Neel 52
Neel launched their first generation of sailing trimarans, including the Neel 51 in 2017 and created a new category of fast crusing yachts with the handling of a monohull combined with the living space that you will only find on a multihull.
The Neel 52 continues with the same design philosophy with the narrow hulls of a quick trimaran at the waterline as the platform for four to six-cabin and plenty of living space up top.
The owners’ cabin is now even bigger on the newer 52 and the Lombard Design Group has further optimised the shape of the hulls and floats the later design to maximise the waterline length and minimise the weight which is well distributed thanks to the mast and engine room being further aft.
The helm is connected to the rudders via Dyneema cables, giving a direct response: there is plenty of feel on this trimaran.
Video Tour in Cannes.
The sail plan includes a square top mainsail, a 120% overlapping headsail and staysail. You can add a 150m2 furling gennaker for lighter conditions, or when you are sailing off the wind while keeping the apparent wind speed down.
There is also an option for a larger asymmetric spinnaker, a taller carbon performance rig and Hydranet sails.
The majority of the lines are fed back to the raised helm on the starboard side with a few exceptions.
The lighter wind reaching sails’ sheets are lead aft to the back of the floats, and the genoa and staysail furling lines come back to the aft end of the starboard float. This simple set-up reduces friction, but it does mean that furling is easier with another pair of hands to help.
At the raised helm, you have three powerful winches and clutches to manage all of your lines, it’s well set up.
You can expect to be cruising at just under wind speed or even higher on a beam reach when the breeze freshens. The Neel 52 will point higher than most catamarans. They reduce their wetted surface by lifting the windward float. The boat stays stable and level, just like a catamaran.
From the raised starboar helm, you struggle to see the opposite bow, but in general visibility is good forward. Docking along the starboard side is the way to go.
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Neel build with boats with a vacuum-infused sandwich cored with foam with reinforcements in heavy load areas. She’s lighter than the 51 by about a tonne. You can choose between a carbon or aluminum rig if you want to further power the boat up.
Flybridge
This is more of a “Fly-Lounge”. A great place to hang out in calmer conditions, with room for up to eight people. It is next door to the helm, so well connected.
The Owner’s Cabin is up top on the 52 (although you can configure the boat with the Owner’s in the starboard float.
If you want space though, go for the first option which will link to the whole of the starboard float, with a private dressing area and plenty of hanging space and general storage. Ventilation overhead is good and there is lots of natural light.
Heading forward in the Owner’s Float you will find the head and separate shower stall, and further forward again is more space that you can use for the washer/dryer or as a utility room.
The aft cockpit opens up into the big saloon, the so called “Cockloon”. While that might not translate so well into English, the concept is winner and something that the Lombard Group do very well in other designs (such as the Nautitechs).
Join the interior and exterior tables together if you are having a big crowd over. There’ll be plenty of space.
Forward of the saloon is a large navstation with a double seat and excellent views forward, to port and aft. However, you cannot view the mainsail from here.
One of the standout features on the neel 52 is the large galley forward on the starboard side. There is a large amount of food prep space plus a four-burner gas hob and oven (you can spec electric here), plus a big fridge and freezer and a slimline dishwasher.
There is plenty of stowage for your galley essentials. There are two hatches in the front for ventilation, and a hatch over the cooker.
Down Below
On the port side, steps lead down to a guest cabin in the port float, with a large, light double berth aft. Forward is a head and shower with more space further forward, similar to the starboard side.
You can also configure the port float with two doubles and a shared head/shower compartment. (This setup is also available in the starboard float for six-cabin boats. You will enjoy extra saloon and dining space up top in these kinds of configurations. I believe most owners will go for the owner’s cabin on the main deck, however.
Then further forward in the main hull are steps to head down between the nav station and galley. There’s a double cabin here with plenty of space, but less light and ventilation. There’s ample storage, however, plus a headthat is shared with a forward cabin in the bow of the main hull. This is often set up with bunks for the kids or crew.
Power
Neels are famous for their big engine rooms and the 52 is no exception, although not as spacious as the 51. But engine maintenance should be more comfortable than on most yachts. The Neel 52 has a single engine in the main hull, so a bow thruster is fitted as standard. You can install a stern thruster as an option.
Solar
You can configure your Neel 52 with over 2500W of peak solar on the coachroof, good for autonomy while cruising if you have optioned the lithium batteries. 625Ah of 12V AGM batteries are the standard power bank.
The Neel 52 is a good evolution of their 50 footer and we were suprised by the feeling of space inside. It’s a set up that would work very well for younger families with lots of configuration options. That owner’s cabin and the galley are huge and we liked the fly-lounge and overall performance of this boat.
This boat is as nippy as the 51, possibly a bit more so thanks to the reshaped hulls, and it will allow you to achieve some decent daily averages under sail. It’s an easy boat to handle for a short-handed crew, with the exception of those furling lines and gennaker sheets.
| Length Overall | 15.90m / 52ft 0in |
|---|---|
| Beam Overall | 8.80m / 28ft 11in |
| Draft | 1.90m / 6ft 3in |
| Disp. (Light) | 13,5T / 29.800lb |
| Mainsail | 95m2 / 1,022ft2 |
| Power | 110 HP |
| Water | 600L / 132gal |
| Fuel | 700L / 154gal |
| Main Sail | 102m2 / 1,098ft2 Carbon |
| Genoa | 71m2 / 764ft2 |
| Staysail | 31m2 / 345ft2 |
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