Tricat 6.90 Performance XL

Back in May 2021 when we sailed the earlier version of the Tricat 6.90, conditions were far from ideal for a trimaran under 23‘ (7 m) in length. Gusts exceeding 25 knots, choppy seas, the mainsail deep reefed… The small Breton multihull had impressed us then with its rigidity, its ease of handling - with Antoine Houdet at the helm - and its surprising composure despite the decidedly rough conditions. Finding ourselves back in Arradon five years later, the Gulf of Morbihan was playing a radically different tune. The wind was struggling to exceed 8 or 9 knots, the gusts were irregular, and the surface of the water resembled a mirror more than a playground for thrill-seekers. A disadvantage? Not at all. François-Xavier was even sporting a broad smile. It is precisely under these conditions that his new Performance XL is supposed to reach its full potential. “We wanted a multihull that performs better in light airs and heels less.” That pretty much sums it up in one sentence, though I should clarify that we’re talking about a maximum heel of 10°, reached when the standard 6.90 is ...