Tricat 8.50

Following its trip to La Grande-Motte back in April for its world premiere, the Tricat 8.50 #1 ventured as far as the Hyères islands on the Cote d’Azur, before returning home to Brittany via road. But François-Xavier Tillier, the new boss of the shipyard, didn’t wait long before putting his trimaran back in the water at Arradon, in the heart of the Gulf of Morbihan. Unlike the particularly rough conditions that prevailed during our previous test of the Tricat 6.90 four years ago now, the weather for our test looked much more sedate. I (re)discovered the trimaran at the end of the pontoon, but even from up on the dock, the 8.50 already looked like a “big multihull,” an impression undoubtedly reinforced by its imposing beam (21’4” / 6.5 m!) and the black lacquered mast, which is already quite a respectable size.

Daggerboards on the Floats, Rudder on the Central Hull

In terms of architecture, the floats have significant volume and the central hull has pronounced chines, which help to keep the beam at the waterline to a minimum. The daggerboards are integral to the floats, while the single (pivoting) rudder is attached to the transom of the central hull. Despite the obvious potential of this new model, the aim is not to sail “flying a hull” at the risk of losing all control of the course-keeping. The yard offers Family and Cruising versions and then a Sport pack - and not the other way around!
The well-centered sail plan is relatively powerful: 560 square feet (52 m²) upwind for a lightship displacement of 4,300 lbs (1.95 t), giving a very flattering sail area ratio of 26.67 m²/t.
From the pontoon, I boarded via the starboard float and then the trampoline to reach the cockpit. This is obviously nothing like a catamaran - here, the standards of a sporty monohull apply, with seating on each side, a large tiller at the stern and a sugarscoop (accessible to port, with the outboard motor mounted on the starboard side). The deck hardware, simple but very effective, is concentrated at the after end of the coachroof. A 3D system allows the genoa to be trimmed just perfectly.
The companionway hatch has three positions and can be supplemented with a sprayhood as well as a sun awning. Moving forward is very easy thanks to the trampolines that extend beyond the cockpit. The side-decks, which are very narrow up to the chainplates, widen towards the foredeck. Anchoring gear (windlass, bow roller) is available as an option from the builder, but the chain locker for stowing all the ground tackle is already there.

Generous Light and Respectable Volume

Down below, thanks to two pairs of steps, the 8.50 manages to offer a fairly decent headroom of 6 feet (1.82 m) and a respectable volume. You can count on proper berths, a fixed galley, heads compartment, and multiple ingenious storage spaces - I should probably say “clever” so as not to spoil the surprise for the Astus 26.5, THE competitor to the Tricat, whose launch is imminent! At Tricat, they’ve gone for a practical, functional finish that isn’t necessarily offered as standard.
The manufacturer’s philosophy is completely different from that of Quorning Boats (Dragonfly). The Plescop- based shipyard founded by Antoine Houdé has always prided itself on simplicity and performance... a bit of a camping spirit, you could say! “At Tricat, everything is practical,” says François-Xavier with a smile, “There’s nothing that doesn’t serve a purpose.” Most of the comfort features are therefore available in the options catalog.
Thanks to the large side portholes, there is plenty of natural light. Each bench seat is 81½ inches (2.07 m) long and 20 inches (50 cm) wide.
The famous multi-purpose table (chartwork, desk, dining, etc.) already seen on the 6.90 is back, unsurprisingly; the large 34 x 23” (90 x 58 cm) mobile tabletop is even equipped with fiddle rails. The system could be a little sturdier, but we appreciated the fact that it can be installed outside.
Against the structural bulkhead that joins the compression post, the galley is divided into two sections: a countertop, refrigerator with drawers and sink on the port side, and a stovetop to starboard.
The three-step companionway ladder is particularly clever as it can be used as an extra seat and swivels to port to allow access to the double berth (78” / 2 m long by 41” / 1.05 m wide). The rear section goes under the cockpit, but there is still 2 feet (64 cm) of headroom at the front.
Forward, a small bathroom is located in the passageway. On the port side, a “privacy locker,” as François-Xavier calls it, actually conceals a toilet with an unobstructed view of the sea. The forward cabin berth is 81” (2.07 m) long, 60” (1.5 m) wide at the head and 19” (0.47 m) at the foot. It is equipped with a slatted bed base and beneath it is a large storage space.

