Seawind 1200 Tec 4

Okay, so the wind fizzled and the charter starter sails propelled the eight tonne catamaran to only a gentle clip. But, hey, no-one was pacing the decks or whipping the crew. The Seawind 1200 Tec 4 is more your laid-back, feet-up, chatty kind of boat that underscores the high comfort factor of well-planned cruising cats.

Based in Wollongong, Seawind is the biggest local manufacturer of cruising catamarans. The company hasn't looked back since it started making these boats in the late 1980s. Today it employs about 60 people. Its customers include charter boat owners and operators as well as private couples who covet level-deck sailing.

Of the 30 assorted sailing and power cats built by Seawind each year, six are 1200s. However, a delayed ruling from the Australian Taxation Office in respect to deductions for charter boat investors slowed production this year, and at one stage, Seawind was forced to halve its workforce. Thankfully, the Final Draft ruling has been handed down, which should allow the company to get back to top production.

Outside of charter fleets, most Seawind buyers are inclined to be professionals, small-business owners, imminent retirees and empty nesters following a long-held dream to cruise. These people choose a cat for its stability and upright decks, abundant living space, and room to include all the mod-cons of home, like a laundry or home office, not to mention ease of sailing.

I am told that one couple cruising in a Seawind haven't had to stop work to pursue their dream. Apparently they continued trading shares from their boat using a laptop and Internet connection while gadding about the Top End.

There, as in many coastal areas, the Seawind 1200's shallow draft and small keels provide an added attraction. Going aground is not only unlikely but also advantageous. You can beach the boat to perform hull scrubs and only need to wait out a tide change if caught in a shallow bay or anchorage.

CHARTER STARTER
The flagship of Seawind's sailing range, the 1200 has had ongoing refinement and evolution ever since the first one hit the water in the late '90s. The boat shown here is hull number 19, and it's the second 1200 with the new walkthrough transom.

This boat also has the latest home entertainment centre, the first Navman autopilot, and a rather contemporary fitout for a boat heading to work in the Whitsundays.

Whether put into charter or privately owned, most Seawinds are cruising boats. Having said that, a racing wardrobe with screecher, gennaker and mainsail with a bigger roach is available for the 1200. Its highly successful sistership, the1000, often contests multihull races along the coast, and more than 130 have been built.

Whereras the 1000 is a popular dayboat in charter fleets on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater, the 1200 is the company's preferred vessel for serious week-long liveaboard work with up to four couples in places like the Whitsundays.

Naturally, this charter version of the 1200 has lots of accommodation. In fact, there were four separate double beds and two heads to comfortably accommodate eight people. Other versions of the 1200 are available with crew quarters, a home office and even sans the moulded targa top as seen here.

The onboard power systems included an inverter, shorepower connection, two 80W solar panels, separate house battery bank and alternators on the motors.

I also found things like fuel shut-offs, a fire-fighting system and bilge-pumping system for the four separate compartments, to meet survey requirements.

Hull construction is a combination of GRP and balsa cored laminates in the load areas, with foam core in the decks. There are seven bulkheads, all glassed to the hull and fashioned from foam-cored fibreglass and/or marine ply.

The hull is moulded in one piece, fitted out with handcrafted joinery and furniture and a two-piece bathroom liner, before the deck and targa are glassed in place.

Underwater, there are two spade rudders and those aforementioned mini-keels, which assist with sailing performance (pointing ability) and beaching.

The twin-spreader alloy mast is from Queenslander Dave Lambourne and Seawind says it has never yet lost one. The deck-stepped mast has inner and outer stays.

The sails on this boat were from Ian Short's loft and included a roller-furler jib and a fully-battened main stored inside lazy jacks when it's not run aloft.

A key part of the 1200's evolution, the hardtop with canvas panels provides much needed shade and protection to the cockpit. The aft targa is also a mounting point for the mainsheet traveller, above and well away from the living area. The traveller and main halyard winch are on the port side of the cockpit, so the skipper can set sail and trim without leaving the helm lounge.

LIFE ON DECK
Like most cruising cats, the Seawind 1200 is a full walkaround boat with lots of flat deck area. Full marks for the generous use of non-skid, the moulded toe rails, and the survey-height lifelines. There are pulpit seats up front, a foredeck trampoline from which to spot dolphins or work on your tan, and a neat moulded recess ahead of the mast that can be used as a bench seat.

A foredeck locker houses fenders and keeps the windlass out of big-toes' way. There is a saltwater deckwash and two 9kg gas bottles inside the locker. While you will need to tote the bottles to the transom or side gates for refills, average gas consumption on these chartered cats is but one kilo per week, I'm told.

Moulded steps and handrails assist your passage from the sidedecks to the top of the targa. Since the mainsheet traveller was moved overhead, the 1200's cockpit has become more inviting for sailors and guests.

The saloon windows are safety-glass, while the infill above them, between cabin top and targa top, is a simple clear curtain. The clip-in vinyl panels used as infills over the cockpit can be removed when you want the sun.

Fixed to this cat's aft deck is a simple pulley system for raising and lowering the 3.65m RIB swinging on davits. A bracket alongside is for carrying the outboard.

Unclip the aft lifelines and you can walk down moulded steps, past the fender lockers that also grant access to the steering gear, and dive into the water. A handheld shower and swim ladder await your return.

CAPTAIN OF THE COCKPIT
The 1200's moulded self-draining cockpit can be construed as a balcony over the water. A rail-mounted stainless steel barbecue - what cruising cat worth its salt would be without one - is a feature. So too, is 2m of headroom in the cockpit and 1.8m of standing room directly under the traveller.

The moulded lounges can be made more comfortable with cushions. Either way, there is room for five people while cruising or enjoying lap-top lunches.

