neil trimarans

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Neel 52 trimaran review

• Rupert Holmes
• December 22, 2023

Neel broke ground with its cruising trimarans a decade ago. So what’s changed with its new 50+ footer, the Neel 52?

Product Overview

Price as reviewed:.

We’re beating out of the approach channel to La Rochelle in 8-10 knots of true wind, with some tacks as short as 90 seconds. The yacht is tacking cleanly and accelerating willingly afterwards, underlining how manoeuvrable it can be in skilled hands. Yet this isn’t a lightweight monohull – it’s a 52ft semi flybridge multihull weighing more than 13 tonnes, the Neel 52.

The first generation of Neel trimarans, including the Neel 51 launched in 2017, set a new standard in combining handling that echoes that of a monohull with accommodation of a scale that can only be found on a multihull. The concept of the Neel 52 remains the same, using the hulls of a fast racing trimaran with narrow waterline beam, as a platform for expansive four- to six-cabin accommodation.

On paper there’s no significant difference in the key dimensions of each boat, but that conceals a number of important changes. An example for this market is a much improved owners’ cabin which now occupies part of the bridgedeck and can also include the entire starboard ama.

There’s also a big difference in how the new boat handles. Offshore racing multihulls are designed to optimise straight line speed, but that’s rarely the key priority for cruising yachts. As a result the shape of the main hulls and amas of this new Lombard design are very different to those of the Joubert-Nivel-designed Neel 51 it replaces (42 built).

In particular the forward sections have a very shallow forefoot compared to the old model, where maximum waterline length was a key priority. The change improves manoeuvrability and is an important factor behind the ease with which our boat tacked in the conditions we experienced for our test. The Neel 52 is also lighter, with improved balance thanks to a mast (and engine room) further aft and a larger jib.

Most sail handling operations, except using spinnakers and furling the headsails, can be carried out single-handedly from the helm station. Photo: Rupert Holmes

On the helm

Close-hauled in more open water, with the true breeze still predominately between 8-10 knots, we consistently made just over seven knots of boat speed at a true wind angle of 60°-65°. In these conditions there’s very little heel – just enough for the windward ama to skim above the water and markedly reduce wetted surface area.

Steering is via Dyneema cables, which gives a more direct response than many alternatives, though the boat’s heavier on the helm than a well set up monohull, with a less precise feel. Nevertheless it’s still good by the standards of many cruising catamarans.

The standard Neel 52 sail plan includes a square top mainsail, slightly overlapping headsail of around 120% and staysail. Our test boat also had a very flexible 150m2 furling gennaker that can be used for reaching in 10 knots of true wind or less and broad-reaching in winds well above 20 knots. Neel also offers a larger asymmetric spinnaker as an option, as well as a marginally taller carbon rig with higher-spec Hydranet sails.

All lines, except spinnaker sheets and furling lines, are led to three electric winches at the helm station. Separate luff and leech pennants for all three mainsail reefs help tame the sail quickly. There is, however, lots of rope in this area and insufficient rope bins to handle it.

The flexible gennaker on our test boat can be used for reaching in up to 10 knots of wind and at 140° TWA in well over 20 knots

Downwind and reaching sails sheet to the back of the amas, while genoa and staysail furling lines are led to the aft end of the starboard ama. This arrangement for the furling lines greatly reduces friction compared to the convoluted route they would have to take to lead to the helm station, but means furling these sails isn’t an easy single-person operation.

With the true wind building to 10-11 knots and puffs to 13 we consistently made speeds of around 9 knots, with occasional bursts just into double figures when reaching at 110°-120° TWA, with the gennaker and staysail set. This was easy sailing at speeds that will quickly gobble up the miles when on passage.

Visibility from the Neel 52 helm station is excellent on port tack, but there’s a big blind spot on starboard – you need to descend four steps to see under the jib or gennaker. A semi flybridge above the hard top, with space for up to eight people, includes generous sunbeds. This is right next to the helm/winch station, so communication between the two is easy and, unlike many multihulls, it doesn’t feel as though the helmsman is isolated from everyone else on board.

You have to be sure guests are sitting before tacks and gybes, when hoisting and dousing the mainsail, and when reefing on port tack. There’s a bimini for sunshade over the helm area, with a clear overhead panel for sail trim, but no provision for sun protection over the flybridge area, though the hardtop over the main aft cockpit gives plenty of shade.

A key selling point for Neel is offering a very refreshing change to the familiar layouts of cruising multihulls of similar length, and the Neel 52’s arrangement feels generally bright, welcoming and innovative.

