A lot has happened at Nautitech Catamarans in Rochefort over the past decade. During a previous visit by the YACHT editorial team, the shipyard – situated not far from La Rochelle – still presented itself as a small, loosely organised operation. Now, on the occasion of the test of the new Nautitech 41 Type S, a completely different picture has emerged.
Since Nautitech became part of the Bavaria Yachtbau Holding, the influence of German mass-production yachtbuilding has been unmistakable. Production is now neatly organised and precisely timed. Manufacturing takes place partly on an assembly line and partly using a modular construction method – with clearly coordinated processes and a capacity of up to 80 new boats a year. Bavaria CEO Norbert Leifeld is responsible for the Nautitech brand, but the French company remains operationally independent and has its own teams for development, design, procurement and sales.
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The Nautitech 41 Type S succeeds the 40 Open, which was launched in 2013, and will henceforth form the entry-level model in the deliberately compact range, complemented by the 44 Open and the 48 Open. The shipyard thus covers the segment between 12 and 15 metres in hull length with three clearly distinct models. The designs are by Marc Lombard Yacht Design and are visually unmistakable as a family with a strong brand identity.
Sporty design: a performance cruiser with twin hulls
Like the two larger models, the 41 Type S is also consistently sportily oriented. The catamaran is built using a weight-reduced construction method and features a comparatively tall, high-performance rig with a low-set boom. Two helm stations set well aft underline its spirited character. Nautitech has opted not to use retractable centreboards, as is common on dedicated performance catamarans such as those from Outremer or Catana. Instead, fixed fin keels are used.
The 41 Type S is therefore positioned not as an uncompromising lightweight catamaran, but as a sporty cruising boat – a performance cruiser on two hulls. This combination of cruising and sport, which is popular amongst monohulls, occupies only a small niche in the catamaran segment.
In the European mass-market segment, the Excess 13 as a potential competitor. Awarded the title of European Yacht of the Year 2026, this catamaran – also built in France and designed by Marc Lombard – takes a similar approach and, with comparable standard equipment, is thought to offer similar performance potential. In terms of price, too, the two models are largely on a par, although the Excess remains slightly more expensive both in terms of the base price and when adjusted for equipment levels.
New underwater design: concave keel line for earlier lift
In terms of design, the Nautitech 41 Type S differs significantly from the larger 44 Open and 48 Open models. A new feature is that the keel line is concave towards the rear of the hulls: the keel angle becomes negative towards the stern, whilst the underwater hull is shaped deeper in the central section to compensate. The concave shape is designed to generate dynamic lift and raise the stern of the hulls whilst underway. This allows the water to break away from the stern earlier, particularly on the less-loaded windward hull. During the YACHT test off La Rochelle, this effect was clearly observable from around eight knots onwards.
The drag-optimised hull shapes have a noticeable effect in testing. Despite winds of just eight to ten knots, the Nautitech picks up speed well with its upgraded sail plan. Running close to the wind, the log shows 6.7 knots at a true wind angle of 50 degrees. These are impressive figures for a cruising catamaran of this size and design. With the optional Code Zero, the speed increases to over eight knots when sailing on a broad reach.
Specifications of the Nautitech 41 Type S
Even more impressive than the raw figures is the catamaran’s dynamic handling. The Nautitech responds swiftly and precisely to steering inputs, turns readily through the tack whilst losing very little speed. It then quickly accelerates back to its previous speed.This is aided in particular by its low weight and the concentration of heavy components towards the centre of the vessel. Unlike on many catamarans, the two diesel engines are not located in the stern peaks, but further forward beneath the berths in the aft cabins. The diesel tanks are also centrally located in the hulls, beneath the floorboards. This concentrated mass distribution is designed not only to improve manoeuvrability but also to reduce pitching in the waves.
Controls: Rudder pressure is noticeable, the cable pull is smooth, but there is no real redundancy
When sailing close to the wind, a light yet clearly perceptible rudder pressure builds up. This allows the catamaran to be steered with great sensitivity – a characteristic that is generally rather rare in catamarans. The steering system also contributes to this. Both wheels, as well as the rudder quadrants fitted well aft in the hulls, are connected to one another via a single continuous wire cable and not, as is often the case with catamarans, via a long push rod. The system operates extremely smoothly, but offers no real redundancy in the event of a fault. Although the autopilot accesses one of the two rudder quadrants directly and could take over control in an emergency, it can only do so on one side. Nautitech therefore frequently equips the boats with two synchronised autopilots at the customers’ request.
Trimming and setting sails with minimal movement
Halyards, sheets and trim lines run over the cabin roof and side decks to the front of the helm position on the starboard side. This allows the helmsman to operate all the essential functions for setting and trimming the sails with minimal movement. Despite the standard genoa with halyard points on the cabin roof, the catamaran remains well suited to single-handed sailing. The mainsheet and traveller on the aft beam are also easily accessible and can be operated at an ergonomically sensible height above the winches. As standard, the sheets and halyards are made from low-stretch Dyneema, which ensures precise force transmission and minimal stretch.
The second part focuses on the interior fit-out: how Nautitech makes the most of the space inside, why a ‘Smart Room’ is possible, and which weight-saving and material choices stand out.
The Nautitech 41 Type S in detail
Technical specifications of the Nautitech 41 Type S
- Design Engineer: Marc Lombard Yacht Design
- CE design category: A
- Fuselage length: 12.60 m
- Total length: 12.60 m
- Length at the waterline: 12.42 m
- Width: 7.30 m
- Draught: 1.44 m
- Mast height above waterline: 20.15 m
- Theoretical fuselage speed: 8.6 kn
- Weight: 9.6 t
- Mainsail: 72.5 m²
- Furling genoa: 47.0 m²
- Gennaker: 116.0 m²
- Engine (Yanmar): 21 kW/29 PS
- Fuel tank: 2 x 200 l (PVC)
- Fresh water tank: 2 x 300 l (PVC)
- Waste tank: 2 x 42 l (PVC)
- Batteries: 2 x 95 Ah + 3 x 140 Ah
Hull and deck construction
GRP sandwich with vinyl ester resin (outer layer) and isopolyester (inner layer) and a PVC foam core. Laminate construction using vacuum infusion.
Rig and sails
The standard configuration is the Sparcraft aluminium rig with two spreaders, plus a basic set of Dacron sails comprising a genoa and a square-headed battened mainsail. The ‘Boost your Sail’ package, featuring laminate sails, textile shrouds and the full gennaker kit including a bowsprit, is available for an additional 55,500 euros.
Book recommendations
Catamaran sailing focuses specifically on the unique characteristics of sailing with two hulls: catamaran types, superstructure and maintenance, manoeuvres and sail trim are covered, as are gennaker sailing and advanced techniques. The book thus complements the test of the Nautitech 41 Type S by addressing the practical question of how performance, manoeuvrability and the specific procedures on board a sport-oriented catamaran can be utilised in everyday sailing.
A Practical Guide to Cruising focuses more closely on the aspects of the voyage and practical use. The book covers choosing a boat, weather forecasts, wind forecasts, equipment and typical questions to ask before setting sail. For readers who view the Nautitech not merely as a performance-oriented design but wish to assess its suitability as a cruising yacht, it provides clear criteria for planning, safety and everyday life on board.
When it comes to a cruising catamaran, how important is sporty sailing performance to you – and where would you be prepared to compromise on comfort or payload in order to achieve this?
Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology