Lagoon Power 43

I can imagine the thoughts of the Editor-in-chief before suggesting I test a motor catamaran! “Philippe Échelle is a madman, a multihuller intent on eliminating the least extra pounds; worse yet, an disciple of Richard Newick whose philosophy of comfort at sea lies in the handling of a good boat… without the least equipment. As for his doctrine in the area of motors, it can be summed up in a nutshell: up to 15 meters 2 outboards on articulated shoes… Can you reasonably send such a Spartan individual to test a 43-foot motor trawler?” When accused of professing anorexia when it comes to the construction of multihulls, I can only plead guilty. My only excuse is that I enjoy going fast on a sailboat, but is this valid? More seriously, it is with great enthusiasm that I undertook this deliver from Les Sables d’Olonne to Le Conquet. Yet, 200 nautical miles across the Bay of Biscay in mid-January should cool most ardor! Especially since most of our test was to take place at night with a strong south wind at 5 to 6 on a typical westerly swell! Many motor-driven units of this critical size, under 15 meters tend to accumulate certain defects that make them unpleasant in the view of multih...