WINDELO 50 ADVENTURE – Feedback from Matthieu, owner of the 1st Windelo 50 Adventure, and his friends

Jun 24, 2021

After an inaugural cruise with the family, when our new owner was able to take control of his new catamaran, Matthieu set off for Corsica on board his new Windelo 50 Adventure.

Our owner is used to catamarans. After 10 years of hiring with the family – on average 2 to 5 weeks a year along the Brittany and Mediterranean coasts – the time had come for him and his family to set sail for a North Atlantic circuit. With a program extending just over a year, their desire to possess their own catamaran had come to fruition, as had their desire for eco-responsible sailing.

Matthieu welcomed us aboard his Windelo 50 Adventure during a week’s sailing with his friends (among them Benoît and Romain), heading for Corsica. We couldn’t wait to find out their immediate impressions!

Before enjoying your dream moorings, you, of course, have to navigate. For Matthieu, a passionate sailing enthusiast, there’s no question of making a crossing without having a perfect balance between performance under sail and onboard comfort.

So there’s no escaping the famous question: Gentlemen, what do you think of the boat’s performance?

“Sailing on board the Windelo 50 is extremely nice. It’s a boat that accelerates well, is fast in light winds, and very stable on the water. It rises exceptionally well in the wind, and this was a huge surprise for me, as I’ve never had the opportunity to sail with retracting daggerboards. Really very enjoyable. We didn’t reach the 20 knots cited by the architect – the conditions weren’t favorable – but we could feel the potential straight away. ”

And Benoît added: “Exceptional performance and acceleration, reaching the 16.8 knots. As far as I’m concerned, this is a technological achievement that exactly matches what we wanted in the specifications.” According to Romain: “The boat is very supple, very pleasant to sail. Everything’s smooth, a real treat, also the forward cockpit …”.

Thank you, Romain, for that perfect transition. So, the forward cockpit: convinced or skeptic? What are your impressions? What do you feel at the helm?

“The forward cockpit is one of my favorite places on the Windelo 50. All the maneuvers and boat settings are there in one place, and you can potentially sail solo because everything’s within easy reach. I’m impressed by how easy it is to use, and the maneuvers are extremely simple (reefing, hoisting, furling, etc.); it really makes a difference.” For Matthieu, the forward cockpit is a key feature. “We’re close to the center of gravity; it’s crazy! Now that I’ve had a taste of it, I couldn’t bear to sail a catamaran with an outside aft cockpit. In this forward cockpit, you’re well protected from spray and wind when it’s closed. And then, in calmer weather, you can open up and enjoy sailing from the outside. At the same time, because you’re open to the living quarters, you can socialize with everyone on board, the crew, and the others.”

Has Benoît been converted from skeptic to enthusiast? “I was worried about the view of the mainsail rigging. I eventually realized that it was quite accessible from the roof opening, which you can easily get your head through. At the same time, the fore and aft panoramic views and transparency in the cockpit are quite extraordinary.”

Now let’s talk about life on board the Windelo 50 Adventure. What do you think?

Benoît highlighted two comfort aspects that impressed him: “the port-side aft cabin is very spacious for a 50-footer. The second aspect would be the roof arrangements. I do think you have to make a choice between autonomy and living comfort for the family. Here we have a highly autonomous boat producing green energy; the solar panels take up a large part of the roof, and the sunbathing surface is smaller than it could be. Given the size of the boat, that ultimately reduces the family living space. Not forgetting that the view from the roof is quite extraordinary, and when you’re in the nacelle, you don’t enjoy it in the same way.”

Matthieu, our owner, appreciates the comfort when he’s at the helm. “The Windelo is a real sailor’s boat, with particular attention given to the comfort of the crew when sailing. There’s a lot of socializing between the cockpit and the living quarters, so you can keep an eye on navigation without being cut off from life on board and the crew. Those who aren’t navigating have nice comfortable spaces, in the living quarters, for example, with the quarter-berth or on the trampolines to enjoy the sunshine. The Windelo 50 is very quiet. Whether you’re maneuvering on the electric motors or under sail, you hear nothing in the fore and aft cabins, and that’s very nice. “

And to finish on a bright note, what was your favorite moment on board the Windelo?

Matthieu: “The 17 knots we reached and the potential of 20 knots maximum speed. I’d add the mooring in Corsica in a small creek with a spectacular view. That really was a moment of peace, with the opportunity for amazing photos. There’s very smooth to and fro between galley and dining room, and the aft deck completely open to the water is a real boon. ”

Romain: “For me, it’s always the pleasure of sailing alongside dolphins. They were there 3 or 4 times during several days’ sailing; it’s quite magical to see them playing around the bows while sailing. ”

Benoît: “My break on the fore nets. As always on a catamaran, it’s a comfortable place to be in calm weather. You’re sheltered from the daggerboards when there’s a strong wind, but with the nice sunshine we had, it was very enjoyable. I spent a really cool evening on the aft deck. I imagined myself on the aft transoms, on a deckchair, watching the sun go down. If there could be a deckchair that can be fastened to the floor at the rear transoms, it would be a really magnificent position to relax for a little while.”

To learn more about the Windelo 50 Adventure, discover:

The Windelo 50 Adventure boat specifications

The sea trial presentation video

The 360° virtual tour

La brochure Windelo

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