trimaran astus 20.5

• The magazine

Current issue

• All the issues
• My magazines
• Technical specifications
• Multihull of the Year
• Classified Ads
• Destinations
• Online store
• All the magazines
• Subscriptions
• Accessories

Catamarans under 30 feet in length have become rare on the market, while trimarans, most often with variable beams, are flourishing. Among them, the Astus 20.5 presents many particularly convincing arguments – starting with a reasonable budget.

Practical info

• Builder : Astusboats
• Finance your Astus 20.5
• Articles about the Astus 20.5
• Available in issue # 171

Boat Test price 5.00 € Inc. tax

Add several tests to your cart

and get an extra discount!

It's a fact: in the latest edition of our Buyer’s Guide, there are barely any catamarans – other than the occasional prototype - below 10 meters (33’). The coastal multihull niche is now being invested by trimarans. Three hulls, with a folding structure or telescopic linkage arms, allow the boat to fit into a standard marina slip and also be transported by road. This is an undeniable advantage compared to a catamaran which can almost never be dismantled. These small units offer a pretty wide sailing program: day sailing, coastal rallies or cruises, racing... it’s only serious offshore work and the live-aboard life that are reserved for real adventurers, who have little regard for comfort.

Astus Boats, the small trimaran specialists  

Based in southern Brittany, Astus Boats was born in 2004 under the impetus of Jean-Hubert Pommois. Specializing from their first model – the Astus 20.1 - in compact trimarans whose floats were on telescopic tubes, the builder stands out from Dragonfly, Corsair and even Tricat with more stripped-down multihulls at attractive prices. A positioning that is proving to be profitable since no less than 400 Astus are crisscrossing the waters of the wor...

To read in full, Buy the boat test

What readers think.

Post a comment

No comments to show.

MW #197 - Oct / Nov 2024

Download all the Boat Tests

Over 500 multihull tests

Boat tests from the same builder

• Astus 18.2 Sport

Place a classified ad Free of charge

on Multihulls World

Boat tests from the same range

MiniCat Guppy

• Minicat Guppy

• Tricat 25 Evolution

• Aventura 28

Classified ads

TRICAT 30 PERFORMANCE

TRIMARAN FARRIER F9AX

Privilege 515 (2010 - refit 2021) v. 3 cabins

Power catamaran Fountaine Pajot Greenland 34 - fully self-sufficient

Vous avez ajouté " " à vos favoris., vous avez supprimé " " de vos favoris., in order to add this article to your favorites, please sign in..

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

Astus 20.5 is a 19 ′ 6 ″ / 6 m trimaran sailboat designed by Van Peteghem/Lauriot-Prevost and built by Astus Boats starting in 2018.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Available in two versions, Leisure and Sport. Sport sail area: 24m²

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Performance

Accomodation.

Report error

Tell us what's wrong

We do our best to fix any errors in boatpedia. thanks for the help.

• Draft: 1.25m/0.25m
• Displacement: 490kg (Resin Infusion)/540 (Contact)
• Max. Unfolded Width: 4.5m
• Max. Folded Width: 2.48m
• Price from £29,300 Inc VAT/ex works

As reviewed in the August 2021 edition of Yachting Monthly!

Offering exhilarating performance yet easy to rig, handle and tow to your favourite sailing areas, the Astus 20.5 trimaran is now available for sale in the UK from Boats on Wheels. The latest model in the line of innovative Astus boats responds to a real demand for exciting but practical trailer sailers. The Astus 20.5 succeeds the popular Astus 20.2, of which 120 were sold. Described by Astus Boats as their Coastal Cruiser, the 20.5 is rapidly becoming their most successful trimaran to date. No wonder. As a result of its  partnership with world renowned naval architects, VPLP, Astus Boats have come up with a real head turner. Huge floats with wave piercing hulls placed further apart and forward give the new 20.5 a very contemporary look and a truly stable platform.  Blistering speeds can be achieved at a crew-friendly low angle of heel. Of course, with speed comes extended range. Previously out-of-reach destinations become a real possibility for day-trips or weekends thanks to a cabin for two featuring a long v-berth, plenty of storage and an off-set centre board for easy access.

