140

T E S T

Text and photos: Vince Valstar

The program for this small trimaran is, ofcourse, similar to that of Access 6, which stillremains in the catalog. It’s about producing afamily multihull which is easy to sail, to assem-ble and to transport. But performance takesover: gone are the simple telescopic aluminumtubes, skegs and loose-footed mainsail. TheTricat 20, built using infusion in a glass / PVCsandwich, is the worthy little brother to the25 and the 30. Despite its small size, it can ac-commodate two adults. A sheep with five, no,three legs? The in-house architect Jack Michal has favoredvery long and voluminous hulls. This is the se-cret of power, and therefore performance.The shape of the bow - the upper part is

decidedly inversed - gives this trimaran anathletic look. Two carbon daggerboards re-place the fixed skegs on the Access. The cen-tral hull, meanwhile, remains narrow at thewaterline thanks to a chine that runs virtuallyall the way from bow to transom.

Impressive speed potential

The freestanding rig features a single set ofspreaders. A pair of lower shrouds secures tothe central hull, so as to hold the mast in placeduring folding operations of the floats. Anoperation that takes no more than two mi-nutes per side. The two capshrouds attach tothe floats and a tackle ensures the tension.The square-topped mainsail is quickly hoisted,

The very narrow waterline of the central hull and the voluminous floats are a guarantee of good performance.

The smallest of the Tricats emulates its elders, with composite arms that fold backwards ... but it retains the central hull of the Access 6. Combine this with a sports rig and you have quite a cocktail for a pocket tri!

Tricat 20EXCITING, SIMPLE AND QUICK

1

The arms are articulated and pivot aft. For transportationor in port, the floats lie alongside the central hull, limiting

the beam to 2.40 m.

140-141 Tricat_MM192-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 14/11/2018 12:27 Page140

the jib unfurled... and off you charge. Just 10 knots ofwind is needed to really get it going, to hear the intoxi-cating sound of high-speed appendages. Because peaksover 15 knots are commonplace. With the bowspritextended and gennaker unfurled, the turbo kicks inand we’re slipping through the water even faster. Butthe helm remains unflustered, always light. A beginnercould take control without any risk, as the Tricat 20 isboth safe and responsive. In fact, that’s what we didduring our test: a 13-year-old teenager helmed the Tri-cat for long some tacks, handling all the maneuvers:the 20 turns on the spot without need to back the jib,and gybes around a relatively tight radius despite thehelm angle being limited by the sides of the opentransom. A real dream machine! In a chop, the move-ments are a little jerky, which is to be expected: it’sfaster and lighter, and the three hulls are forced tomeet the waves together. But the narrow hulls don’tslam. And the arms, higher than the tubes on the Ac-cess, stay above the sea. As for the motor, our testboat was equipped with a small electric outboard. Asensible choice for a boat that is away under sail in theslightest breeze.

Large cockpit, large trampolines, but teenyside-decks

Thanks to the marked chine, the cockpit enjoys a re-markable width for a trimaran of this size. It’s also longenough to seat the whole crew on the same side. Thechildren can even chill out on the trampolines. A nicesurprise, even at high speed is that the Tricat 20 doesnot get that wet. Any spray that does come aboard isgenerally stopped by the coachroof, which is large en-ough to serve as protection. As for sail trimming, eve-rything is simple and effective: on each tack, thejibsheets are on a purchase. The mainsheet traveler onthe aft beam supports a powerful sheeting system. Thegennaker sheets are led to winches - a size 6, just a lit-tle bit too light for a good breeze. All other sail hand-ling maneuvers remain at the foot of the mast, directlyaccessible from the companionway. Aft of the mast,the moving around is easy and safe thanks to the tram-polines. On the other hand, getting to the foredeck isa bit more perilous: the coachroof is quite high, as

previously mentioned... and the sidedecks are tiny.There are no handrails or toerails. But in theory, apartfrom anchoring, you shouldn’t need to do anything atthe bow.

