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NEEL trimaran

The NEEL-TRIMARANS group is globally recognized as a frontrunner in cruise trimarans. The designer and constructor of these innovative, high-quality trimarans is based in La Rochelle, France.

Founded in 2009 by the renowned sailor Eric Bruneel, the shipyard specialized in liveaboard trimarans, quickly gaining worldwide acclaim for their successful blend of comfort and performance under sail.

The success of these trimarans is rooted in the expertise of passionate and skilled teams.

These trimarans are the result of passion and expertise, crafted by both enthusiasts and professionals.

 

They offer an unparalleled sailing experience with a focus on safety, comfort, and pleasure.

The Trimaran, the best of both worlds

Safety

The width of NEEL trimarans is a crucial factor for safety at sea as it ensures stability.

 

The maximum righting moment of a catamaran occurs at a 12° heel. In strong winds and waves, this can happen swiftly.

 

However, on a trimaran, the maximum righting moment starts at a 27° heel and is never reached.

 

Due to this reason, and thanks to the centered weight distribution, a trimaran is more stable than a catamaran.

Comfort

The trimaran experiences less rolling motion compared to the catamaran because its center of buoyancy never extends far downwind as seen in a catamaran.

 

All heavy equipment is situated within the central main hull of a trimaran, whereas on a catamaran, it is evenly distributed 50/50 between each hull.

This configuration ensures smooth sea travel, comfort, and eliminates a 'bumpy ride'.

Performance

In offshore races, the trimaran significantly outpaces monohulls or catamarans. This also holds true for cruising trimarans; the NEEL 45 claimed victory in the ARC in 2015, followed by the NEEL 47 in 2019 and 2020.

 

On a trimaran, the forestay, mast, and mainsail tension are structurally affixed to one robust longitudinal beam—the main hull. This configuration, akin to a monohull, ensures a taut forestay and excellent windward performance.

 

The speed of the trimaran also serves as an additional safety factor.

Construction

High-strength rigid foam First layer of isophthalic polyester resin with vinyl ester (enhanced protection against osmosis).

 

Stiffness Infused bulkhead set: Significant stiffness achieved through: the structure itself and the manufacturing process

 

Several advantages: • Closed cells = hydrophobic •

 

Limits twists • Lighter and denser than balsa (easier for repairs)

The Trimaran vs Catamaran Stability

A trimaran exhibits far greater stability compared to a catamaran.

The width of NEEL trimarans stands as a crucial factor for safety during open-sea navigation, ensuring stability.

In a catamaran, the maximum righting moment occurs at a 12° heel, as indicated on the stability curve. This angle is relatively easy to attain when sailing in strong winds and heavy seas.

However, on a trimaran, this maximum righting moment occurs at a 32° heel. Under normal operational conditions with multiple hulls, this angle is never reached.

Due to this, and thanks to the centralized weight distribution, a trimaran exhibits much more stability than a catamaran. The weight centered in the technical compartment of the main hull limits the angle of heel, resulting in increased stability and thus, enhanced safety of the vessel. This also improves handling performance and comfort during rough seas.

Conversely, catamarans have no choice but to distribute weights (engines, batteries, generator, tanks) across the ends of their two hulls.

Diagram
Credo NEEL

A NEEL trimaran offers superior seaworthiness.

Let's consider both the trimaran and the catamaran at a 12° heel, which is the safety angle not to be exceeded on a catamaran. As depicted in the illustrations, the Righting Moment (GZ) is much higher on the catamaran than on the trimaran. A higher GZ indicates a rougher and more uncomfortable seaworthiness.

At this heel angle, the GZ of the catamaran is twice that of the trimaran. Therefore, sailing with the trimaran is much smoother than sailing with the catamaran.

The trimaran experiences less rolling motion compared to the catamaran because its buoyancy remains closer to the centerline, unlike a catamaran.

 

Once again, centralized weight is the key to success and comfort. In fact, all essential heavy equipment is situated within the central main hull of a trimaran, whereas on a catamaran, it is evenly distributed between the two hulls.

This superiority of the trimaran becomes even more pronounced in heavy seas, as depicted in the illustration below.

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