Boats on Wheels is delighted to offer this exciting trimaran as we think that the 20.5 comes as an ideal trailer sailer package:

– High-performance with modern, sporty lines offering speeds of up to 20 knots reported!

– 930 litre floats which offer stability and a low level of heel

– Simple to rig and handle – single handed mast stepping for day-sailing is realistic

– Easy to tow – with the ‘Infusion’ built boat weighing in at only 490kg it can be towed by a Ford KA!

– Retractable floats and shallow draft provide limitless opportunities to explore new sailing areas

– Can be used as a day sailer or weekend cruiser with a long v-berth for overnight stays and masses of storage under the cockpit

– Flared hull for effective spray deflection

– Low cost of ownership – maintenance is minimal and garage or driveway storage is a realistic option

– Multiple options from ‘Leisure’ to ultralight ‘Infusion’ models and sport rigs to suit every sailing style

– Affordable prices, starting at only £29,300 inc VAT/ex works (all prices are subject to the prevailing exchange rate)

Don’t just take our word for it, read the review by David Harding of Yachting Monthly magazine who describes this exciting trimaran as ‘tremendous fun’!

Enquire today about the detailed Astus 20.5 price list and to find out more

Make an Enquiry

Technical Specifications

• Overall length central hull: 5.95 m
• Float length: 5.90 m
• Max unfolded floats width: 4.50 m
• Folded floats width 2.48 m (within maximum towing width)
• Displacement: 490 Kg (with main hull in infusion build)
• Float volume: 930 litres / float
• Draught:1.25 m/0.25 m pivoting center-board and rudder
• Sail area upwind: 21 m² standard version / 24 m² sport version
• Sail area downwind: 34 m² standard version / 42 m² sport version
• Maximum engine power: 6 HP (4.5 kw)
• Category C: 5 persons 425 Kg
• Category D: 7 persons 550 Kg

Design: Jean-Hubert POMMOIS Architect: VPLP Design

Two versions to choose from:

THE ASTUS 20.5 LEISURE INCLUDES:

Sail area upwind: 21m ²

Sail area downwind: 34m ²

• Mainsail in dacron, one reef with boom
• Jib in dacron with Furler
• Forward storage area and storage under the cockpit
• 4 block main sheet
• Mainsail track
• 2 trampolines
• Pivoting centreboard and rudder

THE ASTUS 20.5 SPORT VERSION INCLUDES:

Sail area upwind: 24m ²

Sail area downwind: 42m ²

• Square top mainsail and jib in Aramid Black Technora
• Option of a wing mast
• Winch for sport gennaker
• Endless jib furler
• Traveller for mainsheet
• 6 block mainsheet tackle
• Telescopic tiller extension
• Sport graphics

More info: Astus Boats Website

Review: Yachting Monthly

Or call us... +44 (0)7967 308 757

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

View the Astus Range

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

This lightweight trimaran has speed in a pocket-cruising package

A stus Boats out of France has a niche market. It has been very successful building a series of small, collapsible, very lightweight trimarans. These are the kinds of boats you could easily tow behind a small car like my Subaru. 

Its newest model is the 20.5 and it was designed by  VPLP design in collaboration with Jean-Hubert Pommois. The idea is that you can have a high-performance racing/cruising trimaran in a very small package. The company offers two versions. One is an infusion-method-built version displacing 880 pounds. The other version is a noninfusion laminate displacing 990 pounds. Various other options are available to let you tailor your little tri to just your specs.

Using the infusion-built version, the D/L is 54.22. If you go noninfusion the D/L rises to 61.02. That is still very light. Beam with the arms collapsed, (they appear not to fold)  is 8.13 feet. Amas in place, the beam max is 14 feet 9 inches. The main hull is flared, the marketing material calls it “tulipped” to give more volume below while retaining a narrow BWL. The bow profile shows negative rake with the tip nipped off for styling points. Draft with the board down is 4 feet 1 inch and with the board up it’s 1 foot.

