balance 44 catamaran

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Sailing Totem
• Sailor & Galley
• Living Aboard
• Destinations
• Gear & Electronics
• Charter Resources

Sailboat Review: Performance Catamaran Balance 442

• By Herb McCormick
• April 25, 2023

This February, I was on a powerboat off Anse Marcel on the French side of the Caribbean island of Saint-Martin when a fleet of fast performance-cruising multihulls set sail into the windy Anguilla Channel for the rally portion of the annual Caribbean Multihull Challenge . A pair of Balance 442 cats named Sage and Umoya , with reefed mains and drawing spinnakers, were blasting their way into the channel’s whitecapped waters, roiled by the 20-plus-knot easterly trade winds. 

Though they were practically the smallest cats in the fray, the 442s were more than holding their own against the bigger craft, which included a quartet of Balance 482s (including company president and founder Phil Berman’s In Balance ). Five months earlier, during our annual Boat of the Year contest, I’d sailed the very same Umoya in somewhat lighter air. Now I knew what the 442s looked like under sail in sportier conditions while hauling the mail: buoyant, sprightly and packed with horsepower. The yacht’s angular aesthetics are crisp, clean and, to my eye, quite fetching. There’s a deck-stepped mast and a working sail plan consisting of a big, square-topped fully battened mainsail and self-tacking jib; relatively narrow hulls with high freeboard and curved, wave-piercing bows that maximize waterline length; an integral sprit for the reaching and running sails; and a substantial coachroof topped with solar panels and accented by generous, tempered-glass windows. 

Balance Catamarans are built in South Africa, where almost 500 employees operate out of two separate facilities, building about 25 boats a year spanning several models. They all share, as Berman told me, a common purpose and the same DNA: They’re performance-oriented , liveaboard cruising boats that are bluewater capable and sail well on all points of sail. The carbon-infused daggerboards, a feature shared with every model in the brand, are largely responsible for their notable windward ability. 

The build, systems and layout are, at once, both complex and straightforward. The hand-laid hull and deck laminates are vacuum-bagged and employ a vinylester outer skin with a polyester inner skin sandwiching a closed-cell foam core with carbon reinforcements in high-load areas (and in the structural crossbeams). To keep the ­vessel as light as possible without compromising strength, the bulkheads and furniture are foam-cored. 

While the contemporary construction techniques and materials are decidedly high-tech, the power and charging systems aren’t especially complicated; Berman said that another overall goal was to keep the boats as simple as possible to sail and operate. For example, Ed Sherman, our BOTY judge who concentrates on systems, was somewhat surprised that the builder did not opt for the digital-­switching configurations so prevalent now across the industry. Still, he liked what he saw, perhaps even more so.  

“This boat is yet another variation of the ‘no-dedicated-­onboard-generator direction’ we are moving in. It uses integral engine-driven alternators—in this case, a pair of them—that create 48-volt power and run this power through Victron converters to run 24- or 12-volt appliances (or the 48-volt equipment just becoming available in the marine marketplace). Energy is stored in lithium-ion battery banks and can be run through DC/AC inverters to run 120- or 220-volt AC appliances. I see the future of onboard electrical systems on this boat.” 

The accommodations plans are also well-thought-out. At 44 feet length overall, and with the daggerboards to account for, this boat has less interior volume than you’d find on other production cats in this size range. But the Balance team maximized the space available, particularly with the big sliding-glass doors that, when open, incorporate the interior lounge, galley and salon with the cockpit. There’s a choice of four staterooms or, as we had on our test boat, three. In the latter setup, a pair of double-berth ­staterooms are to port (one with an athwartship berth forward and a fore-and-aft bunk aft) while a dedicated owner’s stateroom spans the hull to starboard. In either configuration, stowage is abundant. 

The deck also has nifty things of note: the dual mainsheet system that allows the boom angle to be fine-tuned, negating the need for a traveler; the taut, split trampolines forward that provide an excellent bridle system for the ground tackle centered between them; the grab rails on the coachroof top, serving as handholds and rain catchers; the dedicated winch forward for the spinnaker halyard or code zero; and the huge sail locker that can be accessed from the deck. The davit system also works well. Ullman sails are standard. For electronics, owners can choose Garmin or Raymarine kit.

