Multihulls World Magazine Sea Trial

SIXTY SOLAR POWER

Transoceanic Hybrid Propulsion

In September 2025, the first production hull left Aveiro, Portugal, and headed west across the Atlantic with a 2-person crew. Several thousand nautical miles later, she arrived in the Bahamas, averaging 8 knots on her parallel hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. For a first hull – a 60-foot powercat carrying 184 kWh of lithium batteries, 8 kW of solar, and designed from the ground up for long-range hybrid cruising – that crossing was the real proof of concept. Shortly after arrival, Xquisite Yachts announced a 4-year owner circumnavigation departing in early 2027.

Then she faced one of the toughest judges in the multihull world:
French marine journalist Brieuc Maisonneuve tested the first SIXTY SOLAR POWER at the Xquisite Catamaran Center in Freeport, Grand Bahama. His full review appears in Multihulls World N°206.

Multihulls World Magazine
Sea Trial:

SIXTY SOLAR POWER

Transoceanic Hybrid Propulsion

From Portugal to the Bahamas

Before any journalist stepped aboard, the SIXTY SOLAR POWER, a 2026 Multihull of the Year Nominee, had already completed her first major test. In September 2025, she crossed the Atlantic from Aveiro, Portugal, to Freeport, Bahamas, covering several thousand nautical miles at an average speed of around 8 knots.

For a first hull, that crossing validated the reliability of her systems, energy efficiency, and long-term livability in open-ocean conditions.

A new Xquisite X5 launching every 3 months

A two-man crew is sufficient to handle the Sixty Solar Power

Multihulls Sea Trial

Brieuc Maisonneuve’s sea trial took place in ideal Bahamian conditions: flat seas, a light breeze under 10 knots, and a young 2-person crew handling the 60-footer with ease – even in the Catamaran Center’s compact marina.

Brieuc spent the day putting the SIXTY SOLAR POWER through her paces – from slow electric cruising in the harbour to full hybrid power in open water. The focus was on how the boat handles in real conditions, how intuitive the hybrid system is for the skipper, and whether this 60-foot powercat lives up to its expedition promise. Maisonneuve also had time to explore the interior layout, talk to owners who were on board for Xquisite Yachts Day, and get a sense of the boat’s character at anchor.

The Xquisite Yachts base has the advantage of being very close to Grand Bahama Airport and the only shipyard in the Bahamas archipelago capable of hoisting wide beam multihulls. And to top it all off, the surroundings aren’t too shabby, are they?

Designed for Ocean Crossings

The SIXTY SOLAR POWER is designed for owners who want to cover long distances, live at anchor for extended periods, and significantly reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

High freeboard, generous volumes, and protective superstructures give her the character of an expedition yacht rather than a sporty powercat. The multihull architecture keeps the draft moderate while providing natural stability and living space that feels like a much larger vessel.

Out on the water, she favors a serene approach. At 8 or 9 knots, the powercat moves in remarkable silence, with vibrations very well controlled. The crew who completed the transatlantic delivery confirmed she handled active weather fronts well, and the hybrid system proved its long-term reliability throughout. Five units have already found buyers.

There’s no lack of space on board: the foredeck, flybridge, and aft cockpit (with plenty of storage space under the seats) are all dedicated to comfort and relaxation.

The Great Escape by Xquisite

A 4-Year Circumnavigation

During the Xquisite Yachts Day event that preceded the sea trial, Tamas Hamor officially announced The Great Escape – a 4-year circumnavigation open to all Xquisite catamaran owners, with the SIXTY SOLAR POWER as flagship. Departure is set from Freeport in early 2027, transiting the Panama Canal. Xquisite technicians will travel with the fleet, and the shipyard provides administrative support for customs and immigration along the way. 20+ owners have already expressed interest.

Multihulls World profiled Hamor alongside the sea trial. Bartender, then professional skipper, then shipyard founder – all in just over a decade. He builds innovative multihulls, runs without a dealer network, and operates a private marina in the Bahamas. The journalist noted that talking to Xquisite owners on board made one thing obvious: Tamas doesn’t need salespeople. His customers do the selling for him.

Parallel Hybrid Propulsion by e-Motion

The engineering core is a parallel hybrid system developed by Italian specialist e-Motion Hybrid Systems. Each hull carries a 440 HP Yanmar diesel paired with a 140 kW electric motor on shaft-driven propellers, backed by a 184 kWh lithium-ion battery bank and an 8 kW solar array.

Eight operating modes cover everything from silent zero-emission cruising to a combined boost of 24 knots. Economy mode – one diesel, one electric motor working together – was the preferred setting for her transatlantic crossing at a steady 8 knots. Propulsion and energy management are centralized on Simrad touchscreens with clear, intuitive readouts.

It’s hard to imagine a more complete outdoor helm station! Simrad was chosen for the electronics.

The high-efficiency solar panels, mainly located on the T-Top and the impressive stern arch, can produce up to 8 kW.

It’s hard to imagine a more complete outdoor helm station! Simrad was chosen for the electronics.

The high-efficiency solar panels, mainly located on the T-Top and the impressive stern arch, can produce up to 8 kW.

Generous Spaces On Board

The flybridge offers a full helm station alongside a large sheltered lounge and dining area, accessible from the nacelle or the cockpit. The foredeck and aft cockpit provide additional space with ample storage beneath the seats.

Inside, the main saloon benefits from panoramic windows and a seamless connection to the cockpit. The overall effect is high-end luxury without being ostentatious – materials chosen for durability and aesthetics, with plenty of storage throughout.

The very spacious flybridge combines a helm station with a large, sheltered lounge/dining area. Access is via either the nacelle or the cockpit.

The side decks are a little narrow, especially when the electrically operated gangway door is open.

The spacious U-shaped saloon area is offset to port. The galley is L-shaped and features a central island.

The king-size bed in the owner’s cabin offers a good view forward.

The prototype was configured with a large owner’s suite and two guest cabins, each with a private bathroom. Several layout options are available.

The only real compromise is the side-deck width – though the electrically operated gangway door itself is superyacht-grade.

The very spacious flybridge combines a helm station with a large, sheltered lounge/dining area. Access is via either the nacelle or the cockpit.

The side decks are a little narrow, especially when the electrically operated gangway door is open.

The spacious U-shaped saloon area is offset to port. The galley is L-shaped and features a central island.

The king-size bed in the owner’s cabin offers a good view forward.

Xquisite Yachts extends sincere gratitude to
Brieuc Maisonneuve and Multihulls World Magazine
for their thorough and professional sea trial
of the SIXTY SOLAR POWER.

Full test is in Multihull World N°206

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The Magazine’s Verdict

Multihulls World’s conclusion: the SIXTY SOLAR POWER offers much more than a new model – it presents a fully-fledged vision of the powercat of tomorrow. A yacht capable of crossing oceans, living at anchor for long periods, and significantly reducing fuel consumption and environmental impact, while meeting the highest expectations for comfort and safety. Even though this first unit is still in its development phase, the level of maturity is impressive. In the magazine’s words:

“A multihull that doesn’t just follow a trend but clearly defines its true colors.”

The magazine highlighted:

Successful design
Touchscreen interface with electric propulsion
Quality of equipment and deck hardware

Read the full test in Multihulls World N°206