Design and Construction
Lombard's care in drawing slim hulls gives the 445 a profile that avoids the bloated volume-first look of many cruising cats, and the structure carries a signature element in the central "spur" — a kind of third hull that does not touch the water and is clearly visible from the deck anchor. That spur significantly reduces the area of the trampolines, a trade any buyer should weigh against the accommodation gain it buys: the same structure allows one or two cabins to be fitted and still offers an incredible owner's cabin in its central spur. Built by Alliaura Marine, the 445 belongs to the lineage of Marc Lombard's major ocean-going Privilège designs, and the slim-hulled, spur-equipped platform reads as a considered cruising tool rather than a deckhouse on a raft.
Rig and Platform Behavior
The 445 carries a fractional sloop rig on a 23-foot, 2-inch beam with twin keels and spade rudders. Displacing just under 19,620 pounds with a sail area near 1,010 square feet, she shows a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22.2 and a capsize screening value of 3.44 — numbers that sit comfortably for a voyaging cat. Writing in Multihulls World, reviewers judged her big enough for a round-the-world voyage via the trade winds, and the slim hulls underpin that confidence without implying offshore invulnerability.
Accommodations
Below, the cabin layout is built around two circles rather than the usual rectangular saloon grid. The right circle forms the table and a large C-shaped sofa that surrounds it, while the left circle is skillfully inscribed in an unusual U-shaped galley that reviewers found very comfortable to work not only at anchor but even under way. The vessel has some unusual layout elements overall, and the central spur extends the owner's footprint forward in a way few production cats attempt. For those wanting more private volume, the Prestige version offers only three cabins instead of four, with the owner's cabin taking up all the space in the bow from the salon both on the bridge and in both hulls; the right cabin then holds a toilet with shower and the left cabin becomes the owner's office. That Prestige arrangement is the most popular on the market.
Cockpit and Deck Layout
Up top, the 445 wears a "curvy" cockpit with the helm station mounted to port against the coachroof and a dining table set to starboard, a helm-forward arrangement that keeps the driver close to the mainsheet and clear of the social space. The longer sugar scoops extend the swim-and-boarding platform aft, and the reduced trampoline area is the visible cost of the central spur's cabin volume. These are layout choices that reward the cruiser who values a sheltered helm and a distinct owner's retreat over maximum net space between the hulls.
The Verdict
The Privilège 445 is a Lombard-designed, Alliaura-built cruising cat that trades some trampoline area for a central-spur owner's cabin and wraps an unusual circular saloon around a seaworthy, slim-hulled platform. The Prestige three-cabin variant makes the most of that geometry for owner couples, while the standard four-cabin boat keeps charter flexibility. She is a serious voyager dressed in a very high-class production finish.
Pros
- Slim Lombard hulls with trade-wind circumnavigation capability
- Central spur gives a unique forward owner's cabin and extra fitted-cabin options
- Circular saloon layout with a practical U-shaped galley usable under way
- Excellent kitting and quality finish in a high-class production cat
Cons
- Central spur significantly reduces trampoline area
- Unusual layout elements may not suit buyers expecting conventional cat interiors