It was under sail, however, that I truly began to appreciate the 442’s proportions, and came to realize what an ideal-size boat this is for a cruising couple. It’s large enough to address most any cruisers’ plans and itinerary, but not so big that you need to bring additional crew on board to go cruising. 

Our test sail was conducted in considerably more mellow conditions than those off Anse Marcel, but in a building southerly that topped out around 15 knots, there was more than enough breeze to strut the 442’s stuff. The VersaHelm that’s offered on every Balance lives up to its name: The convertible wheel can be locked down at cockpit level in inclement conditions, out of the weather, though thanks to those wide windows, there’s good visibility. Or it can be raised up to the elevated helm station to starboard, where a pair of winches and three sets of rope clutches serve the color-coded ­running rigging that’s all right at hand. The engine controls and instrumentation are mounted here as well, making this an easy boat to sail solo. 

We tacked upwind to gain sea room, gliding along at a pretty effortless 8-plus knots, then swapped the jib for the code zero, turned and burned on a broad reach, and easily topped 11 knots. That was clearly the cat’s sweet spot. It was evident that you could easily match that speed for miles and miles and, on passage, knock out consistent 200-plus-mile days. 

To sum up, what you get with the Balance 442 is comfort at anchor and performance underway. Sounds to me like it all balances out.

Balance 442 Specifications

Herb McCormick is former editor-in-chief of Cruising World and the yachting correspondent for The New York Times . The author of five nautical books, he’s owned several sailboats, including his current Pearson 365 and Pearson Ensign.

• More: balance catamarans , catamaran , Print April 2023 , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
• More Sailboats

Sailboat Preview: ClubSwan 28 by Nautor Swan

Sailboat Review: Vision 444

Sailboat Preview: Lagoon 43

Sailboat Preview: Neel 52

Sailor & Galley: Ice Cream, Anytime

ACY Yachts Expands to the West Coast

Requiem for a Mate

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

• 0 No item in your cart
• The magazine

Current issue

• All the issues
• My magazines
• Technical specifications
• Multihull of the Year
• Classified Ads
• Destinations
• Online store
• All the magazines
• Subscriptions
• Accessories

Balance 442

After the 526 and the 482, the Balance shipyard unveiled the 442 at the Annapolis boat show. A catamaran with a compact format and a style directly inherited from the 482. A sort of concentrate of know-how since the shipyard took the same recipe used for the previous models: the alliance of performance and ease of use. A perfect opportunity for a “chilly” sea trial in the magnificent Chesapeake Bay.

Very elegant on the water - here off Cape Town - the Balance has a beautiful sail plan with this Code 0 of almost 645 sq ft (60m²).

Seen from ahead, the Balance 442 has very slender bows and sporty lines.

The 442 performs well on almost any point of sail and regularly reaches wind speed. You’ll probably get there sooner than expected!

Practical info

• Builder : BALANCE CATAMARANS

• Finance your Balance 442
• Articles about the Balance 442
• Available in issue # 187

Boat Test price 5.00 € Inc. tax

Add several tests to your cart

and get an extra discount!

The thermometer showed only 47°F (8°C) when Phil Berman, the ship-yard’s boss, came to pick us up on the pontoons in Annapolis, Maryland. An autumnal temperature accentuated by 12 knots of wind, but when you’re having fun, the weather doesn’t matter. What’s more, a trip to the Chesapeake Bay is not to be refused, and even less so when the subject of the day is none other than the brand-new Balance 442. Still relatively young, since it will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023, the Balance Catamarans brand currently has five models ranging from 44 to 62 feet, while awaiting the arrival of the 750, a 75-foot catamaran that should be ready by the end of 2023 or during 2024. The main idea behind the brand is to offer high-performance catamarans that are easy to handle and comfortable to spend a lot of time on board. It must be said that performance runs in the veins of the founder of Balance catamarans, Phillip Berman who was Hobie Cat world champion in 1979, in South Africa. An interesting coincidence since it is precisely in this country, in Cape Town, that the ...

