A bumper crop of mono- and multihulls debut at international boat shows this autumn. Toby Hodges, Rupert Holmes and David Harding preview the headliners at Cannes 2022Hosted every September in the Port of Cannes, the Cannes Yachting Festival is Europe\u2019s biggest on-water boat show, with dozens of world premieres among the line-up. Here\u2019s our pick of the most interesting new yachts on display at Cannes boat show 2022.
\nPhoto: Guillaume Plisson
\nSolaris 50
\nI still clearly remember sailing the previous Solaris 50 from Aquilea in 2015, and the realisation that it was as special to helm as it was to look at. It became iconic, admired and imitated, and a European Yacht of the Year winner. This new incarnation has big shoes to fill then, but from these first sailing pictures, Solaris\u2019 long term mercurial Argentinian designer Soto Acebal seems to have worked his magic with the sleek hull lines once again. Solaris is promising even more performance thanks to the powerful, latest generation hull lines which are beamier aft and warrant twin rudders. This has created a particularly wide cockpit and enough space below the aft deck for a forward facing tender garage.
\nThe new 50 has also included some of the better ideas from last year\u2019s Solaris 60 and 40, in particular the side decks and helm seats. The steps to the side decks are forward of the helm pedestals for easy access, with the two winches in a practical to work space inboard each side yet within reach of the helms.
\nYet again we see the historic Italian yard focussing on helming pleasure \u2013 the pedestals are comparatively far outboard to create full visibility of the jib telltales even with the sprayhood raised, while the folding seats provide a neat addition of comfort for those wanting to spend long periods on the wheel. The integrated carbon bowsprit will suit a Code 0 or gennaker to bolster the standard self-tacking jib set up.
\nThe three cabin layout can see a centreline or offset master berth forward and the option for a twin instead of one of the doubles aft. There\u2019s also the choice of three heads with a linear galley or two heads with a C-shape galley. The yard has collaborated with Poltrona Frau to offer a range of materials, colours and finishes.
\nThe Solaris 50 will be displayed at Cannes, Genoa and Barcelona boat shows this autumn.
\nSolaris 50 specifications
\nLOA: 15.50m \/ 50ft 10in
\nLWL: 14.68m \/ 48ft 2in
\nBeam: 4.78m \/ 15ft 8in
\nDisplacement: 15,900kg \/ 35,053lb
\nPrice: ex VAT \u20ac595,000
\nBuilder: solarisyachts.com<\/p>\n
Excess 14
\nSince its launch just three years ago this Groupe Beneteau spin-off brand has made significant inroads into the ever-expanding market for cruising catamarans, beating initial sales targets by an impressive margin. What\u2019s more, Excess achieved this despite the first two models being based on the lower third of existing Lagoon hulls.
\nAs a result to date it has not been able to demonstrate its full vision. That changes with this design, which is conceived from the ground up exactly as the Excess team wanted, guided by input from the yard\u2019s customers and potential clients via the Excess Lab. This is a mix of online and real world conversations and testing around a broad variety of issues ranging from acceptable draught to electric propulsion.
\nIn the latter case, to learn more about pros and cons at first hand, an Excess 15 was fitted with twin electric motors, plus two diesel range extenders and extensive battery packs. The boat was then sailed from the Atlantic coast of France to the Mediterranean, including cruising to Sardinia, covering close to 2,000 miles. A more recent topic explored with the online community is that of how best to configure a yacht for those who need to work while on board.
\nA key requirement for the 14 was for a boat that would sail well. The hulls are therefore relatively slender, especially forward, and they are also asymmetric in shape. Product manager Herv\u00e9 Piveteau tells us this has three benefits: it reduces the drag that arises from the interference of the inner wave trains from each hull; It also reduces slamming; and stability is increased as the centre of buoyancy of each hull is moved outboard.
\nAs with earlier Excess models the helm stations are aft and outboard, but the 14\u2019s coachroof is shaped to give a better view forward. There\u2019s also an almost uninterrupted 360\u00ba view from the saloon, with no tall furniture or cabinetry obscuring the view, making it a viable place from which to con the boat at night or during inclement weather.
\nThe world premiere will be at Cannes.
\nExcess 14 specifications
\nHull length: 13.34m \/ 43ft 9in
\nBeam: 7.87m \/ 25ft 9in
\nDraught: 1.48m \/ 4ft 10in
\nDisplacement: 11,700kg \/ 25,794lb
\nPrice: TBA
\nBuilder: excess-catamarans.com<\/p>\n
Beneteau First 44
\nEver since the launch of the stunning First 53 three years ago we\u2019ve been looking forward to the prospect of more designs of a similar concept to fully revive Beneteau\u2019s once dominant First brand of production cruiser-racers. Like its larger stablemate, this new boat is a product of Roberto Biscontini, responsible for naval architecture, and Lorenzo Argento who designed the deck and interior layout. Once again the duo have not been afraid to break new ground in producing a comfortable and civilised fast design that can be built in sufficient numbers to create a desirable yacht at a price point that means we can expect to see a lot of them on the water.