It’s not for me to tell you what you can cruise on, but I am too tall to be comfortable below on this boat. The renderings show two people laying down. I’m a bit skeptical. There is a small sitting area that would work for one person but two people would require some gymnastics that I’d rather not describe, SAILING being a family magazine. Of course you can cruise this boat. Go right ahead.

The rig is big with a SA/D for the infusion, “sport” model at 39.78. That should scoot you right along. Even if you go with the “Leisure” model you get a SA/D of 34.63 and that’s still a lot of sail area. The biggest difference is the “sport” model has a square-topped mainsail. There is a carbon rig option.

I can see blasting around my bay on this little trimaran. I could give my pal Doug and his Farrier 27 a race.

LOA 19.5’; LWL  19.4’; Beam 14’9”,collapsed 8’1”; Draft board down 4’1”, board up 1’; Displ. 880 lbs.; Sail area  219 sq. ft. ; Sail area sport 247 sq. ft.; SA/D 34.63; SA/D sport 39.78;  D/L 54.22; L/B ; Auxiliary 4.5-hp outboard; Fuel n/a; Water n/a

Our best estimate of the sailaway price:  $42,500

WindRider International

5544 Malibu Dr.

Edina, MN 55436

612-338-2170

www.windrider.com

www.astusboats.com

Also in Perry on Design

• Outbound 5360
• Elan Impression 43
• Full Circle 30
• Tanton No. 309
• Dragonfly 40

Also from Robert H. Perry

Spécialiste du trimaran transportable

L'ASTUS 20.5

Le day boat idéal

Le concept de l’Astus, par sa facilité de mise en œuvre et sa capacité à changer de plan d’eau en toute simplicité, répond à une réelle demande de la part des plaisanciers, à savoir des bateaux nomades et performants.

Ainsi, dans notre volonté de proposer des produits performants et conviviaux, nous présentons pour la saison 2018 un nouveau modèle, l’Astus 20.5.

Après le succès du lancement de l’Astus 16.5, nous avons continué à améliorer notre gamme, avec la contribution du cabinet d’architecture VPLP design. Nous apportons à nos bateaux des lignes plus modernes et plus sportives tout en restant fidèles au concept de la gamme ASTUSBOATS, ce qui nous permet de proposer des bateaux simples et efficaces.

L’Astus 20.5, issu d’une seconde collaboration avec le cabinet VPLP design, devrait faire des envieux. Il reprend ce qui a fait le succès de l’Astus 20.2 avec encore plus de caractère :

• Facile à mettre en œuvre 
• Transportable, avec sa remorque adaptée 
• Rétractable, avec ses flotteurs télescopiques qui permettent de pouvoir l’emmener partout sans contraintes -
• Economique, avec un minimum d’entretien et un stockage possible dans un garage - Nomade, par sa facilité de changement de plan d’eau 
• Personnalisable, avec des options « à la carte » selon votre programme de navigation
• Stable, avec ses flotteurs de 930 litres 
• Carène planante qui permet au bateau de glisser sur l’eau et améliorer la vitesse
• Carène tulipée pour bien déflecter les embruns
• Performant, avec ses lignes modernes et sportives

La nouveauté était  présentée au Boot de Düsseldorf en janvier 2018.

L’ Astus 20.5 sera proposé en deux versions, en fonction de votre mode de navigation :

• Une version loisir pour une navigation tranquille et en famille
• Une version sport pour satisfaire les régatiers (coque centrale en infusion)

Nominations et récompenses

• L'Astus 20.5 a été nominé pour l'European Yacht of the Year en 2018

Ce Day-boat léger et rapide vous permettra de découvrir ou redécouvrir le plaisir de naviguer sur un multicoque en toute sécurité, même en famille. Il est capable d'accueillir jusqu’à 4 personnes dans la cabine et est repliable pour faciliter les manipulations et le transport sur sa remorque.

Galerie vidéos

Repliage des flotteurs de l'a20.5 sur l'eau.

