History of the Multi50 class
The Multi50 class is an atypical class in the world of ocean racing since it brings together professional skippers and amateurs who wish to sail on several hulls. It gathers new prototypes, specially designed for recent transatlantic races.
You can see the boats in several races, alternating coastal races, such as the Armen Race, the Tower of Belle-Île or the Grand Prix Guyader, and offshore races, such as the Route du Rhum or the Transat Jacques Vabre .
To bring back the sponsors on this class, in 2017 it authorized the installation of foils on the boats. in order to reduce the costs; these foils are monotypes (all boats have the same).
Sailing boats in the Multi50 class
The Multi50s are multihulls capable of speeds of up to 30 knots and whose performance is between the MOD70s and the Imoca monohulls.
Among the architects who design these boats, we find Guillaume Verdier, VPLP, Nigel Irens or Benoît Cabaret or Romaric Neyhousser.
The rules of measurement
A Multi50 is a catamaran or trimaran of 50 feet long (15.24 m) and 50 feet wide maximum. The maximum air draft is 23.77 m and the draft is 3.50 m. The number of appendages is limited to 4 (rudders and daggerboards). However, there are no constraints on the shape of the floats, the distribution of the four appendages or the sail plan, as long as it respects the accepted air draft.
The rules of measurement are quite strict in order to moderate the costs of construction for a greater safety on board. The goal is also to promote offshore racing.
The materials are limited and are mainly fiberglass, carbon fiber, wood, aluminum, epoxy resin or airex foam. Tilting masts, hydraulics and honeycomb materials are not allowed.
