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HH Catamarans flagship HH88 nears launch

HH Catamarans, a branch of US-based Hudson Yacht Group, has revealed that the first hull in its flagship HH88 series is approaching its launch at its facilities in China. 

Designed in 2016/17 by Morrelli & Melvin , construction on the all-carbon multihull began in 2019 and it is expected to be handed over to her owner this year.

The 26.8-metre fully-carbon catamaran has a bold crimson exterior and is in the final stages of build at the Xiamen shipyard, with an anticipated launch date in late summer. 

The HH88 model can be customised in two ways: One to prioritise speed and one to best optimise space. The first hull will be used for private yacht charter, and will be fitted with an enclosed flybridge and a hot tub.  Accommodation is for ten guests and with a complement for four crew.

When sailing, the unit’s robust carbon mast plays host to a 246 square-metre main sail. 

This flagship model is the builder's biggest catamaran yet, and according to the yard will be the second largest carbon fiber catamaran ever produced.

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How This Pioneering New Catamaran Builder Is Creating the ‘Ferrari of Sailing Cats’

Hh catamarans is building sleek, nimble and fast vessels., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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Multimillion-dollar sailing cats are a small but fiercely contested niche, mostly dominated by European brands. So it’s worth paying attention when an eight-year-old builder from China is considered a legitimate challenger to pedigreed French names such as Privilege and Lagoon .

HH Catamarans , with a line ranging from fast, wave-jumping 50-foot cruisers to 88-foot ocean yachts, has gained a loyal following in the US and Europe, in part because COO Paul Hakes—he’s one of the H’s in “HH”—is obsessed with mating upscale interiors to featherweight racing hulls.

Hakes assembled what he calls a “mini-UN” of expat experts at HH’s production headquarters in Xiamen, China. Naval architecture is done by the California-based firm Morelli & Melvin . The yachts are built by local labor: With an average of 40,000 man-hours per cat, the labor savings add up significantly, allowing HH to focus on superior performance through exotic materials and expensive carbon-fiber weaves. “We’re determined to make HH the Ferrari of sailing cats,” Hakes says.

HH Catamarans

Befitting that famed Italian marque, the HH55 and HH66 are sleek, nimble and beautiful vessels, though the HH88, with its exponentially larger interior and oceangoing hull, is more
 like a Mercedes-AMG G-Wagen. But to stick to automotive analogies, it’s worth mentioning that HH’s upstart nature makes it more like Lamborghini , founded to challenge Enzo Ferrari’s already successful brand—and we all know how that turned out.

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BUILDING HYBRID ELECTRIC CATAMARANS (HH Factory Tour)

