The Aquila 45 Sail catamaran has been nominated for the 2027 European Yacht of the Year award before its world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival, which runs September 8-13, 2026.
The Aquila 45 Sail is one of 21 boats shortlisted for the 2027 award. First presented in 2004, the European Yacht of the Year is decided by the editors of twelve European sailing magazines, who sail the nominees over several days of trials each fall before voting. Winners are announced at boot Düsseldorf in January 2027.
The new Aquila 45 Sail features a 25'5 beam and a fixed bow cockpit designed to create more space for entertaining, sunbathing and relaxing underway. Bridge-to-bow steps connect the helm directly to the bow cockpit, with separate steps leading down to the aft cockpit. Aquila says the layout is designed to make the boat easy to sail shorthanded. Buyers can choose from three- or four-cabin configurations, each with a private companionway and ensuite head with walk-in shower.
The judges will find approximately 143 sq m (1,544 sq ft) of living space on a 7.77 m (25'7) beam, spread across four connected social zones. At the bow, the fixed cockpit replaces the usual trampoline with seating and a sun pad. The flybridge lounge serves as another gathering area, while the aft cockpit seats eight and opens directly into the galley through the Aquila bar, a sliding window that keeps the cook or host part of the conversation. Panoramic windows fill the salon, and the galley is set up for real cooking.
Three- and four-cabin layouts sleep up to twelve. Each cabin has its own companionway and ensuite head with walk-in shower, with no shared hallway space. Aquila says the arrangement works for both private ownership and charter use.
A two-spreader mast carries 126 sq m (1,352 sq ft) of upwind sail area. Halyards, sheets and reef lines lead back to the helm, while the partially raised helm remains open to the flybridge lounge. Bridge-to-bow stairs run from the helm to the bow cockpit, with separate steps aft. Twin diesel saildrives are fitted for docking.
The Aquila sail range was developed with J&J Design, founded in 1983 and named Designer of the Year at METS 2024. The firm has worked on ten previous Aquila models. Aquila says every catamaran is built as a single-mold, vinylester-infused composite structure with no wood in any structural part and none below the waterline, over a closed-cell PVC foam core, with watertight bulkheads fore and aft and sacrificial keels to protect the drivetrain in a grounding.
The Aquila 45 Sail will make its world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2026, followed by its Americas debut at the Annapolis Sailboat Show from October 15-18, 2026.
Source/Photo: Aquilaboats
