On May 30 and 31, nearly twenty groups came aboard the Excess 13 to discover the boat in ideal conditions: between 15 and 22 knots of wind, more than enough to bring out its full potential.
At the helm, it's obvious
From the moment they left the harbor, the tone was set. Chris, who came with his wife Charmaine to prepare for their future life at sea, took the helm right in the marina: "No problem at all, an immediate response at the helm. It's very intuitive, even for someone like me who's not an expert. It was obvious this wasn't some ocean liner!"
Under sail, the boat backs it up. "With about 15 knots of wind, we were comfortably cruising at around 7 knots, without any particular effort. And even without trying to optimize anything, the boat pointed very well to windward. You can feel it has potential."
Changing perceptions of the catamaran
Many came aboard with preconceived ideas. They didn't last long. "We thought performance was the preserve of monohulls, and that catamarans were heavier, less dynamic… but the Excess 13 really made us rethink that," explain Chris and Charmaine.
The design does a lot of the work before you've even left the dock: "Seeing it on the dock, our first reaction was: wow, it looks fast. It really catches the eye, almost like a sports car." But it's the whole package that wins people over: "You discover a boat that's modern, functional, comfortable… without being over the top. Everything is well thought out, easy to get to grips with, and you can picture yourself on it very easily." The cockpit layout has a lot to do with it: "Having everyone together, with the two helm stations, creates a real sense of togetherness. You never feel isolated."
A family experience
For Isla, Chrissie and Max, the outing lived up to every promise. "The conditions were perfect, with a great breeze and flat seas. The boat sails beautifully, we easily reached 9 knots and it was extremely enjoyable." Taking the helm themselves made all the difference: "It was great to be able to helm ourselves and really feel the boat. It's both high-performing and reassuring, which is ideal for family use."
The crew's welcome also left a lasting impression: "Incredibly welcoming, very knowledgeable, and above all generous with their time." And the best proof of all came from the youngest passenger: their five-year-old daughter, won over from the very first outing, immediately asked to go out again.
Come aboard, too
Adam and Jodi left with a plan that's more concrete than ever: "This experience has clearly strengthened our desire to buy a boat like this one in the near future."
The last word goes to Chris: "It's a boat that catches the eye, that offers all the modern comforts, but that keeps a real sailing pleasure. And honestly, it might just give quite a few monohull owners something to think about!"