The HH44 Unveiled
The HH44 was met with enthusiasm and rave reviews at the Cannes Yachting Festival, when it made its international debut last month. Throngs of visitors came out to see the HH44, declaring it “spectacular”, “stunning”, “the future” and “the best boat in the show”.
Clean aesthetics, carbon construction and the parallel-hybrid EcoDrive have led the HH44 not only to capture the attention of sailors worldwide, but to garner prestigious nominations for Cruising World and Sailing World Boat of the Year, SAIL Best Boats, and European Yacht of the Year. In each of the competitions, judges from leading sailing publications carefully evaluate each contender based on criteria such as design, innovation, performance, and manufacturing quality.
As is true for all HH Catamarans, the HH44 represents a commitment to exceptional design, innovative thinking and excellent sailing characteristics. The HH44, with its sleek lines, advanced materials, and cutting-edge technology, has rightfully secured its place among the top contenders.
Redefining what is expected in a catamaran of this size, the HH44’s range of features are inspired by the HH Catamarans ethos. The HH44 is robustly built, delivers superb light air performance, features contemporary luxury interiors, and perhaps most importantly, can be operated with little to no dependence on fossil fuels.
Epoxy-infused carbon and e-glass construction, combined with top-of-the-line rigging and hardware, provide a solid platform and confident sailing experience. Twin aft helms pivot in and outboard allowing the helmsman versatility, while a well-considered deck layout and light-to-the-touch steering make for a pleasurable sailing experience. Folding transoms help to ensure safety at sea, and deploy at anchor to provide a the perfect platform for swimming and relaxing.
There are four interior styling options to choose from, each tastefully considered. A well-equipped, u-shaped, electric galley naturally integrates with the spacious, light, and airy salon. Forward and aft opening safari windows provide ample airflow. Down below, there are luxury accommodations for up to six. The impressive port side master cabin is spacious and light-filled, while the starboard hull boasts a comfortable double guest cabin aft and a single berth with optional bunk or workshop forward.
All-told, the most exciting feature may be the parallel hybrid EcoDrive. Electric motors, massive battery bank, hydro-regeneration and over 4kW of solar allow for silent, fume-free electric motoring at cruising speed for up to two hours. Combined with the reliability of trusted diesel engines for redundancy, the Eco-Drive stands to change the way sailors think about and manage their energy use for years to come.
With 38 hulls sold, the recent nominations are a further testament to the proof of concept. The market has eagerly embraced the HH44 as the future of the segment, and the sailing media appears to be in agreement. The Mediterranean-based HH44-01 will soon be headed to Barcelona for European Yacht of the Year testing, and HH44-02 is in route to the Annapolis Sailboat Show, and will be tested by judges from SAIL, Sailing World and Cruising World following the show’s conclusion. Winners for all four awards will be announced in early 2024.