The New Windelo 50 On Test - An Innovative Catamaran

A few months ago, Sam Jefferson, journalist for Sailing Today magazine, jump aboard the New Windelo 50 for a sea trial at Canet-en-Roussillon. Discover this New Windelo 50 on test and first impression of our skipper!

“It may sound a bit trite to say that Windelo Catamarans have been on a voyage since it launched its first Windelo 50 in 2021, but it’s also true. I was fortunate to test sail that first boat and was suitably impressed. Setting up a new company from scratch and building a sustainable and innovative catamaran out of basalt is no mean feat. Yet what was more impressive was that the boat was superb; well executed, carefully thought out, and with a high level of finish.”

The changes are more dramatic than you might think. As a journalist, I’m often sceptical of much fanfared ‘Mk2’ launches as sometimes the changes can be subtle to the point of non-existent. This certainly is not the case with the Windelo 50Mk2. One glance at the boat from the dockside underlines that big changes have been made. Previously, the boat had a certain ‘expedition’ look to it thanks to the styling of its coachroof. This has gone and the new edition looks more sleek, more purposeful, and more aggressive.

The reason for this change in character? Simple: the yard has constructed an entirely new deck mold to go on the existing hulls. In case you’re wondering, this is a big deal, as it costs a pretty penny to construct an entirely new deck molding. If you’re wondering what was wrong with the old one, the answer would be nothing because it doesn’t exist; the MK1 Windelo had a deck constructed using several different molds which were put together like a jigsaw puzzle.

This gave the boat a certain distinctive look but it’s also understandable that the manufacturers have chosen to refine the design by going for a single deck molding. It makes for a less complicated build process and gives the deck layout more coherence.

One of the most distinctive features of the Windelo has always been its forward cockpit. Multihull manufacturers have always wrestled somewhat with where to place the helm without compromising visibility. The obvious point is on the bridge deck, but this means you have to raise the boom and the whole center of gravity of the boat.

Others go for aft helms set well outboard, but these can tend to feel a bit vulnerable. Windelo went for a totally different approach and put twin helms just abaft the mast in an enclosed cockpit. This has worked well for them, striking a balance of good visibility, decent feel, a good view of the sails, plus excellent access to the running rigging.

This is also an area that has been significantly refined by the new deck molding. First up, the angled mullions of the cockpit windows allow for better all-round visibility than previously and also give the whole area a greater feeling of space. Equally, the skylights in the coachroof that allow you to check the trip of the mainsail have been enlarged, letting in more light and giving you a better view of the sails.

Meanwhile, the cockpit seats have been reworked so that they feel deeper and hold you in better in a seaway. The helm’s position has also been tweaked slightly to ensure it’s in the absolutely optimal spot. The deck organizers have also been tweaked to make them even easier to use, but the setup remains the same, with all running rigging leading almost directly to the hand of the helmsman. Meanwhile, a self-tacking jib ensures that handling the boat is a breeze.

The aim is that a couple can sail the boat across oceans with ease. Both daggerboards can also be raised and lowered from here. In addition to this, the anchor winch is also right there within the cockpit, giving you a much more immediate view of what’s going on as you lower and raise the anchor.

The setup has proven a big hit for Windelo in part because it means that there is no huge barrier between the ‘sailing’ area of the boat up forward and the saloon, which can be reached via wide sliding ‘patio’ doors. It’s a blending of sailing and relaxing areas that works better than most, while the forward cockpit also feels secure in a blow. As if to underline this, there are well-positioned handholds running fore and aft, while the huge cockpit drain would deal with any stray waves that snuck in.

Back aft, there is more shade – and equal protection from rain – than before, thanks to that elongated coachroof, but beyond that, the whole aft section has been significantly remodeled. The clever setup for raising and lowering the tender has been retained but remodeled. This essentially involved the aft section of the deck pivoting as part of a davit for the dinghy.

This means that when you are sailing, the back deck is raised, thereby enclosing the cockpit, while at anchor, the dinghy is lowered, and the aft deck almost doubles in size. The remodeled version of this clever setup has been rounded off at the corners and feels like a piece with the rest of the boat’s styling. The aft steps have also been reshaped with more curves – both as a point of style but also to make it easier to get on and off the boat.

It’s also worth noting that the upgraded deck design has paid special attention to the runoff of water, with improved guttering ensuring the boat is drier in a seaway.

There is also an optional U-shaped galley with a main seating area to port. Either arrangement features a huge double pilot berth above this where you could happily lounge on watch and keep an eye on things with the autopilot doing the hard work for you. Forward of this berth is a modestly dimensioned chart table to an area with a clever flip-around seat and a big flat screen TV mounted to the forward bulkhead also doubles as an instrument readout while you are underway, making navigation and watch keeping – particularly at night- very practical with all the information at your fingertips.

The finish was excellent, and the notable upgrade was the styling, which was just that little bit more slick, with the wave motif seen in the hull and deck design cleverly incorporated into the interior design, too.

The port hull is devoted to the owner’s suite and, in standard form, runs the full length of the hull. The double berth is set in the aft section of the hull and runs athwartships. The huge curved portlights provide masses of lights and also excellent views. Storage is also good, and access to the bed is also excellent.

How comfortable an athwartship’s berth would be on a catamaran in a big swell fell beyond the parameters of this test, unfortunately. Forward of this was a small office space with a desk, which was a nice touch and shows just how practical these boats are for those who are looking at a ‘work from boat’ lifestyle.

Almost the entire bow of the forward hull is devoted to the ensuite heads and shower, which is simply huge. Their shower cubicle is substantially larger than in many homes and is set right in the bow with the heads set aft.

The starboard hull features twin double cabins, both well dimensioned with separate heads and shower cubicles in the corridor running between the two. This setup is undoubtedly the one that most owners will go for, but there are variations on the theme available. It’s also worth noting that the amount of storage available was impressive.

Upwind, we were hitting 7kn and sailing about 40 degrees off the wind. The helm on these Windelos is a pleasure compared to many rival big cats.  The combination of rod and Dyneema line works very well, and there is a nice feeling of connection with the elements. It’s worth noting that, although the cockpit is enclosed, you can slide open enough windows to ensure that you feel well connected with the elements, which is one of the most important aspects of sailing.

The light, responsive feel of the wheel also enhanced the enjoyment, and at times, I felt like I was at the helm of a much smaller sporty cat. Of the wind, we put the gennaker up and were soon hitting 10kn in 15kn of true wind. Sail handling was very simple, and It all made for a thoroughly enjoyable sail.