BOAT REVIEW Seawind 1170

Seawind has been building boats for 42 years, in the process becoming not only pretty good at it but also getting to know their userbase well. So, Seawind knows a large proportion of that base wants an offshore-capable catamaran in the 40-foot range – like the new 39-foot (11.9m) 1170.

The continuing growth of the global multihull market is astounding, also reflected in this part of the world. Having sailed around a large chunk of east coast Australia over the last three years, I found most of the vessels in the may anchorages I visited were cruising catamarans. Lifestyle is the main reason people choose them, closely followed by their ability for fast downwind passage-making. They are ideal for exploring the islands and coasts of the Asia Pacific region.

Seawind continues to produce these capable cruising boats from its Vietnam yard, and for 2024, from its newly built yard on the Mediterranean shores of Turkey. That is where the 1170 will be produced once the pre-production models are fully evaluated.

The new premises complement a revamped range, comprising models from the 52-foot Seawind 1600 down to the 39-foot Seawind 1170, accompanied by a substantial increase in output.

Currently, it’s the mid-range boats that are really pushing the brand’s popularity in Australia and its largest overseas market, the USA. The stand-out has been the 2022 designed 45-foot 1370 which has more than 92 orders as we go to press. For 2024, the 1370 is joined by the 1170, which company owner Richard Ward has been evaluating since the first hull popped out of the mould earlier this year.

Reverse bows and seek, angular aesthetics, backed-up with lighter-weight infused construction and an extensive sailplan able to exploit the full wind spectrum, are among the 1170’s attractions. And the company’s large and loyal userbase has been keen to upgrade to its new models, as the order book shows.

Sydney dealer Brent Vaughan from Multihull Central and I sailed the first 1170 to reach Australia (hull #2) to experience the boat first-hand. We decided it would be just the two of us, to demonstrate the boat’s short-handed capabilities, and with 24-knot winds on Sydney Harbour that day, our kite flying was thrilling!

Early thoughts

Walking down the pontoon at Multihull Central’s Sydney marina, it was easy to spot the tall and angular 1170 amongst the less voluminous older Seawinds surrounding it. It was hull number two, as the first hull belongs to YouTubers Tula’s Endless Summer. Covid had delayed these boats significantly, so it was good to finally see one afloat.

First impression: this 39-footer has the signature features of the well-proven Seawind brand – trifold doors to maximise access between cockpit and saloon, along with twin helms for easy handling. In the cockpit the 1170 has transom seating along with an electric barbecue hotplate. Protecting the cockpit is a wide fibreglass targa walkway, an extended version compared to previous models which includes the mainsheet track, controlled by a neat targa-side winch. Cleverly, the lengthened targa allows it to support a hoist for the dinghy, negating the need for separate davits. Alongside, on each hull, wide moulded steps offer easy swim access with a ladder.

At the twin helms, B&G electronics are used throughout with a 12-inch plotter portside beside the throttles and readouts on both sides. The helms are well shaded by the hardtop targa, but wisely, skylights give a view of the mainsail, and the adjoining saloon windows drop-down electrically for clear views forward. The review boat came with an electric Lewmar 50 portside, a manual Lewmar starboard, twin Lewmar 40s for the spinnaker, with adjoining jammers, plus another winch on the mast for spinnaker halyards. As we found during our sail, this arrangement worked well, with both the sheltered helms comfortable and the running rigging controls all tidied into rope boxes. Another plus was the flat coamings which allowed the steerer to sit out and adopt a more race-style posture. Good design is evident throughout this area, including the moveable helm backrests on the double seats and GRP steering wheels – an improvement on the metal wheels used on earlier boats.

Dedicated saloon

On the smaller Seawinds, like this 1170, the saloon is dedicated to entertaining, with the galley located below in the starboard hull. This allows ample open space in front of the dinette table, which is surrounded by couches from which the views are superb thanks to tall windows and generous headroom. The navigation area on the forward port quarter has bulkhead space for electronics and a large worktop for those digital nomads requiring laptop space.

The lounge with its elevating table and wrap-around bench seating doubles as a daybed, while opposite, nestled into the aft bulkhead is the television. Quality finishes are evident throughout this area with Sunbrella coverings and polished solid wood trim with rounded edges. Sloping bulkheads forward reduce windage and large, opening windows provide essential airflow.

Stepping down into the starboard hull brings me into the galley, with a double berth forward and smaller one aft. The galley is a very familiar Seawind arrangement with twin sinks and a three-burner gas cooker and oven outboard. The galley has panoramic views which could persuade even the most reluctant crew to wash-up. The open bulkhead above avoids any stuffiness and allows the cook to chat with saloon guests. Good design points here include a large 150-litre chest freezer and front-opening fridge. The entire area is surrounded by ample synthetic worktops and cupboard space as well.

