Hull Design and Naval Architecture
Lombard's contribution to the 44 Open is visible from the water before you ever step aboard. Fine bows, narrow waterlines and controlled volumes signal that this is not a cat designed to maximize interior cubic footage at the expense of motion. The inverted bow and forward rake work together to produce a balanced platform, while stepped hull chines widen the hull above the waterline to recover interior volume without the penalty of a beamy underbody. The result is noticeably dry fine bow sections at sea — a meaningful quality on a boat intended for ocean passages.
Construction follows the modern multihull template: hull, deck, cabin top and Bimini are all vacuum-infused, using Divinycell for coring, and furniture and bulkheads are similarly cored to manage weight. Nautitech succeeded in holding the design to its light displacement of 10.9 tonnes, a discipline that directly underwrites the boat's performance character. The rig is a fractional sloop on twin keels drawing 1.45 metres, carrying a standard sail area of 105 square metres that can be extended with an overlapping genoa to 133 square metres or a 98-square-metre gennaker deployed from an aluminium bowsprit.
Rig, Handling and Performance
The 44 Open's sailing manners impressed every reviewer who put it through its paces. Hard on the wind in twelve knots of breeze, the boat tacked back and forth making 6.5 knots — respectable windward performance for a cruising cat. Cracked off to a beam reach, speed jumped into the high sevens and low eights, and with the code zero unfurled the boat reached 8.4 knots at 55 degrees to the apparent wind in just 12.8 knots of breeze. Downwind angles yielded regular speeds exceeding ten knots at 110 degrees to the wind.
That pace comes with composure. There was no slamming when going through waves thanks to good speed under sail and a comfortable bridgedeck clearance. The steering geometry also drew praise: a shorter steering circuit amplifies helm response, and the new hexagonal Goïot wheels make it easy to understand the degree of rotation when switching sides without rushing. Three digital models tested in virtual reality during development produced a helm that is direct and offers just the right amount of feedback without demanding excessive effort.
Sail-handling ergonomics are well resolved. Color-coded traveler lines — red for port, green for starboard — take the guesswork out of adjusting the main, and electric winches render headsail trimming nearly effortless. The lower mainsheet track position keeps the boom close to the coachroof, increasing mainsail efficiency in its lower section. Twin fifty-horsepower Volvo Penta diesels are available as upgrades to the standard thirty-horsepower units; in testing the optional fifties pushed the boat at 7.6 knots at cruising rpm and past nine knots at higher throttle settings.
The Open Concept: Cockpit and Saloon
The defining character of all Nautitech Open models is the deliberate dissolution of the boundary between cockpit and saloon. On the 44, not splitting the saloon/cockpit function saves space and weight, two resources a multihull cannot afford to waste. With the large sliding door open, the dividing line between the saloon and outside becomes difficult to locate. The coachroof windows extend beyond the sliding bay window so the true saloon is protected by a long, rigid bimini while remaining immersed in natural light and sea views.
The most distinctive interior feature is a stand-up bar unit that wraps around the mast's compression post and extends aft into the saloon — designed by Chedal Anglay, who previously worked on the Gunboat 68. Dockside it reads as unconventional; underway it grows on you, becoming a natural gathering place analogous to a kitchen island, distributing guests and anchoring conversation. The forward-facing chart table is a proper indoor navigation station that doubles naturally as a protected watch-keeper's position on dark, squally nights.
The galley runs L-shaped to starboard with stove and cooktop outboard, and two large sinks facing aft so dishes can be passed directly into them. Storage and counter space are generous, fiddles are in place for seaways, and the standard 144-litre fridge and optional 75-litre freezer address the self-sufficiency demands of long-range owners. Aft helm stations sit on the transoms, outboard and exposed, giving an unobstructed view of the sails and the sea whatever the speed while keeping the helmsman connected to cockpit crew.
Accommodations and Layout Options
The 44 Open is offered in several cabin configurations ranging from three to four staterooms. In the three-cabin owner's layout — the arrangement evaluated on sea trials — the port hull is dedicated to the owner's cabin with an aft double berth, a separate heads compartment, and a large washbasin and shower room forward. The owner's suite features large windows providing a constant supply of ocean light and a sofa corner for a moment of serenity. To starboard, two guest staterooms separated by a shared heads and shower between them complete the arrangement, with the yard choosing to give more volume to bathroom facilities rather than duplicating minimal versions on each side.
The SmartRoom option replaces a forward cabin with a multifunctional space configurable as laundry, workshop, technical room or additional stowage — a significant practical advantage on extended offshore passages. A further variant, the SmartRoom Flexibility, offers a modular space that converts between office, double bedroom and bunk configuration. The most recent addition is a lounge version that repositions the chart table to the heart of the interior with a 360-degree panoramic view and replaces the bar with a large sofa accommodating up to six people around a spacious dining table.
Known Limitations
The sources consulted are consistent in their enthusiasm and relatively spare with criticisms, which partly reflects the boat's focus — it genuinely delivers on its stated brief. That said, one tester noted that the non-slip surface lacks sufficient texture for good grip in wet weather, a meaningful observation on a boat used offshore. The standard self-tacking jib proved minimal in ten to twelve knots of cold wind, suggesting that owners planning passages in light-air regions will want to specify the overlapping genoa from the outset. The CE certification covers Category A for up to ten people and Category B for up to ten, confirming ocean capability, but the capsize screening formula of 3.35 reflects the wide-beam catamaran form rather than a monohull standard.
Refit and Customisation Considerations
The 44 Open was designed from the start around owner customisation rather than fleet standardisation. The several configuration and layout options — three or four cabins, with or without SmartRoom, with or without the lounge interior — mean that buyers specify the boat to their program rather than accepting a charter-derived default. Electric winches and a code zero on an aluminium bowsprit arrived on the test boats as meaningful performance additions, and owners bound for distant cruising grounds should budget accordingly for a full upwind sail wardrobe. The dual 250-litre fuel tanks and twin 300-litre water tanks positioned in each hull give meaningful range for passages where fuel or water availability is uncertain.
The Verdict
The Nautitech 44 Open is a coherent, well-executed statement about what a mid-size bluewater catamaran can be when designed for private sailors rather than charter operators. Lombard's hull delivers real performance without sacrificing the volume a couple or family needs for extended living aboard, and Chedal Anglay's interior dissolves the saloon/cockpit boundary in a way that genuinely works at sea. The boat is not without quirks — the bar unit divides opinion before passage-makers come to depend on it — and the standard headsail is conservatively sized for light conditions. But these are specifics to address at order time, not structural flaws.
Pros
- Light-displacement hull with fine bows performs above the cruising-cat norm, regularly reaching ten-plus knots
- Twin aft helm stations provide excellent sail visibility and a genuine sense of sailing
- Open concept saloon/cockpit saves weight and creates a spacious, light-filled living volume
- SmartRoom option adds practical passage-making capability not found on charter-oriented designs
- Vacuum-infused, foam-cored construction throughout hull, deck and superstructure
- Multiple interior configurations allow genuine owner customisation
Cons
- Standard self-tacking jib is undersized for light-air conditions — overlapping genoa is the better base sail
- Non-slip deck surfaces lack texture for reliable wet-weather footing
- Outboard helm stations are exposed to spray and apparent wind, which some owners will find fatiguing on long watches
- Capsize screening formula reflects catamaran geometry; blue-water crews should carry appropriate safety equipment and approach ocean passages accordingly
