Five new models to be launched in 18 months

Having reportedly found a gap in the growing multihull market, Groupe Beneteau launched its new EXCESS catamaran range through its CNB brand at boot Düsseldorf on Sunday.

Lorenza Turrisi, EXCESS brand manager, said: “EXCESS is launching five models in 18 months. We are the only boatbuilder that has the power to do this.”

While the new brand has been mentioned before, the Düsseldorf press conference included the first presentation of its new model series. Beneteau describes the EXCESS range as ambitious, innovative and adding sportivity to comfort in the industry. It will initially include five models – the XCS11, XCS12, XCS13, XCS14 and XCS15.

“When we started thinking in 2014, we had three major intuitions and findings about the catamaran market,” said Turrisi. “Firstly, the global catamaran demand was increasing at an enormous speed. Secondly, the demand for catamarans was at the same time evolving, getting more mature and segmented. And last but not least, the product offer was still very much concentrated on one area – comfort. Only 10% of the players were covering the demand for fun sailing.”

Bruno Belmont, EXCESS creative product manager, explained: “With the EXCESS 12 and 15, we have reinvented the whole sailing experience. The twin helm station aft, the vision and sensations it offers, the rig, the hulls, life on board, the materials… everything has been designed to match this new way of living on the water.”

Of the five models, the XCS12 and XCS15 will debut at Cannes 2019, followed by the XCS11 at Düsseldorf 2020, the XCS14 at Cannes 2020, and the XCS13 at the 2021 Multihull Boat Show in La Grande Motte, France.

Beneteau has also launched an online competition called the EXCESS Challenge, with the prize being an XCS11 worth €300,000. The EXCESS Challenge is a ‘virtual’ sailing race from Barcelona to Cannes, offering a chance to win an XCS11 catamaran.

“The brand is dedicated to passionate sailors, sailing enthusiasts, or nautical world lovers. So, we wanted to launch the brand with something appealing to those people. This is why we created a virtual record with an outstanding prize: a real cat,” said Alexandre Dauberville, EXCESS marketing director.

“This EXCESS Challenge is a funny way to use his or her sailing and strategy skills and even if you have never tried a virtual sailing competition before, you have three attempts to improve your record time.”