To read in full, Buy the boat test

What readers think.

Post a comment

No comments to show.

Useful links

MW #196 - July / Aug 2024

Download all the Boat Tests

Over 500 multihull tests

Boat tests from the same builder

• Balance 482

• Balance 526

• Balance 451

Place a classified ad Free of charge

on Multihulls World

Boat tests from the same range

• Seawind 1370

• Nautitech 48 Open

Punch 13.70

Classified ads.

Catamaran plan Lerouge Type 11

2018 Fountaine Pajot MY 44

TRIMARAN FOILER EX TRINITRINE

Vous avez ajouté " " à vos favoris., vous avez supprimé " " de vos favoris., in order to add this article to your favorites, please sign in..

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Balance Catamarans launches its first Balance 442 Umoya

Related Articles

Catamaran Show.com

Balance 442

Sail performance.

Description

The agile multi-tasker is the ideal performance cruiser for island hoppers yet fully capable of trans-oceanic adventure travel.

Explore in 3D

Performance Indicators

Performance

Bruce Number

(higher is faster)

Sail Area to Displacement

Displacement to Length

(lower is faster)

Specifications

Length (LOA)

Length (LWL)

Displacement ​ (light)

Payload capacity

Sail Area (main+jib)

Draft (min)

Draft (max)

Mast clearance

Bridgedeck clearance

Manufactured Since

Engine (hp) ​

Hull Material

Phillip Berman, Anton du Toit

Fixed keels or Daggerboards

Mechanical/Hydraulic

2×22 kW / 2× 29 HP Yanmar

E-glass (a Silica -based fiber) with significant carbon-fiber reinforcement

I'm interested in buying this catamaran  but have questions

There are many ways to buy a catamaran and the procedure varies between manufacturers. It's a process that takes time and you should not be afraid of starting talks with the manufacturer.

Here are some common questions you might have:

Can I afford it?  Talk to the manufacturer and they can advise you on financing options.

Can I sail it?  Arrange a test sail with the manufacturer, or ask them directly what kind of support and education they offer for boat buyers. 

If you need anything else, be it more details , an introduction to the manufacturer , a shipyard visit , a  test sail , or help with  customatization,  let us know on the Help  M e page after clicking below and we’ll help you take the next step.

You might also like

Portofino CAT 67

Length (ft):, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

HopYacht 30

  Didn't Find Yours?  

Do Our Boat Quiz!

Answer  the 5 most critical questions when choosing a catamaran, and we give you 3 boats that match your sailing plans best. It's easy, fun!

Compare Favourites!

Compare three catamarans side by side. What better way to see and find out their differences in specifications and looks, and make an educated choice! 

Find Your Brand

Find out who is who when it comes to different catamaran manufacturers. They all serve a different clientele, find the brand story you vibe with!

You've made the Quiz, compared your favourites and gotten to know all the Brands but still havent found your boat. Dont worry, we are here for you!

• News & Reviews

The agile multi-tasker is the ideal performance cruiser for island hoppers yet fully capable of trans-oceanic adventure travel.

Performance

With her carbon reinforced foam core hulls and powerful sail plan the Balance 442 is a fast and able voyager. Upwind she points high, with little leeway, in the 6 to 8.5 knot range with her high aspect daggerboards. Reaching she enjoys speeds between 7 and 13 knots. Dropping down a swell she’ll surge even faster, steering like a surfboard with her high performance spade rudders.

* Polars are known as Velocity Performance Predictions (VPP’s) and are calculated using advanced computer modeling at base boat weight assuming vessel in flat sea state, trimmed sails and clean bottom. Polars do not guarantee specific performance. Vessel performance in real world conditions vary due to sea state, hull condition, payload, and the skill of the helmsman. To learn more about performance, click below to view our videos on Polars

• Model Diagram

Carbon Cross Performance Hull

We use E-glass (a Silica -based fiber) with significant carbon-fiber reinforcement in the high-load areas of our hulls and decks. Every Balance 442 is hand-laminated and vacuum-bagged with closed cell foam cores with a combination of polyester inner-skin resin and vinylester outer-skin resin.

