The French yard’s largest catamaran takes Windelo’s approach to sailing performance, energy autonomy, and responsible construction into 62-foot territory.
A proper bluewater cruising catamaran has to do more than provide space. The Windelo 62 needs to look after its crew when the forecast turns, keep moving when the breeze softens, and offer enough independence to make remote anchorages realistic rather than romantic.
Windelo has organised its range around one idea: long-distance cruising should remain a sailing experience first, supported by efficient hulls, smart systems, and a lighter environmental footprint. The Windelo 62 is the fullest expression of that, a 62-foot bluewater catamaran designed for owners who want to sail far, live aboard for extended periods, and cover miles under sail rather than under engine.
The Windelo 62 and the range it sits within
Windelo’s line-up now stretches from the 50 to the Windelo 62, with each model shaped around the same DNA: performance under sail, protected centralised handling, electric or hybrid propulsion, renewable energy production, and a focus on life at sea.
The Windelo 50 is the compact explorer of the range, manageable yet capable of serious offshore passagemaking. The 54 adds volume and longer-distance capability for family crews or liveaboards. The 58 brings a larger, more versatile platform, while the Windelo 62 sits at the top with more space and a stronger emphasis on bluewater living.
Fine hulls, daggerboards, efficient sail plans, and weight-conscious construction give each boat its performance credentials. The forward cockpit, positioned close to the mast and protected by the nacelle, defines the handling philosophy across the range.
Performance and handling
At 18.88 metres overall, with a 9.48-metre beam and a light displacement of 22 tonnes, the Windelo 62 has the scale expected of a serious ocean-going multihull, while the numbers also point to a boat designed to sail efficiently rather than simply carry accommodation.
The sail plan carries a 140m² mainsail and 64 m² pair of headsails, supported by daggerboards for improved upwind ability. For owners who think in ocean passages, average speed matters more than top speed. A performance catamaran earns its place by maintaining good daily runs, reducing engine hours, and arriving with a crew that is rested.
The centralised forward cockpit brings sail handling, helm position, and deck visibility together. The crew can keep watch on the sails, bows, and horizon while remaining sheltered when conditions require it. For short-handed owners, that reduces the number of reasons to leave the helm. For family crews, it improves communication on passage.
Living aboard the Windelo 62
The Windelo 62 is not designed as a stripped-out mile-maker. Its ambition is to combine offshore capability with the atmosphere of a long-distance home.
Inside, the emphasis is on light and visibility. Large glazed areas connect the interior to the sea, while the nacelle layout allows the saloon, lounge, dining area, and helm station to work as a shared living space: long breakfasts at anchor, quiet watches underway, shared meals after a passage, and enough separation for privacy when a full crew is aboard.
The Windelo 62 can accommodate up to five cabins plus a skipper cabin, depending on layout, opening the door to an owner-operated world cruise, a family sabbatical or extended cruising with guests. For owners sailing with a professional crew, the boat can be configured with private access to the skipper cabin from the forward cockpit, complete with its own head and shower. Owner and crew spaces remain clearly separated without disrupting life aboard.
On deck, the aft terrace and forward areas extend the living space outward. On the Windelo 62 the sea becomes the backdrop to daily life rather than something kept outside the hull.
Construction and energy systems
Windelo’s environmental approach runs beyond propulsion. Hull and deck construction uses basalt fibre and PET/PVC foam sandwich structures, a combination the yard says reduces environmental impact by 47% while maintaining the stiffness and strength required offshore.
Energy autonomy is central to the Windelo 62 concept. Solar panels, hydrogeneration and wind turbines feed the onboard energy system. Under sail, the electric motors contribute to hydrogeneration, recharging batteries as the boat covers miles. At anchor, solar production supports day-to-day life.
For cruising sailors the practical effect matters as much as the environmental argument. Less generator use means quieter anchorages. Electric propulsion makes harbour approaches calmer. Reduced dependence on fuel removes one of the organisational burdens of long-distance cruising.
The Windelo 62 is available with either Electric Propulsion or Dual Propulsion. Electric propulsion prioritises silence and simplicity. Dual Propulsion adds diesel engines for sustained motoring while retaining electric drives for manoeuvres and everyday use. For owners planning passages across areas such as the South Pacific, where distance and self-sufficiency count, the choice is worth considering.
Who the Windelo 62 is built for
Bluewater cruising buyers want more comfort than they used to, but not at the cost of seaworthiness. They want autonomy without complexity and sustainability without sacrificing reliability in remote conditions.
The Windelo 62 responds with a performance-led platform rather than a floating apartment. Its credibility comes from the fundamentals: efficient hulls, daggerboards, centralised handling and a manageable rig. From New Zealand waters, where coastal legs quickly give way to serious island passages and ocean planning, a catamaran needs to be capable and liveable in equal measure. The Windelo 62 addresses both.
Windelo 62 — specifications at a glance
Length overall: 18.88m
Beam: 9.48m
Light displacement: 22.0 tonnes
Draft: 1.35m / 3.00m
Maximum cabins: 5 + skipper cabin
Category: A / 13 people
Mainsail: 140m²
Solent: 64m²
Appendages: Daggerboards
Hull construction: Basalt and PET/PVC foam sandwich
Deck construction: Basalt and PET foam sandwich
Engines: Electric and hybrid
Energy sources: Solar, hydrogeneration and wind turbines
Starting price: from €2,850,000 ex-VAT
Verdict
The Windelo 62 brings the yard’s core idea to its largest scale: a bluewater catamaran that treats performance, comfort, autonomy, and lower environmental impact as a single brief. For owners planning serious offshore work who want quiet anchorages, refined living spaces, and less dependence on engine hours, the Windelo 62 is worth a close look.
