Windelo 50 Yachting: Bluewater Cruiser Boat Review
A hybrid electric bluewater cruiser with a twist
July 29, 2024
The Windelo 50 was first launched in 2021 by a new French yard looking to build something different. Not only were they focused on sustainability, the company also focused on designing a cat that would build confidence in anyone wishing to go offshore with a shorthanded crew. Their enclosed forward cockpit did the trick.
Above: A 2025 Windelo 50 Adventure Sailing Yacht. Photo via Just Catamarans in Dania Beach, FL.
Sustainability
Windelo focused on two aspects that would give their boats a smaller carbon footprint and make it more eco-friendly. First was the construction which incorporates volcanic basalt fiber in their woven rovings rather than traditional fiberglass, and PET sustainable foam coring rather than balsa wood. The construction phase is responsible for half of the overall environmental impact of a boat so this was a large step in the right direction.
Above: A 2025 Windelo 50 Adventure Sailing Yacht. Photo via Just Catamarans in Dania Beach, FL.
Second, they focused on the boat’s impact during use, specifically the propulsion and hotel energy needs which make up 40% of the total carbon footprint of a vessel. The Windelo 50 is powered by twin shaft-driven 20 kW Beta Marine 48V electric motors with an 18kW diesel generator range extender. The genset charges the large house bank of lithium batteries in 1.5 hours from empty to full. The 6,000 watts of solar panels on the foredeck and the bimini also help. Not only can the Windelo sit at anchor with greater energy autonomy, it can motor 2-4 hours at 5-6 knots on electric power only.
Above: Solar panels on a 2025 Windelo 50 Adventure Sailing Yacht. Photo via Just Catamarans in Dania Beach, FL.
In this latest deck revision, Windelo also added nearly 4 feet of hardtop space and therefore more room for their solar panels to feed the 1120 Ah battery bank. Finally, they also added MaxProp hydrogeneration props to supply power when sailing but you’ll need to be doing at least 9 knots for that to kick in.
A Protected Cockpit
Besides sustainability, the builder also focused on a different layout, one which centralizes the working cockpit ahead of but on the same level as the salon. Twin wheels sit within 6 feet of each other inside an enclosed cockpit that also has a central console which holds winches, line organizers and the windlass. Steps lead from here up to the foredeck and skylights over each wheel provide views of the mainsail so although you’re inside, you have plenty of connection with what’s happening on deck. The seats on both sides of the cockpit were made deeper from the previous iteration for added comfort and there’s a Garmin MFD at the starboard wheel, suspended just over the throttles for the electric motors.
Above: The helm station onboard a 2025 Windelo 50 Adventure Sailing Yacht. Photo via Just Catamarans in Dania Beach, FL.
You can button up the cockpit to keep it dry and warm and still keep the sliding glass doors between it and the salon open. This creates a large room from which you drive but also where you cook, socialize and rest. When standing watch, the skipper is always protected and part of whatever is going on inside the boat and that builds a comfort level when going offshore. Although strange at first, the idea grows on you once you untie the dock lines.
This arrangement isn’t without its issues, however. The bulkheads aft of each wheel are solid so visibility back to the swim steps is nearly zero without a backup camera. Getting on the aft deck quickly to handle lines isn’t easy either. On the plus side, sightlines forward are excellent and you can be up on the bows in a split second.
Freshened Interior
With this latest version, the salon and galley received a facelift or at least different layout options. The galley used to be aft on starboard with the dinette to port. Our test boat moved the galley to the forward starboard corner and slid the dinette in just aft of that leaving a large lounge, a banquette and a small outboard-facing nav station to port. Given a choice, I’d still opt for the galley aft because it makes for a simpler flow of traffic that keeps people from having to cut through the kitchen to access the steps down to the cabins. The views are also better farther back since as mentioned above, the forward bulkhead to the cockpit is solid and dark.
Above: Main Salon and galley aboard the Windelo 50. Photo via Just Catamarans in Dania Beach, FL.
The owner’s suite is in the port hull with a large head forward, a desk in the middle, and an athwartship bed aft. The starboard hull has two cabins, one with a narrow bed forward and one with a double aft.
Above: The owner stateroom aboard a Windelo 50. Photo via Just Catamarans in Dania Beach, FL.
Stern & Aft Terrace Extension
There’s no traditional aft cockpit on the Windelo. Unlike on other cats, the salon is the aft cockpit and you can get a breeze with the doors and side windows open. The only nod to living outdoors is the narrow terrace which connects the two hulls aft. In the revamp, Windelo made this area larger by adding a lifting transom that also holds the dinghy davits. With the dink launched and the platform lowered, this terrace expands the space and can hold a couple of loose loungers or chairs.
Above: The stern of a 2025 Windelo 50. Photo via Just Catamarans in Dania Beach, FL.
Performance
Our test day served up 15 knots of true breeze and a 2-foot chop. At 60 degrees AWA, we sailed at 9 knots and then slowed to 6.2 knots when we pinched up with the self-tacking jib to 40 degrees. The large Code 0 delivered 10 knots of speed at 110 degrees AWA and 17 knots of wind. The Windelo has daggerboards to help her point and a 35-inch bridge clearance to minimize pounding when going to weather. These factors deliver an efficient and comfortable ride.
Above: The 2025 Windelo 50 with full sails up, underway. Photo via Just Catamarans in Dania Beach, FL.
The Target Market
The Windelo 50 is offered in three versions: Adventure, Yachting and Sport. Our test boat was the Yachting model with a base price of $1.2 million. You can step up to the Sport version by adding a carbon mast and boom for another $125,000.
Not everyone is looking for hybrid propulsion or a forward cockpit but there has been enough interest for the company to be taking orders into 2027. For certain you’ll sail more and motor less with a Windelo and when you do motor, you’ll leave a cleaner wake.
Specifications:
LOA: 50’ 1”
Beam: 26’ 0”
Draft: 3’ 5”
Air draft: 76’
Displacement: 26,692 lbs (34,000 loaded)
Sail Area: 1,453sq ft upwind
Power: 2x 20 kW Beta Marine electric motors
Water/Fuel Capacity: 106/145 gallons
Designer: Christophe Barreau
Builder: Windelo Catamarans
Base Price: $1.2 million
Browse Windelo Boats For Sale