Edgy but not Fickle

We were ready to set sail. Our plan for the day? Head for one of the countless islands in the Gulf to beach the boat. We took advantage of the beginning of the rising tide and, a little later, enjoy the thrill of gliding over flat water when the wind deigned to pick up. To begin with, though, it was like we were sitting on a mirror. The 15 HP outboard motor offers excellent maneuverability and a top speed of 7.4 knots. The only downside is that there is a lot of vibration on board.
Just before we decided to head back out to sea, the wind finally picked up from the southwest. At first, it was a bit timid at 4 knots, then stabilized at 8 knots. François-Xavier couldn’t hide his delight. Focused on the helm and the sailing maneuvers, he easily got his Tricat going at nearly 7 knots with the wind on the beam: “The trimaran is so responsive that the slightest adjustment results in a clear reaction. It’s a great learning boat!” It should be noted that although we didn’t have a gennaker, the All Purpose membrane sail wardrobe did the job. Leaning nicely on the leeward daggerboard, we managed to tack at 35° to the true wind. The combination of a slight heel and a fairly lively helm is obviously reminiscent of sensations that some will appreciate. We were just over a mile from the port of Arradon when suddenly the heavy clouds that were cluttering the sky to the east seem to spill over the Gulf. Soon, large warm drops came crashing down on the coachroof. It felt like we were in the tropics! The wind suddenly shifted to due west and picked up to just over 15 knots. The Tricat took off just as quickly and rewarded us with some nice bursts of speed as the gusts came in, but François-Xavier seems a little frustrated: “We should be going faster,” he insisted. In fact, when I later reviewed the footage from my GoPro, I discovered that a large clump of seaweed had become entangled in the leeward daggerboard. Our run at 9/10 knots was probably slowed down by a good 2 knots! These few minutes of slightly more challenging sailing remained calm - at no point did we feel overwhelmed by the machine. Clearly, the Tricat 8.50 is just waiting for a good breeze to let loose and, why not, reach speeds of 20 knots or more...

Conclusion

So, why choose a Tricat 8.50? The advertised payload is 250 kg (550 lbs), which may limit the semi-offshore programs authorized by CE Certification level B, especially with a crew of three or four. On the other hand, there are no restrictions for fast and fun coastal cruising. The ability to fold up allows you to visit small ports, which are common in Northern Europe. The operation, which takes only a few minutes, reduces the beam of the Tricat to 9’8” (2.95 m), even though the length increases by 4’9” (1.45 m) due to the floats folding back. This compact size allows you to take advantage of lower marina fees and therefore use all kinds of facilities, even those that are not yet multifriendly!

The trampolines greatly increase the usable deck space—at least in good weather.

The single-level cockpit is quite comfortable. From his position, the helmsman has optimal access to trim the mainsail.

The genoa benefits from a 3D adjustment system.

The famous Tricat table can be adjusted to any position and even installed outside.

All Tricat 8.50s are equipped with an anchor locker, but a bow roller (pivoting or fixed) and windlass (not fitted on this model) are available as options.

The living area is spacious and the headroom generous.

The companionway ladder doubles as a seat and swivels to allow access to the aft berth.

Installed low, the aft berth goes under the cockpit and is only 41 inches / 105 cm wide.

The forward berth has a slatted bed base.

The heads compartment is located in the passageway with a clever toilet that disappears under a movable cabinet.

The magic of Brittany’s Gulf of Morbihan out of season…