Seawind Catamarans, Australian Cruising Cats Built for Couples

From beach cats to bluewater cruisers

Richard Ward began building beach catamarans in Australia in 1982, and the Seawind 850 of 1991 was the company's first cruising catamaran. Over the following decades Seawind built a loyal following among Australian cruisers for practical, well-ventilated boats designed for warm-water living.

In 2010 Seawind acquired Corsair Marine, the trimaran builder, and moved production to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. That gave the company a larger, more efficient factory and made Seawinds more competitive in the US and European markets.

The Seawind way of living aboard

Seawind's signature is the way the saloon opens to the cockpit. Folding doors and windows create a single indoor-outdoor space at anchor, then close up tight when the weather turns. Combined with forward-facing helms close to the saloon and rigs designed for short-handed sailing, the boats suit couples who cruise for long periods without crew.

The current range has included the Seawind 1160 and 1170, the 1260, the 1370 and the flagship Seawind 1600, and our guides focus on the two largest. The 1600 arrived in 2018 and was drawn by Reichel/Pugh, a firm better known for grand prix racing yachts. At about 52 feet it is the only Seawind we cover with daggerboards, and SAIL named it Best Boat in the large multihull category in 2021.

The Seawind 1370, launched in 2023, is the 45 foot step below it. Richard Ward developed the concept and The Yacht Design Collective in France worked on the hull, which rides on twin mini keels rather than boards. It keeps the sheltered twin helms and folding doors, moves the galley up to saloon level and had 90 orders on the books before the first boat touched water. In 2025 it collected a SAIL Top 10 Best Boats award and Cruising World's best midsize multihull title.

Seawinds are lighter and more sailing-focused than many charter-oriented catamarans, and owners generally report good passage speeds without pushing the boats hard. The choice between our two models is mostly about scale and complexity: the 1370 is simpler and cheaper to run, while the 1600 adds length, a fourth cabin option and the extra pace of daggerboards.

Seawind in North America

Seawinds are less common in the US than Lagoon, Leopard or Fountaine Pajot, which means fewer used listings and a smaller dealer footprint. That rarity cuts both ways: good boats hold value because supply is thin, but service knowledge is concentrated in a handful of locations, mainly Florida and the West Coast. Many owners rely on the factory and the owner community for technical support.

• Inspect the folding cockpit door and window mechanisms and seals.
• Check saildrive seals and engine mounts.
• Survey bridgedeck and bulkhead tabbing for movement.
• Review rig and chainplate condition on older hulls.