Design and Construction
The Saba 50 is built with a vacuum-bagged PVC-foam-core laminate. Its deck and cabin are molded in one piece using resin transfer molding, giving both sides a finished gelcoat surface rather than leaving a raw interior shell.
Berret-Racoupeau gave the hulls fine entries for better performance and virtually straight bows—a signature of the design team. The result is a modern profile. Compared with the Salina 48, the Saba’s hulls are wider and taller, and so is the nacelle.
A pair of fixed keels helps the boat sail to weather. Multihulls World noted that they allow a perfectly acceptable sailing angle for a cruising catamaran. The chainplates are integrated into the hull structure and are strong enough to lift the boat’s entire weight. That detail reflects the structural logic of the layup rather than a bolt-on compromise.
Rig, Helm, and Sailing Performance
The fractional sloop rig carries an 899-square-foot mainsail and a 619-square-foot genoa. The winches sit ahead of the wheel and are spaced apart, giving the sail-handler room to work without crowding the helmsperson.
The separate helm is two steps down to starboard from the flybridge. Its pod includes a double seat, Raymarine displays, engine controls, and the wheel. One practical shortcoming is the lack of direct side-deck access from the helm. Moving forward quickly means doubling back through the cockpit.
Under mainsail alone at a 60-degree apparent wind angle, test sailors recorded 4.6 knots. With the genoa unfurled in 17 knots of breeze, speed rose to 9.2 knots. The day’s fastest run was 14.6 knots at a 120-degree apparent wind angle. In less than 10 knots, a gennaker can be sheeted relatively tightly, allowing the boat to hold a beam or close reach.
Deck and Cockpit
Fountaine Pajot arranged the deck around three distinct, relatively separate social areas. At the bow, a conversation nook has two lounges with settees and a cocktail table, with room for eight people to gather.
Aft, the cockpit is two steps up from the swim platforms on either hull. A long, straight transom seat faces the davits and accommodates six to eight people, while an additional lounge sits to starboard. A hardtop targa roof covers most of the cockpit but stops short of the transom seat, leaving it open to the sun.
The cockpit also serves as the main dining area, with a table that seats up to 12. Davits can hoist a 14-foot dinghy and are shaped to carry kayaks or windsurfers on top.
Saloon and Galley
A wide glass door opens from the cockpit into the saloon. There’s no step between the cockpit and the saloon floor, helping the two spaces flow together, and headroom is 2.25 meters.
Inside, a low settee wraps around a coffee table with built-in wine-bottle storage. The navigation station uses the settee as its seat. The galley includes a center island, double-drawer refrigerator, four-burner stove, counter-level oven, and outboard freezer. A sliding window allows meals to be passed directly to the aft cockpit.
Accommodation Plans
The Saba 50 was offered in two layouts: the Maestro owner’s version and the Quintet charter version.
The Maestro has four cabins. Its master stateroom occupies roughly the aft three-quarters of the port hull and includes a large island berth, a small desk, ample storage, and a head with the sink positioned between the toilet and shower. A full guest cabin with an ensuite lies forward in the same hull. The starboard hull contains two large cabins, each with an ensuite head.
The Quintet places three cabins in each hull, with the middle starboard cabin reserved for crew.
Engines and Propulsion
Standard propulsion is a pair of 55hp Volvo Penta D2 diesels with saildrives. The test boat had the optional 75hp engines. Buyers could choose three- or four-blade propellers in fixed or folding configurations.
The Verdict
The Saba 50 is a thoughtfully planned cruising catamaran that trades some upwind bite for greater volume and separate living spaces. It retains genuinely light, stiff construction and a rig that performs across a wide range of wind conditions.
It’s best suited to couples or families who entertain and value easy movement between indoor and outdoor spaces more than absolute pointing ability.
Pros
- Vacuum-bagged foam-core hulls and a one-piece RTM deck and cabin provide a strong, light structure
- Three separate social areas on deck, including an eight-person bow nook
- The Maestro layout offers a genuinely apartment-grade owner’s suite
- An easy 9.2-knot cruise under mainsail and genoa in 17 knots
Cons
- No direct side-deck access from the helm
- Fixed keels, rather than daggerboards, limit its hard-wind angle
- The Quintet layout fits six cabins aboard and feels charter-dense
