At Canet Boat Plaisance, we're not going to lie to you: when we learned of the appointment of the FP44 at Multihull of the Year 2026, We had a small smile of satisfaction on our faces. Not misplaced pride - we didn't put a pencil over the plans - but that of the dealer who sees one of his favourite boats recognised by people who really know their stuff. So we'll explain everything, because this story deserves to be told properly.
What is the Multihull of the Year?
Let's put it this way MOTY is THE benchmark prize in the multihull world. Organised by the Multihulls World / Multihulls Mag, The aim of this annual competition is to reward the best new multihulls launched on the market. Not the prettiest in photos, not the most expensive, not the most marketed: the best, according to serious criteria.
The process is in two stages.
- First of all, a jury made up of specialist journalists and well-known players in the sector will select the nominees from among the multihulls launched between the 2025 and 2026 editions of the Miami International Boat Show. multicoques-mag. In other words, to be on the list, you have to be a recent boat, really launched, not a project on the drawing board.
- Then it's up to the fans to make the final choice: the election is made by the votes of Multihulls World and Multihulls Mag readers. It's the people of the sea who decide!
How does it work in practice?
The list of nominees was unveiled on 11 February 2026, the opening day of the Miami Boat Show, and voting has been open since then.
Voting is easy: just go to the Multihull of the Year official page, Enter your name and email address (to avoid duplicates), and vote for a multihull in each category - a vote will only be considered valid if it covers all the categories. There's no question of just voting for your favourite and ignoring the other boxes.
Voting is open until 18 April 2026, and the results will be announced on Wednesday 22 April at the awards ceremony at the International Multihull Boat Show (International Multihull Show). For those who don't already know, the show is held at La Grande-Motte - so we'll be keeping a close eye on it!
Categories: everyone has a chance
The competition covers a broad spectrum of modern multihulls, divided into six main categories open to public vote:
- Sail - Under 45′ (sailing, less than 45 feet)
- Sail - 45′ to 55′ (sail, 45 to 55 feet)
- Sail - Over 55′ (sail, over 55 feet)
- Power - Under 45′ (motor, less than 45 feet)
- Power - 45′ to 60′ (motor, 45 to 60 feet)
- Power - Over 60′ (motor, over 60 feet)
In addition, two categories escape the popular vote: the’IMS Premiere, awarded directly by the editorial jury, and the Capt'n Boat, hosted by the Capt'n Boat teams. But for the six main categories, it's up to you.
Where does FP44 fit in?
The FP44 is nominated in the Sail - Under 45′, which corresponds to its 43.5 foot (13.26 m) overall length. And in this category, the competition is not there to make up the numbers. He is up against :
- Astus 26.5 - a French transportable trimaran that's as light and clever as they come
- Tricat 8.50 - another tri-fold, in the same sport-leisure vein
- Lagoon 38 - one of the heavyweights in the family cruise market
- Seawind 1160 XL - an Australian catamaran built for long crossings
- Excess 13 - a performance-oriented catamaran, lively under sail
Clearly a great bunch. No gifts in this category.
Why FP44 deserves its place on the list
Being nominated for a MOTY is not something you can buy or negotiate: it's the jury that decides, based on the boat's objective qualities. So what convinced these connoisseurs?
A yacht that embraces its identity
The FP44 isn't trying to be a racing car or a floating pontoon. It's a blue water cruising catamaran, designed to last the test of time. Its optimised hull allows it to accelerate naturally, maintain good stability on all courses, and give a precise feel at the helm - what we call «sea sense» and which is all too often lacking in this size range.
A deck layout that centralises manoeuvres
The helm station is perfectly integrated, with good visibility over the sails and the approaches. Everything has been designed so that a small crew - a family or a couple - can manage the boat without any acrobatics on deck. The lines are well positioned, the winches accessible and the halyards and sheets logically fed back. Nothing revolutionary, but well done.
Onboard space on a new scale
The large, covered aft cockpit forms a natural continuity with the saloon. The large picture windows flood the interior with light and maintain the link with the sea that is so important to us. The cabins boast a level of comfort that is rare for a 44-footer - and the storage space, often the poor relation on small catamarans, has been seriously worked on.
A boat already in the water, already sailed
The first trials carried out by the international press have confirmed the FP44's maturity. It's not a prototype that shines at boat shows: it's a delivered boat, with owners on board, and consistent feedback from the field.
Would you like to find out more about the FP44, or even try it out at sea?
The team at Canet Boat Plaisance that's what we're here for. We know the boat, we love it, and we'd love to talk about it over a coffee... or a buoy!
Contact us, and find out more about upcoming boat shows and sea trials.