A peek into the heart and soul of boat construction, where every minuscule detail counts and the devil himself hangs out.  A full tour of the HH Catamarans factory. ❤ Join Our Crew! ❤ For exclusive content, behind the scenes & Q&A's: http://bit.ly/patreon-wynn ⛵More About Our Boat: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/curiosity-sailboat 📷 Photo & Video Gear 📷 https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/photo-video-gear 📱 UPDATES on Social 📱 INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/the_wynns/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GoneWithTheWynns 📧EMAIL notifications, so you never miss a video🍦 http://bit.ly/gwtw-social 🎶 MUSIC for vids. 2 Months Free: https://bit.ly/artlist-GWTW Artists – Eyal Raz 🎨 Creative Assets for Vids (SFX, Templates & Presets): - https://bit.ly/motion-array-GWTW 🎽GET YOUR SWAG ON: https://gonewiththewynns.teemill.com/ 💯FREE ways to support our productions http://bit.ly/join-gwtw Ah, the captivating realm of boat building, where all the magic happens.  Or so we are learning.  The biggest advantage to being here for the last stage of our boat build is getting to see all the guts, how it all comes together and learning from the pros.  We have been spending A LOT of time with the HH crew and diving into the nitty-gritty details that make these floating marvels worthy of sailing the world’s oceans. And this week, we take a peek into the heart and soul of boat construction, where every minuscule detail counts and the devil himself hangs out.  From design tolerances to why epoxy is superior, we're pulling back the curtain on the wizardry that goes into building our HH44 and all these vessels. Getting unfettered access to the HH factory, the people, and the process has been invaluable.  This is obviously a highly talented crew and every step of the process is carefully thought out.  From the materials they choose to the intricate electrical systems, it's clear that attention to detail is their secret sauce.  Which gives us a ton of confidence in our boat for when the time comes to set sail.  Because Ricardo is right, something will inevitably fail.  And when it does, we will know exactly where it is and how to get to it.  Fixing it will be another beast all together, but that's future us problems.  For now, we're soaking up all the knowledge we can and enjoying this part of the journey. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WE’RE JASON AND NIKKI WYNN. A couple of modern-day documentarians, perpetual travelers, and seekers of tall tales. We’ve been chasing our curiosity around the world on wheels and keels since 2011. Why? Because curiosity is the key to unlocking life. It pushes us outside our comfort zone, softens our assumptions, and helps us embrace the great unknown. The more we let our curiosity lead the way, the more we discover about ourselves and the world around us. Our home is also our transportation and we spend weeks away from civilization and sometimes land. Self-reliance and living a sustainable lifestyle are a must. It's all about managing our resources and we’re always looking for new and better ways to do so. We've lived off the grid for over 10 years now in everything from a Van to RV to a Sailboat. And over time we have learned a lot about renewable energy, creating safe drinking water, and managing our waste. Our journey is ever-evolving but the mission remains the same: #CultivateCuriosity Timestamps if you like to Jump Around: 00:00 HH Factory Xiamen 00:55 Why Build Boats with Carbon & Epoxy Resin? 02:46 Is Flying a Hull Safe? 05:45 Designing a Performance Cruising Catamaran 09:15 Engineering a Performance Cat: Deck Gear & Rigging 11:27 Electrical Systems Designed for Sailing 17:23 Soft Launch, Systems Test & Hybrid Interface 19:22 Final Prep & Sail Out of the HH Factory ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #BoatLife #Catamaran #Sailboats #BoatBuilding #SneakPeek #AdventureAwaits © Gone With the Wynns 2023

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HH Catamarans Launches First Boat

• By HH Catamarans
• Updated: April 20, 2016

Xiamen, China – HH6601 R-SIX began sea trials today in Xiamen, China. The 66′ carbon catamaran is the first in a new line of luxury, performance, carbon cruising cats. Built by Hudson Yacht & Marine, R-SIX is the result of three years of efforts in design, engineering and leading construction methods. HH Catamarans Designer Gino Morrelli was onboard for today’s trials, along with company President Paul Hakes. As a team of world leading sailors, craftsmen and system engineers began to put the boat through her paces, a collective anticipation and excitement electrified the scene.

“I’m excited,” Gino said before leaving the dock, “there’s always mixed feelings of suspense and excitement the first day out on a new design, it’s mostly excitement though.”

Weeks of rain, heavy fog, and grey skies cleared for the day’s events, making way for brilliant blue skies and steady 10-15kt winds. With the weather setting the tone, R-SIX followed suit, demonstrating incredible power and grace on her first outing. Though the day’s primary goal was systematic testing, the boat show’d immense potential, hitting speeds in the mid-teens with ease.

HH Project Manager William Jelbert summed it up well, “We had an incredible day. I think this is the first sea trial of a new series I’ve been on where nothing broke. The boat feels fantastic, we’re all thrilled with the result.”

Perhaps the most apt description of the day came from Italian/Australian/South African boat building veteran Riccardo Marton, “We’re off to a perfect start, a dream boat, fantastic people, a lekker day. This is what makes it all worth it.”

Sea trials will continue throughout the next several weeks, and R-SIX will be bound for the Med in May. HH6601 will make her official debut in September at the Cannes Yachting Festival.