Dépliage des flotteurs Astus 20.5

A bord de l'A 20.5

Belle navigation sur l'Astus 20.5

Astus 20.5 - pliage et repliage des flotteurs

TriSpeed Cup Arradon 2018: Thierry et Eric

Caractéristiques techniques

• Long Coque centrale :    5.95 m
• Long ht : 7 m 
• Longueur flotteur : 5,90 m  
• Largeur déplié : 4,50 m
• Largeur replié : 2,48 m
• Surface des trampolines : 8,50 m²
• Déplacement léger : 470 kg en infusion / 490 kg au contact
• Volume d’un flotteur : 930 litres 
• Tirant d'eau : 1,25 m / 0,25 m 
• Longueur du mât : 8 m 

Surface de voilure :  

• Surface de voilure au près : 21m² / 24 m² version sport
• Surface de voilure au portant avec gennaker : 34 m² / 42 m ² version sport
• Motorisation maximum : 4,5 kW (6 cv)

Homologation CE     

• Catégorie C : 5 personnes
• Catégorie D : 7 personnes

Architecte : VPLP Design

Conception : Jean-Hubert Pommois

Mers et bateaux: Le petit trimaran pour aller partout Boating Business (Anglais - English) :  20.5 model

Yachting Monthly

Astus 20.5 : Fast, fun and affordable

Bateaux.com:

Astus 20.5, un nouveau trimaran dessiné VPLP

Boatindustry.com VPLP Astus 20.5

Bretagne économique.com Astusboats va dévoiler son nouveau trimaran à Dusseldorf

Hisse et oh.com Nouveauté astus 20.5  

Essai par Quebec Yachting (Français) Page 63

Voile Magazine N°276 special salon 001 – 2018 :  Article

Save 10% on new Happy Cat Sailboats while supplies last Discount Code: EOYHAPPYCAT

Astus Boats

View our Astus Overview  to get a complete breakdown of the Astus lineup. Learn about the history of the... Read More

• MiniCat Accessories
• XCAT Accessories
• Happy Cat Accessories
• ROWonAIR Accessories
• Takacat Accessories

Astus 14.5 Proa / Trimaran

Astus 16.5 Sailing Trimaran

$ 24,900.00

Astus 20.5 Sailing Trimaran

$ 39,900.00

Astus 22.5 Sailing Trimaran

$ 69,900.00

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Receive exclusive offers, and be the first to know about upcoming events, demos, sales, and discounts.

Astus 20.5 Sport

Sailboat specifications.

• Last update: 17th March 2020

Astus 20.5's main features

Astus 20.5's main dimensions, astus 20.5's rig and sails, astus 20.5's performances, astus 20.5's auxiliary engine, astus 20.5's accommodations and layout.

Similar sailboats that may interest you:

Astus 20.5 Coastal Cruiser

Description.

The Astus 20.5 coastal cruiser was developed in collaboration with VPLP design and was launched in 2018 as an upgrade from the Astus 20.2 model. The Astus 20.5 trimaran is ideal as a day or weekend sailor with sporty and stable sailing performance thanks to the 930 L floats. Bow spray is reduced by the redesigned hull shape and wavepiercer floats. The cockpit is spacious and two trampolines increase the living space on deck. The cabin has a wide entrance and centerboard box is placed off-center for convenient entrance. The v-bed offers a double berth, with two cabin benches (possibly berths for children) which can also be used as storage space. Draft is variable due to the pivoting centerboard and rudder, which make drying out possible. The floats can be extended and retracted by telescopic beams and therefore do not need to be disassembled for transport. The mast can be raised by hand using a mast lowering system*. The Astus 20.5 can be adjusted to the desired sailing style with various options. The sports* version has for example a vacuum infusion hull, mainsail and jib with larger surface in Aramid Black Technora, sports gennaker with winch, traveler, tiller extension and sports stickers.

Price from EUR 34,800.- incl. VAT

Specification

Do you have questions or would you like to have more information about this boat ? Please contact Sealion Yachts .

