dragonfly 40 catamaran

• AROUND THE SAILING WORLD
• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Email Newsletters
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology
• America’s Cup
• St. Petersburg
• Caribbean Championship
• Boating Safety

2024 Boat of the Year Best Trimaran: Dragonfly 40 Ultimate

• By Dave Reed
• December 20, 2023

“Classy.” That was the first word that came to mind for Boat of the Year judge Mike Ingham when he stepped aboard the formidable 40-foot trimaran from Dragonfly, an unexpected and welcome late entry to the competition in Annapolis. “It almost feels as if the boat is intentionally understated but overdelivered because once you start looking closer at the details and craftsmanship, it just keeps getting more impressive.”

Builder and company owner Jens Quorning, whose family has been building trimarans in southern Denmark since 1967, says the Dragonfly 40 is the biggest boat they now build and a worthy holder of the flagship title. “Building a boat of this scale is complicated,” he says of the folding trimaran. “It takes three years to develop a new design, and this is for owners looking for a bigger boat, with better performance, capable of more long-distance sailing.”

The result is a powerful trimaran aimed at experienced owners who appreciate the sheer pleasure of racing and cruising on three hulls. This is not your average production multihull. It is a powerful and luxurious sailing machine capable of knocking off fast miles in comfort. Slip down below and you’re immediately immersed in a master class of woodwork and joinery. There are berths for four, including a giant master under the cockpit, plenty of standing headroom, and a comfortable salon and galley arrangement that’s monohull-cozy. “We do not offer a big house on the water,” Quorning tells the judges. “But if you really want a fine and elegant yacht with double-digit sailing, this is what we do.”

For our tests, Dragonfly presented its Ultimate edition, the midrange version. An upscaled Performance model is an all-carbon version with a taller mast. And in the lightest wind of the week, sub-10 knots, the trimaran teased the judges with its potential. Still, in the light stuff, the boat delivered a winning experience.

“It was a dream to sail upwind and downwind, almost effortlessly,” Ingham says. “With the gennaker up, at about 100 degrees true, we were going faster than the wind, and with winch pods on each side of the steering wheel, everything was as ergonomic as you could possibly imagine. The electric winches made it a cinch to furl and unfurl the headsails through the tacks and jibes, and the sails trimmed in perfectly every time.”

The feather-light feel of the helm, Ingham adds, was as smooth as a balanced dinghy. “With tiny movements on the wheel, the boat would immediately respond, but I could also walk away from the helm for a few minutes and the boat would stay right on track. Crazy—I think it steered itself better than I did.”

That’s the trait of a good trimaran, Greg Stewart says. The Dragonfly 40 has a lot of buoyancy in the bows, and while the center hull is substantial, the tall trussed rig and square top mainsail provide plenty of power. “The biggest thing that struck me is how easily accessible everything is,” Stewart says. “Clearly, every detail is painstakingly thought out, and I can’t believe how beautifully built the interior is. It’s top-notch, from the glasswork to the paintwork inside and out. Down below, we were all blown away by the finish.”

There’s no denying the boat is expensive at upward of $1 million, but the test boat had quality race sails, a full electric-winch package, and a long list of high-spec extras. At nearly 15,000 pounds light, it’s a substantial boat—not trailerable, but foldable with Dragonfly’s trademark technique that Corning describes as mimicking parallel rules. The floats are 2 feet longer than the center hull, with buoyancy pushed well forward into the reversed bows, and the center hull is narrow at the waterline before sweeping upward to a high and hard chine. This pronounced hull shape allows for the generous amount of headroom, and high bench seats that flank a long centerline table, which can, of course, drop down to create a double-size berth.

Allen noted that the center hull’s wide side decks provide a secure pathway to the bow, rather than across the trampolines. He was also impressed with the ease of sailing the boat and the comfort belowdecks. “When we were doing 9 knots, I went below and there was silence. It’s comfortable and beautiful. It would be a blast to do some long point-to-point racing on it, doublehanded or with like a crew of four, max.”

Stewart agreed, adding that beyond its noteworthy gunkholing attributes, the engine is well aft on the center hull, allowing it to be motored safely into shallow anchorages. The daggerboard is mechanically raised into the trunk, and the rudder kicks up. “I also think it would be great for a distance race or rally type of event,” Stewart says. “Its performance and versatility are what appeal to me, but the build quality is what really sets it apart.”

• More: 2024 Boat of the Year , Sailboats
• More Sailboats

Nautor Swan Has A New Pocket Rocket

Pogo Launches its Latest Coastal Rocket

A Deeper Dive Into the Storm 18

2024 Boat of the Year Best Recreational Racer: Z24

Brauer Sails into Hearts, Minds and History

Anticipation and Temptation

America’s Offshore Couple

Jobson All-Star Juniors 2024: The Fast Generation

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Dragonfly 40

From eur 570,000.

Price data is acquired from numerous open sources and aggregated, it can only be used as a rough starting point and not a precise tool for comparison.

It most cases price:

• does not include VAT
• does not include delivery to a client
• accurate only for most basic options

Final price might be 30%-80% higher if you choose high specification.

0.7 m - 2.2 m

Anchored boats.

Look for this area at top right corner of the page.

Read reviews and tests

Dragonfly 40 yacht tour: This cruising trimaran can do 24 knots - Yachting World

The all-new dragonfly 40 trimaran | the multihull group, watch videos, similar boats.

from EUR 180,000

Boats by Dragonfly

Dragonfly 25.

from EUR 80,000

Dragonfly 28

from EUR 150,000

Dragonfly 32

from EUR 260,000

READ THE DRAGONFLY 40 BROCHURE

Check out the other dragonflys.