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First look: HH44 – smallest offering yet

• Toby Hodges
• September 5, 2023

Big solar capacity, fixed keels or daggerboards, protected helms and drop down transom platforms are just some of the key feature that make the HH44 stand out

Product Overview

The old adage that the many benefits of a cruising catamaran are achieved at the cost of its sailing qualities is no longer true and a growing proportion of buyers are seeking performance boats that are responsive and fun to sail. This part of the multihull market has of course existed for a long time, with the likes of Outremer, Catana and more recently Gunboat and Marsaudon Composites proving that lightweight ultra-fast catamarans can be safe and comfortable, yet also exhilarating.

HH Catamarans has grown rapidly since the yard was founded in 2012 by entrepreneur and boating enthusiast Hudson Wang. He has since ploughed some US$50 million into the company, including 1.2 million square feet of manufacturing space with state of the art production equipment, predominately at Xiamen in south-western China.

Wang has also recruited top talent, including Kiwi boatbuilder Paul Hakes, who as CEO has brought his knowledge of building very high end raceboats to a cruising audience who want an equal level of attention to detail in an impeccably finished yacht that also offers a high level of comfort and without sacrificing speed.

The latest model to hit the water, the HH44, will be the smallest in the range and therefore available to a wider audience, even if the price tag still ranges upwards of US$1 million ex VAT. Nevertheless this hasn’t deterred 35 owners ordering boats off-plan before the first one left the yard.

This Morrelli & Melvin design is not as ultra high performance as some of the earlier and larger HH models. This is especially true in the OC (Ocean Cruising) versions of the HH44, which have an easily handled format with aluminium mast, white gelcoat finish and mini-keels as standard instead of daggerboards. Nevertheless displacement is one third lower than that of many catamarans of this size, which promises enjoyable and rewarding sailing, as well as markedly reducing time spent under power when passagemaking.

SC (Sports Cruising) models include current race boat technology, including carbon C-foils and rig, a painted hull finish, plus over 4kW of solar panels.

They also have a parallel hybrid EcoDrive system developed by Isle of Wight company Hybrid Marine. This is intended to provide all the key benefits of an electric boat – including silent, fume-free motoring, instant torque when manoeuvring, and hydro-regeneration while sailing – without sacrificing the reassuring backup of diesel engines.

The first boat, an SC model painted in a striking metallic silver, was scheduled to hit the water this summer. Demand has been such that HH is currently building an additional set of moulds and two production lines will run for the HH44 at its Cebu facility in the Philippines.

HH44 specifications

LOA (transoms raised): 14.23m / 46ft 8in LWL: 13.28m / 43ft 7in Beam: 7.15m / 23ft 6in Draught (fixed keels): 1.52m / 5ft 0in Displacement (OC model): 8,750kg / 19,290lb Payload approx: 4,750kg / 10,000lb Mainsail: 74.2m2 / 799ft2 Solent jib: 51.1m2 / 550ft2 Base price 44-OC: US$957,000 ex vat Base price 44-SC: US$1,325,000 ex VAT Builder: hhcatamarans.com

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Behind the Scene of the New HH44 Catamaran. VIDEO

We are thrilled to present the first in a five-part video series entitled “Designing the HH44”. The all-new HH44 catamaran is a yacht with many innovations. It features 100% electric propulsion with a diesel hybrid backup, 3,190 watts of solar, built-in hydropower generation, swing helms, folding transoms, forward opening windows, 48-volt deck systems, shaft-drive folding propellers, pre-preg carbon fiber C-shaped daggerboards, and near wind-speed sailing performance (all of it standard).

In this video, we hear from Paul Hakes (CEO & Co-Founder of HH ) and James Hakes ( HH Naval Architect) on how they and the team at HH Catamarans developed the all-new HH44.

