With a 27-foot beam and a displacement of roughly 10.6 tonnes, the Neel 47 aims to combine safety, performance, and comfortable living in a sporting package. Sailing World’s judging panel named her Best Full-Size Cruising Multihull for 2020. She was the only trimaran among the half-dozen multihulls in the contest, making her an outlier in both configuration and intent.
Design and Construction
The central hull carries the creature comforts, while the outer hulls remain deliberately light and relatively unencumbered for performance. The arrangement also promotes privacy and easier cohabitation: each float has its own independent access rather than being reached through the main saloon.
Marc Lombard’s performance-oriented approach is evident in a hull form that the builder says offers exceptional sailing qualities while retaining comfort and balance. The model also has a strong race record. A Neel 47 named Minimole won the ARC+ 2019 overall, and another Neel 47 won the ARC+ 2021.
Rig and Handling
The Neel 47 carries a fractional sloop rig with a 753.5 sq ft full-battened mainsail, a 538 sq ft furling genoa, and a 215 sq ft self-tracking furling staysail. An integrated sprit carries an asymmetric cruising chute.
During testing on the Chesapeake, sailors found the boat close-winded and willing to tack through 90 degrees without hesitation. In 7.5 to 8 knots of breeze, she matched true wind speed under the asymmetric cruising chute. A reefed, square-topped mainsail also handled a fitful 8-knot breeze without drama.
The elevated helm sits to starboard and provides panoramic sightlines. Testers described the steering as light and feathery, and said the boat turned on a dime like a monohull. The centralized helm also supports clear communication with the cockpit during maneuvers.
Accommodations and Systems Access
The central hull is arranged for the owning couple. Its “cockloon”—an open blend of cockpit and saloon—extends to a back porch with seating and tables. Double sliding doors connect the spaces, while the interior includes a second dining area, a navigation station beside the galley, and a double cabin with wide windows.
There’s no head in the cockloon. Instead, the head is a few steps down and forward in the bow, with a separate wash basin and shower.
The basic guest cabins sit in the outer hulls and have their own exterior access. This keeps them separate from the owners’ accommodation in the central hull. Beneath the cockloon floorboards, a huge technical locker centralizes access to the machinery without disturbing the living space.
The Verdict
The Neel 47 is a distinctive and inventive trimaran. She combines monohull-like responsiveness with the broad social spaces expected of a multihull. Her independently accessed float cabins and elevated, centralized helm suit an adventurous couple looking for speed without giving up comfort. Her ARC+ record also confirms that the bluewater brief is real rather than marketing.
Pros
- Tacks through 90 degrees without hesitation and matches true wind speed in light air
- Independent access to the float cabins preserves privacy in the central hull
- Elevated starboard helm offers panoramic visibility and light steering
- ARC+ wins support her offshore-performance credentials
Cons
- No head in the main cockloon; it’s forward in the bow
- Guest cabins in the outer hulls are basic compared with the central suite
