Foutaine Pajot Athena Catamaran

[Peter]

I’m thinking of buying one of these yachts, would like to hear from anyone who has owned or sailed one of these cats to get there views, good or bad to help in the decision process


Thanks

Peter

 

[snowleopard]

Look at the galley and ask yourself - will I ever want to cook at sea and if so, how would I cope?

 

[Talbot]

Very nice, and good for liveaboard in the marina, but not so good on the ocean passages for living.

second hand ones seem always to look rather tired due to their lightweight construction.

 

[jeremyshaw]

We have a FP Belize and are very happy with the build quality, which I believe compares well with other cat builders.

Friends of ours have had an Athena for a couple of years and have been sailing it round the Med. They are very happy and have had no problems.

Is this your first cat? If so you will need to separate out the decision to buy a cat and the decision to buy THIS cat. Many people tend to muddle them up. Personally I'd not have anything else and nearly all the traffic is from monos to cats, not the other way.

Best wishes

 

[hobiecat]

There are a variety of cats on the market. I have experience of this boat. FP is a good production boat though I do agree with some of the comments already made. Lightweight construction is extremely strong but lightweight fittings are a different matter.

 

[mobydick]

I have sailed a few cats in my time, but when I sailed a Dean 440 from Cape Town to Turkey via the Atlantic a couple of years ago I would not have wanted to be in any other cat in the bad weather we encounteredin the Northern Atlantic. It behaved impeccably. There is one for sale at www.solboats.com .

 

[Searching]

Hi Peter I have chartered one of these three times in Mallorca if you need some info just contact

 

[timevans2000]

We met a chap in Antigua who has one of these. He is a yacht surveyor. He has sailed the Atlantic in a small mono but bought the Athena to sail the Caribbean. He lives in Grenanda. We were comparing our Snowgoose with the Athena. He said he wouldnt be happy sailing his Athena across the Atlantic as he didnt think she could cope with seriously rough weather due to the light build. We sailed back across the Atlantic this May. 21 days to windward! Would you want to do that in a lightly built cat?

 

[boatmike]

I know I will get slated for this but I could not agree more. I own a snowgoose and have sailed plenty of cats but delivered a FP from Brittany to Cornwall last year for somebody and in a F6 SW(gusting 7-8) which the SG would have romped along in. This [--word removed--] jumped all over the oggin and tried very hard to bury her lee bow several times, would not hold a steady course and when reefed would hardly go at all! Strictly for fair weathweather sailors in my opinion!