• Dragonfly 25
• Dragonfly 28
• Dragonfly 32

Quick links

• Dragonfly 40

Contact Info

• North Vancouver, British Columbia
• +1-778-653-7245
• [email protected]

Copyright © 2022 Dragonfly Trimarans Canada. All rights reserved. Legal & Privacy

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sailing Totem
• Charter Resources
• Destinations
• Galley Recipes
• Living Aboard
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology

2024 Boat of the Year: Best Performance Trimaran

• By Herb McCormick
• December 20, 2023

For the first time ever in the 29-year history of Boat of the Year , we’re introducing a new class to the proceedings: Performance Trimarans. To make things spicier, the two nominees not only shared the same length overall of 40 feet, but they also came in at the near-identical price point of around $800,000 for the base boat. 

Beyond those two parameters, however, the different approaches from these disparate brands were interesting and exciting. Cruising trimarans, though rare, are nothing new; the well-established Neel line of French-built trimarans has enjoyed plenty of success in previous BOTY contests. With that said, the judging panel was champing at the bit to put these fresh three-hull whizzes through their paces. And once under sail, we were definitely not disappointed. 

Winner: Dragonfly 40

Let’s cut right to the chase: The Dragonfly 40 had judge Tim Murphy swooning straight from hello: “This is an exquisite yacht in every detail. When you step aboard, the new-boat smell was not of styrene but of a wood shop. Built in Denmark by the Quorning family (designer and builder Jens Quorning took us on the test sail), it’s just a beautiful boat to look at from across the water. The wheel steering—no tiller here—was butter-smooth. Thanks to the boat’s extremely fine hulls, on our test sail we hardly felt any jerks or deceleration as we passed through several Severn River boat wakes. There were AGM batteries on this boat, but a lithium-battery system is an option. The kick-up centerboard and rudder are ingenious: Quorning as much as invited us to ground the boat on a shoal. From barber haulers to boom preventers, it’s full of great sailing details.”

Judge Mark Pillsbury was equally impressed: “As we finished up our all-too-brief sea trial aboard the Dragonfly 40, I scribbled ‘Top shelf!!!’ in my notebook. We had the benefit of sailing the boat with its thoroughly detail-oriented builder, who pointed to the seemingly endless features he’d employed to make this maybe the most memorable sailing boat of the year. At one point, I looked down at the GPS speed-over-ground number, which read 6 knots, then glanced at the true wind gauge: 5.2! Faster than the wind! The interior of the Dragonfly was elegant, with the furniture rendered in elm—not a wood we often see. But most impressive was the walk-in aft cabin instead of the crawl-in bunk often found in the narrow confines of a tri’s slender center hull.” 

Judge Herb McCormick was as astonished as his colleagues: “There isn’t a thing on the Dragonfly that Quorning hasn’t thought long and hard about, and then executed to a stellar degree. Take that centerboard arrangement, which is built into the central dining table and is integrated so well into the interior that it’s a functional piece of furniture as well as a foolproof cruising solution. What else can we say? It’s a magnificent freaking boat.”

Runner-up: Rapido Trimarans 40

The design brief for the Rapido 40 is straightforward: fast cruising and racing for a couple or crew; ocean-ready but able to sail and moor in shallow water. Nobody was more psyched to sail the boat than judge Herb McCormick, who was not disappointed. 

“I was first exposed to the brand at a multihull regatta in the Caribbean, where a larger Rapido 50 was in attendance,” he said. “I was on another boat, and we spent a lot of time looking at the Rapido’s transom. Then I stepped aboard the Rapido 40 for our trials and was handed the tiller extension; under the code zero, in about 15 seconds, we were making 14 knots. Whoa!”

Judge Mark Pillsbury said: “From stem to stern, the Rapido 40 came packed with features, including a double-taper carbon rotating mast, a Park Avenue-style boom for easy sail handling, daggerboards for upwind performance, and a very comfy cockpit. There’s an optional all-carbon version of the boat, including the drawers in the galley. The layout, with a comfortable V-berth and raised table in the salon—offering outstanding views of the great outdoors—is cruising-couple friendly.”

Judge Tim Murphy added: “The Rapido 40 is built in Vietnam by Paul Koch, the previous owner of Corsair Marine who started Rapido Trimarans in 2014. Rapido builds three models, all designed by the renowned team of Morrelli & Melvin. Our test boat had the standard infused construction, which is mostly E-glass with vinylester resin and a PVC core. There’s also carbon fiber near the bulkheads where the crossbeams meet. Carbon-fiber C-foils in the amas are intriguing and provide lift in two directions: up (to reduce sailing displacement but not fly) and to windward. Sailing the boat on the raised web seat with the tiller extension is gorgeous. It feels very sporty. Rapido’s latest claim to fame: The YouTube channel Sailing La Vagabonde has taken delivery of a Rapido 60, which will definitely raise the profile of the brand.”

• More: 2024 Boat of the Year , multihull , Print January 2024 , Sailboats
• More Sailboats

Balance 442 “Lasai” Set to Debut

Sailboat Review: Tartan 455

Meet the Bali 5.8

Celebrating a Classic

Kirsten Neuschäfer Receives CCA Blue Water Medal

2024 Regata del Sol al Sol Registration Closing Soon

US Sailing Honors Bob Johnstone

Bitter End Expands Watersports Program

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

• Dragonfly Service
• Dragonfly 1200
• Dragonfly 920
• Factory Tour
• Backstage Videos
• Dragonfly Sail Guide
• Try before buy
• Multihull Academy
• Dragonfly-Training & More
• Newsletter Archive
• Clubs & Associations
• Customer stories
• Merchandise
• Privacy Policy
• General Terms of Sale

Dragonfly 40

The all-new Dragonfly 40 is a cutting edge design with focus on easy handling and shorthanded sailing. Spacious cockpit and a stylish, modern interior. Setting new standards for comfortable and safe family offshore sailing. World Premiere boot 2020 Düsseldorf.

