While the new Privilege Signature 510 catamaran is currently under construction for launch at the end of 2019, the shipyard based in Les Sables-d'Olonne is already offering a new version of this model. This is the 510 D-Light, which would like to restore vitality to these catamarans, renowned for their comfort, habitability and seaworthiness, but not always for their performance.
As we know, more than any other sailboat, weight seriously affects the performance of a multihull. But how can you be light when you offer a luxurious layout with lots of comfort equipment? The architectural firm Marc Lombard, who designs the Privilège catamarans, has studied the issue and devised a lightened Privilège 510.
It is not a simple version with empty interiors as can be seen on racing yachts. No, but by adopting high-tech materials including carbon, using more sandwiches to build furniture and partitions, installing honeycomb floors, but without changing the layout, the boat is already getting much lighter.
Efforts are also being made on the rigging, which uses carbon for the mast and boom. The standing rigging is made of textile (Kevlar) and the dies are also made of textile (fluorescent please!). By limiting the weight in the tops and with a more rigid rig, there is no doubt that performance and reactivity under sail will be better.
With such attributes, the Privilege shipyard hopes to save 10% on the sailboat's weight estimate compared to the standard model. The 510 Signature is announced with a weight between 16.8 and 22.8 tonnes depending on the options. The 10% gain therefore corresponds to about 2 tonnes less. A far from negligible gain!
Today this 510 D-Light is still in the planning stage waiting for the future owner concerned about the performance of his sailboat. Let's hope that once the boat is delivered, it will not overload it so as not to affect these new specifications.
