provide added lift, enhancing its speed and performance whether you are sailing downwind or upwind. 

Because it has C foils, this trimaran doesn’t have a central daggerboard, increasing interior space. Accordingly, it’s an excellent option for couples looking to cruise and enjoy great performances .

The Rapido 40 is made from high-tech all-carbon materials for a lightweight yet sturdy design. This material is also used for the countertops and furniture, and the cork flooring adds a touch of style.

This trimaran retails for $595,000 , making it a cheaper option than the Rapido 60. 

5. Dragonfly 40

The Dragonfly 40 measures 40 feet (12 meters) in length. It features high-comfort standards, making it one of the best trimarans in the market for taking your family for a cruise. Because of its larger size, it has a better capacity, being capable of accommodating six to eight people, so you can bring your family and friends along. 

It’s easy to navigate and extremely safe. With a maximum speed of 24 knots (44.5 km/h), this trimaran also provides fast speeds to make your cruise even more exhilarating. 

The Dragonfly 40 retails from €509,000 exclusive of VAT, which rounds up to $572,000 . 

6. Dragonfly 32

The Dragonfly 32 is a high-performance cruiser. Like the Dragonfly 28, this unit features a contemporary design for racing. This trimaran can accommodate five to seven crew members. 

Although slightly longer than the Dragonfly 28 with its 32-foot (9.8-meter) length, the Dragonfly 32 has a max speed of 23+ knots (42.6+ km/h), making it one of the fastest trimarans for racing. This unit also has comfortable accommodation, which makes it an ideal option for a weekend cruise with family and friends. 

The Dragonfly 32 has a base price of $350,000 . 

7. Corsair 37

Thanks to a variable draft with a retractable rudder, the Corsair 37 is an ideal choice for shallow water exploration. This 37-foot (11.3-meter) long trimaran features advanced foam-cored construction designed for safety, making it virtually unsinkable. 

The carbon hulls minimize weight, this makes for a lightweight ocean exploration sailboat with blistering speeds. One of its selling points is that this trimaran has previously been used for Arctic expeditions, possibly marking it as one of the better options for circumnavigation and offshore sailing in the northern waters. 

This trimaran has a base price of $189,000 but can go up to $204,125 .

Best Trimarans For Day/Weekend Sailing

8. dragonfly 28.

The Dragonfly 28 is a 28-feet (8.75-meter) long sailboat that can accommodate up to five people. It comes in two versions: 

• Touring version: This version is ideal for families.  
• Performance version: This is built to provide optimal performance for the sports enthusiast within you. 

It clocks a maximum speed of 22+ knots (22+ km/h) and is beam-folded. It’s an excellent option if you want a high-performance, comfortable yet smaller unit for your day or weekend cruise. 

The Dragonfly 28 starts at  €188,280 inclusive of VAT, which comes to around $211,600. 

9. Dragonfly 25

Like other trimarans under the Dragonfly brand, this 25-foot (7.62-meter) trimaran is great for both racing and short term cruising. However, this high-performance boat delivers easy handling, making it perfect for couples looking to take a ride out over the weekend and seasoned sailors looking for an exhilarating racing adventure. 

The Touring version features a lightweight build and offers comfort and accommodation to keep you, and the few guests you can fit, comfortable during the ride. This trimaran also has a Sport version, which is optimized for racing. 

The Dragonfly 25 retails from EUR 86,800 . 

10. Pulse 600

The Pulse 600 trimaran is a compact sailboat. It’s made from lightweight, carbon-reinforced construction and vacuum-formed materials for optimal speed. This trimaran is an ideal option if you are looking for speed. 

It also features ample deck space, greater stability, and volume than most trimarans of similar size and build. 

This trimaran measures 19.8 feet (6 meters) in length and can be sailed single-handedly by one person with minimal effort. The Pulse 600 has a base price of $38,800 , which places it in the lower price range. 

