We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times. Dee Caffari nominates the Maxi Trimaran MACIF

The round the world record breaking sailboat, MACIF was launched in 2016 for French solo sailor and Vendée Globe winner François Gabart.

He set a solo round the world record of 42d 16h in it in 2017.

The Ultime was then re-fitted with more advanced and powerful foils to keep the boat competitive with the rest of the Ultime fleet. It has since been sold with François Gabart launching a new, super-high tech Ultime in 2021.

“This is a boat only a handful of people have ever been aboard but it’s a boat all the cool kids would really love to sail,” says Dee Caffari.

“It’s the coolest yacht in the world because it’s very, very fast and because François Gabart set the 24-hour record of 851 miles all on his own.

“And he is very cool himself!

“My first step in these boats was when I was working as a nipper for Mike Golding.

“I had a chance to go sailing on Club Med [Grant Dalton’s 110ft cataraman, winner of The Race round the world in 2000/1] in the Solent.

“It was all a bit beyond me. I didn’t understand what was going on, but I thought that was the coolest boat ever.”

Make sure you check out our full list of Coolest Yachts.

Maxi Trimaran MACIF stats rating:

Top speed: 45 knots
LOA: 31m
Launched: 2016
Berths: 1
Price: €15m
Adrenalin factor: 100%

Dee Caffari

Dee Caffari, 45, is the holder of the record for the first woman to sail non-stop round the world in both directions.

She finished 7th in the 2008/9 Vendée Globe and has raced round the world six times in total, most recently as skipper of Turn the Tide on Plastic in the 2017/8 Volvo Ocean Race.


If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams.
Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.