Something more about the HH44 catamaran

The HH44 catamaran was conceived from the ground up to work with a parallel hybrid system. The HH44’s parallel hybrid provides all the benefits of an electric boat, silent fume-free motoring, instant torque for maneuvering, and hydro-regeneration while sailing, with the reliability of a trusty diesel engine. The helms have been positioned in the aft corners which opened up the cabin top for up to 3.2kW of solar panels (+.5kW mounted on the davits) to complement the hybrid. The hydro-regeneration combined with the possibility of huge solar and excellent sailing performance in all wind strengths give the HH44 essentially infinite range.

The parallel hybrid system can operate in several different modes:

1. Standard mode – operate the diesel engines with the hybrid system disengaged, just as you would on a traditional yacht.

2.  Engine mode – operate the diesel engines as you usually would, with all extra horsepower being pulled off the engines and used to charge the large battery bank.

3. Generator mode – Disengage the clutch in the prop shaft and turn the two diesel engines into two 6kW DC generators.

4. Silent mode – Disengage the electric motors from the diesel engines and use the electric motors to provide 10kW of silent propulsion power per shaft (20kW total)

5. Hydro Regen mode – while sailing, disengage the electric motors from the diesel engines, open the folding propeller and allow it to free-spin, this turns the shafts and the electric motors generating electricity for free! Regen mode is greatly enhanced by the fast sailing speeds of the HH44.

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First look: HH88 – largest carbon cruising cat

# Product Trends

The newly announced HH88 will be capable of cruising at 18 knots comfortably and while providing luxury to owners with some stunning interior styling

Described by HH as the largest all-carbon cruising catamaran ever built, the first hull of the HH88 has just emerged from the painting booth in a high-gloss crimson. Destined for the luxury charter market, it has five big ensuite cabins, a jacuzzi on the foredeck and a fully air-conditioned flybridge with internal and external access.

With 70kW of lithium battery capacity, it will be able to run the hotel loads overnight without firing up the generator. Some 6kW of solar panels and twin 24kW generators will keep the lights on, and a hybrid power option is in development for future models. HH says the boat will cruise comfortably at 18 knots without heeling more than 4°, with top velocity predictions above 25 knots.

Interior styling includes illuminated granite surfaces, carbon detailing and solid burr walnut joinery.

Launch is scheduled for later in the year.

HH88 specifications

LOA: 26.82m 88ft 0in

LWL: 26.20m 86ft 0in

Beam: 11.10m 36ft 5in

Draught: 2.45m 8ft 0in

Displacement: 60 tonnes

Builder: hhcatamarans.com

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HH 44 (15 m): the high-tech catamaran coming from China

• October 12, 2023
• No Comments

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The catamaran market is not only made up of super cruisers, but there is also a slice of product dedicated to models that, in addition to comfort, focus on high performance in sailing. Chinese shipyard HH Catamarans , based in Xiamen, is a full-fledged member of those performance-cruiser-style cata manufacturers that have been emerging internationally in recent years. The latest design launched is the HH 44, the entry level of a range that now numbers eight models up to 88 feet .

HH 44 – What a catamaran it is

The design was entrusted to the American firm Morelli&Melvin , which conceived a cat with modern styling, straddling the quest for on-board comfort and crisp performance. The netting at the bow between the two hulls to keep the displacement weight off and the deckhouse that continues aft to shade the cockpit are the two elements that blatantly characterize the boat. The deckhouse also houses a battery of solar panels, which are invaluable for powering on-board systems, since the proposed motorization is both classic thermal and hybrid.

The catamaran is built with extensive use of carbon , so that the fully loaded displacement is kept to about 13 tons, not bad for a craft that still remains cruising-oriented. Defining the performance dimension of this catamaran are the adjustable, slightly curved drifts. These are certainly not foils, but two side appendages designed to optimize upwind sailing and slightly reduce hydrodynamic drag.

The rigging is gathered around the two wheelhouses, while the mainsail carriage is positioned above the deckhouse at the end of the boom. The sail area is also interesting, with 125 sq. m. of upwind that promises good thrust, plus 150 sq. m. of gennaker.

The interiors are 3-cabin and benefit from the full-glass panoramic deckhouse.