Guided Walk Through

Design Your Balance

• Design your own

Designing your dream catamaran and how to use our visualization tool

“It has been a privilege to work so closely with Anton, Jonathan, Roger and Phil to build my dream boat.”

“It’s the whole package. Performance, safety, comfort, ease of use/maintenance, quality. Not to parrot their marketing material – but they really did find the perfect balance.”

“Having owned and maintained more than a dozen yachts, including a Hinkley, Oyster, J-boats, Swan and Nautitech, Balance is by far and away the best boat I have ever owned and sailed!”

“Balance Catamarans were the perfect compromise for us as they are fast, comfortable, practical, beautiful and very well built, by people who also love to sail.”

“Aesthetics were also a big factor for us in deciding to order our new Balance 526. We find her crisp contemporary lines and modern interior finishes to be satisfying to our eyes. Also, as experienced sailors, we were drawn to the fact that the 526 is a truly handmade labor of love crafted by passionate builders who were happy to let us make a wide range of choices on finishes and equipment that larger production builders will not accommodate.”

“Superb craftsmanship, delightful to work with, and absolutely beautiful boats.”

“She’s pretty, she’s built like a rock, she’s light, super intelligently designed and is going to be a blast to sail. I think the name Balance says it all.”

“Balance Catamarans, being a smaller, high-end, boutique shipyard, were prepared to work carefully with me to build the catamaran of my dreams.”

“As experienced sailors, we were drawn to the fact that a Balance is a truly hand-made labor of love crafted by passionate builders who were happy to let us make a wide range of choices on finishes and equipment.”

“After years of planning we found Balance Catamarans to be the best combination of performance, quality of build and value on the market.”

“Every once in a while, you connect with a group of people you know will always be in your life in a very good way. I think building in South Africa, you get a lot more for your money. The craftsmanship is top-notch.”

“The team at Balance has an attention to detail, workmanship and overall quality that makes us very proud to be part of the Balance family.”

Truly impressive…With the scaled-down 442, Balance fills out the family offering with dimensions and a price point that make their designs more accessible to a broader swath of the cruising market. The result is a performance catamaran that’s perfectly positioned to appeal to an experienced sailing couple looking for quality, livability, speed, and savvy systems, all in a true 44-foot package that is a kick to sail.

3 Cabin Interior Layout

3 cabin storage volume, 4 cabin interior layout, 4 cabin storage volume, deck exterior layout, deck storage volume, overall length.

13.50 m / 44.29 ft

Waterline Length

Beam overall.

7.6 m / 24.93 ft

75.6 m2 / 813 ft2

Working Self-Tracking Jib

29.81m / 321 ft2

Sail Area (100% Foretriangle)

112.0 m2 / 1,205 ft2

Asymmetric Spinnaker

152.83m / 1645 ft2

Draft (Boards Down)

2.15 m / 7.05 ft

Draft (Boards Up)

1.16 m / 3.81 ft

Draft Keeled Version

Air draft / mast clearance.

20.01 m / 65.65 ft

Bridgedeck Clearence

818mm / 2.807 ft

DISP (Base Boat)

11,800 kgs / 26,014 lbs

DISP (Base Boat – Keeled)

250 kgs / 550 lbs per arm Max Length Tender: 3.5m / 11′ 6″ Max Weight Tender w/OB: 214 kgs / 472 lbs

Screacher/Reacher

59.64m / 642 ft2

YANMAR 3YM30AE X SD 25 2×22 kW / 2× 29 HP /

Fuel Capacity

2 x 400 ltrs / 2 x 106 gals

Fresh Water Capacity

2 x 350 ltrs / 2 x 92 gals

Black Water Capacity

2 x 42 ltrs / 2 x 11 gals

Maximum Load Displacement

15,340 kgs / 33,818 lbs

Please note that, based on component availability and other factors, specifications are subject to change without notice.

The weight of each yacht we build varies based on her interior fit-out, materials chosen, hardware and added equipment. All our catamarans are designed for best-in-class weight and sailing performance, without compromising strength or quality.

