Design and Construction
The 615 measures 60'6" overall, with a 30'3" beam, a 5'8" draft, and a displacement of roughly 58,000 pounds. Her twin-keel hull form has spade rudders and solid-fiberglass hull and deck shells.
The foredeck carries nine hatches, two of which open into crew cabins in the tips of the hulls. Fit and finish throughout are top-notch, with a choice of maple or cherry interior wood. Cruising World judged the layout, space, and fit and finish nothing short of stunning. The same review noted that you can walk athwartships from one hull to the other without setting foot in the cockpit.
Rig, Machinery, and Handling
The fractional sloop rig has a mast height of nearly 85 feet and a working sail area of 2,303 square feet. That total is divided between a 1,335-square-foot mainsail and a 969-square-foot genoa. For downwind sailing, the boat can carry a 1,615-square-foot gennaker or a 3,229-square-foot spinnaker.
On the test boat, the single furling genoa’s sheets led to electric winches on either side of the flybridge, making trimming straightforward. Test crews found the boat surprisingly simple to handle under mainsail and genoa. In 9 knots of true wind, she sailed at nearly 7 knots closehauled. Reaching in a 13-knot breeze, her speed rose to an effortless 9 knots and more.
The flybridge has twin wheels, although the starboard wheel is optional, as is a second set of engine controls. Power comes from twin 110 hp Yanmar diesels with saildrives.
Cockpit and Saloon
A large centerline sliding door connects the saloon with the generous cockpit, which is reached by stairs on either side. A second lounging area lies to port, while a long oval table sits to starboard. The aft cockpit seats 14.
Inside, an L-shaped couch wraps around a large table, and director-style chairs can be moved as needed. The fully equipped, very sea-kindly galley occupies the saloon’s forward starboard corner, although a galley-down arrangement in the starboard hull was also offered. A navigation station to port can be fitted with a joystick and engine controls to create an additional helm station.
The flybridge provides starboard seating, a port-side helm, and huge sunpads.
Cabins and Layouts
Accommodation plans range from four double cabins plus crew quarters to a five-cabin charter version. In one arrangement, the starboard hull contains a fore-and-aft pair of cabins with en suite heads, while a third cabin occupies the aft end of the port hull.
The owner’s suite runs from amidships forward. Its entrance leads through a long dressing room and head to a boudoir with an enormous fore-and-aft walk-around berth, dresser drawers, and two overhead hatches. The master bedroom spans the boat’s full width forward of the mast and extends halfway down the port hull.
Configuration Differences
The main points for an owner are matters of configuration rather than failures. The starboard wheel and second engine controls were optional, so a particular boat may not have a redundant flybridge helm.
Galley position also varies, either up in the saloon or down in the starboard hull. On at least one version, moving the galley up eliminated a mini-lounge near the bar, changing the social flow of the main deck. The five-cabin layout also adds another staircase leading down to an isolated forward cabin, creating a different passageway arrangement from the owner’s model.
The Verdict
The Privilège 615 is a thoroughly modern large cruising catamaran. Her Lombard hull and manageable rig allow this big boat to sail like a smaller one, while the owner’s suite and saloon set a high standard for liveaboard comfort.
Because the layout depends heavily on options, no two boats are identical spec for spec. A buyer will need to weigh galley position, helm redundancy, and cabin count against the boat’s intended use.
Pros
- Easy to handle under sail for her size, with electric-winch trimming and strong light-air performance
- Exceptional owner’s cabin spanning the full forward beam and half the port hull
- Flexible four- or five-cabin plans, separate crew quarters, and athwartships access between the hulls
Cons
- Key features—including the starboard wheel, second engine controls, and galley position—depend on the options fitted
- Large displacement and 5'8" draft limit access to tight anchorages and shallow water