HH 44 – Data Sheet

Length: 15.15 m

Width: 7.15 m

Displacement: 13,500 kg fully loaded

Sail area upwind: 125 square meters

Gennaker: 150 sqm

www.hhcatamarans.com

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HH44 Catamaran: The sailing TIE-Fighter

• April 19th, 2024
• Sailing Yacht

Safe the best for last, as they say, right? And as such I´d like to write my final article from this year´s La Grande Motte Multihull show about a very special catamaran. HH Catamarans is neither a newcomer on the boating market – actually, the company was founded some 12 years ago by the renowned boatbuilders Mr. Hudson and Mr. Hakes – hence the name “HH” Catamarans. Nor is their no-compromise approach new.

Honestly, I´ve seen them around but never really approached this brand or boat. Maybe that is because “HH” is an awkward name to speak, but surely because I did not really know what HH Catamarans was all about and frankly, what an awesome build their boats really are! In this, join me for a really cool walkthrough in a yacht that sets the bar a bit higher. Quite a bit!

Emerging Player: HH Catamarans

First things first: Yes, these are boats which are built in China. But, like with so many other things, it is not the origin of a product that is deciding but the briefing and budget given to the makers. In terms of HH Catamarans, the company has set up a state-of-the-art production plant in Xiamen that is owned and run by the company (not a rented production facility!). I haven´t been there but from what one can see online and by talking to the guys present at the HH Cats stand, this is the best from the best. Most advanced CNC , infusion and Carbon Fiber processing technology on the market. Cheap China? Not at all! This 44-footer comes with a plus one million price tag: An HH Catamaran is absolute top shelf luxury.

As apparently the stand and the catamaran was full the whole boat show, I walked by several times hoping for a calm spot to not being interfered with when taking pictures. Which was really hard. Even before opening and after closing times, the cat was full of people checking it out. Which is a good sign. And I can understand why it attracts so many people: Nearing myself from bow, the design and lines are really breathtaking!

The extra-slim hulls and the negative stems make for a fine, slicing entry. The freeboard is very high and distance from the middle section to the waterline pleasantly high: A sign for a very seakind and fast catamaran. I liked the angled shapes very much, instantly I am reminded of the “Star Wars” starship design of the famous TIE-Fighters by the Empire – a daring look for sure. The high class paint of the hull sets it apart from the white deck-salon. A starship, ready to fly.

This enthusiasm changes a bit when I look from a stern angle at the boat. Again, I am reminded of another starship, this time Captain Jean-Luc Picard´s ENTERPRISE D, which looks awesome seen from some angles and doesn´t work anymore from others. The reason for this strange look of the HH 44 are the closed aft sections. The boat appears to have been sort of “cut off” or “sawn away” at the stern – but later more to this, because there is a not so stupid reason.

A hidden gem

Anyways, right on the last day of the “Multicoque 2024” it was my last chance to do the walkthrough and so I went over. Again, even for a traditionally lame last boat show Sunday, the yacht was full of people. So I thank all the guys who allowed me to have them on my pictures here, and so I started my tour.

The HH 44 is the smallest entry level catamaran of the range. The shipyard offers a staggering palette of eight models, ranging from 44 over 50, 52, 60, 66, 80 and a huge 88 feet flybridge super-catamaran. The model shown at La Grande Motte was a used boat, so not brand new anymore, but there were no visible signs of wear. Also, the HH 44 is offered in two principal versions: A cruising catamaran and a high-performance cruiser with daggerboards as displayed at La Grande Motte. Setting my foot into the salon, I quickly realized that this is truly a hidden gem.

A starship for sure!

To stay a bit with the starship-theme, it doesn´t feel like being on a boat. Her design – lightweight sandwich and painted carbon structures – is kept in shiny gloss-white and hard black contrasts. Only a few other colors, like the LED-lighting or slightly crème-colored leather cushion derive from the black/white design. I like it, it really feels like being on a starship.