Underwing clearance will vary based on the final fit out of the yacht together with what is stored on her, the amount of fuel and water she carries, and the number of passengers onboard.

“The choice of materials is qualitative (the foam core and wood veneer for furniture), as well as the overall finish, in a word: impeccable.”

“I think the Balance 526 represents an important moment in the history of multihull design and evolution…there was something missing in the marketplace that Phil recognized: a high-performance voyaging cat that an experienced couple could take anywhere…finally, we have that a couple can really sail well.”

“Pretty as she is, every aspect of her design seems to have been refracted through a simplicity prism. Access for repairs is exceptional. The movement from helm to side decks and from side decks to foredecks is a breeze. The wiring and systems installations all reflect a commitment to functional excellence.”

“Several Balance 526 owners have reported 24-hour periods covering 260 miles or more. This is one very, very fast catamaran, laden or empty.”

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

HH44 review: Taking fast multihull cruising to another level

• Toby Hodges
• February 22, 2024

Disruptive, innovative, and contemporary in style and technology, this electrified HH44 takes fast multihull cruising to a new level, says Toby Hodges

Product Overview

Price as reviewed:.

A fast, fun catamaran that is safe and comfortable may once have been a pipe dream, but is now perhaps the biggest growth market in yachting. However, creating a performance catamaran at or below 45ft is no easy task. It’s an elusive sweet spot because many buyers think they want what the 50ft+ catamarans offer but in a more manageable and, crucially, affordable package.

Meanwhile from the designers’ and yards’ point of view, that’s not so easily achieved – in particular the challenge of keeping a boat light enough to perform, yet offer all the amenities expected of multihull living.

Then try building something on which you can still turn a profit? That focusses the mind. It could be argued that those meeting this challenge most creatively and effectively at the moment are HH, led by experienced boatbuilder Paul Hakes, and in particular his son James – the 44’s lead designer. They describe this new baby of their range as ‘groundbreaking’.

The HH44 seemingly combines all the latest thinking around performance and technology while also adding a liberal sprinkling of fresh ideas, including being the first production catamaran to feature parallel hybrid propulsion. And all this while still being capable of ocean cruising.

Can such a feature-rich fast cat work harmoniously at this size though? I was keen to find out. A quick first sail during European Yacht of the Year trials in the autumn provided a taster and I hope a lengthier test will follow to draw more conclusions. But it was enough to get an idea of what works, what doesn’t, and get a feel for why this model has sold in such extraordinary numbers (over 30 off the plans alone).

Fresh thinking: unlike earlier Morrelli & Melvin HHs, the 44 has been conceived and designed fully in-house by James Hakes

A speed date

First impressions are of a very modern looking fast cat, more like a 50-footer perhaps that’s been squeezed a little, with length lost out of the ends. So there’s noticeably high freeboard and good bridgedeck clearance (over 3ft). The sporty look is set off by razor sharp bows and an attractive coachroof line, which extends right back to cover the aft helms. Next up you notice the powerful carbon rig, while even from the dock you can appreciate the formidable amount of natural light being encouraged in through the massive amounts of glazing in the coachroof and hull portlights.

The choice to go with aft helms triggered other design decisions, including keeping the boom (and centre of effort) low, and allowing HH to use the whole roof for a solar array. This resulted in a market leading 4.2kW of panels as standard.

Go to step aboard and you instantly appreciate some of the innovative features. For starters, with the boat moored side-on, you can actually step aboard via a gate in the aft bulwark, rather than having to perform some sort of gymnastic hurdle onto the transom steps, as you do on most high freeboard catamarans today.

Furling headsails set on a carbon longeron. All lines are led to the cockpit. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr/EYOTY

This leads us on to one of my next favourite features: the folding transoms. Rather than the typical open transom steps that any clumsy crewmember, inquisitive child or pet can fall down and out of, the HH has lowering platforms which serve as a bathing platform, protect those aboard from falling out and, crucially, prevent a following sea from pooping the cockpit. And when you are helming from that far aft, this will be of real comfort.