The F-22 is one of the smaller trimarans in the market. Developed in New Zealand, the F-22 is a folding trimaran built for speed. The hulls are made from narrow fiberglass tied together using fiberglass beams and aluminum, minimizing bulk while optimizing speed. 

The F-22 is roomy and is not as pricey as other models in the market. This trimaran has two main versions: 

12. 2019 Weta Trimaran

The 2019 Weta trimaran is a 14.5-foot (4.4-meter) trimaran featuring a carbon frame, centerboard, rudder foil, and rudder shock. The hull is made from fiberglass and foam. The Weta is built for strength and speed based on these lightweight materials. 

The 2019 Weta trimaran is easy to sail and is worth considering whether you want to take a quiet sail, race with your friends, or take kids to a sailing lesson. It has a simple design and is easy to set up independently. Thanks to its collapsible design, this trimaran is easily stored away with minimal space demands. 

13. WindRider 17

The 17.4-foot (5.3-meter) WindRider 17 is one of the more versatile trimarans in the market. It packs high performance for a low cost. This trimaran has a light rotating mast to boost performance, and a full-battened mainsail optimizes visibility. 

This sailboat is made from rotomolded polyethylene, which is more durable than fiberglass and demands less maintenance.

The WindRider 17 has a comfortable interior and can fit six adults. This is an ideal choice for social sailing for a couple or a family and friends. It’s easy to ride, and a shallow draft allows easy maneuverability. 

14. Astus 22.5

If you’re looking for something small but still comfortable, this 22.5-foot trimaran is for you. Built for speed and maneuverability, the Astus 22.5 has optional foils to optimize speed. The modern design, coupled with the spacious interior, can fit up to four beds. Accordingly, this trimaran is suited for family outings. 

This trimaran also has a foldable design, collapsing to only 16 feet (4.9 meters) for easy storage. 

15. Multi 23 Trimaran 

The Multi 23 trimaran has a contemporary design, featuring a vinyl ester and PVC foam core construction. The section below the waterline is made of solid glass for a sturdy base.

The beams are made of lightweight carbon, and the trimaran features a 33-foot (10-meter) aluminum rotating wing mast for optimal harnessing of the wind. While ideal for weekend excursions with family, once rigged with the asymmetrical spinnaker will get your heart pumping.

This trimaran packs high performance at a lower cost than most other options in the market. It’s a good choice if you are looking for a high-performing unit without spending an arm and a leg. 

16. Challenger Class Trimaran

The Challenger Trimaran 15 is the best choice for persons with disabilities. It’s designed to provide disabled sailors an opportunity to explore their passion for sailing without worrying about aspects like safety or operation. 

A man named Geoff Hold circumnavigated the British Isles in 2007, becoming the first disabled person to achieve this feat. He had quadriplegia. 

Living up to its name, the Challenger can withstand harsh weather conditions while blending performance with speed. 

Final Thoughts 

Admittedly, no trimaran is best for everyone. But whether you are looking to race with your friends, take your loved ones or friends for a cruise over the weekend, or circumnavigate the ocean, you can rest assured that these lightweight trimarans will deliver speed, safety, and comfort to make it worth your while. 

These brands are innovatively designed and feature intricate safety mechanisms that make them virtually unsinkable. Give them a shot and begin your ocean adventure. 

• Basco Boating: A Comprehensive Guide & Introduction to Trimaran Yachts
• TheBoatAPP: New Trumarans: Which are the Best Ones
• Corsair Marine: Corsair 37
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 28
• Rapido Trimarans: Rapido 60
• Neel Trimarans: Neel 43
• Yachting World: World’s Collect Yachts: Maxi Trimaran MACIF
• Yachting Monthly: Dragonfly 28 Performance
• Rapido Trimarans: Rapido 40
• Dragonfly: Dragon 32
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 40
• Yachting World: Dragonfly 40 yacht tour: This cruising trimaran can do 24 knots
• Dragonfly: Dragonfly 25
• NauticExpo: Dragonfly 25
• Yachtworld: Corsair 37 boats for sale
• Cruising World: Neel 47 Trimaran: Best Full-Size Multihull0
• Neel Trimaran: Neel 47
• Multihull Solutions: NEEL 47 Boat Review | Cruising World
• Yacht World: 2022 Neel 47 for sale
• Farrier International: F-22
• Weta Marine: The Boat
• WindRider: WindRider 17 Trimaran Sailboat 
• Astus Boats: Astus 22.5
• Boat-specs: Multi 23
• National Maritime Museum Cornwall: Challenger Trimaran #1 – BC26