Basic comfort for stopovers

For stopping over somewhere, there’s no anchorlocker. Light ground tackle can be stowed either beneath the companionway or in the aft locker. Butbecause the Tricat has such light displacement, there’snot much load, allowing you to use tricks like taking along warp ashore and tying to a tree... Fenders andwarps stow easily in the lateral lockers in the cockpit.For tying alongside, the yard has fitted a cleat and twofairleads at the bow, and two cleats aft (option). Thecockpit is open very low to the water. Children couldslip under the aft link arm, grown-ups will have to stepover it. The small swiveling swim ladder is well located.But it's still optional... The little cabin will be home to just two people. Theimpression of volume is no longer hampered by thevertical bulkhead of the chain locker on board the Access 6, directly in line with the mast. The headroomis 1.43 m, a rather generous figure for this size of boat.The table and seat cushions in the mini-saloon trans-form into a double berth. The two side benches, 1.30m long, are suitable for two young children. As an op-tion, the yard offers a stove. Spartan comfort, but ne-vertheless sufficient to consider a coastal cruise withovernight stops in good weather. Or there’s always thepossibility to put up a tent or two on the trampolines.

Conclusion

Our pocket trimaran, transformed by having largerfloats, daggerboards and a more powerful sail plan,puts the spotlight on the family cruising program insmall multihulls which are not really big enough to behabitable like the good old Magnum 21 - which remainsthe sacred yardstick for the class. The Tricat 20 is anexcellent boat for casual day sailing, but also for coastalraids... and why not some racing?

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Builder TricatNaval Architects Jack Michal and Antoine HoudetOverall length 5.99 mHull length 5.99 mWaterline length 5.95 mBeam 2.40/4.50 mDraft 0.30 /1.20 mWeight 580 kgUpwind sail area 24.50 m²Mainsail 16.50 m²Jib 8 m²Gennaker 16 m²Spi 28 m²Motor 3.5 hpCE Category C5 / D6Year launched 2018Price as standard: €36,900 inc. taxPrincipal options:Sport version with longer carbon mast, Mylar sails,8-purchase sheet: €9,780 inc. taxCruising pack: €6,200 inc. taxGennaker on furler: €1,890 inc. taxBowsprit and spinnaker deck hardware: €680 inc. taxBraked road trailer: €3,850 inc. tax3.5hp 4 stroke long shaft outboard: €990 inc. tax

◆ Easy folding trimaran◆ Excellent performance◆ Reasonable accommodation for trimaran of only

6 meters

◆ Significantly more expensive than the obviouscompetitor, the Astus 20.5

◆ Under-sized winches◆ Narrow side-decks

Compared to the cabin on the Access 6, the Tricat20’s has gained some volume - the housings for thetubes on the Access have disappeared.

The Tricat 20 is a boat whichwill allow you to enjoy your

sailing, but you couldalso consider some coastal

camping!

140-141 Tricat_MM192-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 14/11/2018 12:27 Page141

142

S E C O N D - H A N D T E S T

Text: Vince Valstar - Photos: DR and the author

A strong, seaworthy and remarkably well-finished catamaran: this sums up the Privilège 435,which, with longer sugar scoops, was also known under the name 445.

Privilège 435/445Luxury ocean cruising

The Privilege 435, launched in 1999 replacedthe 42. The Privilège touch? The famous central‘spur’, a kind of third hull which doesn’t touchthe water. It is clearly visible from the deck, si-gnificantly reducing the area of the trampolines.A clever device which allows one or two cabinsto be fitted, with much more convincing com-fort than on the classic cats. And this remainsPrivilege’s ‘signature’: the latest models – theSerie 5, 6 and 7 – still offer an incredibleowner’s cabin in their central ‘spur’. At the daw-ning of the 2000s, the Les Sables d’Olonne-based builder was still working closely with thecharter companies, but was taking great painsto provide comfort and a level of finishing noti-ceably superior to that being offered by its com-petitors. The owner’s version of this Privilègeis therefore worth a visit! The 445, direct descendant of the 435, got lon-ger sugar scoops as standard – they were al-ready available, but only as an option, on the

Easy Cruise model. Although this Privilège hasbecome the smallest in the range, it is never-theless big enough for a nice trip in the Tropics,or a round the world voyage via the tradewinds.

