Swing helms offer several different helming positions
The hybrid eco drives fit neatly under the cabin sole boards
The huge array of solar panels is part of the core concept
Helming is very responsive and smooth and the boat really is silent when sailing.’ All lines are led aft below the clean
decks, to winches at the helm stations just in front of the Jefa wheels. These can be canted and locked in three different positions: move the wheel outwards and you have a clear view along the side decks and into the sails; move it right inside and you are underneath the cockpit roof and sheltered from sun or rain. This is also a very sociable place for the helmsperson, and it feels safe. This is yet another unusual idea in catamarans: The HH44 has closed transoms, with fold-down bathing and boarding platforms usually found in monohulls. Thus, the usable deck space is carried right aft to the end of the boat, unlike with the more usual open transom steps, which can’t be used when under way. The overall length of the 44 is actually increased to 48ft when the transoms are down – effectively fitting a 48ft package into 44ft overall length. As is natural for a true performance
A high-modulus carbon longeron ensures structural stiffness
curved daggerboards that provide lift which in turn generate a righting moment. However, the loads on these boards are enormous so they are made entirely from unidirectional carbon pre-preg, with each board then being tested to twice the calculated load before being fitted to the boat. The rudders are built in a similar fashion, with rudder stocks not made from aluminum or steel, but of solid carbon fibre: ‘This is dead solid, no voids, and will last as long as the boat’, says Paul Hakes. The rudder shapes and profiles again provide lift. Winches are e-powered. Indeed, this
‘HH cats are designed from the start as being hybrid-electric powered’
boat has been designed from the start as being “electrified”. For the big draw items such as winches, traveller, and engines, it has a 48V battery bank, probably the first
sailboat, the HH44 has a large sail wardrobe that allows several variations. The boat carries both a reacher and a gennaker, the latter on a on top-down furler. Then a good-sized Solent jib, plus a smaller, self-tacking staysail for heavy weather work, all on furlers. Reefing themainsail is done fromthe helmwinches, with a clever systemof reef hooks that will take up the strain of the reefing lines when reefed. The HH44 Sports Cruising version has
production boat to feature this. When not sailing, the boat is driven by an electric/ diesel hybrid system. This combines silent, emission-free propulsion with two conventional diesel engines for backup. The electricity is generated by solar, but also with hydro re-generation when sailing which works perfectly at the high speeds at which this boat will usually sail. ‘You can switch between electric and diesel’, explains Galloway, ‘to get a bit more power from the diesel, but for going in and out of harbours, electric is fine. With all the solar and re-gen I only very seldom start the diesels. It all charges the 48V battery bank and that will then fill the 12V battery bank. Twelve V is always going to be at 100 per
cent but 48V will go up and down, you just have to keep on top of that. We have already been away for two weeks without once plugging into shore power or starting the diesels.’ With a beautifully crafted, comfy and
practical interior, the HH44 undoubtedly offers a unique package especially in her size range. Creating the true luxury performance cat in this size, down-sizing from the previous and larger HH models, must have been a real challenge. Mastering this was not a question of “inventing” just one new boat, but rather the end result of many very carefully considered, smart design choices which, when they finally all come together, form the overall result. The next developments at HH will now move into the other direction: upscaling the key features of the 44 to new, larger models. Next in line is the new HH52 that will, for example, feature the same aft helm stations, uncluttered decks and low coachroof profile for improved sailing performance that is so significant to the HH44. However, increased size opens up potential for new ideas; the HH52 will also have the option for a forward cockpit and tiller steering aft. While the new HH44 will certainly
pave the way for HH Catamarans in creating a whole new breed of luxury performance catamarans, we can also very much look forward to the larger models in this conceptual thinking that will for sure again surprise with fresh and innovative design solutions.
www.hhcatamarans.com
❑ SEAHORSE 77
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