Light-air performance reduced dependence on engines

The owners say Mediterranean wind conditions were often inconsistent, yet Lickety was able to keep sailing in conditions where many cruising boats chose to motor. On one sixty-nautical-mile leg to Milos, five to ten knots of beam wind produced an average boat speed of about six knots.

That capability changes the ownership experience because it reduces fuel use and keeps the boat moving under sail even when the weather is not dramatic. For performance-cruising catamaran owners, light-air efficiency can be more valuable over a season than occasional headline speeds.

Upwind ability expanded route options

Lickety's owners report sailing as close as roughly thirty-two degrees apparent in suitable conditions, translating to around forty-five degrees true wind. They used that ability during westbound legs along Crete, where waiting indefinitely for a perfect reaching angle was not practical.

An owner-operated cruising yacht benefits when it can make progress across a wider range of wind angles. Better upwind performance does not eliminate route planning, but it gives the crew more options when prevailing winds oppose the intended destination.

Weather planning mattered as much as yacht performance

The account repeatedly emphasises timing. The owners planned around local systems such as the Meltemi and adjusted their route to reduce exposure to unfavourable conditions, particularly when moving through the Greek islands and eastern Mediterranean.

That is a useful reminder that a capable yacht cannot substitute for good planning. Performance becomes most valuable when it is combined with realistic weather windows, allowing an owner to sail more often without forcing the yacht or crew into unnecessarily uncomfortable conditions.

The ownership report provides real-world evidence

Builder sea trials typically last hours, while Lickety's Mediterranean experience covers thousands of miles and repeated seasonal use. Reports of this kind reveal how a yacht performs when loaded with cruising gear and used across changing wind, sea and marina conditions.

The HH50 sits comfortably inside LYG's range, and the story is directly relevant to owners considering performance multihulls for private long-distance use. It shows what the design can deliver after years in service rather than only at launch.

Official sources: www.hhcatamarans.com.