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Astus 22.5 review: sporty little trimaran for the weekend?

• David Harding
• February 3, 2023

Adventurous sailors tend to be drawn to small multihulls but the new Astus 22.5 would suit the weekend and family user too

Product Overview

Price as reviewed:.

Small multihulls like the Astus 22.5 can be remarkable boats in which you can do remarkable things. Like Richard and Lilian Woods: each sailing one of their own Woods-designed Strider 24 catamarans single-handed from Plymouth to Russia in a series of day-hops in 1989 – not long after glasnost and perestroika. Joined by Stuart Fisher in a third Strider, they regularly sailed up to 80 miles in a day and once covered the 70 miles between ports in seven hours.

Or Rory McDougall, who built a Wharram Tiki 21 and sailed it around the world singlehanded . A few years later, he finished a close second in the Jester Challenge before clocking up to 185 miles a day on the return Atlantic crossing .

Then there’s the Norwegian team that circumnavigated the globe in the Arctic Circle, taking in the north-east and north-west passages in one season. They chose a Corsair 31 because it had the necessary speed and could also be hauled up on to the ice if it threatened to crush them.

That’s going up the size range a little, but smaller and closer to home is another trimaran from the same stable, the Corsair Dash 750, that completed every race in a major UK regatta faster than a state-of-the-art 42ft racing monohull sailed by a professional crew. Then, while the 42-footer was still bashing her way back around the coast to her home port after the event, the Dash had been trailed home and parked in the owner’s drive.

Whether it has two hulls or three, whether it’s racing or cruising and whether it’s sailed locally or across oceans, there’s no doubt that small multihulls allow you to do remarkable things. It helps if you’re a remarkable person, of course. I have met and sailed with many of the people in these examples and none of them is your average weekend sailor – not that many weekend sailors aren’t also remarkable people, either as sailors or in different ways. They have simply chosen not to do what sensible people might regard as crazy things with their boats.

Steady as she goes: under gennaker we frequently exceeded 13 knots Photo: David Harding

So is it crazy to drive over to France, collect a 23ft trimaran fresh from the factory and spend two weeks cruising around the Golfe du Morbihan and southern Brittany before trailing it home? Hein Kuiper didn’t think so, and I agree. After all, Hein is the UK’s dealer for Astus Boats, and it was a brand new Astus 22.5 that he was collecting last summer to bring home as his demonstrator.

Time on the water

Some dealers spend little time sailing the boats they sell, but Hein takes a different view. If you do yourself what prospective buyers are likely to do with them, you’re in a much better position both to sell to them and to help them once they’ve bought.

So it was that Hein and his wife, Hilary, spent two weeks living aboard a sporty, slim-hulled trimaran in Brittany, sailing by day and spending the nights aboard too, usually on a mooring or at anchor. Given that trimaran of this nature will have less room below decks than a typical monohull of similar length, that takes some discipline and you need to accept that it’s camper-cruising.

Helming from the trampoline gives a good view forward, with space for three or four people in the cockpit. Photo: David Harding

The main hull of the Astus 22.5 is nearly 23ft (6.95m) long: unusually for a French boat, the designation understates the length. In sailing mode with the bowsprit rigged (so you can fly the gennaker), the total length is 8.3m. The sailing beam is 4.90m (16ft), but it takes only a few minutes, whether you’re ashore or afloat, to reduce the beam to 2.49m (8ft 2in) for trailing or to fit into a marina berth.

In many berths, such as the one in Mercury where I joined Hein for our test sail, you only need to slide in one float. There’s also a ‘marina position’ for the floats, giving a beam of 3m (9ft 10in) for greater stability than afforded by the trailing position.

On meeting the Astus 22.5 in the flesh I saw that, while looking as though she should still zip along nicely, she was distinctly chunkier than her little sister, the Astus 20.5 , that I tested in 2021. The knuckle low down in the main hull looks more pronounced, leading to relatively greater volume above the waterline, and the coachroof is significantly higher too.

