French Kiss
As I walked along the white sand beach in Ibiza, a gem of a place within Spain’s Balearic Islands, I could see the Leen 56 gleaming in the afternoon sun a short distance offshore. It’s the first power multihull from France-based Neel Trimarans Group. (Did you catch the semi-palindrome? It’s a Leen boat from Neel Trimarans.)
Like her sailing sisterships, the Leen 56 is built with vacuum infusion. Having three hulls allows for a power package that includes a 305-hp Cummins diesel in her center hull as the main propulsion, with electric drives in her outer hulls. According to the builder, with just the electric drives, the boat is capable of speeds up to 5 knots. Under full power, she can hit 20 knots and cruise at 15 to 18 knots. Estimated range is 5,000 nautical miles, based on tank testing.
Brieuc Maisonneuve—chief commercial officer of Neel Trimarans Group—served as our captain and made some amazing meals in the 56’s galley.
Alfred J. Boer
After hearing those kinds of projections, I had high expectations about economy and stability as I boarded the boat for a five-day itinerary that would span 300 nm and end on the Spanish mainland. I settled into the master stateroom, which unfurls on two levels in the starboard hull. Her other staterooms are sizable as well, with a VIP forward and another stateroom in her port hull. All are en suite.
The master has a private workspace, which let me get a few things done the next morning before I heard the main engine turn over. We were off.
First Impressions
With building seas and wind, our captain, Brieuc Maisonneuve—chief commercial officer of Neel Trimarans Group—set a southwest course and cruised at just under 10 knots. A short time later, we spotted the island of Formentera in the distance. Seas were building up to 10 feet, so we ducked into a lee at Es Vedra island. We later re-entered the ragged seas, and the Leen 56 held her own.
A crew member operates the windlass off the Spanish coast.
Alfred J. Boer
About five hours after we had set sail, we watched the sun drop over the horizon, and we headed for the Port of Moraira, where there is usually a spot on the quay behind the breakwater—but not on this day. In pitch-black darkness, we sailed on and found a reasonably sheltered anchorage near Calpe. We started to anchor, but the chain got stuck in the electric windlass. It wasn’t until 1:15 a.m. that we finally stopped the main engine, only to discover that a port in the guest stateroom had been left open, and just about everything was soaked. We tried to remove as much water as possible before finally getting to bed after 2:30 a.m.
The next day, we weighed anchor and set off toward Cabo Cullera under blue skies and with flat seas. Again, an open port foiled us, this time in the crew cabin, which also was now soaking wet. Even the captain had to laugh at that point. We dried everything and tried to remember to be more careful.
With more than 27 feet of beam, the salon has room for dining, a galley and separate lounging space. Access to the flybridge is via a wide, external staircase. Wide side decks with high bulwarks ensure crew safety.
Brieuc Maisonneuve
At last, I had a chance to take in her salon. With more than 27 feet of beam, the area has room for dining, a galley and separate lounging space. I could access the flybridge via a wide, external staircase, and, when we pulled into port, her wide side decks with high bulwarks ensured safety as we handled lines.
Travel Mode
On our third day, we cast off with the autopilot engaged for Peñiscola, some 55 nm away in northeastern Spain, near Valencia with a gorgeous coastline as well as a rich history. We tried to launch the drone for some images of the place, but it crashed into the rocks and disappeared into the sea. So, instead, we settled in for an evening meal and then a drink on the flybridge. We sat until almost midnight sipping a 16-year-old Scotch whisky.
The flybridge is spacious and set with modular furniture. Aft is a davit and ample space for a tender.
Brieuc Maisonneuve
Day four found us steaming up to Port Ginesta, an attractive marina near Castelldefels, southwest of Barcelona. The seas were building, but even so, the boat’s stability allowed Maisonneuve to prepare us all a tasty meal of tagliatelle with chicken and cashews, plus a lemon pie for dessert. As we enjoyed our lunch, the main engine was silenced, and we cruised on the electric motors alone. It’s a lovely experience, but even with the main engine running, the 56 is a quiet boat. From the flybridge, wind and wake completely drown out the sound of the engine.
Finally, as we approached our final destination of Port Ginesta, I had a chance to reflect on how the Leen 56 had handled our voyage of more than 300 nm. We had faced 30-knot winds and seas over 10 feet, and all the while, she offered a high degree of comfort. The trimaran’s hulls cut effortlessly through the waves. Even in a nasty cross sea, we did not experience excessive pounding. At our favored cruise speed of 9 knots, she sipped fuel, consuming only 5.3 gph for a range of 1,665 nm. And in port, the electric drives in the outer hulls allowed for close-quarters maneuvering despite her 27-foot beam.
The 13th-century Peñíscola Castle was one of the many highlights of the gorgeous Castellón coastal region of Spain.
Brieuc Maisonneuve
Neel Trimarans Group has good reason to be proud of its power multihull, which is part of a range that includes its flagship Leen 72, with plans to build a 51-footer on the drawing board. I now have high expectations for those models, too, assuming that we all can remember to close the portholes before heading out to sea.
LEEN 56
LOA: 56ft.
Beam: 27ft. 1in.
Draft: 5ft. 6in
Construction: FRP with Kevlar
Displacement: 65,036 lbs.
Fuel: 981 gal.
Water: 218 gal.
Engine: 1x 305-hp Cummins QSB6.7
Info: leen-trimarans.com
This article was originally published in the January/February 2024 issue.
