2021 NEEL 43

Hull #7 of the NEEL 43 lineage benefits from the early, overbuilt production run, and it shows in the stiffness of the platform and the solid feel underfoot when seas get lumpy. Owners love how the central float carries most of the load, so you get the stability of three hulls without the drag penalty of a beamy cat. Under sail, the fine bows slice quietly and the boat will keep pace in light air where heavier cruisers start motoring. The wide, uncluttered foredeck and low boom make handling sails less of a gymnastics routine, and sightlines from the helm to the bows and transom corners make docking far less dramatic than you’d expect from a 40‑plus‑foot multihull.

In warm, shoal‑rich waters, the NEEL 43 really comes into its own. The trimaran’s shallow draft opens up skinny anchorages that deeper monohulls can only admire from a distance, while the generous beam and buoyant amas keep the boat rock‑steady at rest when afternoon chop builds. Ventilation is excellent, with large openings that let the sea breeze flush the interior, reducing reliance on systems at anchor. The efficient rig and light displacement mean you can actually sail instead of motoring through fickle sea‑breeze patterns. Add in the easily accessed helm and clear deck layout, and you get a performance‑minded cruiser that’s surprisingly relaxed to handle in busy, traffic‑heavy coastal waters.