The saloon adjoins the cockpit, however you need to stoop to see out of forward windows. Master cabin is to starboard but you need to draw blinds for privacy

Neel 52 – bridgedeck cabin

The older Neel 51 benefitted from Neel’s trademark bridgedeck level cabin, which gives a fantastic view out almost all round the boat when you wake up. This comes at the expense of some privacy, though, which is largely solved by closing the window blinds in the bulkhead that separates the cabin from the saloon. But this space was small compared to typical catamarans owners’ cabins.

Owners with guests will still need to close the blinds on the main bridgedeck cabin on the Neel 52, but this now links to the whole of the starboard ama. This is a private area with a desk/dressing table and a generous amount of stowage in hanging and shelved lockers. Ventilation is provided by several overhead hatches and there’s a long hull window above the desk which provides plenty of natural light.

The mid part of the owner’s ama has a heads with a separate shower stall, while further forward is an additional space that was left fairly open in our test boat, with the exception of a washer/dryer. This area has obvious potential for much more stowage, or even a workbench.

Large and well appointed galley.

The aft cockpit under the hardtop is relatively small, but this doesn’t feel important since this space fully opens up onto an expansive saloon, with the interior and exterior tables together forming a dining table that can be extended almost seamlessly to just over 3m in length.

Ahead of the saloon area is a large navstation with a double seat and a good view forward, to port and aft. However, the bridgedeck owner’s cabin creates a large blind spot on the starboard quarter and there is no hatch above to view the mainsail.

All layout options have a large and well equipped galley forward on the starboard side of the saloon. There’s acres of worktop space, a four-burner gas hob plus oven, large refrigeration and freezer capacity, plus a slimline dishwasher. Stowage is in 17 lockers both under the counter and at eye level. The saloon has two opening panels in the front windscreen for natural ventilation, plus a small opening hatch over the cooker.

In four-cabin boats steps lead down to a double cabin in the port ama, with a large double berth aft, above which is a long hull window that gives a great view out. Stowage here is primarily in a small hanging locker, plus empty space under the berth that can be used for easy access to kit bags. Forward of this are heads and shower compartments mirroring those of the starboard ama, and further forward a space similar to that with the washing machine on the starboard side.

Bridgedeck level owner’s cabin.

Alternatively the port ama can be fitted out as two doubles that share a central head/shower compartment. This option is also available in the starboard ama for six-cabin charter specification boats. These also gain additional saloon and dining space on the bridgedeck as there’s no owner’s cabin at that level.

Seven steps at the front of the saloon descend into a further double cabin in the centre of the main hull, under the solid bridge deck. There’s plenty of space, but natural light and ventilation are restricted, with the former coming solely from the two escape hatches. There’s stowage plus a heads compartment (without shower) shared with a forward cabin at the front of the main hull.

On the test Neel 52 this is fitted out as a Pullman-style cabin with bunkbeds. Crew cabins, each with a single berth and head/shower, can also be specified at the aft end of each ama.

Owner’s hull space in starboard ama

On the downside, some elements of the interior have hard edges in places that may not wear as well as rounded corners. And traditionalists won’t be impressed by the inside of lockers which have a similar feel to mass market home furniture.

Neel’s trademark full height technical area with engine and systems is restricted to the back of this model. Nevertheless, it remains a well laid out and useful space that will make maintenance and repair easier than on many yachts. Unlike cruising catamarans, Neels have only a single engine in the main hull, so a bow thruster is fitted as standard. A stern thruster is offered as an option that can make Mediterranean-style mooring a lot easier.

Deck stowage includes large lockers that can accommodate sails, fenders and watersports toys, while the tender rests on purpose made chocks at the aft end of the main hull. It’s lifted using a line from the end of the boom – a simple arrangement that avoids the weight, complication and cost of davits. Access to the water is from the extended bathing platforms on the aft end of each ama and the transom of the main hull.

Our test Neel 52 was set up with just under 2kW of solar panels on the coachroof. Neel says this is almost enough for complete autonomy while cruising when combined with the boat’s lithium iron phosphate battery bank, though as standard 625Ah of 12V AGM batteries are fitted.

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There’s much to like about this boat for anyone who needs the accommodation volume offered, or is seduced by the appeal of Manhattan-style loft living. The Neel 52 also offers a big advantage over its predecessor thanks to the reconfigured owner’s suite with immensely more space. Speeds under sail are unlikely to differ noticeably to the 51, which already had potential for very quick passages when reaching, although upwind and downwind VMG for both models is less impressive, other than downwind in a blow. However, the way the new boat behaves under sail gives it a feel closer to that of a cruising monohull. More importantly for this part of the market, the 52 is easy to handle, with few operations requiring more than one person on deck. These factors, combined with the various layout options, boost this yacht’s appeal and by the time the prototype had been in commission for three weeks, delivery schedules were already stretching into early 2026, with 26 boats sold.