Dragonfly 25

The all-NEW Dragonfly 25 is a high-performance trailer-sailer, easy handling for camping and racing sailors looking for an exhilarating lightweight trimaran which retains comfortable accommodation for weekend cruising with family and friends

Dragonfly 28

The Dragonfly 28 sets new standards for the possibilities of a sailing boat. The perfect boat does not exist - but the Dragonfly 28 is very close to this ideal. New facelift design for all Dragonfly 28 models. The Dragonfly 28 comes in both a Touring and Sport version, and, introducing 2016 the new Dragonfly 28 Performance version

Dragonfly 32 Evolution

Discover the evolution of a popular model. Introducing high volume wave piercing floats for fast and relaxed sailing. Quality combined with performance secures an outstanding experience.

45 years of Trimarans

Quorning Boats offers an excellent range of our prize winning Dragonfly trimarans.

From ultimate freedom in versatility and performance to ocean crossing cruising, safety and comfort, it's your freedom of choice...

Dragonfly Days 2024

Registration for the owners event Dragonfly Days 2024 is open....

boot Düsseldorf 2024 has come to an end.

A huge thank you...

boot Düsseldorf 2024

boot Düsseldorf 2024 has opened their doors.

You will...

Boat of the Year 2024

Sailing World magazine announced on December 20th, the winners...

Cruising World magazine announced on December 6th, the winners...

boot Düsseldorf 2024 is around the corner.

From January...

Dragonfly newsletter

Find a dealer

Find your local dealer

Quorning Boats ApS

Skærbækvej 101 7000 Fredericia Denmark

+45 7556 2626

[email protected]

VAT No DK 18 88 83 78

Dragonfly 32

• Previous models

Quick links

DRAGONFLY 40 – PERFORMANCE CRUISER

DF 40 OVERVIEW

Dragonfly 40 performance cruiser is the new flagship of our range, and sets new standards in fast family cruising. the emphasis on easy handling and safe short-handed sailing..

The wide beam plus powerful, wave-piercing floats minimise heeling. However, they also slice cleanly through the chop for a smooth ride.

A spacious, dual-zone cockpit allows guests to relax around the table. Meanwhile all sailing controls are led aft to the working cockpit, where twin helm stations and a bank of electric winches allow easy and safe sailing. As a result, even solo-sailing is possible.

The stylish, modern interior in elm wood maximises cruising comfort, ensuring this boat sets new standards for fast family cruising. The cabin has 1.95m headroom, and the large table comfortably seats 8 to 10 people. Generous windows ensure a panoramic view, while multiple skylights maximise natural light and ventilation. Dragonfly 40 has separate forward and aft double cabins to maximise privacy. In addition, the portside seat quickly transforms into an extra double berth.

Dragonfly 40 is available in four versions, which all share the same accommodation but have different sized carbon rigs. Dragonfly 40 Touring has a self-tacking jib for easy handling. Meanwhile, Dragonfly 40 Ultimate has a taller carbon mast with an overlapping genoa, for higher performance. Both models can fly a Code 0 and gennaker from the fixed bowsprit, ensuring maximum efficiency and fun downwind. In addition, the bowsprit accommodates anchor stowage plus a retracting boarding ladder.

The float decks each have two large hatches, providing access to huge lockers for all your cruising gear. For example, extra sails, fenders and even mountain bikes. The optional stern hatch allows sea kayaks to be carried inside the float.

Dragonfly 40 becomes your own private island once at anchor. A huge, stable platform with space to spread out. The trampolines are perfect for relaxing in the sun, or for rigging wind- or kitesurfing kit. In addition, the kick-up rudder and centreboard reduce draft to just 0.7m, to access shallow anchorages. Therefore, you can enjoy those perfect spots denied to most other yachts.

On your return to the marina, Dragonfly 40 folds quickly at the press of a button to reduce beam by 50%. As a result it can be moored in a single berth, just like a conventional yacht.

Winner of ‘European Yacht of the Year 2021’ in the Performance Cruiser category. In conclusion, the jury described it as “the new benchmark in performance cruising”.

Winner of ‘Boat 0f the Year 2024’ – Best Performance Trimaran in the US. “One of the most exquisitely detailed boats we’ve had a chance to sail this year. It was just phenomenal”.

DRAGONFLY 40 CARBON – new for 2022

The new Dragonfly 40C Ultimate introduces carbon construction to the Dragonfly range. Key structural parts including the floats, beams, forward and aft structural bulkheads, plus centre board trunk are constructed in pre-preg carbon and cured in an Autoclave. This advanced construction reduces weight of the standard Ultimate by over 1,000kg, for a truly dynamic sailing experience.

Finally, we also now offer Dragonfly 40C Performance, which is based on the Dragonfly 40C Ultimate, but with an even taller and more powerful rig. This version is only intended for clients who want active sailing in the fast lane.

Fast, fun, incredibly well built. It’s the new benchmark in performance cruising

“The new flagship of the Danes reached 20 knots in the test with no effort … the range of action for cruising sailors is increased enormously!”

A fast sailboat, with an exceptional finish, and with which all programs are possible. Don’t look, it has no competitors.

One of the most exquisitely detailed boats we’ve had a chance to sail this year. It was just phenomenal.

The Dragonfly 40 Ultimate is a work of art inside and out, and when the sails are up, this tri flies.

IMAGE AND VIDEO GALLERY

Technical spec.

DOWNLOAD TECHNICAL SPEC FOR THE DF40

BROCHURE, BOAT TESTS + AWARDS

DRAGONFLY 40 PDF Brochure

WINNER European Yacht of the Year 2021

TESTS AND REVIEWS COMING SOON

DRAGONFLY MODELS

For enquires please call 01243 370707

Or email us via our Contact Form

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Dragonfly 25
• Dragonfly 28
• Dragonfly 32
• Dragonfly 40
• Previous Dragonfly Models
• Pre-owned DF
• Privacy Policy

Tel: 01243 370707 Email: [email protected]

Newsletter Sign Up

Email Address *

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Cookie and Privacy Settings

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

2023 Dragonfly 40

• 0 No item in your cart
• SUBSCRIPTION
• Classified Ads
• Technical Specifications
• Destinations
• Address book

• All the magazines

DRAGONFLY 40: A trimaran that's going to go well!

