HH52SFC
It could have been the name of a robot from Star Wars, but here we’re talking about a 52-foot HH Catamaran, in the SC full-carbon version, with a forward helm station. And we wanted to see that in real life.
The last time I saw the HH52 with hull number 1, she was still at the shipyard in China. That was December 2023. 
Today, 14 months later, I’m standing with my client at Tampa Airport, Florida, ready to see her in real life.
With the push of a button, we tuck the roof of our convertible into the trunk and cruise towards 
Tampa Bay. Apparently, we look good—people are waving at us, some are even pointing! Only upon arrival do we realize why: the roof of our convertible was still half open. So no, we weren’t actually turning heads for the right reasons.
Another big challenge this week will be keeping my rebellious big mouth shut—after all, here in Tampa, we are in the heart of American democracy.
But the sight of the HH52 makes up for a lot. Alongside her bigger sister, the HH60, as well as an HH50, an HH44, and an HH55, she’s moored here at the dock. This is where HHs for American and Canadian buyers are made ready for sailing after arriving by transport ship. With the Bahamas just a day’s sail away, it’s a great starting point.
We were consistently sailing at 90% of the wind speed.
We’re reminded of our convertible again: some car designers manage to create a car that looks fast even when it’s standing still. James Hakes has achieved something similar with the HH52. We both fall silent as we see her lying there. “Is she properly secured?” my client asks. “Because she looks like she doesn’t want to wait much longer.” Everything about this boat radiates speed. With her slightly negative bows, deep blue metallic paint, and carbon rigging, she must be an incredible sailboat.
“That’s right,” says Chris Bailet, strolling over. “We had her under sail for the first time today, and the polar diagram seems to match reality quite well—we were consistently sailing at 90% of the wind speed.”
A quick calculation makes me hesitate for a second. “Even in 20 knots of wind?” I ask. “Yup, even in 20 knots of wind!”
Commissioning team
With a team of nine colleagues, Chris Bailet works here on the commissioning of HH Catamarans for American buyers—or, in plain Dutch, making them ready to sail. With sold boats rolling out of the shipyards in China and the Philippines every week, they have their hands full.
It was already dark when we arrived, but I couldn’t resist taking some interior photos. The wood choice and upholstery selected by the owner make the interior stunning, and the finishing is sublime. Everywhere you look, everything just feels right.
My companion starts wandering through the yacht, and we don’t see him again for a while. A perfect moment to exchange thoughts with Chris.
Professional skipper
Chris previously skippered an HH66 professionally and, with that experience, provided valuable input for the layout of the HH52. Like Chris, I spent much of my younger years skippering and can personally attest to the importance of a well-designed deck layout. Of course, everyone on board is eager to help, but once the crackers and wine glasses appear on deck, you’re often left to handle the boat alone—and it still needs to be manageable, even in heavy weather. A well-thought-out deck layout makes all the difference.
Forward Cockpit
That’s why Chris contributed significantly to the idea of a helm station in front of the nacelle. Right there, directly under the mast, all the lines converge, and the skipper does their job. It may seem “racy,” and in some ways, it is—the fully carbon-built HH52 SC is a performance boat with a carbon rig and a speed potential of over 20 knots. With a professional race crew, the windward hull can even skim just above the water for maximum speed.
My client, however, quickly makes it clear that he has no such ambitions. “Look,” he says, “I love my wife and want to sail with her. But she’ll only come along if it’s safe and comfortable. I personally enjoy speed, but I’d rather keep her and the grandkids away from lines and winches. And I need to be able to handle everything myself, even when the wind is howling.” He says it almost apologetically, but we reassure him—most of our buyers have the same priorities.
That’s exactly why, as Chris explains, the forward cockpit was designed. Interestingly, it was another Chris—Chris White—who first came up with this concept back in the 1970s.
Most of our buyers have the same priorities.
There are even more advantages:
- We all know the frustration when aft-led lines kink and jam, forcing you to go back to the mast. Here, you’re standing right next to them.
- Since the halyards are shorter, there’s less stretch. On this boat, that’s less of an issue because HH sails are self-locking. This means they lock into a slot in the mast, so the halyard is no longer under tension. But the lines can still be pulled by hand. With below-deck systems, friction over multiple blocks is so high that even a slack line often needs to be winched in.
- There’s a much better passage to the trampoline. Two large doors open into the cockpit, and from there, you step forward via two steps.
“We burned quite a few neurons over those doors,” Chris says. They’re angled in such a way that in heavy weather, you can keep the windward door closed and the leeward door open to block spray effectively. Of course, both can be closed as well, allowing the helmsman to remain inside.
Inside the salon, the skipper has much better contact with the rest of the crew, making them feel more connected. At the same time, the crew is more aware of the skipper’s position, which adds to overall safety.
- Finally, the aft cockpit remains free of lines and winches. This becomes a social space where no one has to worry about (children’s) hands getting too close to travellers or other hazardous equipment. And for the skipper—I can tell you from personal experience—that’s a reassuring thought.
Good Visibility on the Sails
To ensure a clear view of the sails from the salon, a large window has been integrated into the salon roof. With the push of a button, it can be electrically opened.
However, this comes with a drawback—it takes up space that could otherwise be used for solar panels. Another downside is that it requires a different interior layout for the salon. Fortunately, at 52 feet, the boat is spacious, but the fact remains that the interior helm station occupies part of the salon.
Tiller steering
Of course, there’s the fantastic option of tiller steering. Steering a high-speed boat while sitting half outside is an incredible experience. The seats fold forward so they don’t stick out during harbor maneuvers.
Safety: mainsheet dump system
This yacht is equipped with a so-called mainsheet dump system. The mainsheet runs on a below-deck drum and can be controlled at the helm station and the tiller control panels with the push of a button. Using a joystick, the skipper can easily trim or ease the mainsheet.
Load Sensors
Sensors in the chainplates measure the load on the rigging, providing a brilliant way to trim the mast. The Dyneema rigging doesn’t use traditional terminals but is cut to the exact length. A hydraulic pump allows the mast to be adjusted upward until the sensors indicate the correct tension.
In heavy weather, this system also serves as an emergency safeguard. If excessive load is detected, the yacht automatically dumps the mainsheet, preventing overpowering. While the system can precisely control the mainsheet manually, once the safety mechanism engages, it releases at several meters per second—ensuring the boat never unintentionally lifts onto one hull.
Strategically placed buttons throughout the yacht allow the mainsheet to be released instantly when needed.
The next day, we take another tour of the boat. In daylight, everything looks even more impressive.
In front of us lies an HH60—“The mighty sixty,” as Paul Hakes calls it. Behind it, an HH44. Of course, we step on board for a look and meet the owners, both employed at SpaceX.
“Hi, we’re Casey and Erin, and we build rockets for a living!”
They plan to sail to the Bahamas, but first, they’re heading to the Miami Boat Show. You won’t find me there, but I will be at the Multihull Show in La Grande Motte, where we’ll be showcasing an HH44.
Send me an email to schedule an appointment—it looks like it’ll be busy again: ron@rossinante.com.