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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The Best Places to Learn How to Sail, From the Greek Islands to the Florida Keys

Posted: March 21, 2024 | Last updated: March 21, 2024

Sailing is one of the best ways to explore some of the most beautiful, untouched coastal destinations around the globe. But from the outside, learning how to sail might seem like an intimidating—and expensive—pursuit.

However, learning to sail isn’t as difficult as it might seem. And contrary to what some may believe, “sailing is for everyone,” Zeke Quezada, the Director of Communications at the American Sailing Association (ASA) tells Condé Nast Traveler.

“It is important to understand that anyone can sail, and it is really easy to learn,” Quezada says. “Sailing is not just for the affluent; head into a community sailing club at your local marina, and you'll have options to get out on the water for little to no cost.”

While mastering the art of sailing takes consistent practice, hopeful captains looking for a crash-course to jumpstart their journey may consider a sailing vacation . These educational charters allow you to fully immerse yourself in the nautical lifestyle —and you can earn official certifications along the way. On these types of trips, “you have a qualified skipper on board who is offering instruction, as well as advice on how to become a safe and confident sailor,” Quezada explains. “The best part is that you can have your family onboard, and everyone is having a vacation while you check off the bucket list item of learning to sail.”

When planning your first sailing trip , look for trips and schools that offer credentialed schools and instructors; organizations such as ASA, US Sailing, and the Royal Yacht Association are internationally recognized. By following these certification tracks, you can become licensed to sail a charter without a captain on board, also known as a “bareboat charter.” Though not required in some places, a bareboat certification makes it much easier (and safer) to rent your own boat .

No matter which route you take, sailing is a lifelong skill that will open doors to a community of people passionate about getting out on the water and protecting the oceans. “Most importantly, you will learn how to sit back, turn off the phone, and feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face,” says Quezada. “You might start listening to Jimmy Buffet as well.”

Below, we’ve rounded up the best places around the world for learning how to sail—including destinations in North America , Europe , Asia , and Australia —plus, the sailing courses and trips to book in 2024.

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The Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands are some of the best training grounds for novice sailors “because of their line-of-sight sailing, predictable wind, and sailor-friendly destinations,” Quezada says. “In the BVI, you can learn to sail and have a beach vacation simultaneously.”

If you’re looking to get your bareboat license, there are several ASA-certified sailing schools in the BVI and US Virgin Islands. Offshore Sailing School , one of the world's preeminent sailing institutions, offers fast track courses for all levels of sailing. Alternatively, charter a captained catamaran, one of the most popular ways to explore the Caribbean.

Florida Keys

Warm temperatures, calm turquoise waters, and consistent easterly winds make the Florida Keys one of the best places to learn to sail in the US. Stay at the Key Lime Sailing Club and cottages resort on Buttonwood Sound in Key Largo and take lessons at the American Sailing Academy , located onsite.

Alternatively, outdoor education organization Outward Bound, which offers program scholarships, is hosting a Florida Keys sailing excursion for adults in March/April 2025. Participants will live on a 30-foot open sailboat for slightly over a week learning beginner, intermediate, and advanced skills in chart and compass navigation, small boat seamanship, weather observation, and anchoring.

Greek Islands

Sea of Cortez, Mexico

New England

There’s no better way to experience a quintessential New England summer than by sailboat. The sailing season in the Northeast runs from April to October, with ASA and US Sailing accredited schools located in major metropolitans like New York City and Boston as well as coastal enclaves like Newport and Cape Cod .