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Sailboat Review: Neel 43 Trimaran

• By Mark Pillsbury
• April 12, 2023

Once the Boat of the Year team was aboard the Neel 43 trimaran and we had the sails set, it didn’t take me long to find my sweet spot. You know, the place you want to sit and watch the miles fly by as the hulls slice through the waves. Nearly every boat I’ve sailed has one, though sometimes it’s hard to find.

But not on the Neel.

With my fellow judges at work at the raised helm station, I stepped from the wheel onto the wide starboard side deck, took a couple of steps down into the ­cockpit, and wandered into the brightly lit salon where the door to the owner’s cabin was open, as though beckoning in a visitor. Inside, I sat on the edge of the fore-and-aft double berth, set a hand on the bunk, and leaned over to gaze out the long horizontal window, imagining coming off watch and lying there to drift off to sleep. Or waking up in some exotic anchorage, with morning sunlight streaking in. Even dockside, during our preliminary inspection of the boat and a briefing with Neel founder Eric Bruneel, that was the space that caught my eye.

On the inboard side of the stateroom, a long horizontal glass panel covered by an ­adjustable shade looks in toward the center of the boat and over the inline galley ­located on the salon’s starboard side. Forward, there are more windows that let you look ahead at where you’re ­going. Aft, a light-colored wood bulkhead separates the cabin from the head compartment at the rear of the salon. With storage outboard of the berth, it’s a well-laid-out space for living aboard.

Described by Bruneel as a “fast cruiser,” the Neel 43 is designed to sail comfortably at 9 to 10 knots and knock off 250-mile trade-wind days. That description wasn’t far off, from what we saw the day we went sailing on Chesapeake Bay, right after the close of the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis , Maryland. The wind was light when set out, only about 8 knots, but we hustled right along upwind at 6 to 7 knots with the twin-headsail rig’s smaller inner jib set. Later, with the reaching sail rolled out in just a bit more breeze, we added a knot or more. During my trick on the wheel, I spotted 8.2 knots on the speedo for a spell.

And the sailing was easy, thanks to the buoyancy of the leeward hull that minimizes heel, and the fact that all the weight—engine, tanks, pumps and filters—is located low in the center hull. That, combined with the interior space made possible by spreading accommodations over three hulls, is what makes these trimarans comfortable at sea, Bruneel says.

Neel builds its trimarans at its yard in La Rochelle, France. The 43 is the smallest model in a five-boat range that goes up to 65 feet. The 43 is a Marc Lombard design.

Hulls and deck are made of resin-infused fiberglass with foam coring to save weight. Where practical in nonstructural areas, the yard uses natural fibers such as linen and cork rather than fiberglass, in a push toward greener boatbuilding. 

The fit-and-finish of the boat we looked at in Annapolis was noteworthy. The cockpit has a table to port with an L-shaped seating area outboard and aft, located under the Bimini top. To starboard is a grill built into the transom, as well as a cushioned lounging area beneath the helm station.

A wall of glass, with a large opening door and window, spans the aft side of the wide cabin, whose other three sides are lined with ports so that from the interior, one has nearly 360-degree visibility.

A second table is located just inside the salon, to port, also with L-shaped seating. Outboard of it, there’s a guest cabin, separated from the salon by another glass partition. 

An additional seating area and nav station equipped with a B&G chart plotter, displays, autopilot control and radio are far forward on the port side of the salon, with the well-appointed galley opposite. A third crew cabin is four steps down, in the forepeak of the center hull. 

Beneath the main hull’s sole is an equipment room providing excellent access to the motor (a 50 hp Volvo with saildrive), steering ­quadrant, systems and electrical ­boxes—a true engine room, which is hard to find on a boat in this size range. 

“It had absolutely the best service access to systems of all the boats we looked at this year,” Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman noted. 

Topside, broad side decks make it easy to move about. There is a wide seat at the helm, with room for three. All sail-control lines run across the cabin top to a bank of line clutches and a pair of winches, all from Antal, that are easily reached while steering. Singlehanding the Neel would not be a problem. 

The boat in Annapolis sported an Intracoastal Waterway-friendly 62-foot aluminum spar; a carbon-fiber rig is an option. The boat also came equipped with three 170-watt solar panels and a bow thruster. Loaded with gear, it carried a price tag of $575,000.

