International recognition follows the summer launch
Nautitech’s new 41 Type S has joined the nominees for European Yacht of the Year 2027 only weeks after being launched and completing its first sails. The award jury has selected 21 new yachts for the 2027 programme, including seven multihulls, putting the 41-foot catamaran into a highly competitive field.
The nomination is particularly useful because the European Yacht of the Year process goes beyond a static inspection. The shortlisted boats are sailed comparatively by representatives of twelve European sailing publications, meaning handling, ergonomics and real-world sailing behaviour will form part of the final assessment.
Performance is central to the Type S brief
Nautitech developed the 41 Type S around a lighter structure, centralised weight distribution and twin aft helm positions. The configuration gives the helmsman direct sightlines to the sails and water, while keeping the sailing controls separated from the main social areas when the boat is under way.
The hulls use Nautitech’s WhisperHull concept, which is intended to improve water flow and reduce turbulence-related noise. The design also adopts a 50/50 balance between interior and exterior living space, avoiding the tendency to maximise saloon volume at the expense of deck circulation and sailing feel.
Structural glazing opens the saloon
A fully glazed aft bulkhead is one of the model’s more distinctive technical features. The structural glass panel creates wide views from the saloon while helping maintain visual continuity between the interior and cockpit, an important element of the boat’s emphasis on open circulation.
Unobstructed side decks and the aft helm positions reinforce that layout. The result is a catamaran intended to combine genuine cruising accommodation with a more involved sailing experience, rather than treating performance and onboard comfort as separate priorities.
Palma sea trials will decide the next stage
The 41 Type S is due in Palma de Mallorca in mid-October 2026 for the European Yacht of the Year jury trials. Judges will assess sailing behaviour, handling, deck ergonomics and the functionality and finish of the interior before the award process moves toward its final decision.
For Nautitech, the nomination gives the new model early international visibility at a time when the 40- to 42-foot catamaran market is particularly crowded. The comparative trials should also provide a clearer measure of whether the Type S’s lower-weight, sailing-focused philosophy translates into a meaningful advantage on the water.