Set on an endless furling system, the jib has an integral halyard and is zipped around the forestay to simplify rigging. Photo: David Harding

When you look down below, it’s clear that the difference in internal space is greater than would be accounted for simply by the greater length, significant though that would be in itself.

With the 20.5, fitting in anything more than overnighting accommodation would have entailed unacceptable compromises in performance, so that wasn’t attempted. Given an extra couple of feet or so, the designers (VPLP) had the opportunity to turn the Astus 22.5 into a genuine weekender – or even a two-weeker – so they pushed out the volume while still keeping the boat sporty.

Article continues below…

Astus 20.5: Fast, fun and affordable trailable trimaran

For fast yet undemanding sailing, easy trailing and simple camper-cruising, the Astus 20.5 trimaran is likely to find wide appeal…

Coast 250: The mighty micro cruiser

Producing a boat that planes under power and sails like a thoroughbred has been an elusive quest for decades. Has…

When I got to Mercury I was anxious to get out and sailing sooner rather than later. Dark clouds were gathering and threatening rain and, in any event, I wanted to sail before exploring below decks.

Light and fresher

As was consistently the case in 2022 – adding to the challenges of arranging boat tests – the weather forecast was wildly inaccurate yet again. Instead of sunshine and brisk winds (thunderstorms being promised for later), we were met in the Solent by drizzle and barely 6 knots of breeze. Hoping conditions would improve, we delayed the photo boat by an hour or two and did what we could in the breeze we had. The Astus 22.5 made respectable progress in the light conditions, clocking 4-4.5 knots upwind in the slight Solent popple.

Moving forward is easy along the wide trampolines, which also provide plenty of space for in-harbour tents or for carrying inflatables or paddleboards. Photo: David Harding

Eventually the south-easterly breeze began to build before settling down at 12-14 knots with occasional fresher spells. With the tide running east, the waves were soon big enough to notice. At least we had enough wind to power through them as long as we kept the nose down a few degrees. With a boat like this it’s all about finding the right balance between speed and pointing.

We could sail along happily enough at 6 knots, but leaning on the jib a little more would soon take us to well over 7 knots in the flatter patches of water. Our tacking angle when we sailed slightly freer was typically around 100° by the compass so, on the basis of an average boat speed of 7 knots, our VMG was around 4.5 knots.

Pitching was minimal most of the time and our motion reasonably smooth given the sea state; just the occasional thud when we hit a trough behind one of the steeper waves.

As it happened, the Quarter Ton Cup fleet was also in the eastern Solent. Keeping our distance, we had no opportunity to pace ourselves directly against them upwind but it was clear that, as you would expect, we were sailing a little lower and significantly faster. Had we been racing in the fleet I suspect we would have reached the windward mark first.

A pronounced knuckle above the waterline and a higher coachroof leads to a roomier forward berth than on the Astus 20.5. Photo: David Harding

As for downwind – well, of course you don’t sail a boat like the Astus 22.5 deep downwind. In such wonderful sailing conditions we didn’t even try, other than briefly for statistical purposes. We couldn’t resist the temptation to reach across the Solent at whatever angle gave us the best speed, heading up in the lulls to maintain the apparent wind and diving down as necessary in the gusts. In the lighter patches we dropped down to 9-10 knots; roughly what we had seen when two-sail reaching in a bit more breeze.

In the fresher spells we maintained closer to 12 knots for good periods and peaked at 14.8. All the time the boat felt perfectly comfortable. With 1,150 litres of buoyancy in each float, together with all that beam and a relatively modest sail plan – even given the square-top mainsail and tri-radial sails on our test boat – we never felt the need to de-power.

When you need to work your way downwind, as we did eventually, it’s perfectly possible without spoiling the fun too much. Just sail a few degrees lower all round, soak away as far as you can in the gusts, and you’ll soon get there. It’s like sailing any performance multihull or dinghy with an asymmetric. I don’t think the Quarter Tonners would have stood much chance.

