Ventio

The Return of the Open Catamaran?

Checking out a new 30-foot cruising catamaran is always going to be a joy for the Multihulls World team - we’ll never tire of promoting these affordable and easy-to-handle boats. So it was with great interest that we discovered the Ventio, unveiled for the first time at the La Rochelle boat show back in 2024. Admittedly, we had to wait until the following season for the opportunity to finally sail aboard this little adventurous craft - a boat so original among the current offerings - and to be able to share our first impressions with you.

This view clearly shows the significant volume offered by the hulls. Note that the central cockpit is so large that it can readily accommodate the dinghy!

This 30-foot catamaran offers a wide range of uses: day trips, coastal cruising, and even multihull training.

The jib is self-tacking. Off the wind, it can be assisted by downwind sails flown from the bowsprit. All ground tackle is set back as far as possible, which helps to center the weight.

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Practical info

Boat Test price5.00€ Inc. tax

Purchase

Boat Test price5.00€ Inc. tax

Purchase

Test location: La Rochelle
Conditions: 10 to 16 knots of wind, moderate sea state

Most of us have probably forgotten about the Edel Cat 35, Kat 28, Corneel 26, or the Aventura 23, and 28, to name just a few. Back in the mid-eighties, these Open catamarans were giant sports catamarans with a hard cockpit instead of a trampoline. The Aventura 23 and 28, based on older models, revived the concept in the early 2000s and these endured for about fifteen years... but since then, there hasn’t been much to report. This catamaran, designed by Nicolas Purnu (a former partner of Marc Lombard, now based in Brittany with his own firm), has no hard nacelle - the central area is fully protected by a large retractable canopy – at least in its OpenSpace version. The platform is still quite imposing due to its very wide beam (20’4”/ 6.2 m, which is more than the 19’2”/5.84 m width of the C-Cat 38, the 19’6”/5.94 m of the Aventura 37 and just under the 21’2”/6.46 m of the Bali Catsmart) and the generous freeboard of the hulls.