Overall, I thought that the Neel’s open-living layout would be just fine for a couple who might have occasional guests aboard for a passage, or a small family with children out for an extended cruise. But I’ll give Boat of the Year judge Herb McCormick the last word here: “It was a remarkably fun and exciting boat to sail, a light and lovely helm. Eric Bruneel has amply demonstrated that if you’re looking to go the multihull route, a trimaran is a viable alternative to a cat.” 

Neel 43 Trimaran Specifications

Mark Pillsbury, Boat of the Year judge and CW editor-­at-large, is a die-hard sailor who has owned a number of sailboats, including a Sabre 34, on which he lived for 15 years.

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NEW NEEL 52

With a racy, modern silhouette, elaborately designed hull and sleek lines, the  NEEL 52 exudes power, speed, safety and elegance.

About the construction

The NEEL 52’s construction mirrors that of the other models in the range, using the techniques and materials:  Vacuum-infused composite sandwich with triaxial fibre reinforcements.

It is worth noting that NEEL-TRIMARANS uses PVC and PET foams in the sandwich core – unlike other multihull manufacturers who use Balsa, which, though certainly cheaper, alters the quality of the sandwich core as it is more sensitive to water infiltration.

Resins and gelcoats have also been improved with a view to limiting styrene emissions.

NEEL-TRIMARANS once again entrusts the design of the NEEL 52 to  Lombard , following on from  NEEL 47  and the  NEEL 43 .

Basing their design on the NEEL 47 and NEEL 43’s sailing experiences, the Lombard firm has consolidated the positive attributes,  the hull’s voluminous floats and high freeboard.

The hulls of NEEL trimarans combine a central ‘rockered’ hull, which  facilitates tacking and manoeuvring  when in port, with streamlined floats that provide stability and prevent pitching.

The design of the hulls for the  NEEL 52  also had to consider the load on long distance voyages. The load capacity of the NEEL 52 is 19.5 tons.

Cruising programs, finesse of the helm and rigging

The  NEEL 52  is a beautifully-sized, fast, and voluminous trimaran. It therefore offers a vast range of sailing possibilities. Everything’s possible, from peaceful cruising to long-distance travel and rally racing.

The  various configurations of the NEEL 52  (4, 5, 6 double cabins), with 0,1,2 crew positions are suited to individual owners or charter companies.

NEEL trimarans are renowned for their  unrivalled steering . This stems from the unique rudder design, manoeuvred by textile steering lines on ball bearing blocks. The rudder stock is mounted on self-aligning bearings.

The sail plan comprises a mainsail (with 3 reefs) and a staysail on a rolling furler (on a structural wire inside the sail).

The asymmetrical spinnaker makes it easier to comfortably sail downwind.

There are 2 rigging options to choose from:

• Conventional rigging : the mast and boom are made of aluminium while the standing rigging is made of stainless-steel wires.
• High-performance rigging:  the mast is made of carbon with an aluminium boom and the standing rigging is made of textiles (except for the forestay which remains a wire) (70cm difference in height between the two mast versions).

Toutes les manœuvres sont ramenées au barreur qui bénéficie d’une vue à 360° depuis le poste de barre.

Life on board

The NEEL 52 features the renowned Cockloon® , an impressive interior/exterior living space made possible by the wide opening between the cockpit and the saloon. It also incorporates the Full Beam Cockpit®, an extra-wide cockpit with multiple seating configurations that can be rearranged to take full advantage of the different vistas

The helm station is particularly ergonomic and has a triple seat. Its access, from the cockpit via side steps or from the deck, ensures seamless communication between the skipper and the crew. 

The roof is reached by side steps leading up from the cockpit and on the helm side, rendering the mast, boom, sun-deck, and sun-lounging area easily accessible. Around this area, a secure handrail has been incorporated for safe movement aboard. The wide, well-protected stern skirts make it easier to access the sea and manoeuvre the dinghy.

In addition, the system for lifting and handling the dinghy has been greatly simplified.

There are various different versions of the NEEL 52 available, with 4,5,6 cabins, an owner cabin on one level or a huge saloon, 1 or 2 crew positions, so that you can set up your boat according to your preferences and requirements. 

The living space on one level is highly ergonomic and entirely open plan, offering exceptional luminosity. The kitchen and the chart table face forwards. The panoramic view from this huge saloon is breathtaking.

Both elegant and simple, the decoration ( high-end upholstery ,  top-quality carpentry ,  solid wood , bolon and corian) lends the NEEL 52 a look of  timeless distinction and gives the ample living space a calming atmosphere.  Flow of movement on board is smooth, and the cabins are accessed via private stairs.

