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Aquila enters sailing cat sector
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A world leader in powercats, Aquila is now developing a line of sailing catamarans, with the first model to debut in early 2026.
Aquila 50ES
Aquila, one of the world’s leading powercat brands, is developing a series of CE Category A sailing catamarans starting with the 50ES, which is set to debut at the 2026 Miami International Boat Show from February 11-15. Its range of masted models will then expand with the 44ES and 63ES, scheduled to launch in late 2026 and 2027 respectively.
The 50ES, available with four, five or six cabins, has an overall length of 49ft 1in, a 25ft 9in beam and an 82ft 6in mast height above waterline. Its Doyle sails comprise a 90sqm mainsail (optional 96.4sqm square-top) and a 66sqm furling genoa, while options include a 102.8sqm gennaker.
Aquila management said a major reason for the new series was the potential market, observing that between 150-200 powercats are sold into the US each year compared to about 300 sailing catamarans. As well as private sales, charter will be a major focus for the sailing models.
Aquila 50ES
“This expansion represents our next phase as a global boat manufacturer,” said Frank Xiong, CEO of Sino Eagle Group, which manufactures the Aquila portfolio at its 100,000sqm production facility in Hangzhou, China. “We’ve proven ourselves in power catamarans, and now we’re leveraging the deep sailing experience of our team to enter this market.”
Aquila’s team includes Executive Advisor Lex Raas, who co-founded Aquila in 2012 with Xiong and MarineMax founder Bill McGill, who retired last year. A lifelong sailor, Lex Raas is renowned for his pioneering role in developing both the sailing catamaran charter industry through The Moorings and Leopard, and the powercat sector through Leopard and Aquila.
Jean Raas, Lex’s son, is Aquila’s CEO and Chief Product Officer, and was a former member of the US Sailing Team. Jean’s brother Alain, Aquila’s Global Brand Director, also has a strong sailing background including multiple ocean crossings.
Aquila 44ES
Nick Harvey, Aquila’s Chief Revenue Officer, formerly spent over two decades with Groupe Beneteau, working in the US for brands including Lagoon and Jeanneau, while service manager Gareth Wood formerly captained sailing catamarans and is an experienced offshore sailor.
Jure Zule, Aquila’s Chief Designer, is another passionate sailor among the team, while Slovenia’s J&J Design, a long-time Aquila’s collaborator, has designed many sail boats among its portfolio of 400 production boat designs for 70 builders across 30 countries.
Jean Raas said: “This team brings decades of actual sailing experience to the drawing board.”
Distinguished by a sloping coachroof, Aquila sail cats carry some design features of Aquila’s powercats including the flybridge-to-bow stairs, while selling points include a solid foredeck, accessible by a forward saloon door. Each cabin has its own entrance and an en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower, while options include Aquila’s patented tender crane that extends aft from the flybridge overhang.
Aquila 44ES
Options also include Hybrid Ocean Drive™, Aquila’s integrated hybrid system developed with Torqeedo. Combining electric and diesel power, the hybrid system on the 50ES includes two 50kW Torqeedo Deep Blue inboard motors and two 50-75hp Volvo Penta Saildrive engines.
“Our hybrid system isn’t an afterthought – it’s integrated from day one,” Jean Raas said. “We designed the entire propulsion architecture around this dual-power approach, ensuring seamless transitions and optimal performance in every scenario.”
Aquila 63ES
Aquila is also banking on the build quality of its sailing cats, which are produced alongside the brand’s powercats at Sino Eagle’s purpose-built 100,000sqm facility. Hardware includes a 5-axis milling machine, while upholstery, 316 stainless steel components, electronics and woodworking are manufactured on-site.
Hulls, decks and bulkheads are built as complete components using one-piece moulds, with the shipyard using vinylester resin infusion, which “provides superior structural properties compared to standard polyester resins”, Aquila states. The company also announced that no wood is used in bulkheads, stringers or other critical, high-structural load areas.
Aquila’s dealers in Asia including Marine Italia in Hong Kong and Singapore, Primus Marine in Thailand, Europa Yachts in the Philippines and Indonesia, and Tam Son Yachting in Vietnam.