\nI saw one of the prototype boats in Les Sables d\u2019Olonne soon after it was launched. Like the 53 the hull has a lot of flare above the waterline at the transom, but the chine is relatively soft and is not carried right forward. This approach has a couple of important benefits, especially for owners intending to spend extended periods in Mediterranean waters, where a lot of time is spent in light airs, but equally sustained winds above 30 knots can also be encountered.
\nWetted surface area in light airs is less than that of many twin-rudder wide transom designs, which translates to good light airs performance and therefore less time spent under power when on passage. Yet as the wind increases and the angle of heel builds the chine right aft starts to dig in, which increases stability.
\nBelow deck the arrangement follows a similar philosophy to that of the 53. These are not intended as charter boats with a maximum number of cabins. Instead the layout is optimised around the needs of four or six people who will often eat ashore when in port, or on deck when at anchor.
\nPricing of the First 44 will be announced shortly before it\u2019s unveiled at the Cannes Yachting Festival.
\nBeneteau First 44 specifications
\nLOA: 14.15-14.65m 46ft 5in-48ft 1in
\nBeam: 4.24m 13ft 11in
\nDraught: 2.15m 7ft 1in
\nDisplacement: 10,300kg 22,700lb
\nPrice: TBA
\nBuilder: beneteau.com<\/p>\n
Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 electric
\nAvailable in a standard or electric propulsion format, We featured this spacious but powerful semi-flybridge design in more detail in our July issue. Fountaine Pajot now has the first of its electric versions sailing and it is this model which will be shown at Cannes in September.
\nFountaine Pajot Aura 51 electric specifications
\nLOA:\u00a015.54m \/ 51ft 0in
\nBeam:\u00a08.08m \/ 26ft 6in
\nDisplacement:\u00a018,100kg \/ 39,900lb
\nDraught:\u00a01.3m \/ 4ft 3in
\nPrice:\u00a0POA
\nBuilder:\u00a0catamarans-fountaine-pajot.com
\nPhoto: Eva-Stina Kjellman
\nSwan 55
\nA measure of Nautor\u2019s success has to be in the sheer number of models it produces in sufficient numbers to be viable. The new 55 sits between the Swan 58 and the smallest model in the range, the Swan 48.
\nDesigner Germ\u00e0n Frers Snr says it has a new generation hull shape developed over the past couple of years: \u201cThese are hulls with a powerful back end that attain maximum sailing length and low resistance while heeled\u2026 they provide excellent balance through the range of heel angles in combination with the well proven twin rudder set up.\u201d
\nFive electric winches allow single-handed control, while comfort on deck has been improved both in the forward part of the cockpit and an extensive \u2018beach\u2019 area aft that allows easy access to the water and safe boarding from the tender. Four different styling moods developed by renowned interior designer Misa Poggi are offered for the three-cabin, twin-heads arrangement.
\nThe 55 can be seen at Cannes and Genoa.
\nSwan 55 specifications
\nHull length: 16.6m \/ 54ft 6in
\nBeam: 5.0m \/ 16ft 5in
\nDraught: 2.5m \/ 8ft 2in
\nDisplacement: 22,450kg \/ 49,494lb
\nPrice: TBA
\nBuilder: nautorswan.com<\/p>\n
Dufour 37
\nDufour released first images of its new 37 in July, and it\u2019s due to make its debut at the Cannes show. Umberto Felci\u2019s design continues the recent work done on models each side, such as the 470 we reviewed last year, and the 32 from earlier in 2022. Notable on the 37 is the amount of foredeck and cockpit space, which is helped by a beamy hull shape with full volumes forward \u2013 it all equates to a seriously roomy 10m yacht.
\nThe Italian designer has given it some go-faster treatment on the large angled hull and coachroof ports, features which should give the interior masses of natural light and good views. The two cabin version has an athwartships double berth aft, the three cabin has two conventional cabins aft.
\nDufour 37 specifications
\nLOA: 10.77m 35ft 4in
\nLWL: 9.31m 30ft 7in
\nBeam: 3.8m 6ft 5in
\nDisplacement: 6,474kg 14,273lb
\nPrice: TBA
\nBuilder: dufour-yachts.com<\/p>\n
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A bumper crop of mono- and multihulls debut at international boat shows this autumn. Toby Hodges, Rupert Holmes and David Harding preview the headliners at Cannes 2022Hosted every September in the Port of Cannes, the Cannes Yachting Festival is Europe\u2019s … <\/p>\n