Design and Construction
Every HH66 is a full carbon boat: bulkheads, masts, daggerboards, and rudder posts are all carbon fiber, and the builder infuses all hulls with epoxy resin using the very finest, strongest, and lightest materials available. Cruising World found the workmanship simply impeccable, with construction materials and details similar to the smaller HH55. The hull profile runs full forward, flatter through the midsection, and broader in the transoms, with less rocker than Gino Morrelli's earlier Gunboat designs — a shape the designer paired with deep C-shaped carbon daggerboards that increase vertical lift and lateral resistance while damping pitching. At just under 40,000 pounds displacement per Cruising World, or about 46,000 pounds fully equipped per Sailing World, the boat carries a 28.5-foot beam and a 13.1-foot maximum draft on its daggerboards.
Rig and Handling
The HH66 is built around the pure joy of sailing, with a forward cockpit that eases line handling and passage making, and every example carries a forward pit. The aft-helm version places two helm stations aft for better visibility and a larger salon, while the SCF (Forward Helm) variant emphasizes the sailing experience from inside. At the helm, short carbon tillers and two wheels connect to the steering system, and push buttons in the armrest control the traveler, main and jib sheets, and daggerboard raising and lowering; a panic button dumps and de-powers the mainsail and vang in a sudden gust. The square-headed mainsail goes aloft on an electric halyard winch with halyard locks, and an all-purpose A5 spinnaker or Code Zero can be flown — unfurling the latter sees boatspeed race to 10 knots in a blink. A turbo-rig version adds still more sail-plan power, and an Ocean Data System's UpsideUp anti-capsize system monitors cap-shroud loads and triggers alarms or eases sheets automatically.
Accommodations
The HH66 is a bluewater-capable performance cruiser with spacious interiors and a luxurious finish, and the builder encourages customization in the accommodations plan so each owner's layout reflects personal taste. Staterooms are luxurious, and one inspected boat even carried a built-in piano, with another hiding a small piano in the forward nav station to starboard. At the aft ends of the port and starboard quarters sit identical molded helm seats, and the boat also has an inside steering station like that on the HH55, allowing sheltered command. A forward locker houses the generator, hydraulics, and batteries for ideal weight distribution.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership of an HH66 assumes a professional context: the boat is typically run by a professional crew, demands a full-time captain, and requires eight to ten experienced hands to race overnight. HH offers semi-custom carbon RIBs or standard Highfield tenders, and the EcoDrive option permits either diesel engines or electric motors turning the propellers in fume-free silence, with a parallel diesel/electric hybrid, large cabin-top solar array, and hydro-regeneration supporting sustained offshore living.
The Verdict
The HH66 is a singular achievement in carbon catamaran design — a bespoke, fly-the-hull cruiser whose systems prioritize both performance and controlled depowering, built for owners who treat sailing as a managed professional operation rather than a casual pastime.
Pros
- Full carbon structure with impeccable workmanship and in-house engineering
- C-daggerboards and low-rocker hull dampen pitching and add lift
- Push-button sail handling with panic depower and anti-capsize monitoring
- Customizable luxurious interiors; strong hybrid and solar offshore energy options
Cons
- Requires professional crew, full-time captain, and large teams for racing
- No two boats alike — spares and familiarization are owner-specific
- Complexity of systems demands expert maintenance
