80-83_essai_Neel_MM153-US_essai 14/05/12 15:15 Page80 TEST 1 Neel 45 The revolution on three hulls Two years after Here the hulls and floats are no longer dedi- stops there. cated to the liveable volume, but following the On the Neel, unlike on a cruising catamaran, having presented a example of more performance-oriented boats, there is no chasing after liveable volume, as resolutely innovative the whole boat is organised around hulls the builder considers it sufficient, with a whose essential role is to support the boat's saloon (convertible into a double berth), three 50-foot trimaran at displacement. Here there is a living platform, double cabins, two heads and a galley. On our La Rochelle's Grand as flat as a pancake (see the accommodation test model, (the first, destined for charter), plan!), on the structure of a trimaran. The there are in addition two single berths in each Pavois, the builder result is convincing, the object is beautiful of the floats. Of course they can only be used Neel is launching a (subjective view), successful and very at anchor, and beware of tropical squalls! The modern, with its three inverted bows, just like Neel 45 is a pretty trimaran, awaited by many brand new 45-footer, Banque Populaire V or a MOD 70. But there is sailing boat enthusiasts, because these three- also the ridge, which marks on the hulls a hulled boats have the rare quality of reminding built on the same slight 'longitudinal step', whose presence can us of the advantages of the monohull - plea- basic principle as its only be justified as an accompaniment to the sure at the helm, as well as the satisfaction of design of the cross beams, which are closer sailing well to windward - and those of the big sister. to the wing principle, so dear to Newick. catamaran - fast sailing, absence of heel, and Looking closely, moreover, there is a vague of course the liveable area, which we find family connection with the American archi- here, with the 60m² of the rigid platform and Text and photos: tect, with notably the stern of the central hull, of course even more if we count the trampo- Gilles Ruffet et DR which is completely open. The comparison line. We must remember that before the Neel, 80 80-83_essai_Neel_MM153-US_essai 14/05/12 15:15 Page81 2 3 4 5 only Gérard Pesty and his mythi- through its cloth, it shape and to take in a first reef, then a the coachroof. Compared to the cal 'Architeutis' had dared to its cut. Just aft of it, there is the second. This innovative division Neel 50, certain points which in employ such architecture, using self-tacking staysail on a roller, of the sail plan allows you to sail my opinion were questionable a large part of the available attached to the mast at the always with a nice foresail: have been changed; this is the space. The other (too) rare crui- same level as the lower there is nothing more disastrous case for the mainsheet, which sing trimarans on the market shrouds, which guarantees pro- for sailing to windward than a was made up of a single strand. make do with a liveable volume per support. This splitting of the rolled-up genoa. But it must be It has been replaced by twin almost comparable to that of an sail area also allows the mast to admitted, it is very practical… sheets, as on the Catanas, equivalent-sized monohull. be positioned further aft. Note also that the mainsail ree- which are also returned to the The mainsail is square headed fing pendants do not pass helmsman, after passing via the through blocks, as is usually the mastfoot. They are attached to AN INNOVATIVE SAIL PLAN and has two reefs. Although the first one is situated at around The sail plan deserves closer the lower quarter of the sail, the attention, as it differs in many second is almost in the middle, The Neel 45 is a pretty trimaran, awaited by ways from what we normally so your reefing habits will have see on a cruising boat. The fore- to be revised: on a 'classic' frac- numerous sailing boat enthusiasts. triangle is organised around a tional catamaran rig, you start sail which can be described as a by taking in one reef, then one hybrid, on a roller, flown from or two turns in the genoa, case, but through friction rings. snap links, which allow them to the bow; a sail which is bet- before taking in the second reef, The main halyard and reefing be moved when sailing down- ween a genoa and a gennaker etc. Here on the Neel, when the pendants are handled from the wind to act as a barber hauler (already the word 'gennaker is a wind freshens, the genoa is rol- mastfoot. You can climb on to for the mainsail. Trimming is cross between genoa and spin- led up, leaving just the staysail the coachroof from the front, via easy and with experience will naker, so what should we call it? (see box with the delivery skip- a step. Beware, however, the be as precise as with a more A Geeker?), even though it is per's report). There is therefore non-slip finish will perhaps not classical traveller/mainsheet finally closer to the genoa, a lot of latitude before you have be enough, and you may have to track setup. The advantage of add a few handholds and sup- this system is that it simplifies 1 : A trimaran for blue-water cruising, this is the Neel 45's wager. ports to have access serenely – the deck plan. The headsails are a detail which also applies to the hoisted on an all-or-nothing prin- 2 : Seaworthy, fast, lively on the helm – this trimaran that Neel has des- igned reinvents the cruising multihull. Bravo! central sugar scoop. The other ciple; thus the sheets don't control lines return to the stee- pass via blocks on a track, but 3 : You either like this atypical boat's lines, or you don't… ring position, on the aft side of via a fixed block. On certain 4 : Anchored off the Plage des Salines in Martinique... We told you this was a blue-water cruising boat! 5 : Three hulls for ocean cruising guarantees a giant platform. 80-83_essai_Neel_MM153-US_essai 14/05/12 15:15 Page82 TEST points of sailing, notably ted to points of sailing further downwind, a barber will be from the wind (it's not a Code needed. A pad eye on the 0!) and handicapped by a coachroof will be useful for slightly offset clew, does not this. allow good pointing. In addi- tion, the fixed anti-leeway arrangements, made up of a THE JOYS OF CRUISING IN A small appendage, as well as SAILING BOAT the V-shaped floats, which is effective in strong winds, About ten days passed bet- shows its limitations in light 6 ween the boat's launch and its weather (as is the case for all departure on the delivery trip multihulls with keels). to the West Indies (where it is Although to windward the a disadvantage in rough seas. boat with the chain, otherwise now available for charter from boat can do without a Code 0, The compromise is interes- the bow roller will suffer. This Autremer Concept, in Le downwind, there should be no ting, and under power, the point has also been corrected Marin, Martinique). Between a hesitation in boosting the avai- floats barely skim the surface on the n° 2. Note that the winter storm and work to per- lable sail area with a big asym- of the water. Drag from the chain disappears into the chain fect the boat, the only free day metric spinnaker or a genna- central hull is low. Propelled by locker, but this is not accessi- was a rainy one. Not the best ker. Because with our 8 knots the 50 hp Volvo, at 2,600 rpm, ble from the exterior, so in the for sailing, even less so for the of wind, after bearing away, the Neel was doing a peaceful case of a blockage (or more photos... Not to mention the there was barely enough sail, simply to check if the chain is wind, which did as it pleased, and on a broad reach, we were 9 knots; performance which and during the afternoon fini- a bit bored. It can clearly do would have several boats stacking correctly), you have shed at 8 knots. Not enough better, all you have to do is dreaming... As we came to go inside, to the forward to get excited about, yet the give it the wherewithal. Of alongside, we had to take care cabin; not really practical. at the back of the floats, which are finally a bit high when it A NICE LIVING AREA comes to getting on to the With such a precise helm, keeping the pontoon. This is a shame, as it As far as the accommodation would have been easy to genoa pennants parallel is child's play. is concerned, the Neel again lower the sterns, and fit a small sugar scoop (which has shows a real personality. This been corrected on the n°2). begins with the cockpit, which On this model, coming along- is characterized by a central boat responded rather well. course, the Neel 45 has nei- side has been made easier by passage and two small tables, The helm transmits good 'feel' ther the capacities nor the pre- the presence of a bow thrus- one either side.