For adults seeking a basic introduction to the sport, US Sailing offers “first sail” lessons in dozens of locations up and down the Eastern seaboard. Pull on a striped sweater, pack a bottle of rosé, and you’re good to go!

Croatia’s Adriatic Coast is home to a vibrant sailing community with picture-perfect weather conditions. Beginner sailors will appreciate the gentle winds of Dubrovnik, the Split Islands, and Kornati National Park , whose sheltered coves and bays supply calm and predictable winds. Enjoy incredible natural wonders only accessible by boat, like the famous Blue Cave.

Student sailors can earn beginner, intermediate, and advanced ASA certifications aboard 8-day learn to sail vacations in July, August, and September 2024. Hosted by American Sailing partner Sailing Virgins, the catamaran and monohull ships—each a minimum of 40 feet with 3-5 cabins—visit the Croatian islands of Brac, Korčula, Šćedro, Komiža, Vis, and Hvar.

Gulf of Thailand

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The two largest cruise ships in the world set sail from florida. here’s how they compare, utopia of the seas sailings start july 19.

Haley Coomes , Digital Content Producer

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – With ports along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, Florida is a top cruise destination. On Thursday, a new ship was homeported at Port Canaveral, and it’s another Royal Caribbean behemoth.

Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas will offer 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday cruises. The vessel can hold 5,668 passengers and has 18 total decks, The cruise ship is the first of its kind to debut three-night weekend and four-night getaways to CocoCay. The ship includes a 10-story dry slide, waterslides, rock-climbing walls, over 40 dining options and two casinos.

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While impressive in size, it’s second to Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, which is the world’s largest cruise ship.

The Icon of the Seas had its maiden voyage out of Miami in January 2024. As Jalopnik put it, it’s the size of five Titanics . A striking feature is its upper deck, where there’s a different pool option for every day of the week. There’s also Category 6 — the ship’s 17,000-square-foot water park, currently the largest at sea.

Below is a breakdown of how the two vessels compare in size.

The Icon of the Seas is part of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, while Utopia is in the Oasis. Port Canaveral is also home to the third-largest ship, Wonder of the Seas .

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About the Author

Haley coomes.

Haley is a digital content producer for ClickOrlando.com and first started as a News 6 producer in October 2014. She's a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in journalism. She specializes in theme parks and lifestyle writing.

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Meet the only sport in the world awarding competitors for sustainability

SailGP, in which 50-foot catamarans race at more than 60 mph in seas and bays around the world, is a grand prix sport comparable to Formula 1 but on water. One big difference: It is seeking to make a positive impact on issues of sustainability.  

In addition to vying to be the fastest, teams also compete to have the biggest impact on the league and in host cities. An entirely different scoreboard, called the Impact League, measures teams' impact on things such as sustainability, commitment and strategy; their use of new technologies and innovation; their promotion of clean energy; and their ability to avoid waste and single-use plastic. 

The champion for this season on positive impact is the Emirates Great Britain team, the league shared first with NBC News.

The team partnered with a bespoke renewable energy provider to incorporate solar panels on its team base that not only powers its base, but a number of other nation’s team bases.

“I’d be lying if I said that it doesn’t get just as competitive as it is on the water,” said Ben Ainslie, CEO of Emirates Great Britain SailGP team. “But at the same time we also get points for collaboration. And of course that’s the right thing to do when you’re looking at tackling issues around climate change. … Collaboration is key.”

Grand Prix races that burn fossil fuels are currently trying hard to figure out how to curb their carbon emissions. According to Formula 1, with 10 teams, 20 cars and 23 races in different countries, F1 emits approximately over 256,000 tons of carbon dioxide every season, the same amount as a small nation. Meanwhile, travel for players and fans, in addition to stadium power use, contributes to high emissions by the NFL, MLS, NBA, NHL and MLB.