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• Brand or Model: NEEL 52
• Conditions: New boat
• Length: 15,9 m
• Beam: 8,8 m
• Displacement (max): 19,5 T
• Main sail: 95 sqm with aluminium mast
• Main sail: 102 sqm with carbon mast
• Genoa: 71 sqm
• Stay sail: 32 sqm
• Engine: 110 hp
• Fuel: 700 L
• Water: 600 L
• Cabins: 4 to 6
• Heads: 2 to 3
• Skipper cabins: 1 or 2
• Designer: Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group

Description

Neel trimarans new model.

Dynamique, racy, fast and Voluminous

World premiere

With a modern silhouette, an elaborate designed hull and sleeklines, the NEEL52 exudes power and elegance with a racy look. A wide deck and voluminous interiors make life smooth and safe.

It has remarkable seaworthiness , performance, and comfort. She is easily handled by a small crew. NEEL trimarans hulls combine a central ‘rockered’ hull, which facilitates turning and maneuvering in port, with aerodynamic floats that provide stability and prevent pitching.

On the Deck

This multihull has an impressive interior/exterior living space made possible by the wide opening between the saloon and the full beam cockpit.

In the Interiors

The living space on one level is an entirely an open plan offering exceptional sensations. The panoramic views from the saloon are breathtaking. Both elegant and simple, the timeless design lends the NEEL 52 an exceptional atmosphere.

Naval architects, Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group, followed in the footsteps of Michel Joubert and Bernard Nivelt, subtly updating the design while staying true to NEEL’s DNA.

NEEL-TRIMARANS construction

Once again entrusts the design of the NEEL 52 to Marc Lombard, following NEEL 47 and NEEL 43. Based on the design of the sailing experiences of the NEEL 47 and NEEL 43, the Lombard firm has consolidated the positive attributes, the voluminous hull floats and the high freeboard.

Este multicasco combine a rocked central hull, which facilitates turning and maneuvering in port, with aerodynamic floats that provide stability and prevent pitching. The design of the NEEL 52 hulls also had to consider loading on long distance voyages. The load capacity of the NEEL 52 is 19.5 tons.

Combining all the qualities on which the success of its predecessors is based, this model stays true to the range. It is a fast and safe trimaran that seats twelve passengers, but is easily handled by a small crew. She boasts remarkable seaworthiness, performance (both under sail and power) and comfort.

NEEL 52 FIRST SAIL

MODEL RANGE

Floor Plans

Description: NEEL 52 deck layout

Description: NEEL 52 layout - Version Sky Deck - 4 cabins

Description: NEEL 52 layout - Version Sea Deck - 6 cabins

Description: NEEL 52 layout - Version Version Sky Deck - 5 cabins

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The trimaran NEEL is faster than catamaran:

As shown in offshore racing, the trimaran is significantly faster than monohulls or catamarans. This is also true for cruising trimarans, as proven by the last ARC rally won by a NEEL 47.

The superiority of the trimaran is even more obvious when sailing upwind, especially due to the rig:

• On a catamaran, the forestay pulls from the front beam, the mast compresses a central beam and the shrouds pull the two floats supporting the forestay and mast beam: this platform deforms in many directions. Consequently, it is then impossible to have a rigid forestay
• On a trimaran, the forestay, mast and mainsail tension are structurally bonded to one strong, longitudinal beam : the main hull.

This configuration, as per a monohull, allows for a rigid forestay and good performance up-wind.

Performance is also enhanced by the centered weight.

The extra speed of the trimaran is an additional safety factor.

Steering finesse

• A single wheel steering system connected to a single rudder by spectra lines .
• The most direct line path possible to optimize the sensations at the helm.
• The rudder stock on self-aligning bearings
• A deep rudder under the central hull contributes to the anti-drift surface and allows an efficient tacking.

NEEL trimarans are conceived for fast cruising

With an average cruising speed of around 10 knots , over 200 nautical miles are easily achievable each 24 hours . Speeds from 15 to 18 knots are often reached when the breeze freshens.

Weight centering is managed in order to limit pitching. The centre hull is rockered to facilitate tacking.

Floats are of a stretched form to privilege directional stability and advancement of the centre of buoyancy as a function of sail loading. The rigging is directly derived from racing trimarans, thereby achieving full cruising speeds up to  twice as fast as conventional cruising yachts .

The sail surface area is generous with some 17m 2 per tonne .

Finally, the trimaran configuration also facilitates sustained speed under motor propulsion . The low prismatic coefficient of the central hull means drag is very weak. The side floats are only very lightly in contact with the surface of the water.

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