The salon offers a classy layout with a nice wide L-settee around a reasonably sized dinner table. The windows to the front, the sides and abaft are huge and offer a true 360-degree roundsight. Having a lightweight build utilizing the latest material for stiffness, there are literally no bigger solid walls, it really feels like as if the roof is hovering above the deck.

To make a connection from the “inside” to the “outside”, which is the large aft cockpit under a rigid roof, the large galley window can be folded up and secured under the roof, the sliding door is also removed. In this, a ship´s cook facing backwards will have most fun when providing a meal. Dishes and food can quickly be shuffled out or hauled back in after a meal. Right onto the worktop where a large single sink is located. That this catamaran is a different level indeed can be seen at some really nice details.

For example, the integrated steps to go onto the roof are – at the inside – nicely stitched and wrapped in padded leather. Wow! I absolutely loved how nicely the sunshades work which are made of up to three moving fans going seamlessly up and down. Everything is made of a nice, “heavy” quality – there are literally no cheap plastic clasps installed in the boat.

For a 44-footer, die salon made a great impression on me. The layout is classy and very practical. It holds also a fine balance between providing as much (free) space as possible and at the same time having a safe (less empty volume) room to roam about even in heavy seas violently moving the boat. Comparing the HH 44 salon to “our” Excess 14 , which has roughly the same measurements, this one has less room and feels more “filled”, but on the other hand, comes with a very cruising- and owners-sailed optimized layout.

Design meets practical solutions

Looking at some key features, the distinction between an owner-optimized and vacation-optimized boat becomes apparent. For example the nav-station. This is an indisputable feature in a cruising catamaran, but of course, for boats predominantly used as vocational ships which as well must work fine in charter business , a dedicated nav-station will be as small as possible. This is different from a catamaran or boat (same goes for monohulls) which are intended and thought-through for sailor and owners-couple usage.

If you liked the huge role model nav station on the Outremer 52 , you will simply love the one on the HH 44! The desk is big enough so that two persons can take a seat on the lightweight, very practical poufs . I personally like the pivoting stool on the Outremer 52 more, but I´m sure the yard could fit something like this here as well. Also, all electronic displays and controls of the boat to be found outside are mounted as daughter displays in here. A fully operational control-bridge – best for a heavy weather watch!

Another deciding detail – this time much, much better solved than on the (much bigger) Outremer 52 and many other catamarans I´ve seen is the galley. It´s a U-shape, which not just provides so much extra stowage, but also a safe standing position to prepare food or doing the dishes. A ship´s cook can wedge in here and there´s no danger of falling through an all-open salon.

The boat is loaded with such amenities and practical solutions. The point is that you will never have the feeling that something has be done afterwards or as some sort of concession to some weird client´s requests, but it feels like the boat has been constructed around these things. Best seen where the large washing/drying machine is installed. They haven´t taken out a cabinet and just somehow fitted a washing machine, the whole area was planned to fit it. And to look nice, on top.

A Cathedral of light: Cabins aboard the HH 44

Let´s stay down below for a while because this is there the HH Catamaran really gets exciting. First of all, the black/white design in combination with huge and manifold windows and deck opening hatches makes for a wonderfully light suffused interior. There are windows literally everywhere you look – and a friendly light atmosphere. Many other boats are like “traps”, rather boosting seasickness than curing it.

This light-concept is best understood when checking the aft sections of the hulls: Huge rectangular bed which utilized all of the area between the hulls´ walls instead of island beds (which in my opinion are nice to look at in a catalogue but are a waste of space and unsafe in heavy seas). But the best are the windows … just look at this:

Owners and VIP-guests sleeping aft will enjoy a sunroom-like openness. I cannot remember having seen a boat´s cabin that offers such a huge amount of transparent area, being here whilst underway on the blue Ocean must be a tremendous experience. The only downside – as with so many boats – is that the hull windows are so high that you cannot look out whilst laying in bed. I guess that´s a safety issue, but it would have had an extra boosting comfort effect for sure.

