Not every cruising multihull is built for the same job.
Some are designed for maximum comfort, volume and life at anchor. Others are built for long ocean passages, where the nearest sheltered marina may be hundreds of miles away.
This is where the Ocean Class, or bluewater cruising, philosophy begins.
Such a boat has to combine strength, low weight, efficient hull shapes, a good sail plan, easy handling and self-sufficiency.
Why does weight matter?
The heavier the boat, the more energy it takes to move it. That is why performance-cruising catamarans and trimarans use vacuum infusion, composites and carbon reinforcement — to combine strength with good sailing performance.
But speed offshore is not only about fun.
In the Mediterranean, when the weather turns, you can often change course and duck into a sheltered bay. In the middle of the ocean, that option may not exist.
A good average speed gives the crew more choices when playing the weather window: getting through a risky area sooner, adjusting the route, or putting more distance between the boat and an approaching system.
So a good ocean-going multihull is not a race boat with berths. It is a balance of:
⚓ strength
⛵ speed
🌊 seaworthiness
⚖️ low weight
🏠 comfort
🧭 self-sufficiency
Which brings us to two yards in the VV Multihulls portfolio — Seawind and NEEL.
Seawind focuses on light, efficient ocean-going catamarans, combining composite technology with strong sailing performance.
NEEL takes a different route: trimaran architecture, where performance meets bluewater cruising and comfort.
In the next posts we will look at both philosophies through specific models.
Published 19 September 2026 · Instagram post