One in, one out: with the starboard float in its ‘marina position’ and the port float extended for sailing, the Astus still fits easily into a normal berth. Photo: David Harding

Sitting comfortably

The cockpit will accommodate three people without a crush, or four if you’re not being too active. With the traveller running across the full width of the aft end, there’s plenty of open space – and that’s before you take into account the trampolines.

You can helm from the cockpit or, for a better view and more power in a breeze, extend the tiller extension and move on to the windward trampoline. Here you can lean against the backstay and brace your feet against the main hull. You stay pretty dry out here most of the time. Very little spray found its way aft. It’s the leeward trampoline that gets wet, especially if you’re pushing on.

Like most performance trimarans, the Astus 22.5 sails at a few degrees of heel so the windward hull is always clear of the water and the heel naturally increases as the wind builds.

The centreboard’s case is offset to port to minimise intrusion into the cabin. It also provides a handy step. Two decent-sized quarter berths extend aft with stowage between and below them. Photo: David Harding

If we got a gust when already at full power under gennaker, the rudder blade occasionally lost bite. That was mildly disconcerting, though laminar flow could quickly be restored with a brief wiggle to leeward first. It was the same blade as used on the 20.5. More area was clearly needed and I would have liked more balance too, so I was pleased to hear that Hein had commissioned a deeper, more balanced blade as a trial and, later, that Astus had also decided to offer their own alternative. It will be supplied with the Sport rig in the UK.

On the whole, the balance of boat and rudder were both fine. We carried a bit of weather helm when powered up on a reach, which we might have been able to reduce by partially raising the centreboard. As on the 20.5, it’s a hinging board, with the up/down control lines in the cockpit and the case offset to port to open up space in the cabin.

There’s space beneath the forward berth for a chemical toilet. Photo: David Harding

In terms of rig and hardware, it’s all pretty straightforward. The standard rig is aluminium and you can upgrade to carbon. Fixed bullseyes on the coachroof for the jib are standard too, though I would pay a little extra for tracks. You don’t need to winch the main halyard – just sweating it is enough, then use the cunningham to tension the luff. Spinlock clutches and Harken winches handle the lines. You need lots of backstay and mainsheet tension to get the best from a boat like this upwind. Both have 8:1 purchases, which are fine as long as you’re not too cautious when using them.

Wider beam and more headroom than on the Astus 20.5 make the forward berth into a proper double. Photo: David Harding

Sleeping and stowing

Space to sit down and stretch out in the cabin can be tight on a slim-hulled trimaran. So too can space to stow your kit, inside or out. Stowage is surprisingly good: there’s an open-fronted locker each side aft in the cockpit and a generously sized locker beneath a hatch in the sole. Then you have hatches in the middle of each float, the modest apertures opening into spaces that will swallow more warps and fenders than you’re likely to carry. Built into the forward end of the coachroof is the anchor locker, with space for a couple of fenders too.

Below decks is a 2m (6ft 7in) double berth in the bow (with a small hatch overhead and space for a chemical loo underneath), mouldings each side for a basic galley, two quarter berths and plenty of sitting headroom (1.6m/5ft 3in in total).

There’s a lot more room than on the 20.5 and even a little timber trim, but thankfully still no hullside or deckhead linings to minimise weight and allow easy access to the fastenings for the deck hardware.

Enjoyed reading this?

A subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price .

Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals .

YM is packed with information to help you get the most from your time on the water.

• Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our experts
• Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment
• Cruising guides to help you reach those dream destinations

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.

The Astus 22.5 is great fun to sail. You could spend all day reaching under gennaker for the sheer fun of it, but she’s pretty capable upwind too. If you like speed while still feeling fully in control and not remotely on the edge in most conditions, you will like this boat. I have always thought that monohull sailors are likely to find it easier to adapt to a trimaran than to a catamaran, and I think the Astus will appeal to many who are used to one hull. She comes with a vacuum-infused, foam-cored main hull as standard to keep the weight down to 650kg (just over 1,400lb) so she can be trailed behind an ordinary family car. Construction looks pretty solid, with stiffening members inside the hull where you would expect to find them, and the folding mechanism for the floats works well.