Article published on 14/02/2020

By Emmanuel van Deth

published in n°170 mar. / apr.

As promised by her Danish builder, the Dragonfly 40 made her first appearance at Boot Düsseldorf. Though not in her entirety… as the port float didn’t make the trip

Create a notification for "News from the builders"

We will keep you posted on new articles on this subject.

 And even though it was hard to imagine the full wingspan (8.40 m / 27½ feet, unfolded) of the largest of the Dragonflys, we have to admit that this 40-footer impressed us with the quality of her finish. With taut lines to the hulls and a sail area/weight ratio double that of cruising catamarans of the same length, her performance should be more than flattering, especially with the Ultimate version and its carbon mast. First seatrials on the water are planned for April. Congratulations are due for the storage space provided in the floats: you can even slide a kayak in there! The beam of the central hull is wide enough to offer a cozy layout with 1.95 m (6’5”) of headroom - which understandably reminds us more of a monohull - minus the heel - than the nacelle of a catamaran.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Builder: Quorning Boats

Length: 12.40 m (40’8”)

Beam: 4/8.40 m (13’2”/27’7”)

Light displacement: 5.8 t (12,800 lbs)

Draft: 0.70/2.10 m (28”/6’11”)

Mainsail area: 65/75 m² (700 / 805 sq ft)

Genoa: 33/38 m² (355 / 410 sq ft)

Gennaker: 110/140 m² (1,185 / 1,505sq ft)

No. of bunks: 6-8

Water: 220 l (58 US gal)

Diesel: 150 l (40 US gal)

Engine: 40 HP / 29 kW 

Price: € 559,000 ex-tax

Did you like this article ?

Share this article

Most-read articles in the same category.

Astus Boats Club - Ask for the 2024 program!

Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest: Charles Caudrelier's coronation aboard his Maxi Edmond de Rothschild

Alegria 67 - A Jacuzzi at La Grande-Motte?

Discovery 40 - A sedan built in Turkey

Bali 5.8 - The new flagship of the range

Dracan 42 - Another manufacturer on the powercat market!

What readers think.

Post a comment

No comments to show.

Follow us on

Vous avez ajouté " " à vos favoris., vous avez supprimé " " de vos favoris., in order to add this article to your favorites, please sign in..

Dragonfly 40 : Fast now even faster

Hauke Schmidt

 ·  29.02.2024

The competition of the Dragonfly 40

More space than expected below deck, the measured values for testing the dragonfly 40, the dragonfly 40 in detail, equipment and prices, yacht review of the dragonfly 40.

An update on the Dragonfly 40 : 25 boats had been sold by spring 2024, a considerable number considering the size and cost. But that's not all: together with Marström Composites in Sweden, Quorning Boats has developed an even more technically complex variant. Around half of the boat is manufactured using carbon prepregs in an autoclave under pressure and heat - the top shelf in modern boat building. In this way, both floats, all four beams, the two main load-bearing bulkheads in the centre hull, the centreboard box and the rudder are produced. These measures reduce the weight of the boat by around 1000 kilograms to just 4.8 tonnes. The centre hull is too complex for this construction method and the autoclave is too small, according to company boss Jens Quorning. He had expected to be able to sell only three to four units of the new hybrid carbon version, but has already been able to win over six customers. And this despite extremely increased costs. This is not only due to the higher carbon fibre part, but also to the new moulds required, which had to be made from solid carbon laminate for use in autoclaves and can withstand 120 degrees Celsius as well as the high pressure. The Dragonfly 40CPerformance costs from 1,095,000 euros including VAT.

Below is the test of the normal version Silver grey metallic, or in the language of automotive colour theory: lazurite blue. The Dragonfly's paintwork is very unique. What's more, it's a colour that's mainly used for large SUVs. The contrast could hardly be greater, because at 5.8 tonnes, the new twelve-metre-long Dragonfly really isn't a heavy SUV. Admittedly, the vehicle doesn't look very elegant when folded down to four metres. The floats press against the main hull and give the Tri a rather motorboat-like silhouette, especially as there is only a protruding bow and stern pulpit instead of a railing.

Most read articles

The casting off manoeuvre is also similar to that of a motorboat, as the stern of construction number 1 has a whopping 90 horsepower instead of the usual 40 hp. The lavish motorisation weighs only 40 kilograms more and is intended to enable fast cruising, but more on that later. For now, the power makes for a foaming wake. The extendable bow thruster is a welcome help when turning against the strong crosswind, as the Tri hardly dips and therefore has little lateral surface area, but is over 14 metres long when folded. Once under way, the centreboard and rudder work very well and the Dragonfly is very easy to manoeuvre.

Things get exciting again outside the harbour. The vessel has to be unfolded for sailing. In fact, the manoeuvre is limited to opening two halyard stoppers on each side and briefly using the standard E-winches. To increase the stability of the Tris, the floats are pushed deeper into the water when folded; their buoyancy therefore helps when unfolding. Only the last few metres of the endlessly sheared operating line have to be pulled through using the electric winch. The whole process takes less than a minute. Finally, the backstays are pushed through and the rig is tensioned with them.

• Rapido 40: Carbon trimaran from Vietnam - the test
• Test Neel 43: Lively Tri with sober functionality

As soon as the mainsail is set on the 2:1 halyard, the fun begins. The test boat is the Ultimate version with a higher rig, better equipment and an overlapping headsail. The squarehead main alone brings 75 square metres to the wind. The genoa provides a further 38, and the Code Zero has an area of 80 square metres. In the tamer touring version, the main and self-tacking jib together measure 90 square metres.

