Design and Construction
The MC86's hulls are capped by a predominantly glass superstructure that runs almost the full beam, with dynamic glass panels and UV-reflective glazing running the length of the hull sides. This glazing is a thread carried through the McConaghy multihull line, drawing daylight into the interior and opening the visual connection to the water. The structure itself is built to Bureau Veritas standards, and the design pedigree sits with Ker Yacht Design, whose partnership with McConaghy has shaped the high-performance cruising multihull ranges. A low profile and progressive styling are preserved from the MC75, so the MC86 reads as an evolutionary step rather than a departure.
Rig, Boards, and Performance
Below the waterline the MC86 carries central carbon daggerboards that plunge to roughly six meters, and those boards are the key to her upwind manners — they let the catamaran excel when sailing close to the wind. Multihulls World described her as faithful to McConaghy's performance requirements and a genuine fast cruising catamaran, and noted that she offers great range under power. The published review lists a 55.7-tonne displacement and a 121-foot 5-inch air draft, figures that place her firmly in the large-bluewater-catamaran class rather than the day-sailing bracket. With an approximate five-meter draft boards-down in the builder's spec and a 6-meter figure in the review, the daggerboard configuration is clearly central to both her performance envelope and her anchoring profile.
Accommodation and Layout
Inside, the main saloon is open plan, pairing a lounge and dining table with a galley built around a centre-console breakfast bar. Full-height glass sliding doors open the saloon to the aft deck, where a spacious exterior lounge invites alfresco meals. A second deck space forward of the superstructure holds a large sun pad, while the flybridge's extended aft overhang stows water toys. Headroom runs from 2.0 to 2.4 meters in the saloon and 2.0 to 2.3 meters in the hulls. The accommodation can be split between port and starboard hulls to owner specification, and the multiyacht is fully customizable: owners can tailor interior layout and equipment, drawing on a wide range of bespoke options from the shipyard. For those running her with crew, McConaghy propose a starboard-hull master and VIP double with a port-hull guest twin and double plus a forward triple bunk.
Deck Equipment and Exterior Living
Further aft, a hydraulic beach club platform eases tender deployment and recovery and forms a water's-edge terrace large enough for a sun lounger. The aft deck lounge and the forward sun pad bookend the central superstructure, and the flybridge adds a raised vantage point for the dual helm. The 26.2-meter length gives the MC86 enormous versatility, and the builder positions her as an appealing platform for both private use and commercial charter operation.
The Verdict
The MC86 is a large, customizable carbon cruising catamaran built to classification standards and shaped by a design partnership with a clear performance brief. Her daggerboards and low-profile glass architecture make her distinctive among semi-custom cats of this size, and the open flybridge with its elevated twin helm is the signature feature. The trade-off is the air draft and board-down draft that come with serious upwind capability.
Pros
- Central carbon daggerboards deliver strong close-winded performance
- Extensive glazing and near-full-beam glass superstructure open the interior to light and sea
- Fully customizable accommodation across both hulls with shipyard bespoke options
- Open flybridge with elevated dual helm and aft-deck stair access
- Hydraulic beach club platform and toy stowage support private or charter use
Cons
- 121-foot 5-inch air draft and ~6-meter board-down draft limit some cruising grounds
- Large-scale customization means no two layouts are directly comparable
- 55.7-tonne displacement places her at the upper end of the cruising-cat spectrum