We do not witness the birth of a completely new boat type every day, but with the launch of the Aquila 42 Coupe, the yacht industry is undergoing a significant leap. This multihull combines the sleek lines of a sports yacht with the unique comfort of a catamaran, and is equipped with an innovative hydrofoil-assisted system, setting a new market benchmark.

Therefore, it is easy to understand why I immediately accepted the invitation to participate in the 300-nautical-mile sea trial of the Aquila 42 Coupe from Shimizu City to Miami. After all, very few shipyards are willing to conduct such a long and rigorous sea trial, providing participants with an excellent opportunity to experience the vessel's performance in real sailing conditions. Even more noteworthy is that the trial route of the Aquila 42 Coupe was truly magnificent.

On the first day, we crossed the Gulf of Mexico (renamed the Gulf of the Americas from January 20), sailing 150 nautical miles along the west coast of Florida to Marco Island. The next day, we continued along the peninsula to the Everglades, rounded Cape Sable, the southernmost point of the continental United States, and then navigated through the numerous islands and shallows of the Florida Keys. After completing the second 100-nautical-mile leg of the day, we anchored overnight near Pumpkin Reef off Largo Island.

On the third day, we set sail at dawn and arrived on time at the Miami Yacht Show—the global debut stage for this innovative boat type. This crossing from the Gulf of Mexico to Biscayne Bay was not only the ultimate test of the vessel's performance but also showcased Florida's most breathtaking coastline. At this moment, facing the fresh morning breeze at Shimizu Bay Marina, we were fully prepared to depart.

Aquila 42 Coupe Sea Trial Record

First Day of Sailing

To truly understand the innovation of the Aquila 42 Coupe, one must experience it firsthand. The fixed central hydrofoil system connecting the twin hulls (Aquila Hydro Glide Foil System™) is designed for cruising efficiency at 30-50 mph (approximately 25-40 knots), creating a huge difference from traditional sailing methods. Its operation is exceptionally simple: once the hulls enter the planing state, adjusting the trim not only changes the hull's attitude but also slightly lifts the hull by adjusting the hydrofoil's angle of attack, effectively reducing the weight by about 50%.

Aquila catamarans promise to include the hydrofoil system as standard equipment on the 42 and 46 Coupes.

This system works perfectly with the new generation outboard engines mounted at the stern—two 400-horsepower Mercury Verado V10 engines. When the speed exceeds 30 mph (nearly 27 knots), fuel consumption is only 4.2 liters per nautical mile (or 1 gallon per mile when converted to land mileage).

This figure is significant, meaning that compared to traditional yachts of the same size, this system reduces fuel consumption and emissions by 40-50%.

But only by driving it yourself can you appreciate its brilliance. When the hull begins to plane, the impact of waves almost disappears, as if the entire boat is equipped with a shock absorption system.

Aquila 42 Coupe sailing view from the port side.

Perhaps because of this, when taking turns at the helm with my companion, who is also the Aquila catamaran product development director Jure Zule, the first 150-nautical-mile journey passed in the blink of an eye. We chatted comfortably and even had time to rest below deck—despite maintaining speeds above 30 knots, the comfort of the Aquila 42 Coupe far exceeded the ordinary.

We arrived at Marco Island at sunset. Maneuvering into the inland waterways through the channel was effortless. Thanks to the outboard engines and joystick control system, we quickly completed mooring.

When tidying the cabin to prepare for sleep, the onboard space was astonishing: thanks to nearly 5 meters of beam, the main deck space is comparable to a 50-foot monohull; even more amazing are the two spacious cabins, each equipped with an en-suite bathroom, essentially a dual master suite design.

Storage space is equally excellent: the two wheeled camera bags I brought, a suitcase full of two weeks' clothes, and a backpack were easily stored in the cabin's lower cabinets. There was still plenty of room in the upper cabinets and various storage spaces.

After dinner, I went straight to bed—tomorrow would bring another challenging voyage.

Second Day

Waking up on this catamaran felt like being in a seaside villa. After getting up from the spacious bed, I walked straight into the shower room—its space was so ample that I could complete the entire process of drying and dressing inside. Shaving was as relaxed as at home, then I climbed four steps to the main deck, where a linear layout kitchen fully equipped with everything needed for cooking came into view.

