Privilège Serie 5

Six years after the release of the 515, the Serie 5 picked up on that model’s general lines:
It looks to have been a good move, as the Privilège 510, launched in 2020, uses the same hulls as the Serie 5. The model currently in the catalog is therefore still based on the 2009 design, whose characteristics have been revised by architect Marc Lombard, while the interior design has been taken over by Franck Darnet. More specifically, the Serie 5’s rig is more generous, boosted by a square-topped mainsail, movement on deck has been improved and, most significantly, the waterline was lengthened with enlarged sugarscoops, giving it greater stability, speed and elegance, as well as optimized access to the water and the dock. The construction, as always meticulous, is in Divinycel foam/vinylester resin sandwich using, for the first time, the infusion process. As for safety, the hulls include structural reinforcements and substantial crash boxes to withstand any impacts that might occur during long-distance sailing.

Superb Interiors

To redesign the Serie 5 and, in particular, to make the ergonomics flawless (don’t forget this model is designed for living aboard), the cockpit was redrawn with a dining table and a bench seat where you can enjoy aperitifs. This converts into a large lounger by lowering the table. The three-panel stainless steel sliding door is much wider than on the 515, improving circulation. The saloon was completely redesigned. offering a very spacious dining area (or a watchkeeper’s berth).
The galley has larger worktops, and all the appliances are better integrated. The unique feature of all Privilège designs is the central rostrum, which stiffens the platform as a whole as well as the forestay chainplate and attachment points for the genoa and staysail.
Below deck, this “third hull” houses an owner’s cabin with an XXL bathroom lower down, which is unique in this size on the market. It can be accessed via two passageways, one on each side, but as broker Catherine Relandeau, an undisputed Privilège expert, points out, “The customers who buy these luxury blue water catamarans want to have a cabin for a friend, a crew or even a skipper who can help them on transoceanic passages.” The port side has therefore been partitioned off for this purpose. Another distinctive feature of Privilège is the impeccable quality of the woodwork and cabinetry. For the Serie 5, it is optionally available in oak, which gives it a very classy contemporary feel. For this article, I looked at two units, one six years old and the other, ten. It is almost impossible to tell the difference between them and a very recent or even brand-new example, proving that aging has little effect on this model.

An Exhaustive Inventory

Don’t worry about any of the typical hassle associated with adding equipment. You’re unlikely to encounter this kind of problem because, with very few exceptions, Privilège customers take all the options in the catalog and even add custom ones. The equipment aboard the models on the second-hand market is usually more than complete. Similar, in fact, to that of a stylish villa – with the addition of a generator (typically Onan). Very few models do not feature a dive compressor. All of this equipment is of excellent quality: freezer by Frigoboat, a stainless-steel wine fridge, high-end appliances, Marine Air or Cruisair air conditioning, etc. The standard gel battery bank is almost always pushed to 1,000 Ah, but this is something that is probably worth upgrading a notch to eventually replace the gas oven and cooktop with electric ones and also to avoid disturbing neighbors at anchor with the generator. Speaking of anchoring, the standard 1,600 W windlass is sometimes twice that size! Similarly, the 11-foot (3.5-meter) tender is raised electrically on its davits. You won’t be surprised to find that the six tons of payload are usually used to their full capacity.

Optimized for a Short-handed Use

The helm position, at mid-height on the coachroof bulkhead, is very well protected by a solid sprayhood, making it a comfortable place to be. The electric winches control the reefing lines, halyards, and sheets, all of which are routed back to the helm station so that most maneuvers can be carried out by a single person.
All this is made even easier by the fact that all the electric winch buttons are duplicated on the console. The icing on the cake is that some examples are equipped with electric genoa and staysail furling systems, which are very reassuring for the skipper, especially when furling the genoa to allow for tacking. The top-quality Maréchal mast is lacquered gray and will typically carry a set of Hydranet sails. Given the weight of the boat, you’ll need a wind of around ten knots before you can reach 6 knots upwind and under gennaker downwind. Below this wind force, the engines will do their job discreetly to cruise at 8 knots. On the other hand, the length of the hulls works wonders from 14-15 knots of breeze, and very steady average speeds of 9 to 10 knots have been recorded by owners when on passage. Above 25 knots, the staysail is essential to continue making upwind – the performance of a half-furled genoa isn’t great.

Conclusion

The Privilège Serie 5 is a remarkably designed blue water catamaran that guarantees maximum comfort and safe sailing around the globe, as evidenced by the three-level guardwires and stainless-steel handrails for the sugarscoop steps. These catamarans, which have mostly been well maintained, are very attractive because their quality construction and finish ensure excellent performance over time.
Today, you can find examples priced between € 1 million and € 1.2 million, which will have little to envy on a much more recent or even new catamaran.

The rostrum, a kind of suspended third hull, is unmistakably the shipyard’s signature feature.

The aft cockpit is well laid out with attractive bench seats, convertible tables, and a barbecue.

The dining area is extremely comfortable: the table can be lowered to create a large watchkeeping berth.

The galley is perfect whether under way or at anchor.

The chart table at the entrance to the saloon is big enough to work on a computer. A proper little office!

The owner’s suite with the bed in the rostrum and the bathroom slightly lower is still unmatched today in this size.