Which is why SailGP, a sport powered by the wind, tries to take it a step further. At each race around the world, teams undertake an impact project to leave the environment in the area better than they found it. Those projects range from engaging youth in climate education and literacy to beach and ocean cleanups.

These events bring together leaders, sustainability champions, partners, industry leaders and athletes to promote, and educate on, climate action and inclusivity through sailing. Since its initial launch in 2021, the impact league has hosted 14 events across 11 cities, nine countries and four continents.

“It’s something that we’ve found has been really inspiring, both for the teams, and also for the fans,” said Ainslie.

Fiona Morgan, the league's Chief Purpose Officer, joined in 2020 to spearhead SailGP’s sustainability and impact agenda both within the league and through external partnerships. The goal is to transition the league to net zero carbon emission and use sport to inspire global change. 

“Sport has this power to talk to fans like no one else. And if we can educate them to be kind of imperfect climate activists, or even understand their carbon footprint, or even do one thing differently, we will help change the world,” she said. “Sometimes people look at sport (and) criticize where you race or who you sponsor. It’s like our superpower is engaging our consumers, and we have billions of them globally. So that’s what I think I really want sport to kind of lean into that talk to its fans.”

Although the catamarans are powered by nature, the league still relies on dozens of chase boats that burn fossil fuels. Morgan said the general lagging of decarbonization solutions within the maritime industry leave the league no other options.

“I think what’s really cool about our sport is that our playing field is the ocean,” said Mike Buckley, CEO and member of the United States SailGP team. “No other sports property in the world can say that.”

Ainslie encouraged other sports with large fan bases to start making more of an impact in the sector. 

“Some of the more established sports, imagine the number of people that they could reach,” he said. “A really great thing about sport is it’s so inspirational, particularly for younger generations. So I think it’s on all of us as sports people to be good role models and set the examples to, and that’s where the impact league really is really standing out.”

The push from SailGP comes as much of the U.S. has already dealt with extreme weather fueled by human-caused climate change this summer. Due to high ocean water temperatures, the tropics saw its earliest ever major hurricane in Beryl and, according to Climate Central, the recent heat wave in the West was five times more likely due to climate change, with the city of Las Vegas currently in its seventh day of over 115 F temperatures.

Lucas Thompson is a producer for the NBC News Climate Unit.

Ariel Weil is an intern on the NBC News Climate Unit.

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• Maserati’s First Electric Boat Delivers Style and Fun on the Water—We Took It for a Spin

We're the world's only media outlet to test this stylish 34-footer on Italy's Lake Maggiore. Here's what we found.

Kevin koenig, kevin koenig's most recent stories, this new 101-foot superyacht has an unusually large social enclave on its main deck.

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The all-electric Tridente is nothing if not dashing. It joins other electric boats affiliated with sports car marques, including the Frauscher X Porsche 850 Fantom Air and BMW-designed Tyde foiling electric boat . The Maserati has a much more conventional look than the other two.

The Tridente debuted alongside the car manufacturer’s newest electric vehicle, the Grancabrio Folgore, meaning “lightning bolt” in Italian. Maserati’s head of design, Klaus Busse, was on hand for both launches. Busse, a genial and strikingly tall German, had this to say about Maserati’s design approach, and Italian design overall: “If you look at the design of the Porsche 911, for example, you can see the Germans evolved it little by little over time—as if they are on a road to the idea of perfection. But with Italians, every ten years or so, they break everything and start with something fresh and new.”

Somewhat ironically, the Tridente seems to pull more from the German school of thought. Sleek and classic looking, there is nothing groundbreaking about the aesthetics. The boat has the familiar design language of an old Riva runabout—gently cambered bow deck, tumblehome in the after section—though built with modern materials and colors, and adorned nearly everywhere with the Maserati emblem.

But when the Tridente first pulled into view beside the lake’s breakwater, and the dark-blue water shimmered off its steel-gray hull, for a moment the machine looked almost surreal. It was stunning.

