NEEL 51 Trimaran Sail Yacht - What's new in 2022 - First Impressions

The Neel 51 appears to have a large beam, but it is only 6in wider than a Lagoon 52. The wide deckhouse dominates the boat, but the side decks are clear and spacious. A simple step up from the starboard hull leads to the comfortable helm seat, from which the double headsail rig—a self-tacking jib set inside an overlapping genoa—is managed by a combination of powered and manual Harken 52 winches. Reefing lines and sheets are all led here, along with rope bags to contain the massive spaghetti. Next to it is a large, cozy flybridge seating/lounging area, which will be the preferred place to hang out in a Tradewind anchorage in the absence of a forward cockpit. Solar panels are used. The hardtop protects the aft cockpit, which is a wide, shallow area. It is smaller than a comparable-sized cat, but it can be cleverly integrated into the saloon via full-width sliding doors. These allow the saloon table and seating to be moved outside, resulting in a 12-person dining table and a large open-plan area. Neel refers to this feature as the "cockloon," and it will be a great socializing platform in nice weather. In the transoms of the amas, there are large lockers with over 6ft of headroom for storing fenders, water toys, and other light gear—one owner specified a full-sized washing machine and dryer in the starboard locker. There is a certain amount of space between these and the basement. The hardtop protects the aft cockpit, which is a wide, shallow area. It is smaller than a...