Pommois designed the 20.5 with the VPLP Design agency, their second collaboration. Nominated for European Yacht of the Year in 2018, it followed the Astus 20.2, of which more than 120 versions had been sold. The result is a light, trailerable variable-beam trimaran intended to be simple to own.
Design and Construction
The 20.5 is a folding trimaran whose floats ride on sliding aluminium beams. Its maximum beam of 4.50 m contracts to 2.48 m, below the road gauge for towing behind a normal hatchback. The central hull is 5.95 m long, while the floats measure 5.90 m. Each float provides 930 litres of volume for stability.
A tulipped hull shape deflects spray, and the builder describes the lines as modern and sporty. Buyers have two construction options: a standard solid-laminate hull weighing just over 500 kg, or a resin-infused central hull that brings the weight below 500 kg. The centreboard is offset to port, keeping the middle of the boat clear.
The Astus 20.5 carries EC Category C for five persons at 425 kg and Category D for seven at 550 kg. Writing in Yachting Monthly, the reviewer noted that Astus stands apart from Dragonfly, Corsair, and Tricat by offering more stripped-down multihulls at attractive prices.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The fractional sloop rig comes in standard and Sport versions. Both use the same mast height, but the Sport version adds a square-top mainsail and appreciably more sail area: 24 m² upwind and 42 m² downwind, compared with 21 m² and 34 m² for the standard rig. A carbon or wing mast is optional. The hardware is mostly Harken, with Sélden spars.
The boat is easy to rig and handle, and one person can raise the mast. Under test sail, the 20.5 proved taut and responsive. It reached 12.5 knots on a beam reach in 12–15 knots of wind and maintained 7 to 8.5 knots upwind, sailing straight past a 49 ft monohull.
Tacking was positive, with minimal leeway. With the centreplate down, the boat was surprisingly manoeuvrable and felt rock solid. A 6:1 mainsheet and 2:1 jib sheet allow a pair of sailors to manage her easily.
Accommodation and Deck Space
The narrow central hull makes the accommodation cosy. There’s a seat on either side, with stowage beneath and additional storage to either side of the companionway. There is space for a chemical toilet under the aft berth. The finish is simple and uncomplicated, largely to save weight; Yachting Monthly described it as slightly stark.
The cabin provides seating and enough room for a couple to stretch out. Outside, the trampolines on either side create vast lounging areas and can support a tent for additional sleeping space. Enclosed accommodation is necessarily more limited than on a monohull of similar length, but the open multihull platform exchanges interior volume for greater liveability on deck.
Versions and Ownership
Astus offered a leisure model for gentle family sailing and a sports version with a vacuum-system central hull aimed at regatta sailors.
The boat is economical, requires minimal maintenance, and can be stored in a garage. Its trailer and retractable floats also make it nomadic between waterways. Maximum outboard power is 4.5 kW (6 HP), with 2.5–5 hp recommended, helping to keep running costs low.
Multihulls World judged the 20.5 to offer many convincing arguments, beginning with its reasonable budget and its ability to deliver pleasure and speed through simplicity.
The Verdict
The Astus 20.5 is a cleverly engineered pocket trimaran that turns some of the usual compromises of a tiny cruiser to its advantage. It folds for road transport, sails with real pace, and keeps the demands of ownership light. Its sparse interior is the price of portability, but the generous deck space and ease of trailering are genuinely distinctive.
Pros
- Folds to a 2.48 m beam for towing behind a hatchback and storage in a garage
- Lively test performance: 12.5 kt on a beam reach and 7–8.5 kt upwind
- Simple, light construction with low maintenance and minimal cost
- Can be rigged singlehanded, with an optional carbon or wing mast
Cons
- Stark, narrow accommodation below decks, with less space than a similarly sized monohull
- The rigging process could be simpler
