Ninety-six hulls turn the 1260 into an established fleet
The first Seawind 1260, Rakusu, launched in April 2017 with a brief centred on short-handed cruising, offshore capability and enough domestic comfort for owners to live aboard for extended periods. Nine years later, hull number 96 has now left the factory, closing one of Seawind's longest-running modern production programmes.
A 96-boat fleet matters because it creates a deep record of real use across different climates and ownership patterns. Some yachts entered charter service, others became permanent homes, and many travelled long distances through the Mediterranean, Australia, the Pacific and other cruising regions.
Protected helms and the tri-fold saloon door became defining features
Seawind built the 1260 around twin protected helm stations with strong sightlines and the company's signature tri-fold door, which opens the saloon directly into the cockpit. The arrangement keeps the helmsman close to the social and working areas while providing shelter from spray, sun and changing weather.
That layout helped define the yacht's owner-operator character. A couple could manage sail handling and watchkeeping without isolating the person at the helm, while the connected cockpit and saloon created a more usable living space once the yacht reached an anchorage.
The design earned recognition for cruising rather than dockside spectacle
Independent sailing publications recognised the 1260 during its production life, including a Cruising World Boat of the Year category award for cruising catamarans under 50 feet. Seawind says reviews repeatedly highlighted sailing performance, visibility, construction quality and offshore practicality.
Those qualities are central to the model's appeal because the 1260 was not positioned simply as a floating apartment. Its relatively light displacement, responsive handling and manageable rig were intended to give cruising couples a boat that remained rewarding to sail even after adding the equipment and stores required for long-distance use.
The new 1270 carries the accumulated owner experience forward
Seawind says the successor 1270 builds directly on lessons from the 96 completed 1260s. The new 12.83-metre model introduces reverse bows, a refined hull form, greater interior volume and updated comfort while retaining protected helms, practical sail handling and open indoor-outdoor living.
The final 1260 therefore closes a production chapter rather than ending the design philosophy. Years of owner feedback and offshore mileage now provide the reference point for the next model, giving buyers a clearer lineage than a completely new platform launched without an established cruising history.
Official sources: www.seawindcats.com.