With no braking ballast and the enormous stability of the 8.40 metre beam, the wind energy is instantly converted into speed - sometimes an unusually dynamic undertaking in 14 to 22 knots of wind. You've just enjoyed the almost double-digit speed when a push catapults the Tri forwards and the logs rush upwards. Apart from the pure acceleration, little of this is noticeable; unlike a monohull, the heeling practically does not increase.

20 knots are easily reached

Only the rudder pressure seems disproportionately high for the first few miles. Designer and shipyard boss Jens Quorning quickly found the solution: The retractable rudder is not in the lowest position. Shortly before the test, the system was checked and the downhaul was probably not fully pushed through; small cause, big effect. With the correct blade position, the Tri hangs on the handlebars like a go-kart. The direct response to steering commands is also necessary, at least if you want to utilise the Dragonfly's full potential in gusty weather.

The rapid changes in speed require equally rapid and courageous course corrections in order to follow the apparent wind. This becomes particularly clear under Code Zero. The Tri carries the additional 80 square metres of cloth without any problems. As long as the wind doesn't drop too much, the log almost always shows 17 knots or more. As soon as the water surface upwind turns a telltale dark colour and announces a gust, it's time to drop off. 18, 19, 20 knots, the picturesque landscape of the Little Belt flies by and requires frequent gybing.

The lack of a traveller is noticeable here. So that the almost rectangular mainsail can also be trimmed to leeward without a carriage, an auxiliary tackle is rigged on the lee beam in addition to the sheet. Although the twist of the sail can be easily adjusted with the two tacking buoys, the auxiliary tacking buoy has to be taken off before every manoeuvre and attached again on the new bow - a bit tedious in narrow waters, so you will probably have to do without the perfect sail trim in touring mode.

The Dragonfly 40 accelerates enormously - but sails in a decidedly unagitated manner

It's also annoying that we have to return to our home harbour, because that means cruising. Not that the Dragonfly doesn't go upwind, quite the opposite. Thanks to the low water resistance and the very small sheeting angles, turning angles like a monohull are possible, and still at significantly higher speeds. The boat usually logs between 8 and 9 knots.

However, the helmsman must steer very carefully. The neutral but direct layout requires full concentration, as it offers little feedback, and the sails, which are cut flat for high speeds, are hardly forgiving of wrong currents. In other words: the Tri sails well, but if the helmsman is not fully focussed, it is easy to miss a knot or the boat sails 10 degrees too low.

There is little to worry about when tacking. As the floats hardly dip into the water without sail pressure, the Dragonfly turns very well through the wind. "If there's a lot of wind and waves, we recommend feathering the mainsheet slightly before tacking so that the sail doesn't exert so much pressure and the boat picks up speed more quickly on the new bow," says tri pro Quorning.

Light & safe

The floats offer a great deal of buoyancy and therefore large safety reserves, whether at the cross or during a space sheet ride. Even in heavy pushes, the boat builds up speed instead of diving away. This should not change even with a full holiday load. According to the shipyard, 1.8 tonnes can be loaded. This means that even a fully equipped Dragonfly weighs around 500 kilograms less than an empty monohull of comparable length, such as an X 4.0.

And this despite the fact that the shipyard only uses carbon fibre for the mast profile. The hulls are laminated by hand. Wherever possible, Divinycell sandwich is used, and the required laminate thicknesses are precisely calculated. As no keel forces have to be introduced, the structure looks completely different to that of a monohull. Enormous loads occur in the area of the forward beams in particular. For this reason, there is no square door in the passageway to the forecastle, only an oval opening. "The bulkhead has to withstand up to 25 tonnes of pressure," says Quorning. "We can't make a larger hole." The beams are also subjected to extreme loads; they are laminated in an infusion process under vacuum and then annealed.

Plastic parts and rig manufactured in our own workshop

To ensure the desired lightweight construction and quality, the shipyard manufactures the plastic parts itself. Quorning Boats has a total of five sites in and around Skærbæk. Dismantling and final assembly also take place there, at the shipyard's headquarters. To prevent deformation, the hulls are stored in precisely fitting negative moulds.

Even the rigs are produced in the company's own workshop; only the bare carbon fibre tube is manufactured by a supplier. Standard masts with a teardrop-shaped profile are out of the question for Quorning. "Our round masts have less wind contact surface, which is important in extreme crosswinds and with folded floats," explains the shipyard boss.

On the last few miles to the harbour, the engine has to be tested. Theoretically, the powerful engine should be sufficient for comfortable cruising beyond 11 knots. The shipyard had already trialled this concept on the predecessor model, the Dragonfly 1200. However, the set-up on the 40 is not yet perfect. When accelerating, the powerful diesel engine pushes very hard, but the cruising speed of around 8 knots is hardly any higher than would be expected with the standard engine, which is half as powerful, and this results in strong vibrations.

Quorning is also not satisfied with this result. His assumption: the engine power requires a very large propeller, the distance between it and the fuselage is too small. This causes turbulence and eats up power. A longer saildrive should solve the problem. Falling dry should also not be a problem with the drive projecting further downwards.

The shipyard boss is proud of the 40's space utilisation. The living space below deck on trimarans is usually tight, as only the slim centre hull is inhabited. The Dragonfly is no exception to this rule, but the bulkhead shape of the main hull significantly increases the usable volume. While the underwater hull is slim and sharply cut as before, the width above the waterline increases abruptly, creating more space. A positive side effect: the step in the side wall acts as a water deflector, so the Dragonfly sails dry even at high speeds.

The layout corresponds to the classic monohull standard with an aft cabin. This was not previously the case with Dragonfly: either the aft berth was open to the saloon as on the 35, or it was completely separate and only accessible from the cockpit. Surprisingly, although the cabin is under the cockpit, it offers a pleasant amount of headroom. The obligatory escape hatch provides a view of the sea, and a deck hatch lets additional light into the cabin. The corner-opening wardrobe with compartments integrated into the door is a clever solution.