Have no fear for your privacy, all windows on the HH 44 are tempered so that nobody can peep inside. This is especially important for the aft cabin´s windows which are directly en par with the cockpit: Essentially, any helmsman would have a front row seat and look through a +70 inch TFT-screen onto the owner´s berth. Normally, you don´t want this. The beds aren´t just big, spacy and cozy. Underneath, parts of the really advanced propulsion system are installed.

Hybrid propulsion and autonomous energy generation

Sustainability in boat building is a huge thing currently and I support this. Big companies are investing a lot in research and development, smaller startups try out their ideas and approaches. Of course, full electric or hydrogen-based propulsion is a thing of the future, but the first brands have launched their hybrid boats already. The HH 44 is such a yacht and the shipyard calls their concept the “Eco Drive”.

It´s basically the proven, rigid and reliable Diesel engine with a linear electric motore directly attached. This electric drive with two 10 kW also works as an alternator so that, when under Diesel engines, the large batteries are constantly reloaded. The Diesel engines (Vetus) are fitted directly underneath the aft beds. This is a rather uncommon approach and I have a lot of questions regarding heat, possible (dangerous) fumes, noise and vibrations and last not least questions like maintenance (inside the cabin) to possible exchange of an engine, but apparently HH found a solution to this.

The interesting aspect of the HH Catamarans “Eco Drive” concept is the interaction of the ensemble. Diesel-mode is clear, all electric mode is also clear. Furthermore, the alternators – when sailing and the props aren´t locked – recuperation mode is possible. Meaning by having the props rotate when sailing, they function like a hydro-generator. Also, there is a very clever “mix”-mode, as I call it. When you need Diesel-Power but also sleep, only one of the Diesels can be operated whilst the other is in recuperation mode.

Entering via a big removable door or wall piece from the forward guest cabin, there is full access to the battery and charger-room. The HH 44 is equipped with a set of 48 Volts lithium batteries with a combined power of over 43 kW hours, which is very impressive. This capacity is more than enough to ensure a cruising range (at 7 knots) of over 600 nautical miles or the utilization of all possible amenities for onboard comforts, like fridges, freezers, washing machines and even an AC.

Apart from than, the whole rooftop of the catamaran is completely covered with solar panels . The maximum power generation of these is 4.200 Watt-peak, which is also a lot when sailing or anchoring in sun-rich areas. The HH 44, like his bigger sisters, is a proven concept and a safe offshore-capable system. I found especially impressive how openly and honest the shipyard declares that they consider all-electric propulsion for not ready now. For the sake of seamanship and safety at sea, this is a brave and trust-building standpoint, better than offering something that is not ready now.

Luxury amenities and full-cruising capabilities

So, with such a rich abundancy of electric power and a long lasting range of almost complete autonomy, this catamaran is set to re-define the combination of luxury cruising with performance sailing. Luxury, that´s often a matter of being able to use the same household appliances which make our daily life at shore so convenient.

The HH 44 offers all of them, and even more. For example, in the very roomy and tasteful designed owner´s bathroom I was happy to discover an electric towel dryer. Such a small appliance that can make life so much easier. A washing machine, dishwasher in the galley up and many more little “helpers” not only add to the impressive price tag here, but also and foremost add to the label “luxury sailing” which is truly earned.

HH Catamarans utilizes latest production techniques. This can be seen by looking at the bare numbers: The HH 44 has a displacement of 10.2 tons (empty) and 14.5 tons with maximum load. Compared to the Nautitech 44 for example, that’s 1 ton lighter. Even more, almost 3 tons lighter than the 12.8 tons of the Excess 14 . How is this achieved? Carbon, lightweight sandwich layups and even prepreg-applications are used to build the boat.

Here and there the shipyard offers a glimpse onto these facts by having bare glossy painted Carbon there to admire, for example in the bathrooms. People who know will easily recognize the thumb-metallic sound when knocking on the materials, which is a totally different sound from ordinary GRP layups.