Washboards are a popular option for many offshore cruising cats, but typically look like an afterthought and are used sparingly, where this is integrated into the design in a seamless fashion. Operation is also pretty neat: a line is led forward through the bulwarks to aside the helms, allowing a powered winch to be used. These lifting platforms also add extra usable space when folded down. The downside is they make the transoms look a bit high and, well, sawn off.

Smooth moves

We pulled away from the dock – in silence. The HH44 was designed from scratch to incorporate parallel hybrid propulsion. Not only do these ‘EcoDrives’ offer silent, fume-free motoring, but they can also hydrogenerate while sailing – more on that later.

Huge forward facing opening windows provide formidable through-flow ventilation to the interior. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr/EYOTY

The test boat was the more popular and expensive Sports Cruising (SC) model, which is built in carbon epoxy and features C-shape carbon daggerboards, a Marstrom carbon mast and these EcoDrives as standard – 80% of orders have been for this, while an Ocean Cruising (OC) model is also offered with a gelcoat finish, aluminium mast and fixed keels.

Swing pedestals are used each side to allow the helmsman to steer either with an outboard view or from a more protected position beneath the bimini looking through the coachroof windows. This is an increasingly common practical feature on today’s catamarans and one fitted on the first HH66 a decade ago. It also allows you to free up some space when needed. Equally the fold down helm seats each side can be kept out of the way unless needed and while these do offer a nice perch, they are a little low for maintaining clear sightlines.

Once the sails go up you can quickly see why HH has incorporated such features as there is a lot going on in these aft quarters. You find yourself regularly swinging the helm over to get it out the way to work the winches. And yet there are still blind spots from the helms with pedestals canted – a drawback of having low helms right in the quarters.

Easy side boarding access. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr/EYOTY

Sailing upwind with the Doyle square-top main and Solent set, we had a long beat into 11-15 knots true wind, making 7.5-8.5 knots against an awkward swell at 40° the apparent wind. Lining up against other yachts around us proved these were not far off performance monohull speeds and angles.

While beating into an ugly, sharp 2.5m swell is not what most owners might choose, it’s something all need to do at times and proved helpful to get a feel for the HH’s manners. It resulted in a predictably awkward twisting motion aboard, however the fine bows did cut through the swell well, keeping speed up, and the high freeboard kept the deck dry. It was also noticeably direct on the wheel and responsive to sail trim (this despite the traveller being locked in a central position after the line driver developed a problem earlier in the week).

We bore away and set a top-down gennaker, increasing average speed to 8.5-10+ knots depending on the swell angle. Again these are respectable figures considering a breeze of only around 11 knots apparent. The polars suggest double figures should be easy to maintain when reaching in anything above 12-14 knots true. I felt a clear difference in small wind increment gains. This is a stiff yacht, which reacts quickly to puffs – you really feel that extra couple of knots as the boat accelerates – while Cyclops Marine sensors help you monitor the loads in the rigging, which is reassuring.

In terms of operation the HH has been set up to be completely controlled from the helms. The upgraded, powered winches on the test boat can be remotely operated with foot controls, which is particularly helpful for short-handed work and adjusting the 5m-long daggerboards.

sporty, compact nerve centres leave good cockpit space. Single panel sliding doors, aft windows swing open and there is no mullion between them. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr/EYOTY

Moving forward the decks are a lot cleaner, thanks to all running rigging led through line tunnels underdeck (even jib sheets). Toerails and high stanchions give a good feeling of security, while comfortable, grippy Eva foam decking comes as standard all over the deck. Foam decking has been used a lot on race boats in recent years and offers an appealing solution for cruising boats as it’s so comfortable under foot, easy to clean and doesn’t get hot like teak or teak alternatives. A question mark perhaps remains over its longevity and durability.

See the light

Such is the extent of the glazing and natural light encouraged into the HH44, it’s almost as if there is no inside/outside divide. Granted, there is a particularly glossy white decor on this first model, which helps emphasise that brightness (many other colour and trim combinations are offered), but the real key lies in the size of the coachroof windows.

