ITA15.49 - Speed, luxury and comfort

The young Italian brand ITACATAMARANS, launched by Emanuele Caprini, has set itself apart by optimizing the finish and performance of its first model, the ITA14.99. The result is a slightly longer catamaran, the ITA15.49, presented to the public for the first time at the Cannes Yachting Festival back in September - this new model will also be on display at April’s International Multihull show at La Grande-Motte in the South of France. We got the chance to take the helm of this catamaran drawn by the Yacht Design Collective and sailed on the Côte d’Azur for long enough to take stock of the evolutions compared to the 14.99.

The first ITA14.99 was launched at Cannes in 2019, making a name for itself (in a good way) with its sleek lines, sharp hulls and slender rig. During our visit, we noted its refined finish and controlled displacement. A top-of-the-range sail wardrobe combined with a hybrid powertrain promised the best in sailing, and our tests (MW #168) confirmed this boat’s excellent seakeeping ability and first-rate performance. The ITA14.99 proved capable of sailing at wind speeds from as low as 7 knots. In breezy conditions, peak speeds of 20 knots were recorded. This performance, combined with an irreproachable stiffness to the platform and easy maneuverability, classed this catamaran as a top-of-the-range sportyacht. A category somewhat apart, with a high price tag… and an understandably limited production run. The figures bear this out: over the past four years, five examples of the 14.99 have been produced, two ITA15.49s have just been delivered and three more are on order. In this highly elitist segment, where Owners demand the very best in quality and personalized service, building the manufacturer’s...