INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOWS AUTUMN SPECIAL
A BUMPER CROP OF MONO-AND MULTIHULLS DEBUT AT INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOWS THIS AUTUMN. TOBY HODGES, RUPERT HOLMES AND DAVID HARDING PREVIEW THE HEADLINERS
Solaris 50
LOA 15.50m 50ft 10in LWL 14.68m 48ft 2in Beam 4.78m 15ft 8in Displacement 15,900kg 35,053lb Price ex VAT €595,000. solarisyachts.com
I still clearly remember sailing the previous Solaris 50 from Aquilea in 2015, and the realisation that it was as special to helm as it was to look at. It became iconic, admired and imitated, and a European Yacht of the Year winner. This new incarnation has big shoes to fill then, but from these first sailing pictures, Solaris’ long term mercurial Argentinian designer Soto Acebal seems to have worked his magic with the sleek hull lines once again. Solaris is promising even more performance thanks to the powerful, latest generation hull lines which are beamier aft and warrant twin rudders. This has created a particularly wide cockpit and enough space below the aft deck for a forward facing tender garage.
The new 50 has also included some of the better ideas from last year’s Solaris 60 and 40, in particular the side decks and helm seats. The steps to the side decks are forward of the helm pedestals for easy access, with the two winches in a practical to work space inboard each side yet within reach of the helms. Yet again we see the historic Italian yard focussing on helming pleasure – the pedestals are comparatively far outboard to create full visibility of the jib telltales even with the sprayhood raised, while the folding seats provide a neat addition of comfort for those wanting to spend long periods on the wheel. The integrated carbon bowsprit will suit a Code 0 or gennaker to bolster the standard self-tacking jib set up.
The three cabin layout can see a centreline or offset master berth forward and the option for a twin instead of one of the doubles aft. There’s also the choice of three heads with a linear galley or two heads with a C-shape galley. The yard has collaborated with Poltrona Frau to offer a range of materials, colours and finishes.
The Solaris 50 will be displayed at Cannes, Genoa and Barcelona boat shows this autumn.
Excess 14
Hull length 13.34m 43ft 9in Beam 7.87m 25ft 9in Draught 1.48m 4ft 10in Displacement 11,700kg 25,794lb Price TBA excess-catamarans.com
Since its launch just three years ago this Groupe Beneteau spin-off brand has made significant inroads into the ever-expanding market for cruising catamarans, beating initial sales targets by an impressive margin. What’s more, Excess achieved this despite the first two models being based on the lower third of existing Lagoon hulls.
As a result to date it has not been able to demonstrate its full vision. That changes with this design, which is conceived from
