2025 Boat of the Year: Best Full-Size Multihull Over 50 Feet

Two hulls are better than one: Well, that’s the consensus of the growing number of sailors and charterers who opt for the ever-expanding universe of cruising and racing catamarans. But are three hulls better than two? That was the question posed by this trio of no-holds-barred multihulls, which included the fleet’s sole trimaran, the Neel 52. 

On massive platforms like these, the options and possibilities are almost endless, and all three of these boats were true marvels of ingenuity, technology and innovation. Of course, with sticker prices ranging from $1.5 million to $4 million, they well should be. At the end of the day, however, this triumvirate also offered excellent sailing. As far as the question of cat versus tri, at least for 2025, the judges made a firm choice.

WINNER: Neel 52
Neel-Trimarans

With five boats now in the growing lineup of Neel trimarans, judge Herb McCormick remembers how it all began. “Eric Neel was the whiz-kid head honcho at Fountaine Pajot when he left the world of production catamarans to launch his own company specializing in cruising trimarans,” McCormick said. “He was a solo offshore racer who competed in events such as the Route du Rhum, so performance was truly paramount. But production tris? Other than sport boats, nobody was building tris for cruisers. But he was a visionary and saw a void in the marketplace that demanded to be filled. His first 43-footer was cool, and I remember driving it for the first time: smooth as silk, with amazing visibility. It was clear that he was onto something. Neel is no longer with the company, but this sweet 52-footer is a fully formed extension of his original foresight. You really have to sail a tri to understand the differences from a cat: the motion, the stability, the overall ride. And this boat, under sail, really delivered the goods. The accommodations are sweet, and the systems sophisticated but straightforward. It’s the logical evolution of an iconic company.” 

Judge Mark Pillsbury gave a more granular assessment: “Owners don’t just get their own stateroom aboard the Neel 52 trimaran. They get a two-story suite with a head, shower and private office located aft in the starboard float, and a stunning view from the berth located on the bridge deck. The living space on this boat is tremendous. I could have spent the better part of a day going through the Neel’s engine room. Every wire and hose were clearly labeled and easily accessible. There was even a bank of chargers for all your onboard power-tool batteries. Wow.”

Finalist: Windelo 54 Yachting
Windelo Catamaran

“In the past few years of our Boat of the Year inspections and sea trials, it has seemed like there are fewer and fewer differences between the various nominees,” judge Tim Murphy said. “So, stepping aboard the Windelo, it was refreshing to see all sorts of new thinking in terms of building materials, layout and propulsion. The forward cockpit was a new take on a trend popular with some high-end cats. The hybrid diesel-electric motors and electrical system were innovative, and the move to build the boat using basalt fibers rather than fiberglass was definitely out-of-the-box thinking. Berths in the aft cabins were surrounded by glass. Underway, the water views are fantastic, and at anchor, the living space is filled with light. What’s not to like about that?” 

Herb McCormick added: “I really didn’t know how I felt about the Windelo when I first stepped aboard it. Not one but two steering stations in the interior. I’ve sailed many a big cat like a Gunboat with an interior helm in the salon, but never a pair of them. But once the dockside inspections were over and we hoisted sail, I was thoroughly impressed. It seems that happens every year in the Boat of the Year contest. Suddenly those helms made a lot of sense. The same as the sea berth right in the main salon, which is a great idea for offshore sailing: You can get some rest and still be back in the action in a moment’s notice if need be. This is a special boat, and we had no choice but to honor it as such.

Finalist: Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail
Xquisite Yachts

Judge Tim Murphy provided the overview: “The Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail comes from an impressive company that we Boat of the Year judges have watched grow from almost nothing in the past eight years. We’ve previously honored the 50-foot X5 and the X5 Plus from this builder, and we’ve been particularly impressed by the service regime that creator Tamas Hamor has established among Xquisite owners. It’s adapted for true worldwide travel. 

“In the 60, Hamor his taken his explosive creativity to new levels in detail after detail. In Hull No. 1, we found that his ideas were still one step ahead of the available technology. But keep an eye on this boat and this builder—new things are happening here that we’re sure will trickle through the fleets of boats from other builders.”

Mark Pillsbury added: “By design, the Xquisite Sixty Solar Sail is intended for sailors who want to travel and live off the grid. The boat is loaded with solar panels; employs a number of highly efficient systems for air conditioning, cooking and the like; and has a hybrid propulsion system that operates in conjunction with a large bank of lithium batteries. Xquisite is a builder that has employed gear, electronics and connectivity in a way that gives owners the systems needed to manage, maintain and sail a big vessel in conditions and locations that otherwise might not be possible for a shorthanded crew.”

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