The rest of the ship is also bright. In the saloon, the wide window strip and three large deck hatches provide daylight. The hull windows installed in the test boat are also available on request. The side windows in the foredeck are standard.

Classic room layout with excellent workmanship

The integration of the centreboard box is a good solution; it replaces the table base and extends under the pantry block, so the massive component hardly interferes. The high seating position, on the other hand, is unconventional. In order to utilise the additional width of the hull, the saloon bays are unusually high. This means that the feet on the starboard side have no contact with the floor. A footrest can therefore be folded out for comfortable seating.

Overall, the interior fittings leave a very good impression. The woodwork, with its many moulded coamings and edgings, is just as flawless as the silk-matt paintwork. The gaps are perfect and the grain of the unusual elm veneer is beautifully harmonised. Quorning thus presents a level of maturity that is rarely found in prototypes.

However, the price is also in a class of its own. Even the 785,800 Euro for the basic boat are not favourable. If you look at the price per knot, the calculation looks better, because even a Shogun 50, which is twice as expensive, does not sail nearly as fast with a small crew, not to mention the maintenance costs of the 50-footer.

Technical data of the Dragonfly 40

• Designer: Quorning/Olsen
• CE design category: A
• Torso length: 12,40 m
• Total length/folded: 12,40/14,17 m
• Waterline length: 11,50 m
• Width/folded: 8,40/4,00 m
• Depth: 0,70-2,20 m
• Weight: 5,8 t
• Ballast/proportion: 0,0 t/0 %
• Mast height above waterline: 20,75 m
• Mainsail: 75,0 m2
• Furling genoa (110%): 38,0 m2
• machine (Yanmar): 27 kW/40 hp
• Fuel tank: 150 l
• Fresh water tank: 220 l
• Holding tank: 75 l

Hull and deck construction

GRP sandwich with Divinycell and vinyl ester resin using the hand lay-up process, beams and bulkheads laminated using the vacuum infusion process, tempered

• Base price ex shipyard: 865.000 € gross incl. 19 % VAT.
• Standard equipment2 included: Engine, sheets, railing, navigation lights, batteries, compass, cushions, galley/cooker, bilge pump, toilet, sailcloth, anchor/chain, fenders, mooring lines, fire extinguisher, electric cooler, holding tank with suction system
• Also included in the price: Four electric winches, AGM consumer batteries with 300 ampere hours capacity, carbon mast, mast slide system, mainsail and self-tacking jib as Epex membrane, folding propeller
• Guarantee/against osmosis: 2/5 years

As of 02/2024, how the prices shown are defined can be found here !

Shipyard and distribution

Quorning Boats Aps, Skærbækvej 101, 7000 Fredericia/Denmark; Tel.: 0045/75 56 26 26; www.dragonfly.dk

The Dragonfly enables enormous average speeds without demanding the crew and offers an astonishing amount of space below deck. The folding mechanism allows the Tri to shrink in the harbour. That makes it unique. The workmanship is exquisite, but so is the price

Design and concept

• + Solid construction
• + Sophisticated folding system
• + Variable draught, can fall dry

Sailing performance and trim

• + Good crossover properties
• + Very high cruising speed
• - Cumbersome traveller replacement

Living and finishing quality

• + Very good workmanship
• + Very good utilisation of space
• + Elegant mix of materials

Equipment and technology

• + Very high-quality equipment
• + E-winches as standard
• + Comprehensive basic equipment

This article first appeared in YACHT issue 14/2020 and has been revised for this online version.

Other interesting multihulls:

• Test Outremer 52: Sporty catamaran with top equipment - multihull of the year 2024
• Multihull: Dragonfly 28 trimaran compared by generation
• Ultim Challenge: Around the world solo in 40 days with monster trimarans
• Multihull innovations: Focus on comfort and performance - Market overview

Most read in category Yachts

Multihulls: new yacht reviews

• Toby Hodges
• January 18, 2019

This looks set to be another thrilling year for multihulls with new models from Dragonfly, Lagoon, Fountaine-Pajot and Dufour and more

Yes, the racing world is stretching the boundaries, with 100ft foiling maxi trimarans tearing around the globe and F50s, the ex- American’s Cup catamarans, now turned-up to sail at 50+ knots for gladiatorial-style stadium racing. But it’s the production monohulls, growing ever more popular among cruising sailors, that are pushing this industry forwards.

The sector is a constantly bubbling melting pot of new ideas and models – some of which we explore in this Multihull Guide. In fact, the multihull market has grown so much that the world’s largest boatbuilder is launching its second catamaran range to appeal to younger, sportier sailors.

Dragonfly 40

A new 40-foot flagship has been unveiled by Denmark’s folding trimaran specialist Dragonfly. The boat won’t reach the public eye until the Dusseldorf Boat Show in 2020, but we already have a good idea of how she will look and perform.

“The project has been influenced by past owners who moved up to larger multihulls for greater space, but reported missing the fun factor of their previous Dragonfly,” explains UK dealer Al Wood of Multihull Solutions. “Our owners and potential clients report that they don’t require more cabins when away cruising, but would welcome more living space below plus greater cockpit space for day-sailing with friends.”

The cockpit has been the focus of much of Dragonfly’s design work, with twin wheels and an optional bathing platform transom. It is also wider than on previous models, allowing sail controls to move aft for easier short-handing, and giving easy access to the stern for Med-style mooring.

The mast is in lightweight carbon – 18.5m tall for the Ultimate version of the boat or 16.5m for the Touring edition. Displacing just 4.9 tonnes in her ready-to-sail state, the boat is forecast to be capable of speeds up to 24 knots. Other details are scant at the moment, except that Dragonfly is putting the emphasis on easy handling. The trademark folding crossbeams give her a beam of just 4m, down from her full span of 8.5m. The folding process slightly increases her length – from 12.1m to 13.5m. At this size, the boat is clearly not trailerable, unlike her little sisters, but with the Quorning yard’s high reputation, expect scintillating performance.