Both boats are made for four persons who will love their aft cabins, but there´s also another guest cabin in the front with a single bed. At least here a small window nearly at the height of the head of the occupant is offered. I guess this is the cabin that will remain unoccupied anyway or utilized otherwise as additional stowage. Let´s check the performance data, now that we´ve seen her interiors.

Performance through High-Tech

In the 44/45 footer class there isn´t much to compare the HH 44 to. So let´s stick to the Nautitech Open 44, the Excess 14 and the Outremer 45 . The upwind sails area of the HH 44 is said to be 116 square meters, whereas Nautitech, Excess and Outremer clock in with 105, 135 and and 106 square meters. Being the lightest of them four boats sporting the second biggest area of canvas up in the wind, it should be clear which one performs best.

The Excess 14 is an excellent, easy to sail cruising catamaran which exceeds the projected sailing performance by the shipyard by far. But it is not a performance cat – as well as the Nautitech, both have no daggerboards which gives both the Outremer and the HH Catamaran a much better directional stability and upwind performance with significantly lessened leeway. I haven´t sailed the HH 44 (yet) but I´d say a match race between her and the Outremer 45 would be a great feat.

The HH 44 has rounded (C-shape) daggerboards made of carbon fibers, hence provide a huge safety margin, high stability with flexing capability and are easy to operate due to their light weight. Besides these features, walking the deck and inspecting the running rigging, I notice so many great details, like the Carbon shrouds with soft shackles or the tall 90 cm stanchions which provide maximum safety.

The HH 44 is a classy sports catamaran with two full-sized helm stations in the cockpit. The starboard side features the primary plotter and all control panels for anchor windlass, all electric winches (which can also be operated by foot) and some secondary displays for wind and log-data. Like on the Outremer 52, the steering wheels are mounted on a pivoting stand.

So in active “fun” sailing mode, the wheels are put to the outer face of the hulls, granting perfect view over the leeward hull. In cruising mode or during bad weather phases, the wheel is put to middle position (as shown in the pictures) to grant a dry stand for the helmsman underneath the hardtop and they can even pivot further into the inside of the cockpit, maybe useful in long motoring sessions.

The handling of all lines and winches is ergonomically perfect, all is well protected. I must say that for my taste a bit more “exposure” to the elements wouldn´t had been bad as I deemed the forward vision through the cabin windows an bit obstructed. Excess and Outremer have much more exposed helm stations in this matter. On the other side, aboard the HH 44 safety is apparently of utmost importance and a such this explains the decision for the positioning the helmstations this way.

A perfect ship?

Praise for the HH 44 is unison high. These boats win awards like Tiger Woods in his golden days. This year the catamaran was nominated for the prestigious “Multihull of the Year”-award. And as rumors go, they haven´t won because of the – surely justified, but ridiculously – high price of well over 1.5 million Euros. I can clearly see why the yachting magazines and blogs are full of admiration for this boat: Her finishing and building quality is close to flawless.

So I leave the boat after my intense time aboard. I leave her over one of the foldable bathing platforms, which also brings me back to the beginning of this article. Comparing the HH 44 to the ENTERPRISE D, with a “best view” and some more awkward angles. The closed stern with a foldable bathing platform is the reason for the strange looks of the HH 44. Now that I understood that safety is the main thing on this boat – I can see the advantage of having such a closed stern.

This is a view I could grow into and make my peace with. Yes, the high-active fully exposed Outremer 45 helm station is super exciting and makes for the most adventurous shots, but at the same time, standing a watch up there in really bad weather is clearly much more dangerous than on the HH 44. In the end, this catamaran shows how high class boatbuilding goes if tooling, machinery, material choice, intense high-class labour and of course a later price to be paid is all but secondary. The full order books of HH Catamarans speak for themselves, as well as the opening of a second high-tech production facility in Cebu. Impressive!

You might as well be interested in these related articles:

Carbon overflow: Gunboat!

At the Outremer shipyard

Sea Trial of the Excess 14 catamaran

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