Windelo 50 Adventure

A roundup after 20,000 nautical miles!

Electric propulsion, solar panels, hydrogeneration... we all understand that these are the things that make the ideal multihull in terms of reducing carbon emissions. But we’d like a little hindsight! When it comes to zero-emissions cars, the various Tesla models have been on the roads the world over for the past 10 years, but this isn’t the case for electric boats. A bit of digging unearthed an electric catamaran that has sailed some 20,000 miles. This model also features eco-composite construction - basalt fiber and PET foam. Here’s the report after 10 months under way and two Atlantic crossings...

Two Atlantic crossings and 20,000 miles on the log: quite some test for the first Windelo!

The crew of Hakuna Matata.

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Published 12/07/2023

By Emmanuel van Deth

Subscribers Only

Issue: SP20

Published: aug. / sept. 2023

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Mathieu is Windelo’s first customer. The backstory is that this seasoned yachtsman, with ten years’ experience in chartering, was looking to take a sabbatical year on the water with his family. And when he discovered the Windelo concept, he was convinced - as much by the innovative design and forward cockpit as by the young shipyard’s overall green vision. Where many potential owners would have shied away from so many innovations - and therefore so many uncertainties - Mathieu asserts his “early adopter” side, familiar with risk. So it was a true entrepreneur who signed Windelo’s first purchase order.

Grand departure on October 17th 2021

Hakuna Matata was launched in the spring of 2021 and put through her paces in the Mediterranean that summer. The motors originally installed, belt-driven modules, quickly caused problems. “We switched them out for two 20-kW Bellmarine motors,” explains Stéphane Groves, Windelo’s Executive Director. “A good choice, as we’ve had no problems since. In fact, we’re installing this equipment as standard on all our catamarans from now on.”
On familiarizing himself with his Windelo 50, Mathieu said “I immediately tasted the pleasure of electric propulsion. There’s no ignition key, you just turn it on and maneuver it using two digital joysticks. It’s very practical for moving the catamaran around or tensioning a mooring line. We’ve never had any doubt that it’s not going to work.”
Mathieu, Perrine and their son Youri boarded their Windelo 50 Adventure for a 10-month voyage around the Atlantic. Hakuna Matata set out from the port of Canet-en-Roussillon in the South of France on October 17, 2021, bound for Spanish waters – those off Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. The catamaran had been signed up for the ARC, to give them a first taste of a safe transatlantic passage...
Unfortunately, Covid-19 came aboard uninvited, disrupting the crew’s plans. However, the 17-day transatlantic to Martinique went off without a hitch, thanks to hydro- generation and solar panels. As for noise, Mathieu points out that the propellers are louder than the generator. The skipper is learning to manage his catamaran. To begin with, it was a bit complicated. Firstly, because Mathieu is not a seasoned technician, but also because the user manual wasn’t detailed enough for his liking. Starting out with a minimum of spare parts, the skipper didn’t have to deal with any major problems, just a few issues with the heater, watermaker and hot water ta nk. The builder provided exemplary after-sales service for his first multihull, with visits to the Canaries, the West Indies and later Iceland...
“These minor running-in issues are perfectly normal for a first catamaran,” notes Mathieu. There are always going to be 500 things to fix, and we’ve found 100 or 200 of them. But we’re talking about plumbing issues, module integration that needs improving, sheets and halyard leads that need improving, nothing more than that! I’m ...

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