Price: From €425,000 Contact: Dragonfly

Dragonfly 32 Evolution

Dragonfly has given the performance variant of its popular 32-footer a makeover. The old Supreme will be replaced with the Evolution, which sports a new wave-piercing float design and 20 per cent more buoyancy to make the boat more comfortable in strong winds and tougher conditions.

Interestingly, the mainsail has been trimmed by around 2.5 square metres, making the rig less powerful, but Al Wood of Multihull Solutions says that this was in response to the greater hull buoyancy. “The mainsail has a slightly reduced roach compared to earlier boats to alter the balance of the boat, which changed as these new wave-piercing floats generate significantly more righting moment with less immersion than the original design.”

The rudder section is slightly improved, to resist stalling in extreme conditions, and the new boat will premier at Dusseldorf this year. Pictured is the first 32 Evolution sailing and with the first of Dragonfly’s contemporary new Elm interiors. Price: from €276,800 Contact: Dragonfly

Lagoon says greater comfort is a key goal of its new model, the 46. The French yard has charged former Renault designer Patrick le Quément with the task of meeting owners’ expectations about comfort in a market where the ‘cruising experience is becoming a lifestyle’. The design team at VPLP has made fundamental changes to the successful formula of the old 450. Chief amongst these is moving the mast of the 46 further aft on the coachroof. As a result the jib becomes a self-tacker, and the larger forward triangle offers a greater choice of downwind sails. The boom has been shortened and the main has a higher aspect, reducing pitching.

The flybridge helm has been centred and sits directly behind the mast, which means that the footwell protrudes slightly into the cockpit below – something that has been disguised by turning it into a deep frame for the sliding aft windows of the saloon. There’s a sliding stool in the cockpit, and a hydraulic bathing platform.

Italian designer Nauta has made efficient use of the available space with queen-sized beds in all three (or four) cabins, plus a stylish-looking saloon. At 16.6 tonnes displacement, this is no lightweight racer, but it will get you to your destination in comfort.

Price: from €433,000 Contact: Lagoon Catamarans

Sneak peak: XCS by Beneteau

In the hotly-contested 40-something foot category, the Groupe Beneteau team behind Lagoon and CNB luxury monohulls is carving out a new cat brand called XCS. It is pitched at younger, sportier sailors with the tagline ‘be immoderate’. That translates in part to a bigger sailplan than ‘standard’ cruising cats, and with a higher aspect ratio – that is, tall and thin. This positions the mast further aft and allows a self-tacking jib.

The boats will also feature twin aft helm stations, in contrast to many production cats. “It is the ideal position to keep an eye on the sea and sails, whether windward or leeward, and above all, it provides the most sensations at the helm,” explains project director Bruno Belmont. He also says that having a low boom close to the bimini will increase the mainsail’s performance. There will be plexiglass in the hardtop for a better view of the sails, or the option of a fully retractable bimini. Snippets of video posted online hint at a longeron between the bows offering a tack point for reaching and downwind sails. And the hull has heavily bevelled topsides with a striking chine just above the waterline, as well as generous curved hull lights. Three interior layouts will be available, with pared down furniture to save about a tonne of weight. It all adds up to a boat that should be faster than the standard cruising cat, though short of the “super fast” technical offerings from the likes of HH and Gunboat. “We want to be on the sporty side of the main cruising cat brands,” adds Belmont. “It won’t be an elitist range, but a brand where you get more sailing pleasure.” There will be five sizes from around 36ft to 50ft, and the first two models will be launched at Cannes Boat Show in September.

Prices:  close to similarly sized Lagoons. Contact: Excess Catamarans

Fountaine-Pajot 45

The French bluewater cruising cat specialist has continued its range refresh with a replacement for the hugely successful Helia 44, which has sold 260 hulls since 2012. The new 45 was drawn by Berret Racoupeau, and is slightly bigger in all dimensions. In line with current trends, it offers more creature comforts but at the cost of nearly 1.5 tonnes additional weight than the Helia. That is partly offset by a larger 74m2 main and by a lower wetted surface. “It means a higher top speed and more comfortable under engines,” says marketing manager Helene de Fontainieu.

What you get for the extra weight is compelling. The bulkhead helmstation has been remodelled to improve line handling. Inside there is a bigger saloon with a huge galley down the port side and a dedicated navstation aft. There’s the new 8.5m2 forward lounging space, a barbecue in the transom seat and the option of a hydraulically lowering ‘beach club’ (swim platform and tender lift). There are still sunbeds on the coachroof, and a seating area on the flybridge. The designers have introduced more light, with extra glazing in the saloon and  the cabins. The 45 hits the water in the summer. Price: €419,000 Contact: Fountaine-Pajot

Update: Gunboat 68

After years of development and design work and over a year in build, the first Gunboat 68 has emerged from the yard at La Grande Motte, southern France, and will be launched in late January. Hulls two and three are also in build. Fresh details have emerged about the design itself. The hull is finished with paint rather than gelcoat in order to save weight, and to allow customisation to continue long after the boat emerges from the mould. Hull one is painted in dark silver Awlcraft, containing real flakes of metal. Meanwhile, the interior finish is super-light fabric panels that can easily be removed and offer a degree of insulation as well. “The bulkheads are, in effect, triple glazed,” says Gunboat COO William Jelbert.

The high-aspect, heavily raked rig comes in performance cruising and regatta versions. In the first, the boat will only fly a hull in more than 20 knots of true wind, whereas the racing rig achieves this at 16 knots with a rotating mast that is 4m higher. Velocity predictions suggest the regatta rig will perform 12 per cent better upwind and 20 per cent better downwind.