The SC model has carbon epoxy infused hulls with E-glass decks and foam-cored furniture, essentially a highly stiff construction technique which also allows for the two huge tempered glass opening windows. As well as an overhead and two central hatches, these massive Lewmar windows provide phenomenal ventilation at anchor.

Over 2m headroom in the particularly bright and well ventilated saloon and galley. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr/EYOTY

The bridgedeck layout is ideal to benefit from all this natural light and ventilation too, with its large forward-facing navstation and saloon, and a galley which seamlessly links to the cockpit. In the hulls it’s a three cabin layout only, but there are some choices in the forward starboard cabin, which can be a compact double, a Pullman or a utility cabin. It’s here where you see the prime payoff of having a performance cat, with ultra fine bows and large daggerboard casings stealing precious volume.

Parallel hybrid power

The aft berths lift on struts to reveal the engine bays below. At first these look like conventional 30hp Beta marine diesels, before you notice the water-cooled electric motors bolted on their aft ends. These act as electric drives, high powered alternators and hydrogenerators.

This EcoDrive system was designed to provide the key benefits of an electric boat, without sacrificing the backup of diesel engines. So essentially, they “piggyback on reliable normal diesel engines”, says Paul Hakes. The diesels can become two DC generators, putting 10kW into the battery bank while motoring, or the props can spin to charge while sailing.

Plenty of light and headroom plus inviting doubles aft, but volume is lost forward with the fine bows. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr/EYOTY

The crew used only the electric propulsion to get the HH44 in and out of Port Ginesta multiple times per day that week. The 10kW electric motors can provide 1.5 hours propulsion at max thrust without charge – at which stage you can run a diesel. So effectively you end up having four engines, HH reasons.

The 840Ah lithium ion battery bank is large enough to run AC overnight without running an engine. High load items are on 48V while 12V systems use a DC to DC converter.

When you consider the high level of competition, such as the Balance 442, the Outremer 45 and the new Seawind 1370, the HH44 is the highest end in terms of cost and exotic build. The SC is the only one in its class to have carbon fibre hulls as standard, including carbon rig, bowsprit, daggerboards, and rudders, while the electric drives, 4.2kW of solar and 48V battery bank etc all come as standard too. I also like how HH’s price list labels every extra with its weight; so if you want full aircon in the boat, for example (a strange choice with this much ventilation), it’s a whopping 200kg extra.

43.2kWh of lithium ion 48V house batteries can be charged by solar, the diesel motor and hydrogeneration under sail. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud/imacis.fr/EYOTY

James Hakes tells me they wanted to design the 44 in-house for multiple reasons: “It has so many new details not attempted before, and we needed very tight control over the design to execute them correctly.”

HH has “a lot of firepower to throw at design issues to rapidly iterate dozens of ideas” and needed to design it to be easy to build.

While HH’s production so far has been in Xiamen, China, the popularity of the HH44s and new HH52s is such that a new manufacturing facility is now running in Cebu, Philippines, which will help increase capacity to around 30 HH44s a year. This is also not a bad place for trial/shakedown sails or to start multihull cruising!

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

The HH44 certainly packs in the attractions. A fast and sporty carbon cat with efficient daggerboards that’s reactive and fun to sail, with a bright modern interior. It boasts the most sail power and highest performance ratio in its class, so cruisers will need to handle this hull-flying capable cat with care. There’s as much light and ventilation as you could wish for, renewable energy, silent power yet with the reassurance of diesel back up, all topped with a generous serving of clever ideas on deck and in the cockpit. However, you pay for all this... It may have the benefit of being a more manageable size but it’s still a 50ft+ cat in price. As mentioned, though, what comes as standard is seriously impressive. While I have enjoyed sailing other aft cockpit cats before, I did find the helms on the HH44 a bit crowded and with blind spots – but I’ll reserve full judgement on that for a longer trial please! So while HH’s new baby is not perfect, it is quite brilliant. And after all, who would buy such a boat for marina hopping? This is for long passages, tradewind sailing and tropical anchorages, where it’s sure to turn heads. Mark this as your must view or sail cat for 2024.