The large windows of the Aquila 42 Coupe create a seamless visual corridor connecting with the outside world. At sunrise, everything was bathed in a deep crimson glow—what a spectacular sight...

Shortly after setting sail, we encountered moderate swells upon entering the open sea—just as Murphy's Law predicted, it was a head sea. I took the helm and put the catamaran into planing mode; during trim adjustments, the magical effect from yesterday's sailing reappeared: the giant central hydrofoil slightly lifted the hull from the water, and the wave impact was immediately reduced by more than half.

When encountering larger wave crests, the bow of the Aquila 42 Coupe elegantly lifted like a monohull and then smoothly descended, with no violent impact throughout—the excellent seakeeping ability was impressive.

After sailing about 30 nautical miles, the sea finally calmed. At this moment, we were outside the Everglades National Park, where the water surface was dotted with a series of buoys left by local fishermen. This was an excellent opportunity to test the vessel's turning performance—I did not slow down but suddenly turned the wheel fully to the right!

The Aquila 42 Coupe responded without delay—the hull only slightly tilted and carved an astonishingly tight arc. This experience is completely different from that of a monohull: despite the significantly increased centrifugal force and small turning radius, the hull maintained a perfect level attitude, as if sliding precisely along a preset invisible track.

When I implemented reverse steering, the catamaran once again demonstrated an immediate and precise response. Its safety performance is considered an industry benchmark. After correcting the course, I handed over control to Jure. At this time, the other Aquila power catamarans in the fleet formed an excellent subject for photography. I fetched professional photography equipment to start creating, but at one moment I suddenly realized—despite speeding at over 40 knots (about 74 km/h), the boat was as stable as a land-based photography platform. This composure allowed me to continue focusing on framing shots, simply because I knew I was on one of the most stable yachts in the world.

New Aquila 46 Coupe and Aquila 36 Sport

Anchoring at dusk

As twilight first tinged the horizon, we arrived at Largo Island as scheduled, and after meeting the fleet, anchored overnight off Pumpkin Reef.

Impressively, I witnessed ten catamarans smoothly completing the anchoring formation—the entire process took less than half an hour. As the sun began to set, I rushed back to the cabin, grabbed the drone, and quickly launched it into the air; these were shots I absolutely could not miss.

The night at anchor was wonderful: starting with a sushi feast hosted by Lex at the stunning bar of the Coupe 46, then moving to an impromptu hamburger barbecue set up on the flybridge deck of the Aquila 54. I walked freely between the connected hulls of different catamarans—these massive vessels were rock steady on the water, without the slightest sway.

Life on multihulls is truly an extraordinary experience...

Day Three

We woke before dawn (anchorage coordinates: N25°07' W80°24'), needing to reach Miami before noon. To capture footage of the Aquila 42 Coupe sailing in formation, I first boarded the Molokai 47 with my equipment, then moved to the brand-new Coupe 46.

I launched the drone for live tracking—the scene of the 42 and 46 catamarans racing side by side was spectacular (GPS showed a peak speed of 43.7 knots). After requesting a speed reduction via VHF radio for coordination, I finally obtained ideal aerial footage. From the overhead view, their elegant wave-cutting posture became even clearer: the wake trail was only about a quarter of that of a monohull of the same size.

This Aquila 42 Coupe completely won me over with its triple charm: very high speed, revolutionary stability, and breathtaking engineering aesthetics.

This innovation is destined to redefine the power catamaran market landscape.

Sea trial conclusion—Innovation Revelation

The Aquila 42 Coupe is a masterpiece of marine engineering, perfectly blending the agile aesthetics of monohulls with the spatial philosophy of catamarans. Its signature central hydrofoil system achieves a triple breakthrough: fuel consumption reduced by 40-50%, top speed increased by 25%, and riding comfort elevated to an unprecedented level.

As the world's first hydrofoil-assisted power catamaran, the Aquila 42 Coupe not only fills a market gap but also sets a new golden standard for the next generation of high-performance yachts as a pioneer. (Original author: Luca D'Ambrosio)