Design Brief & Intent
The core mission of the TS5 is to deliver uncompromising, high-speed blue-water passage-making. Rather than competing with heavy, charter-focused cruising catamarans from mass-production builders, the TS5 targets a selective segment pioneered by brands like Outremer, offering an even more stripped-back, performance-oriented experience. Barreau designed the boat with a high bridge-deck clearance, ultra-fine hulls, and a powerful rig.
The interior design is a testament to weight-saving discipline. While traditional cruising yachts feature heavy veneer plywood and thick liners, the TS5 utilizes lightweight sandwich panels, minimalist cabinetry, and exposed, painted composite structures in the hulls. Although critics initially dismissed the accommodations as somewhat "spartan" compared to typical cruising multihulls, the saloon is remarkably bright and functional. It features a panoramic 360-degree coachroof window setup that links the saloon seamlessly to the cockpit, preserving a social, airy layout without adding unnecessary structural mass.
Variations & Configurations
While sharing the same high-performance platform, individual units varied depending on the original owner’s focus on racing versus long-term cruising.
- Layouts: The yacht was offered in several configurations, ranging from a dedicated owner's layout (with a private hull containing a master suite and study) to 4-cabin and 5-cabin layouts. Cruising versions feature warm, high-grade wood finishes, while racing-focused hulls are thoroughly gutted of non-essential cabinetry to shed every available kilogram.
- Rigging Options: Rig choices ranged from a standard fixed aluminum spars to a towering, highly efficient Lorima rotating carbon fiber mast. The carbon package includes a carbon compression beam, carbon bowsprit, and carbon structural bulkheads to maximize rigging tension and minimize weight aloft.
- Steering Systems: While a traditional bulkhead-mounted steering wheel was available, the defining feature of most TS5 builds is the inclusion of twin, outboard tiller steering stations complete with carbon tillers and ergonomic bucket seats. This configuration provides direct, mechanical helm sensitivity rarely found on catamarans of this scale.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The physical sensations of sailing the TS5 are directly explained by its impressive design ratios. With a lightweight displacement of just 24,251 pounds and a towering rig, the yacht boasts an extraordinary Sail Area to Displacement (SA/Disp) ratio of 30.42. This translates to immense power and instant acceleration, allowing the yacht to easily match or exceed true wind speeds in light airs. In medium to heavy winds, the boat behaves like an active racing machine, reaching speeds well over 20 knots with ease.
The Displacement to Waterline Length (Disp/LWL) ratio of 86.61 highlights the exceptionally low drag of its long, narrow hulls. Because of its deep, efficient daggerboards, the TS5 can point remarkably high into the wind, maintaining a close-hauled course up to 30 degrees apparent while minimizing leeway.
At the helm, the mechanical tiller setup completely bypasses the friction and play of traditional hydraulic steering lines, giving the pilot an exceptionally tactile connection to the balanced rudders. The Capsize Screening ratio of 3.9 is standard for a multihull of this beam, but because of its light displacement and narrow, easily driven hulls, the boat handles ocean swell with a soft, pitching motion rather than the harsh, jerky movements typical of wider, heavier cruising catamarans.
Market Snapshot & Economics
On the brokerage market, the TS5 / ORC 50 occupies an elite tier of high-performance cruisers. Because production runs were semi-custom and highly managed, used hulls are scarce and command a significant premium among performance enthusiasts.
Following Grand Large Yachting's acquisition of the brand, owners now benefit from the support of Grand Large Services, which has standardized replacement parts, rigging support, and technical updates. This institutional backing has stabilized residual values, ensuring that the model does not suffer the depreciation risks often associated with smaller, independent composite shipyards.
Prospective buyers should anticipate refit economics governed by weight sensitivity. Replacing standard components with heavy, off-the-shelf cruising equipment (such as massive generator sets or heavy hydraulic passerelles) will quickly compromise the yacht’s sailing qualities. Consequently, repairs and additions generally demand premium, lightweight marine components, such as advanced lithium battery banks and specialized lightweight watermakers.
Known Issues & Triage
While the TS5 is built to highly rigorous composite standards, several specific operational vulnerabilities require careful management.
- Extreme Weight Sensitivity: The most common operational "issue" is performance degradation due to cruising weight creep. Adding heavy tenders, excessive fuel reserves, or oversized dive gear can depress the hulls, dramatically lowering the bridge deck clearance and causing heavy pounding in head seas. Maintaining a strict weight budget is mandatory to preserve the boat’s handling.
- Lee Bow Submergence: Under a heavy press of sail in short, steep seas, the narrow, wave-piercing inverted bows can submerge when pushed hard by a racing crew. Owners should regularly inspect the forward trampoline lacing, structural bowsprit attachments, and forward beam-to-hull junctions for stress fracturing or gelcoat crazing caused by high dynamic loads.
- Daggerboard Trunk Wear: The daggerboards operate in close-tolerance trunks. Frequent high-speed sailing can lead to minor impact wear or chafe on the internal bearings and guide plates. These trunks should be inspected annually for structural fatigue or water ingress around the hull seals.
The Verdict
The TS5 is a highly specialized, speed-focused multihull designed for sailors who refuse to compromise performance for luxury. It is a pure sailor's catamaran that rewards active, attentive helming and meticulous weight management with unparalleled speed and offshore capability.
Pros
- Exceptional sailing speeds, regularly achieving 20+ knot passages under the right conditions.
- Highly responsive outboard tiller steering offering direct, tactile helm feedback.
- Outstanding light-air performance and superior upwind capability due to efficient daggerboards.
- Robust structural backing and global parts support through the Grand Large Yachting network.
- Light, highly rigid composite hull construction featuring extensive structural carbon fiber.
Cons
- Extremely sensitive to weight addition; excessive gear easily compromises bridge deck clearance and sailing performance.
- Minimalist, weight-optimized interior lacks the luxurious woodwork and heavy comfort systems of traditional cruisers.
- Highly active helm and powerful rig demand an experienced crew capable of managing fast sail adjustments.
- High cost of maintaining and replacing premium, performance-oriented lightweight equipment.
