As SAIL Magazine noted, the result from Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design was a ground-up redesign rather than a facelift. Racoupeau drew the boat from scratch after more than 150 planning meetings.
Design and Construction
The Elba 45 follows Fountaine Pajot’s successful formula, with slightly aft-raked, inverted bows and reverse sheer. The sheer helps minimize the visual bulk of the saloon windows. Together with the sporty coachroof and a Bimini that doubles as a flybridge lounge, it gives the boat a contemporary profile without the height of a true flybridge.
The hull is 6 inches longer and 6 inches beamier than the Helia 44’s, yet it produces 10 percent less drag, thanks to a small chine in the aft section and a remodeled transom. Below the waterline, fixed stub keels improve windward performance. They’re glued into specially designed recesses in the hulls, with no keel bolts that could rip out.
Construction is vacuum-infused, using a mixture of polyester and vinylester over glass, followed by a final coat of epoxy primer for blister resistance.
Rig, Helm, and Sailing Performance
Instead of a full flybridge, the Elba 45 has a bulkhead helm with low-profile lounging space on the coachroof. The 59-foot-5-inch mast is stepped at the leading end of the coachroof and carries a fully battened mainsail and a standard 120 percent genoa.
The mainsheet leads to a traveler mounted aft of the helm and lounging area. Genoa sheets run to a pair of tracks close to the centerline, and all lines return to a rope-handling pit just ahead of the wheel. Three Lewmar 50 winches at the helm handle sheets, halyards, and reefing lines. A hook on the head car provides a 2:1 purchase when hoisting the mainsail. A central longeron extends beyond the bow to provide a tack point for a Code 0.
Test sailors found the Elba 45 made an easy 7 to 8 knots while beating into around 12 knots of true wind at an apparent wind angle of 45 degrees. In 12 to 16 knots of breeze, it delivered a respectable 6.4 knots close-hauled and a little better than 7 knots on a beam reach under genoa and flattop mainsail.
Saloon and Accommodations
The saloon measures 180 square feet. The galley runs along the port side, while a large sliding door aft allows the living space to flow into the cockpit.
Fountaine Pajot omitted the traditional chart table because customers said they didn’t use one. Navigation instruments moved to a cabinet beside the sliding door, leaving more room for the galley and storage. Oversize windows provide excellent all-around visibility from inside, and the center forward window opens outward for ventilation. A pair of overhead skylights keeps the sails in view.
Two principal layouts are available. In the Maestro owner’s version, the entire port hull forms a private suite. It has a queen berth aft, a desk and storage lockers amidships, and a forward head with a walk-in shower behind a sole-to-ceiling glass wall. The starboard hull contains two guest doubles, each with an en suite head and separate shower.
The Quatuor charter layout mirrors the starboard arrangement in the port hull, giving the boat four cabins and four heads. Both versions retain a crew berth in the starboard bow. The standard interior finish combines light grey oak furniture with dark oak flooring.
Power and Propulsion
Standard propulsion comes from twin 40 hp Volvo D2 saildrives housed in the transom compartments. Buyers can upgrade to 60 hp units. The standard 17-inch three-blade fixed propellers can also be exchanged for 18-inch Volvo folding props.
A standard Volvo twin throttle makes low-speed maneuvering near docks straightforward. With the standard setup, testers recorded an easy 7-plus knots at 2,000 rpm and better than 9 knots at 3,000 rpm. A pair of 60 hp diesels drove the boat at about 8 knots at cruising rpm and better than 9 knots in get-there-quick mode.
Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman measured 72 dB with the throttles wide open and called the Elba 45 one of the quieter boats tested.
Known Issue
The Boat of the Year judging team thought the boat would benefit from a more robust traveler.
The Verdict
The Elba 45 is a thoughtfully market-led catamaran that replaces the Helia 44’s older package with a cleaner, lower-drag hull and a social layout shaped around how owners live aboard. It sails competently in midrange breeze, powers efficiently, and isolates engine noise well.
The lack of a traditional nav station will suit most modern cruisers. However, the judges’ concern about traveler robustness is worth scrutiny on any example.
Pros
- Ground-up Racoupeau design with 10 percent less hull drag than the Helia 44
- Keels glued in place without bolts, removing a common catamaran failure path
- Maestro layout provides a private, full-hull owner’s suite with a glass-walled shower
- Quiet propulsion, measured by Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman at 72 dB with the throttles wide open
Cons
- Boat of the Year judges thought the traveler should be more robust
- No traditional chart table or interior dining table as standard
