NEEL 45 Trimarans making a splash with Australian cruisers

by Kate Elkington on 2 Apr 2015 More Australians have purchased an innovative NEEL 45, in a reflection of the trimaran’s increasing popularity for world cruising. The most recent new owners bought the incredible trimaran from Multihull Solutions after conducting extensive international research into the best vessel for speed, performance and comfort.

“We chose the NEEL 45 as we felt it was the best sailing cruising multihull,” the owner said. “We like the idea that it will be faster and smoother in getting from place to place, which will encourage us to explore more.”

The owners originally chartered the trimaran for a week’s trial in the Caribbean and were immediately impressed. “The NEEL 45 is definitely the boat for the journey and the destination,” they said.

The new owners took advantage of the weakened European currencies to purchase the trimaran and collect it ex-factory from the shipyard in France. They plan to spend time cruising the Mediterranean for two seasons, then head to the Caribbean for a couple of years before eventually making their way back to Australia.

NEEL has become a dynamic force in the multihull industry garnering international acclaim for its offshore performance, design innovations and exceptional interior volume. In 2013, the NEEL 45 was awarded ‘Boat of the Year’ by Cruising World magazine as well as the ‘Most Innovative Boat of the Year’ by Sail magazine.

The trimaran sets new standards in high performance, live-aboard innovation with excellent use of space and light, a modern design, a loft look and generous storage areas. The NEEL 45 has a high level of privacy in its cabins, as well as independence for owner and crew who have well-separated accommodation.

The boat features a unique layout that distinguishes it from traditional trimarans. Its two wings are connected by the living area, which accommodates the galley, spacious saloon and cockpit. Designed with an emphasis on innovation to improve overall performance, the reversed bows reduce pitching and maximise the trimaran’s waterline length.

The width of NEEL trimarans is an important safety factor in high seas, delivering optimal stability, and the PVC foam sandwich construction and anti-collision partitions makes the NEEL trimaran range unsinkable. Three fins protect the hulls, rudder and the propeller, and the main hull fin enables the NEEL 45 to sail directly onto a ramp or a beach.

The two lateral fins provide exceptional stability and the trimaran can explore shallow waters or take refuge in shallow bays in inclement weather conditions. Winches and stoppers for maneuvering the sails are also fitted inside, so the crew is completely protected in strong winds and this innovative feature is extremely convenient for night sailing.

The NEEL 45 is available in two versions. The Owner’s Version is designed as a live-aboard cruising trimaran that comprises an owner’s suite with private bathroom, plus two double bedrooms, additional bathroom and extensive storage capacity. The Charter Version can accommodate 12 guests.

The NEEL 45 is currently available to charter in various destinations in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and United States.

NEEL Trimarans has also successfully launched its Custom-Line service, enabling clients to radically tailor their trimaran’s interior to suit their individual needs. Two fully customised NEEL 45 trimarans have recently been completed under this new scheme, including a Japanese client who received an entirely customised galley according to his specific requirements, and a German couple who requested significant modifications to the standard layout to result in their boat featuring one capacious Owner suite and designer bathroom. One of these customised NEEL 45s will be premiered at the 2015 La Grande Motte Boat Show in France from 15 – 19 April.

Further information about the NEEL 45 can be obtained by contacting Multihull Solutions on 1300 855 338 (within Australia) or 0508 MULTIS (within New Zealand), +66 8 1894 1530 (within Asia), emailing info@multihullsolutions.com.au or visiting the website.