After months of anticipation, the 2025 Multihull of the Year (MOTY) winners have been revealed during a packed ceremony at the International Multihull Show in La Grande Motte, France. Organised by Multihulls World magazine and Multicoques Mag, the awards celebrate innovation, performance, sustainability, and liveability across the global multihull market. With voting closed on April 20 and thousands of votes cast by multihull enthusiasts from around the world, the winners reflect what the boating public values most in today’s designs.
Here’s a breakdown of the yachts that took home top honours—and why they stood out.
Sail Cruising category winner: Leopard 46
Built by Leopard Catamarans, South Africa
Topping the Sail Cruising category with 25.11% of the public vote, the Leopard 46 proved a clear favourite among bluewater cruisers. Measuring 14.48 metres with a beam of 7.35 metres, this robust yet stylish catamaran blends offshore performance with home-like comfort. Her wide beam delivers excellent interior volume, and she comes equipped with twin 25 kW electric motors (or alternatively, 45 HP diesel engines), underscoring a growing shift toward hybrid and electric propulsion options.
Voters were drawn to the Leopard’s ability to transition smoothly between family cruising, liveaboard life, and occasional charter use. With ample tankage—700 litres of water and 690 litres of fuel—it’s a true passagemaker. Strong sail area numbers (94m² mainsail and a massive 198m² spinnaker) support her versatility under sail.
Sail Performance category winner: Dragonfly 36
Built by Quorning Boats, Denmark
In the performance sailing bracket, the Dragonfly 36 edged ahead with 25.96% of the vote. This trimaran continues the legacy of Quorning Boats’ Danish innovation, offering an 11-metre hull with the folding amas that have made Dragonfly famous for practical trailering and marina docking.
What truly sets the Dragonfly 36 apart is her sheer agility and responsiveness on the water. With a displacement of just 4.5 tonnes, a 73m² mainsail, and the optional gennaker of 145m², she’s a nimble performer with serious offshore capability. Her designers—Jens Quorning and Steen Olsen—have kept the formula simple but highly effective: keep it light, make it fast, and don’t compromise on safety.
This model appeals strongly to solo sailors and couples wanting fast weekend adventures, or coastal cruisers looking to cover serious miles with ease.
Multipower category winner: 60 Sunreef Power Eco
Built by Sunreef Yachts, Poland
In the increasingly important multipower category, it was the 60 Sunreef Power Eco that resonated most with voters, taking 21.16% of the vote. Built in Poland, this 18.3-metre luxury catamaran is fully electric, with extensive solar panel coverage built directly into her structure—an elegant and forward-thinking approach to sustainable yachting.
Sunreef’s eco line represents the pinnacle of solar-electric innovation in the boating world. The 60 Eco model offers nearly silent cruising, high-end finishing, and a level of customisation that appeals to discerning private owners and luxury charter operators alike. It’s a clean-energy yacht that doesn’t ask you to compromise on space, performance, or aesthetics.
Multiyacht Category Winner: MODX 70
Built by Ocean Dévelopement, France
In the superyacht-sized Multiyacht category, the MODX 70 stood tall—quite literally. This 21.33-metre catamaran showcases French design flair and big-boat thinking, with a layout and interior styling that belong in a five-star hotel rather than a typical yacht. She’s built with a clear focus on onboard experience, with huge open-plan areas, panoramic glazing, and cutting-edge tech.
Although not the largest in the field (the Two Oceans 870 took that title), the MODX 70 clearly captured the imagination of voters with her mix of power, prestige, and lifestyle-driven design.
Beyond the public vote
In addition to the four public categories, two jury-selected awards were introduced in 2025. These jury categories recognise innovation and professional appeal outside the scope of the general voting public.
IMS Premiere winner: Excess 13
Built by Excess Catamarans, France
The IMS Premiere award is chosen by the editorial team at Multihulls World and Multicoques Mag.
Selected by the jury for its strong debut, the Excess 13 embodies a fresh direction for mid-size cruising catamarans, delivering a sporty yet liveable platform that appeals to both casual cruisers and performance-oriented sailors. Built in France by Excess Catamarans and designed by naval architect Marc Lombard, the Excess 13 measures 12.99 metres in overall length with a beam of 7.25 metres. It displaces 10.60 tonnes, balancing light displacement with solid seakeeping. With twin 40 HP engines and a fuel capacity of 2 x 200 litres, it provides range and manoeuvrability under power. The freshwater capacity can be configured as either 300 or 600 litres, and its flexible interior offers 6 to 12 berths depending on layout, making it suitable for private ownership or charter. The jury commended the Excess 13 for combining responsive helm feedback, dual aft helm stations, and modern design language in a package that remains comfortable and functional at sea.
Capt’n Boat winner: Nautitech 44 Open
Built by Nautitech Catamarans, France
The Capt’n Boat award is voted on by professional skippers via the Capt’n Boat platform.
Chosen by professional skippers through the Capt’n Boat platform, the Nautitech 44 Open impressed industry experts with its blend of performance, practicality, and onboard comfort. This French-built catamaran, also designed by Marc Lombard, spans 13.30 metres in overall length with a beam of 7.36 metres, offering excellent stability and space. It displaces 10.90 tonnes and is powered by twin 30 HP engines. Its water capacity is 2 x 300 litres, while the fuel system comprises two tanks of 250 litres each, making it capable of long-distance cruising without compromising efficiency. The skippers praised the 44 Open for its clean, functional layout, robust construction, and engaging sailing performance—attributes that make it ideal for extended offshore passages, charter operations, and liveaboard life. With its signature open-plan saloon and cockpit integration, the 44 Open continues to strengthen Nautitech’s reputation among experienced sailors.
Reflections on the 2025 winners
This year’s shortlist of 24 boats across four categories showcased the breadth of design thinking now shaping multihulls: from solar-electric propulsion and hybrid systems to foldable trimarans and ultra-luxury cruising cats. While some boats like the Lagoon 43 and Sixty Solar Sail made strong showings during the nomination phase, the final vote showed a distinct preference for innovation combined with usability.
The Leopard 46, Dragonfly 36, 60 Sunreef Power Eco, and MODX 70 each represent a leading vision of what the future of multihull sailing and motoring looks like—whether it’s through eco-friendly tech, raw sailing prowess, or megayacht indulgence.
The 2025 Multihull of the Year Awards not only highlight design excellence but give voice to the real-world sailors who use these boats. And with more eco-conscious and high-performance designs entering the market each year, the competition for 2026 already promises to be even tighter.
