Text: Emmanuel van Deth
Replacing the highly successful Neel 51 was no easy task. As a result, the La Rochelle-based shipyard applied the same recipe as for the recent 43, entrusting the project to Marc Lombard Design. Presented last September at the Grand Pavois boat show in La Rochelle, the trimaran proved so attractive that in just a few weeks, some thirty pre-orders were taken! The Neel concept, with its wide platform and the option of an owner’s cabin on the same level, has come of age without any loss of sailing pleasure: old monohull addicts will appreciate this, even if you remain upwind or downwind, depending on the tack, with no possibility of repositioning yourself, since you only have one helm station. The touch of the helm is both direct on the trajectory and supple in terms of feel – overall enjoyment is even enhanced by the slight heel. neel-trimarans.com