The boat is built around a carbon-fiber hull for rigidity and weight savings, and the fit and finish meets the standards one might expect: soft leathers, tight stitching, and a general feeling of solidity to the seating. This model seats eight comfortably, with wraparound seating at amidships and a scooped-out section aft that is, in effect, a giant sunpad. The cabin is tiny, but could fit a child who needs a nap out of the sun.

Maserati enlisted Vita Power, the EV marine company, for Tridente’s electric propulsion system. The boat is powered by four batteries that weigh 3,200 pounds, which explains the choice of lightweight carbon fiber for the hull. The entire boat displaces 11,400 pounds, about 2,000 pounds less than a Riva Aquariva 33. That light weight, paired with the equivalent of 600 horsepower, lets the Tridente accelerate like a proper sportscar.

When I pinned the throttle I felt real G forces pressing me into the captain’s seat—common for a high-performance raceboat, but rare for an electric vessel. The helm is a simple setup: a center touchscreen and two throttles. The reported top end is 46 mph, but I saw 42.6. At a 25-knot cruise, the Tridente has a 43-mile range, more than enough to get from Monaco to Cannes on a single charge.

Maserati says the batteries can be topped off in under an hour via a fast-charging DC connection. Running at cruise, the Maserati manifested the nimbleness requisite of a boat in this class, slicing cleanly through S turns and hard overs.

There were no waves, but I did send the Tridente through its own wake and was pleased with the way the hull split the chop. In the end, it proved a very fun boat to drive and looked exceptional with the lake and mountain backdrop.

The price may well be a bit much for most boaters to swallow, even if it’s the coolest superyacht tender on the planet. But if you want what is arguably the world’s most advanced and best-constructed electric boat, the Tridente fits the bill, an evolutionary leap for a classic-looking Italian runabout.

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The best things to do in Aruba for a luxurious, memorable trip

Enjoy aruba in style.

If you’re craving a luxurious escape to a tropical paradise, then Aruba should be at the top of your list. This beautiful island is located in the heart of the Caribbean and is home to pristine beaches , friendly locals, and endless opportunities for exploration. Known as “One Happy Island,” Aruba is known for its year-round sunshine and crystal-clear waters that are straight out of a postcard. 

Beyond its natural beauty, Aruba is a playground for luxury seekers. From high-end resorts and world-class dining to exclusive experiences, there’s no shortage of ways to pamper yourself here. Whether you’re dreaming of lounging in a private cabana, indulging in gourmet cuisine, or exploring the island in style, we’ve got you covered. These are the best things to do in Aruba for a luxurious experience.

Stay at an all-inclusive resort

When visiting Aruba, staying in an all-inclusive resort ensures a hassle-free, luxurious experience. All-inclusive resorts offer the ultimate convenience and relaxation by bundling accommodations, meals, drinks, and activities into one package. With everything taken care of, you can focus on relaxing and making the most of your vacation.

If you’re searching for a top-notch option, Divi & Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive is an excellent choice. These sister resorts offer a fantastic array of amenities, including several all-inclusive restaurants and bars, so you’ll never run out of dining options. Additionally, you’ll have access to a stunning private beach, perfect for lounging and soaking up the Caribbean sun. With daily classes, a golf course, and a casino, you’ll find endless entertainment without the need to leave the grounds.

Spend the afternoon at Eagle Beach

Spending the day at Eagle Beach is a must when visiting Aruba. As the island’s widest beach, it features soft, white sand and has earned a spot among the best beaches in the world. Several low-rise hotels and resorts are conveniently located nearby, many of which offer cabanas for their guests. 

Eagle Beach is easily accessible, with ample free parking close by. This stunning beach offers an abundance of activities, making it perfect for everyone. Sunbathe on the beautiful white sands, or dive into the crystal-clear waters for amazing swimming and snorkeling conditions. Eagle Beach is also home to two of Aruba’s most photographed Fofoti trees, which are often featured on postcards and advertising campaigns for the island.

