Design and Construction
The VPLP influence is clear in the profile. The steeply inverted bows, marked chines and plunging topsides forward are performance features rather than decoration. The central hull combines a narrow waterline with decent beam at deck level, while a slight dihedral form between the amas helps keep the platform stable.
At just under 23 feet long, the central hull has a sailing beam of 4.90 metres. The floats fold in to reduce the beam to 2.49 metres, allowing the boat to be trailed behind an ordinary family car or tucked into a marina berth. An intermediate “marina position” measures 3 metres and provides steadier stability alongside a pontoon.
Each float provides 1,150 litres of buoyancy—about 160 percent of the boat’s light displacement. That gives the 650 kg trimaran a remarkable reserve of float volume.
The main hull is vacuum-infused and foam-cored as standard. Its tulip-shaped section throws spray aside effectively. To save weight, the builder omitted hullside and deckhead linings; this also leaves the deck-hardware fastenings exposed for servicing. Test sailors found the construction pretty solid, with stiffening members where expected. The float-folding mechanism also worked well in practice.
Rig, Controls and Handling
The Astus 22.5 is easy to rig and handle. The standard aluminium rig carries a 9-metre mast, and can be taken up to carbon. The test boat had a square-top mainsail and tri-radial sails.
Spinlock clutches and Harken winches bring the lines back to the cockpit. Fixed bullseyes on the coachroof handle the jib, while the backstay and mainsheet both use 8:1 purchases. A full-width traveller spans the aft end.
The centreboard hinges rather than swings on a trunk. It is offset to port to reduce its intrusion into the cabin, and its up-and-down control lines run aft to the cockpit.
Multihulls World’s tester considered the 22.5 particularly well designed after sailing her in a 12- to 16-knot west wind with a slight sea. Yachting Monthly also noted a streamlined hull that glides through the water to build speed.
Accommodation and Stowage
Below the coachroof, the boat sleeps four. A 2-metre double berth fills the bow, with room for a chemical toilet beneath it and mouldings on either side for a basic galley. Two decent-sized quarter berths extend aft, with stowage between and below them.
The coachroof provides plenty of sitting headroom at 1.6 metres, and a little timber trim lifts the otherwise simple interior. The narrow waterline of the central hull, however, limits comfort for one person at rest.
In the cockpit, three people can sit without feeling cramped, or four can fit if the crew remains relaxed. Stowage is generous for a boat of this size. There are open-fronted lockers on both sides aft, a large locker beneath a sole hatch, hatches into the middle of each float, and an anchor locker built into the forward coachroof with space for a couple of fenders.
The Verdict
The Astus 22.5 is a cleverly packaged trimaran that turns VPLP’s race-bred geometry into a trailerable weekender. Its folding beam, oversized floats and light, vacuum-infused hull make it both a stable camper and a quick sail. The unlined interior saves weight and leaves hardware fastenings accessible, though the basic fitout is better suited to short stays.
Pros
- Transportable folding trimaran with 1,150-litre floats providing buoyancy equal to about 160 percent of the boat’s light displacement
- VPLP performance hull with inverted bows and effective spray deflection
- Sleeps four, with sitting headroom and practical cockpit stowage
- Easy to rig, with cockpit-led centreboard controls and 8:1 purchases
Cons
- Minimal interior linings and a basic galley suit only short stays
- The central hull’s narrow waterline limits solo comfort at rest
