Design and Construction
The Saba 50 is a vacuum-bagged PVC-foam-core laminate catamaran, and the deck and cabin are produced as one piece using resin transfer molding, which gives both sides a finished gelcoat look rather than a raw interior shell. Berret-Racoupeau gave the hulls a fine entry for better performance, and the bows are virtually straight — a signature of that design team — lending the boat modern lines while the hulls themselves sit wider and taller than those of the Salina 48, as does the nacelle. A pair of fixed keels help the boat sail to weather, and Multihulls World noted those keels allow a perfectly acceptable angle of sail for a cruising catamaran. Chainplates are integrated into the hull structure and are strong enough that the whole weight of the boat can be lifted on them, a detail that speaks to the structural logic of the layup rather than a bolt-on compromise.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries an 899-square-foot mainsail and a 619-square-foot genoa, with winches placed ahead and apart from the wheel so a sail-handler has room without crowding the helmsperson. The separate helm is two steps down to starboard from the flybridge, and the helm pod holds a double seat, Raymarine displays, engine controls, and the wheel. One practical shortfall is the lack of direct side-deck access from the helm, which limits quick movement forward without doubling back through the cockpit. Under main only at a 60-degree apparent wind angle, test sailors recorded 4.6 knots; once the genoa was unfurled in 17 knots of breeze, speed rose to 9.2 knots, and the day's top run reached 14.6 knots at a 120-degree apparent wind angle.
Accommodations
Fountaine Pajot laid out the deck as three distinct and relatively separate social areas. The bow conversation nook holds two lounges with settees and a cocktail table where eight can gather; the aft cockpit sits two steps up from a swim platform on either hull and carries a long straight transom seat for six to eight fronting the davits, with an additional lounge to starboard. A hardtop targa roof covers most of the cockpit but stops short of the transom seat for sun. Below, a wide glass door opens onto a saloon with 2.25-meter headroom and no step between cockpit and floor, a low settee with a coffee table that stores wine bottles, and a navigation station using the settee as its seat. The galley has a center island, double-drawer refrigerator, four-burner stove, counter-level oven, outboard freezer, and a sliding window to pass meals to the cockpit; the main dinette is outside in the aft cockpit, where the table seats up to 12.
The boat comes as the Maestro owner's version or the Quintet charter version. The Maestro has four cabins: the master stateroom occupies about three-quarters of the port hull aft, with a large island berth, small desk, ample storage, and a head with a sink between toilet and shower; a full guest cabin and ensuite sit forward in that hull, while the starboard hull holds two large cabins with ensuite heads. The Quintet places three cabins in each hull, reserving the middle starboard cabin for crew.
Equipment and Power
Standard propulsion is a pair of 55hp Volvo Penta D2 diesels with saildrives, and the test boat carried the optional 75hp units; three- or four-blade fixed or folding props are available. Davits can hoist a 14-foot dinghy and are shaped to stow kayaks or windsurfers on top. A gennaker can be sheeted in relatively tight, holding to the beam or close-reaching in under 10 knots.
The Verdict
The Saba 50 is a thoughtfully planned cruising cat that trades some upwind bite for volume and separated living spaces, yet keeps a genuinely light and stiff construction and a rig that performs across a wide wind range. It is best suited to couples or families who entertain and who value an easy indoor-outdoor flow over absolute pointing ability.
Pros
- Vacuum-bagged foam-core hull and one-piece RTM deck-cabin for strong, light structure
- Three separated deck social zones including an eight-person bow nook
- Maestro layout gives a genuine apartment-grade owner's suite
- 9.2-knot easy cruise under main and genoa in 17 knots
Cons
- No direct side-deck access from the helm
- Fixed keels versus daggerboards limit hard-wind angle
- Quintet layout crams six cabins and feels charter-dense
