Conceived at the Rochefort, France, yard after the brand’s relaunch, the boat reflects feedback from owners and dealers about what they wanted in a midsize cruising multihull. The result marks a deliberate shift toward private owner-operators—couples, families, and shorthanded crews—rather than the charter fleet. Naval architect Marc Lombard and designer Christophe Chedal Anglay created a 43-foot 8-inch catamaran with a 24-foot 2-inch beam. Its light displacement is held to 24,035 pounds through cored construction throughout.
Design and Construction
The 44 Open’s hulls have fine bows, a narrow waterline, and controlled volumes. An inverted and reversed bow contributes to a balanced sailing character, while a sweeping curve defines the deck line. Below the waterline, the hulls remain narrow; stepped chines widen the topsides to provide roomier accommodation above the waterline. The nacelle is less pronounced than on typical production cruising cats, and the tapered line of hull windows distinguishes the boat from earlier Nautitech models.
Structurally, the hull, deck, cabin top, and Bimini are vacuum-infused using Divinycell foam coring. The furniture and bulkheads are also cored to reduce weight. The coachroof itself draws on ocean-racing styling. The boat carries a CE Certification A.10 rating and is built for distant horizons.
Rig, Helms, and Handling
Sailhandling is centralized at the stern. The mainsheet track sits low, and the boom is mounted close above the coachroof to improve mainsail efficiency in its lower section. The standard fractional sloop rig includes a square-top mainsail and a furled, self-tending jib. With the self-tacking jib, sail area is 110 square meters; an overlapping genoa increases that to 133. For offwind sailing, a code zero flies from an aluminum bowsprit.
Twin aft helm stations put the driver outboard for clear sightlines. Each has a small protective bimini and a hexagonal Goïot wheel. Color-coded traveler lines make trimming more straightforward, while a bow-mounted camera beneath the radar antenna helps with close-quarters judgment.
On test sails, the helm felt direct and delivered well-judged feedback. In 12 knots of breeze, the boat made 6.5 knots hard on the wind. With the code zero set, speed rose into the high 8s, and the boat regularly exceeded 10 knots at 110 degrees to the wind. Under the optional 50 hp Volvo Penta diesels with saildrives, it cruised at 7.6 knots and topped 9 in get-home mode.
Living Above and Below Deck
The Open concept combines the interior and exterior into a single living space. The true saloon sits outside beneath a long, rigid Bimini and wraparound coachroof windows. Inside, large windows surround the saloon and provide a 360-degree view.
The galley is to starboard, with an easy-clean acrylic-resin worktop, integrated sink, and cooktop. It also has a 144-liter fridge and an optional freezer. Three fridge-freezer drawers occupy the forward starboard corner.
To port, a forward-facing navigation desk serves as a proper indoor station. A stand-up bar designed by Chedal Anglay wraps around the mast compression post. Interior finishes are walnut Alpi, with light oak available.
The three-cabin layout gives the entire port hull to the owner. It includes an aft queen berth, separate heads, and a forward shower. The starboard hull contains fore and aft double cabins separated by a head. Nautitech also offers a four-cabin, two-head version.
The SmartRoom, originally developed for the 48 Open, converts a forward cabin into an office, workshop, or stowage area. The boat’s multiple cabin configurations—3 or 4 cabins, with or without the technical room—allow owners to adapt the same hull to changing crew needs without structural alterations.
Equipment and Ownership Options
Standard 30 hp Volvo Penta engines can be upgraded to 50 hp units. The expanded fridge and double-drawer cooling arrangement support a fit-out aimed at active private owners rather than bareboat turnover.
Nautitech has said there are no plans for a flybridge version of the 44 Open, preserving the boat’s open-deck approach.
Known Issue
Testers found that the non-slip deck surface lacks sufficient texture for secure footing in wet weather. Crews who expect to move forward in rain or spray should weigh that shortcoming.
The Verdict
The Nautitech 44 Open is a thoughtfully developed cruising catamaran that trades charter-grade sameness for owner-focused flexibility, light-displacement performance, and a genuinely open living arrangement. Its narrow waterline and cored construction keep weight in check, while centralized stern sailhandling and a low boom make shorthanded sailing realistic. The only documented shortfall is the deck’s slick feel when wet.
Pros
- Fine-bowed, narrow hulls with stepped chines for more room above the waterline and balanced sailing
- Vacuum-infused, cored hull, deck, cabin top, Bimini, furniture, and bulkheads help keep displacement low
- Centralized stern sailhandling, a low boom, and a self-tending jib ease shorthanded sailing
- Modular SmartRoom and 3- or 4-cabin layouts adapt to owners’ needs
- Strong light-air and offwind speed with the code zero and genoa
Cons
- Non-slip deck texture provides inadequate grip in wet weather
- No flybridge is planned, limiting its appeal to buyers who want an enclosed upper station
