A catamaran that keeps evolving
When the Seawind 1160 first appeared in 2004, it quickly established itself as something special in the cruising catamaran world. International Design and Boat of the Year awards followed, Cruising World named it among the best multihulls ever built, and hundreds of owners took it across oceans with confidence. A Kiwi couple made history as the first to circumnavigate the globe aboard a Seawind, sailing the original 1160 design. From those bluewater passages to relaxed family holidays along coastlines, the boat earned a reputation built on reliability and practicality.
About a decade after the original, the 1160 Lite brought a stripped-back version to a wider audience. Now, in 2025, the story moves into its third chapter. The Seawind 1160XL is a ground-up redesign, not a refresh. It draws on years of feedback from owners, advances in naval architecture, and a new production process to produce something that honours its lineage while pushing well beyond it.
Look at the 1160XL and the family resemblance is clear, but so is the ambition behind the changes. The hull stretches to 11.83 metres overall and spans 6.6 metres across, with reverse bows and increased underwing clearance signalling straightaway that this is a serious bluewater platform. These are not styling choices. The longer, wider hull improves buoyancy and reduces the pitching motion in choppy conditions, while the added volume translates into more usable space below.
More than 30 individual design changes are built into the XL. Raised foredecks, a side boarding gate, an expanded transom with an extended transom step, and a revised laminate schedule all contribute to a boat that feels more solid underfoot and more carefully considered throughout. ISO Category A certification confirms its offshore credentials, and the engineering improvements integrate well with the pleasure of actually living aboard.
Several features that made the original 1160 so popular have carried across into the XL, though each has been reconsidered rather than simply transplanted. Twin protected helms give the skipper 360-degree visibility in any conditions, maintaining easy communication with people in the cockpit without compromising safety or control.
The tri-fold saloon door remains one of the boat's signature touches. Open it up and the boundary between interior and cockpit disappears entirely, producing one generous, connected living space. Whether it's sundowners at anchor or breakfast while making miles, the combined area works beautifully. Forward-opening saloon windows pull sea breezes through the boat continuously, something Seawind has prioritised since the beginning. For those sailing short-handed, all running rigging returns to the cockpit, so sail management can be handled without leaving the shelter of the helm stations.
Earlier Seawinds were widely appreciated for how practical they were. The 1160XL takes that practicality as a given, then adds warmth and generosity to the interior in a way that feels like a genuine step forward. The widened hulls and raised freeboard create noticeably more room throughout. Headroom reaches up to 6'5", cabin doors are wider, and flat floors run throughout the hulls, removing one of the common frustrations of catamarans in this size range. Forward cabins feature queen-size island berths with storage space on all sides, and the bathrooms are designed with liveaboard use in mind rather than as an afterthought. Morning routines and afternoon rests feel unhurried and comfortable rather than awkward and cramped.
The galley occupies a dedicated position down in the starboard hull, and the space it offers is generous for a boat of this length. A full oven and stove, deep freezer, microwave, and generous pantry storage mean that cooking at sea is less about managing constraints and more about simply making food. The comparison to a small apartment kitchen is not far off.
Timber joinery, simulated flooring, and carefully selected fittings give the interior a warmth that sits comfortably between practical cruising boat and boutique accommodation. The overall atmosphere reads as considered rather than clinical, which matters when you're spending days or weeks aboard.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the 1160XL is how it handles the transition between inside and outside. At anchor, with the tri-fold door open and the cockpit filled with people, the boat becomes one large social space. Meals travel easily from the galley to the cockpit table, children have room to move, and the whole arrangement feels relaxed and natural. Larger, more upright saloon windows improve sightlines from the helm while also flooding the interior with light, lifting the atmosphere and keeping the connection to the water present wherever you are aboard.
For those weighing up life afloat, whether that means occasional weekends or extended liveaboard passages, these details accumulate into something meaningful. The boat stops feeling like a compromise and starts feeling like a genuine home.
Safety has been woven into the design rather than added as an accessory. Side decks are wider, moulded toe rails provide positive footing, and the lifelines stand at 800mm, a height previously associated with charter versions of earlier models. For families with young children or for anyone moving around the foredeck in a seaway, that extra security is worth considerably more than the numbers suggest.
Thoughtful practical touches appear throughout. Deep forward lockers accommodate fenders and lines without the usual juggling act. The flatter saloon roof has been shaped with solar panel installation in mind. The side boarding gate simplifies stepping on from a dock, particularly useful when carrying provisions or assisting less agile guests. The extended transom steps make boarding from the water or a tender safer and more straightforward than a balancing act at the stern.
The sail plan has been updated too, with a larger mainsail and jib improving efficiency across conditions. Carbon reinforcement in key structural areas keeps the boat strong without adding unnecessary weight. Standard propulsion comes from twin Yamaha 25hp high-thrust outboards, with options for 50hp outboards or 30hp diesels. A hybrid-electric option is already in development, acknowledging the direction the wider cruising world is heading. Water capacity sits at 700 litres, with 269 litres of fuel, giving the 1160XL the range needed for extended passages well away from marinas.
What distinguishes the 1160XL from many competitors is the way it treats performance and lifestyle as complementary rather than competing priorities. It is as well suited to an afternoon entertaining friends at anchor as it is to an offshore crossing. For most owners, a yacht is not purely a means of getting somewhere. It is a home, a holiday destination, and sometimes a permanent address.
The balance the designers have struck is the point. Structural integrity and offshore safety are present in every detail, while the interior invites people to slow down and feel at ease. Adventure and comfort are not traded off against each other here.
The 1160XL does not walk away from its history. It leans on two decades of accumulated knowledge and owner experience, then applies that foundation to a hull and interior that are genuinely new. The result is a boat that should introduce one of the world's most successful sub-40ft cruising catamarans to a fresh generation of sailors, while remaining entirely recognisable to those who already know the name.
For sailors with their eye on distant anchorages, and for families who simply want more time together on the water, the Seawind 1160XL offers something beyond passage-making capability. It offers a way of living, grounded in a record of proven performance and shaped for the years ahead.