Forward of this is the main guest cabin with a queen-sized foam mattress and enough room to sit upright for reading. Skylights and longitudinal portlights ensure good natural light. Lockers give ample storage, there’s a a spacious bathroom in the bow, while the voluminous new hull allows a double berth at the stern, along with engine access beneath it, so a noisy space under power. Again, under-bed storage is good and there’s an airiness to the cabin thanks to portlights and skylights.

Owner’s suite

The 1170’s three-cabin layout dedicates the port hull as the owner’s suite. Privacy is one of the big plusses of accommodation aboard catamarans and the portside owner’s suite on the 1170 does this well, with the forward athwartships island bed and stern bathroom a very pleasant area. Between them is locker space that includes the electrical control panel. Outside views are excellent down here, thanks to large windows, and ventilation is also good with an opening side hatch fitted to both hulls.

A light ash laminate wood finish throughout the interior contrasts nicely with the ambience from neutral-coloured soft furnishings, proving that it’s not just big European builders that can turn on the style. European CE standards apply to these boats, so an escape hatch is included in each hull – an essential for a bluewater sailing catamaran. This boat has been put into Australian Survey because the owner is chartering it to members of the Cruz Club, a five-person charter share scheme devised by Multihull Central –“It allows new sailors to sample operating a catamaran and we can also arrange for them to do their Day Skipper and Competent Crew on it,” said Brent Vaughan.

Tidy topsides

Moving forward is easy on the 1170, thanks to wide, flat side decks with support from the coachroof handrail, where rainwater gathering sills are now fitted. The forward area is uncluttered with all systems in lockers, including the Maxwell vertical windlass and the primary rode (55m of galvanised chain and a Delta anchor) running below the main crossbeam. There’s a secondary roller installed.

Cleating was installed all around, including midships, but a wee bit undersized for my liking. Nearby is the track for the self-tacking jib, yet another useful cruising feature, that rolls out, and once set, allows you to forget about. The big-topped mainsail on the review boat was a Doyle cruising laminate with full battens, sitting in lazy jacks, and with single-line triple reefing. Sails are operated from the cockpit. The review boat came with a screecher and asymmetric spinnaker for flying off the carbon bowsprit. Holding all this up are die-form wire outboard shrouds with substantial chainplates moulded into the gunwales, attached to a single alloy spreader mast tube from All Yacht Spars in Brisbane.

The GRP hulls are foam cored, which creates strength and has more inherent buoyancy, while the vacuum infusion build process has also been refined to include triaxial fibreglass cloth in key areas. The 1170 uses mini keels which protect the sail drives when beaching. Importantly, there’s ample bridgedeck clearance (0.7m) for an easy motion with minimal slamming, as long as you don’t overload it. Engine access is only from below decks – the sail drive legs have twin-bladed folding Gori propellers with overdrive to enhance efficiency, while minimising drag.

Electronics and systems have seen a major upgrade on previous Seawind models, with the option of Czone digital switching, which allows custom operating modes and gives enhanced error checking. Married to this, are twin 200-amp gel batteries with an upgrade option of lithium. Our review boat had a bank of three 400-amp lithium house batteries in the nacelle, along with a large inverter; able to run white goods should you want to avoid installing a generator. Fast and wide-spectrum charging are what you pay the big bucks for with lithium batteries.

Aircon is another tropical nicety, and a 32000BTU/24v system was fitted. The entire installation is top quality by Mastervolt. In addition, the vast roof space on the saloon houses 900W of soft solar panels.

A blustery sail

Wednesday afternoon on Sydney Harbour is exciting because various race fleets claim it for their own – and they don’t take kindly to a fully hotted-up catamaran running through their midst doing 9 knots under spinnaker! That was me helming the Seawind 1170.

As a TP52 bore down on us, Brent and I gybed the kite, but with 24 knots of wind it was a hairy manoeuvre double-handed although we eventually succeeded. Kite hoists are done from the mast winch, which went smoothly using a snuffer sock. The 9.2-ton the Seawind 1170 felt lively with good feedback from the composite steering wheels. Before the kite run, we’d beaten upwind (doing 7.5 knots at 35 degrees apparent in the 22-knot breeze) and tacking nimbly through 95 degrees without touching any sheets, thanks to the effective self-tacking jib and my steering efforts sitting out on the coaming race-style.

A bit later, and tiring as we were buffeted at Sydney Heads, I sat back down inside the cockpit noting clear views through the tall coachroof windows, which gave me the confidence to continue helming from there in this busy waterway.

When trimming was required the large Lewmar 50 did the grunt work, and the electric portside winch easily hoisted the mainsail from its lazyjacks. Unfurling the screecher was also without drama, allowing us to go 60 degrees upwind, as well as broad reach (managing 9.0 knots with wind on the beam). Most surprising of all was the windward pointing ability of the1170, which relies on mini keels only, integrated into the composite hull. But as I’ve said, Seawind has always excelled at boats of this size as the new 1170 confirms yet again.