Seawind 1370 Review: A Cruising Cat That Feels "Just Right"
A practical, stable sailing catamaran perfect for the cruising couple.
April 1, 2025
Catamarans, like all boats, are a set of tradeoffs and finding the “best” one means carefully matching goals to use scenarios which isn’t always easy. Like Goldilocks, cruisers are looking for a cat that’s “just right” and although that means different things to different people, the new Seawind 1370 may be just the ticket for anyone seeking a good turn of speed, a roomy and stable platform, and a model that can truly be managed by a couple.
Above: A 2026 Seawind 1370. Photo via Wright Yachts Bainbridge Island, WA.
I’ve long been allergic to the term “performance cruiser.” It hints at a boat that’s struggling to be two things at once and probably failing at both. The market offers many cruising cats with fixed keels that struggle to point, tall flybridges that add windage, and heavy construction that burdens progress under sail. Large numbers of these models are built so they’re easy to sail, even by those fairly new to the sport. At the other end of the spectrum are high-performance cats with daggerboards, tall rigs and carbon construction. They’re fast and exhilarating but can be twitchy, may be burdened by a cruising gear payload, and often require a good level of expertise to sail which many cruising couples don’t possess.
So, is there a middle ground? Which are the boats that can reel of the miles when passagemaking but can carry a good load of life’s necessities, and can be managed by those of us who aren’t SailGP rockstars? This is where the Seawind 1370 shines and proof of its initial appeal is that Seawind Catamarans sold 90 hulls of this model from plans alone.
Design
Designed by Richard Ward and Francois Perus, the 45-foot cruiser sports a low cabin house and boom that not only keep the center of gravity down by the waterline, they create a sporty profile with less windage and the ability to access to the sail bag from the Bimini without needing to climb mast steps. The construction includes a vinylester infusion over a PVC foam core that’s reinforced with carbon and Kevlar. This makes for a relatively light ship at 27,000 pounds. The 71-foot aluminum rig has been set farther aft to reduce pitching and the 1,250 sq ft sail plan employs a powerful jib to better balance the ride. The reverse bows create a fine entry for better upwind sailing but hard hull chines add volume to the interior for better comfort. Mini-keels below the waterline eliminate the complexity of daggerboards.
Above: A 2026 Seawind 1370. Photo via Wright Yachts Bainbridge Island, WA.
On Deck
Stepping aboard, I immediately saw the draw. First, the cabinhouse creates a safe space at the helms and in the cockpit where everything is reachable, the helm isn’t exposed, and even small sailors can handle the necessary gear. Second, Seawind dropped their usual galley-down layout found on their smaller models and opted for the more traditional (and appealing) configuration of their 1600 with the galley on the same level as the salon. The difference in onboard movement heightens the livability immensely. The three-panel door separating the salon from the cockpit is lifted to the Bimini using a winch so it snugs up and out of the way, opening the space nicely. In the cockpit, a grill and sink are tucked into the transom module where you can also find a nice settee and the dinghy davits. The double helm seats on either side have hinging backrests to face forward when driving or aft for happy hour.
The foredeck leans on the use of solid surfaces, adding only two fairly small trampolines to ease the weight at the bows. Downwind sails attach at the composite sprit and control lines are led aft to the cockpit to optional Harken electric winches. The whole system is so well organized that for most basic sailing operations, there’s no need to leave the cockpit which is comforting when conditions deteriorate.
Out For A Spin
The day of our sea trial of hull #6 was pleasant with a true wind of 10-12 knots and flat water of the Chesapeake Bay. First, we hoisted the gennaker without the mainsail and we took off which was surprising since the big downwind sail only opened to about ¾ of its size due to trouble with the sock not lifting properly. Nevertheless, we made good 7.2 knots in 9.0-9.5 knots of true wind on a beam reach. That’s 78% of wind speed with only one partial sail up. When we eased off to 125 degrees in 12 knots of wind, we sailed at just over eight knots again with one involuntarily-reefed sail. Most impressive.
To test upwind performance, we doused the gennaker, raised the square top main, unfurled the jib and pointed to 38 degrees apparent wind angle. Without daggerboards, that’s exceptional close-hauled performance for a multihull. Changing directions with the self-tacking jib attached to the curved foredeck track meant we had little to do but feel the responsive Carbonautica wheels in our hands. It was a stress-free process with minimal commotion that left me able to take in the pleasant sailing characteristics while checking on the B&G plotters positioned at both stations.
The helms are mounted on the cabin house bulkheads and are protected by both the Bimini above and the salon ahead. The steering systems are redundant so if one fails, the other takes over. Fixed ports over the wheels provide a clear view of the mainsail and you can sit on the coaming outboard to peek forward at the jib telltales. The bulkhead windows ahead of the wheels can be lowered to provide clearer sightlines to the foredeck through the forward salon windows. Visibility aft to the transoms is excellent so docking is easy. Because the wheels, cockpit, salon and galley are all on the same level, standing watch is manageable no matter the weather.
Our test boat was upgraded with 57-hp Yanmar diesels connected to saildrives and Gori folding propellers. Under power, a typical cruise will be at 1800 rpm and 6-7 knots. The bridgedeck clearance is ample at 2’ 9” and will undoubtedly minimize any pounding when bashing to weather but we didn’t experience such a seaway. For docking versatility, throttles are at both helms so you can sight the length of the dock regardless of the side you’ll approach to tie up.
Accommodations
As mentioned above, all the social spaces are on the same level with no steps between the cockpit, salon and galley. Moving about is easy whether carrying drinks or dashing to check the position on the chartplotter. The galley in the aft starboard corner is U-shaped and full of bracing points so the cook won’t be tossed about when preparing meals in a seaway. Ample countertop space means multiple crew can work simultaneously and all the tools to turn out meals are present including a three-burner stove and oven, drawer refrigeration, and a sink. Just ahead of the galley is the forward-facing nav desk, a dedicated area that cruisers will appreciate.
The master suite in our three-cabin test boat spread over the entire port hull with an elevated athwartships bed and a large aft head. The starboard hull offered two cabins and a shared head which seemed odd for a 45-foot boat but at least nothing felt shoehorned in. A light wood finish with patches beautiful birdseye maple took the entire interior up a notch.
Systems
CZone digital switching is optional and since the 1370 is a 24V model, high output alternators with Mastervolt lithium batteries do the heavy lifting without the need for a generator. Up to 1,930 watts of solar may be fitted which will run air conditioning throughout the night without draining the 920 aH battery bank. As tested, our boat came in at $1.15 million which is roughly $300,000 over the base price.
Overall Impressions
The sweet spot for cruising catamarans is 40-50 feet and there are many brands on the market to choose from. Some are mild-mannered and comfortable but won’t win any races. Others are fast and glitzy but require a steady hand and lots of confidence as well as deeper pockets. For my money, the Seawind 1370, with its easy sailing, sleek profile, good performance, practical approach, and galley-up design seems to have bridged the gap. She occupies that key segment where cruisers tend to hunt for a performance cruiser that’s “just right.”
Specifications:
LOA: 45’
Beam: 24’ 11”
Draft: 4’ 3”
Air draft: 70’ 10”
Light displacement: 27,100 pounds
Up wind sail area: 1,248 sq ft
Engines (standard): 2 x40-hp Yanmar/Saildrives
Fuel/Water capacity: 155/155 U.S. gal
Price as tested: $1.15 million