Hulls which are still up to dateMarc Lombard was no novice when it came tocruising catamarans, as the La Rochelle-basedarchitect had already been working with thebuilder for around ten years at the time of the435’s launch. He took great pains to designhulls which are rather slim at the waterline,combined with a high freeboard and a nacelleperched high above the water. A rather skilfulcompromise between high average speed, ge-nerous load-carrying capacity and safe, comfor-table handling in big seas. The Performanceversion – two or three examples of which werebuilt, according to the company - is equippedwith daggerboards and a carbon mast. For the

‘A la Carte’ and ‘Easy Cruise’ versions, we findrobust keels suited to beaching. On the water,the 435/445 puts up with a fairly heavy displa-cement…but it is boosted by a generous sailarea. Finally, it has a rather favourable sailarea/weight ratio – around 13m2/t, whilstmost of its competitors make 10. Yet the

1

2

142-143 occaz_MM192-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 14/11/2018 12:28 Page142

Privilège 435 is not very fast in light weather.On the other hand, from force 3 upward, it de-finitely comes to life. The architect’s polars don’tpredict a miracle to windward – in any case, forthe models equipped with keels: 6.5 knots in 15knots of wind, and 7.5 with 5 more knots ofwind. But with a force 5 wind on the beam, the435/445 speeds along at 12 knots.

A functional deck plan, but exposed portlightsWide side decks, fluid movement around theboat, numerous flat surfaces for relaxing – andmanoeuvres on the foredeck -, the Privilège 435’sdeck plan is a success. Visibility from the raisedsteering position against the coachroof is satisfac-tory, as is the access to the control lines. Moreoverthis catamaran is easy to sail shorthanded, an ob-vious ‘plus’ for family cruises. Although the exte-rior design is very classical, with an aerodynamiccoachroof, the forward portlights will quickly have

to be protected from the sun. Almost horizontal,the Perspex quickly turns the nacelle into an oven,once the sun has climbed to its zenith. The interiorcurtains prove to be insufficient; exterior coverswill provide protection. As for the cockpit, protec-ted by a textile or a rigid bimini, it is remarkablycomfortable. The huge settees allow the wholecrew to be comfortably seated, however the ovaltable is rather small when entertaining guests.

Great luxury insideThe quality of the finishing has always been essen-tial at Privilège; this model is no exception to therule, with its superb woodwork in varnishedcherry wood. A finish the Americans remain veryfond of – an authentic ‘old navy’ atmosphere –but which is no longer fashionable in Europe,where over the last ten years or so, accommoda-tion has adopted brighter colours – light oak andwhite headlinings. The first visit may thereforesurprise you, but you will very quickly get to like

this spacious nacelle with its rounded saloon, ad-jacent to a galley of the same shape, separated bya central bar. The athwartships-facing chart tableis situated to port of the entrance into the nacelle.All the berths are fitted athwartships: a particu-larly convincing arrangement at the front – thanksto the famous ‘central spur’. Most of the 435s and445s were delivered with four cabins, but someonly have three. In each hull, the heads are fittedin the gangway.

Conclusion

This model remains quite expensive on the se-cond-hand market – without a doubt because ofits recognized robustness. And it’s true that a 435or a 445 makes an excellent support for leavingas a family, especially as most models offered forsale are in good condition and have been carefullyequipped

143

Builder: Alliaura MarineArchitect: Marc LombardMaterial: glass/polyester sandwichHull length: 13.13 or 13.45 mWaterline length: 12.60 or 12.85 mBeam: 7.07 mDraft: 1.35 or 1.20/2.50 mDisplacement: 8.30 or 8.90 tSail area: 111 m2 or 114 m2Engines: 2 x 27 or 40 hp Production: 40 examples from 1999 to 2006Second-hand price:

160,000 to 300,000 euros exc. tax

u Overall robustnessu Finishing qualityu Comfort at sea

u Not comfortable in light weatheru High asking priceu Nacelle Plexi needs covering once the sun is high

1 : Marc Lombard took great care to design rather slim hulls. A good point for performance, even though most 435s don’t have daggerboards.2 : 435 or 445, this Privilège will take you to the other side of the world. Ideal for a cruising couple or family.3: Classic, but above all comfortable and well-finished accommodation. 4 : The ‘curvy’ cockpit has a steering position against the coachroof, to port, and a table to starboard.5 : The ‘central spur’ or false central hull, offers a large volume for the most comfortable cabin aboard.

THE POINTS TO CHECK:

In addition to the classic elements to be checked aboard a boat which has sailed a lot – the first 435s are from 1999 – check particularly the watertightnessof the frontal portlights, highly exposed to UV and expansion. Certain leaks mayhave damaged the woodwork, or even caused corrosion in the electric circuit. If possible, opt for a boat which has avoided the hard treatment of intensivecharter use..

3 4 5

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

142-143 occaz_MM192-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 14/11/2018 12:28 Page143