Design and Construction
Structurally, the Berret Racoupeau design is tough and well engineered. The hulls are vacuum-bagged solid fiberglass and resin below the waterline and a balsa-cored sandwich above, while the deck is infused to save considerable weight and add greatly to the stiffness of the structure anchor. A vinylester skin coat helps prevent blisters, and the balsa-cored, resin-infused hulls maximize stiffness while minimizing layup weight. The broad hulls flare out above the waterline, allowing for generous living space in the cabins below without compromising the engineered integrity of the shell.
Rig and Handling
The mast and boom are both aluminum, and a fixed sprit projects beyond the forward crossbeam for flying a reaching spinnaker, with the deck layout's molded sprit making it a breeze to set off-the-wind sails. A short passageway at the helm station doubles as the working area for trimming the boat's sails, though testers found it a little odd having the winches and stoppers for the sheets and halyards out of reach from the wheel. An electric halyard winch made short work of raising the main. Under sail the boat proved quick: during a Chesapeake Bay test she easily managed 9 knots and more in 16 to 19 knots of true wind, and in 12 knots of breeze her upwind speed over ground sat in the high 6s with occasional spurts of 7 and better. The helm was satisfyingly light and responsive, and the twin 40-horse Volvo diesels with saildrives pushed her at 7.5 knots at cruising rpm and nearly 9 knots wide open.
Accommodations
The cockpit is the prime socializing area, spacious and elegant with a large dining table and benches, and incorporates a dining area to port that can easily seat six to eight; to starboard a cushioned, sculpted daybed sits under the bimini. The flybridge offers easy access from either the side deck or the cockpit below, with an expansive helming bench, a stolid tubular roof overhead to keep the sun off, and a lounging area inboard with a bench and recliner. Wide, uncluttered sidedecks sit behind low bulwarks. Inside, the saloon and galley are large, practical, and suffused with light, flowing seamlessly to the cockpit. Cat's-eye ports in the hulls and large cabin-house windows keep the cabins bright with excellent visibility. The interior woodwork is cherry-tinted Alpi with a walnut-colored sole. Both three- and four-cabin layouts give every occupant a private shower and head, and the three-cabin owner's version gives the entire starboard hull to the owners' suite. Headroom is 6 feet 8 inches and berths measure 6 feet 6 inches by 5 feet 2 inches by 4 feet 1 inches.
Known Issues
One tester noted the sharp-edged contemporary styling of the furniture looks luxurious but raised a concern about the pointed corners found throughout, feeling they could leave a welt if encountered in a seaway anchor. The pointed furniture geometry is the one documented ergonomic caveat.
Refits and Ownership
The boat supports a pair of beefy davits and an exterior fridge so the crew need not trail to the galley for a cold drink. A large locker to starboard of the windlass well swallows docklines and big fenders. Four solar panels built into the bimini aft of the traveler, paired with all LED lighting, minimize recharging time, and the roof extends far enough aft to shade the whole cockpit while supporting panels. House electrical capacity is 600 amp-hours at the house and starboard engine, with 100 amp-hours at the port engine.
The Verdict
The Hélia 44 is a thoughtfully engineered cruising cat that marries a stiff, blister-resistant hull structure with a bright, sociable deck and interior plan. She sails and motors with verve, and the owner's layout is genuinely generous. The pointed furniture corners are the one documented caveat for crew comfort in rough conditions.
Pros
- Tough, well-engineered Berret Racoupeau hull with vacuum-bagged and infused construction
- Lively performance under sail and on twin 40hp saildrive diesels
- Bright, seamless saloon-to-cockpit living with private heads in every cabin
- Strong solar and LED outfit minimizing generator dependence
Cons
- Pointed furniture corners noted as a seaway bruise risk
- Winches and stoppers out of reach from the helm wheel