Gunboat also went back to basics with Jefa to design the steering system with the help of Michel Desjoyeaux. The 25kg carbon blades are fully retractable, sacrificial in the event of a collision and the whole system is designed to support T-foil rudders in the future. Look out for hull number one at the BVI Spring Regatta. Sailaway price: €5.5m Contact: Gunboat

First look: ITA 14.99

A combination of sharp design, punchy performance potential, comfort and build quality brings plenty of appeal to this sporty new Italian-built cat. Its light displacement of 10.5 tonnes (fully loaded 13.5 tonnes) is impressive thanks to an E-glass epoxy-infused build with carbon strengthening. “She’s reactive and stiff,” said designer Francois Perus during its debut at Cannes Boat Show, adding: “as soon as there’s a bit of wind she just wants to go.” The layout will suit those wanting to actively helm. I like the position of the helmstations, with optional swing-out wheels, which give good forward views over the low coachroof. A central aft winch is employed for halyards and reefing lines, which helps keep the cockpit clear of lines. Despite the lightweight composite build, weight is permitted where it will aid comfort, such as with the use of proper glass windows surrounding the coachroof and resin worktops in the galley. Elsewhere furniture is built in sandwich balsa with a teak veneer finish. Price: €890,000 ex VAT. Contact: Ita Catamarans

Dufour 48 Cat

Designed and built in Italy, the first Dufour catamaran was hastily finished in time for the Cannes Boat Show last September. “This is the only cat of this size with a proper flybridge” said Umberto Felci on showing me his new design, “which is divided into three areas of driving [single helm], seating and sunbathing”. The flat coachroof top is huge, which, together with the flybridge seating is designed to act as a second cockpit. The aft position of the mast meanwhile creates a sizeable area for a self-tacking, non-overlapping jib. There are nicely proportioned amounts of space inside for the cockpit, main deck and galley. I like the island worktop around the mast base to extend the galley. Guest cabins each have their own companionway entrance.

Price: TBC Contact: Dufour Catamarans

Sunreef 60/80 


Sunreef is a ‘small family business’ that has grown to its current €50m turnover, said CEO Francis Lapp. He was addressing at least 30 journalists on the aft deck of the first Sunreef 80. The boat is the queen of a new range that sees the Polish firm targeting the large charter market of 50ft–80ft crewed cats (around 80% of Sunreefs go to charter). Business is booming, according to Sunreef, which says it has sold eight of the new 80s, eight 60s and ten 50s off the plans. Sunreef already has 500 employees and is looking for more to help meet this incredible demand.

The amount of space on offer on the new 60 and 80 has to be seen to be believed. The designs feature enormous open-plan saloons and adjoining cockpits, which are designed with very little fixed furniture – allowing them to be customised or to double as party lounges. And the flybridges, mostly with Jacuzzis, offer alfresco dining areas and yet more sun lounging space (oh, and the helmstations). The first 60 to launch is a charter version with five guest cabins, while the privately owned 80 has the largest owner’s cabin I’ve ever seen on any size sailing yacht.

Price: Approximate pricing is €2.2m for the 60 and €5m for the 80. Contact: Sunreef Yachts

McConaghy MC60

The MC50 stole the show when it launched at La Grande Motte in April last year. Just four months later, McConaghy was back with its second Jason Ker design, the MC60, at Cannes Boat Show. It’s very much the larger sister and similar design to the MC50, sharing many of its standout features, including the aft flybridge helmstations, hydraulic centreboards and the sumptuous open-plan saloon and galley. Its main benefits come down to volume and length. “You get more waterline length for not much more weight,” says Ker of the MC60. There’s more empty bow space and a lot more volume. The British designer also thinks it’s a size that can still be owner-operated – indeed there’s not even a dedicated crew cabin option. McConaghy says the helm set-up, with its full views over the bows, suits those who want to sail the boat by themselves without a crew. The question remains how comfortable this position may prove in a seaway. The Design Unlimited interior is styled to suit each owner. The first boat has a very pale finish with light oak veneer masking the foam sandwich build. Again it’s the huge electric opening side windows and three longitudinal skylights in the saloon that help provide the overall wow factor.

Price: €2.15m ex VAT. Contact: McConaghy Boats

Never has a catamaran of this size offered so much living space. Bali takes its outdoor/indoor concept to a whole new level with its new flagship 55-footer. Similar to its previous designs, Bali uses an open one-level saloon, galley and aft cockpit area, with a garage-style glass door that swings down to close off the aft when required. The flybridge is also enormous, with the majority of space given to leisure area, however the boom is pushed up high and there’s only one helmstation. Accommodation space is also vast, stretched to both ends of the hulls. A solid deck is preferred to a trampoline to help increase foredeck cockpit space and forepeak cabins. Two aft compact cabins meanwhile, accessed from the aft deck, also help maximise the number of cabins available. These use clever doors that hinge up like car bonnets, which will likely only suit fair weather sailing. The four main transverse double guest cabins in the central hulls, meanwhile, are simply enormous.

Price: €755,400 ex VAT. Contact: Bali Catamarans

Aventura 34

Price: €159,000 ex VAT. Contact: Aventura Catamarans

François Perus: multihull designer profile

With dreadnought bows and low-slung coachroof, the ITA 14.99 captured attention from all quarters when she made her debut at…

Multihulls: owners’ experiences and reviews

They have two different boats, different sailing plans and two very different sets of experience. But what these cruisers have…

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

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site.

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!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

Must-Have Boat Gear for Catamaran Sailors!

Sailing is probably the most gear-intensive activity I've ever done; there are so many decisions to be made about what gear to buy now, for tomorrow, and what to definitely never buy. The gear on...

6 Best Trailerable Trimarans For Bluewater and Coastal Sailing

Having a boat costs a lot of money, even when you are not using it, marina fees, etc. And once it is in the water most sailors never go very far from their "home marina" and sailing will be somewhat...