Extreme 40s

Stefan,

I can assure you that there are a lot of privatly owned, amaturely raced large Multis out there from 24 foot to 60 foot plus.  Some of these owners are in there twilight years whilst some are younger, sucessful people to shared or co-owmed baots.  Just the same as Yachts.

There are even more private owners young and old that own cruising multihulls also.

You are correct in your statement "I don't think they are for ordinary people"  They are for people who have vision, a disire to own something away form the norm "ordinary peoples boat" to sail a boat that is fast and exciting.

There are many places to race multies, some have the practicality of a yacht and even more. ie accomidation, stable platform for crusing.  More on deck / tramp space.  More user friendly for kids, family and non sailors when crusing (does not heel).  An added advantade of multies are that you can moore then in places where monos can't.....  Shallower water.  You can also run them up onto the beach.

Check out this Fusion 40....  Quiet a fast racing / crusing catamran.

Actually not that many in the UK. Some classes ban sponsored boats (e.g. Hunter 707 - one of the biggest keelboat classes here). Some race organisations ban them (JOG, one of the two main organisers of offshore races). Some major events have historically charged very high entrance fees for sponsored boats. 

It seems to be different in France where most racing keelboats have sponsor's logos.

I said "for the most part". There are exceptions. For example Stephen Fein in the UK has had a long series of extreme boats, all called "Full Pelt" (he is a furrier).

But several of the boats you showed have sponsor's logos on the side, which tends to prove my point. These are professional's boats, not "people's boats".

Originally posted by CurlyBen I see what you mean, what I forgot to mention in my first post is that I think thye look almost boring - they're too big and heavy for weight shifts to make a huge difference, you're just sat up on the side, but unlike an offshore racer you're probably not going to be able to sail it in extreme conditions! If anyone can arrange for me to have a go and prove me wrong I'd be happy to try

The blurb I read was that they will be racing in up to 35kts

Now that will be exciting (in a brown trousers kinda way )