Explore Arikok National Park

Make sure you take a trip to Arikok National Park when in Aruba. Covering nearly 20% of the island, this national park is full of natural beauty and geological features such as sea caves, beaches, mountains, and water holes. Even if you’re not into hiking or physical activities, you can explore the park in the comfort of your own vehicle.

The park has a small entrance fee that contributes to the preservation of the park, educational programs, and animal protection efforts. To maximize your experience at Arikok National Park, consider booking one of the many organized tours. These guided tours are led by experts and offer valuable insights, ensuring you don’t miss any of the park’s highlights.

Have dinner at Papiamento

If you’re in the area, make sure you stop at Papiamento for a luxurious dining experience. Housed in a charming, over 100-year-old manor, this romantic restaurant offers a unique ambiance with seating options in its antique-filled dining room or on the picturesque poolside terrace. The menu features a delightful range of dishes, from freshly caught fish to succulent T-bone steaks.

Papiamento boasts an impressive wine vault with over 2,000 bottles of international wines, ensuring the perfect pairing for your meal. For those looking to unwind further, PAPPA’s Cigar Lounge provides a cozy spot to relax and enjoy a fine cigar.

Walk around Downtown Oranjestad

Don’t skip out on Downtown Oranjestad during your trip. As the capital city, Oranjestad showcases vibrant Dutch Colonial architecture, creating an enchanting setting for exploring. The area is brimming with restaurants, shopping options, and a bustling cruise port. Dive into Aruba’s history by visiting popular museums like the Aruba Historical Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Aruba, and Fort Zoutman. For a deeper understanding, consider booking a walking tour to hear exciting stories about the island’s history and culture.

In this area, you’ll find several cute souvenir shops to pick up gifts for your friends and family. You’ll also find a wide array of high-end stores, such as Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, offering a luxurious retail experience.

Sail on a catamaran cruise

Booking a catamaran cruise is a luxury experience that lets you see the island from a whole new perspective. Sail along the scenic coastline, soaking in the incredible views and heading to the area’s best snorkeling and sunset spots. It’s the perfect way to unwind and enjoy the island’s natural beauty.

Popular cruise agencies like Red Sail Sports and Black Pearl Sailing offer exceptional services, ensuring a memorable outing. Whether you’re snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, lounging on the deck, or watching a gorgeous sunset over the Caribbean Sea, a catamaran cruise provides a luxury experience unlike anything else.

When is the best time to visit Aruba?

Aruba is a great place to visit all year round. December to April is the most popular time to visit, as it is the island’s dry season. During this time, you’ll find minimal rainfall and pleasant weather, making it perfect for a beach vacation. If you would rather enjoy fewer crowds and cheaper accommodations, then the summer months of June to August may be a better choice.

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Airbnb with view of Paris Gerard Skehan / Airbnb, Inc.

The 2024 Summer Olympics promises to be an athletic and cultural extravaganza. With Paris as the backdrop, you can take in world-class competition and then immerse yourself in the city’s history and sights. Imagine watching the decathlon, then strolling the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. But first, you need somewhere to stay.

The prospect of standing on top of the world has lured thousands of mountain climbers to Mount Everest since the first successful attempt by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay 70 years ago. Commercial expeditions began in the 1990s, and since then — not counting the 2015 season disrupted by the catastrophic earthquake or the recent Covid-affected seasons — the number of climbers has increased dramatically.

Climbing Mount Everest may be popular, but the difficulty of reaching the highest point on earth should not be underplayed. Ignoring the hefty price tag associated with an Everest expedition, there's the sheer physical exertion of climbing to that altitude. Unless you plan to recreate Killian Jornet's feat of summiting twice in one week without supplementary oxygen — don't try this — then you'll need to set aside serious time for your ascent to the top of the world. So exactly, how long does it take to climb Mount Everest? Mount Everest climbing timeline