The sliding helm bench seat accommodates skipper and mate. A 12V fridge is positioned conveniently in the outdoor living area.

A neat design touch is the lift-out aft saloon windows, with a dedicated storage compartment for them near the door into the saloon. Clears or flyscreens can be substituted in their place. The port-side window sill, which faces the skipper, doubles as a dash for the electronics.

Throttles for the Volvo motors, engine panels including ignition keys, and the stainless steel wheel fall comfortably to hand. You have to crouch to see the Navman GPS on the window sill and the autopilot, but at least they are well protected from the elements. A Navman wind and multifunction unit, compass and control buttons for the windlass and spreader lights are nearby.

Importantly, the view from the helm to the telltales on the jib and above to the main was unfettered. You could also see the transom and port side of the hull for parking. I am not so sure whether these things are quite so visible in wet weather with the clear curtain zipped around the helm.

This boat carries 800lt of water and 400lt of diesel for its twin 30hp Volvo engines with saildrives. Flat out, these motors with fixed three-blade props (standard on charter boats) propelled the boat to 9kt. It cruised at 6.5kt at 2400rpm on both motors.

But for motorsailing, it is more economical to run on just one engine. At 2400rpm on one motor the boat cruised at a very frugal 5.7kt. (Don't forget to swap engines to even out the running hours for joint servicing.) On one or both engines, this was a smooth and quiet boat.

SALOON BAR
Bi-fold doors open into the heart and soul of the Seawind 1200 - its big saloon. You have to duck your head on the way through, but once inside you will find headroom of about 1.90m, four opening hatches to ensure good ventilation, and big picture windows which, unfortunately, don't reveal the surrounding ocean views so well when you are seated.

But the aforementioned lift-out window panes encourage conversations from the saloon to the helm and, with the door left open, you can look back down the wake from the high-backed wrap-around lounge on the centreline.

The lounge was topped with navy-blue cushions and looked big enough for six people to sit around the mahogany table that was firmly anchored on twin pedestals. Curled up here, you could grab a catnap mid-cruise if you needed to. There was storage under the lounge.

Ruby-red rose gum with a satin finish was used for the joinery and veneer on the bulkheads. White headliners and 12V halogen lights added to the almost colonial air. The flooring was a hard-wearing mock teak-and-holly synthetic material.

The home entertainment centre comprised a flat screen television with DVD player and Pioneer surround-sound, housed in a timber cabinet. The boat's control panel was alongside, next to a small nav station with swing-out stool, chart locker and table and 12V outlet.

HIDDEN IN THE HULLS
Three steps lead off either side of the saloon to the accommodation, heads and galley in the hulls. While I was reminded that cats sail flat, and while there was a grab rail alongside the stairs, I still found myself grappling for a second rail on my way into the galley on the starboard side.

It's a big, functional galley, filling roughly half the useable length of the starboard hull. Generous food-prep counters are topped in formica and traced by fiddle rails. Amenities include twin top-loading freezers, a two-burner gas stove, oven and grill, twin sinks with hot/cold water, 12V fridge and microwave.

The boat has plenty of cupboards, pot lockers and pantry space, but the cutlery drawer had no locking mechanism and its runners seemed, well, flimsy. While there were opening portholes, there wasn't an extractor fan.

But thumbs-up for the water filter, coded plumbing and tin wiring, and the three 240V outlets. I'm told you also get a detailed owner's manual with your Seawind 1200 and as most parts are sourced locally, repairs should be quick to effect.

Oval, ship-like doors with double-toothed catches to stop rattles lead forward to the first of four double cabins. Designated as the VIP guests' cabin, the starboard cabin forward had a standard-sized double bed (custom bedding not required) raised atop the catamaran's tunnel. The step to help you into bed doubles as storage space.

Three shelves and a hanging locker are opposite the bed, while Italian-designed reading lights and brushed stainless steel powerpoint add to the cabin's style.

This cabin's ensuite is forward again and can double as the boat's dayhead, should owners choose to restrict access to their portside bathroom.

The ensuite is made from two wipe-down moulded liners that include a sink and vanity and a handheld shower. The white walls help with lighting and trendy bathroom fittings add to the look. There is a manual loo and an opening hatch, but no extractor fan.

The two aft cabins in each hull mirror each other. Each has a transverse double bunk, big hanging locker, small padded seat over a storage locker, and overhead opening hatch (but no opposing hatch for cross-flow ventilation). The Volvo diesels live under these beds and there are hatches which allow access for daily engine checks, but you will need to lift the mattress to access the dip sticks.

Near the companionway steps in the port-side hull is a built-in locker that one supposes is intended to swing the wet-weather gear. The locker drains through to the bilges, but there was no hanging rod for the jackets.

Positioned roughly amidships, the port-side head has a separate shower stall, full headroom and space for a couple to spruce up at the same time. Unfortunately, its entrance is near the companionway to the saloon, which invites guests to use the bathroom intended to serve the owner's cabin. The door to the ensuite would be better coming off the master cabin itself.

The shower was a hand-held number that pulled across the wall and clipped onto a hook. I thought this was a bit daggy considering there was plenty of room for a dedicated shower rose. Like the guests' head, this bathroom also needed an extractor fan.

A short walkway leading forward is lined with storage lockers.

The master cabin up front gains its status due to the fact it has a big storage area forward that acts as a walk-in wardrobe and has more than a dozen shelves to fill. There is also a hanging locker for your Sunday best. To access the double bed you step up on a footlocker and, well, once I stretched out I could easily have drifted off to sleep.

SIMPLY SAILING
Wind or no wind, the Seawind 1200 is an easy boat to sail. In the 7-8kt dying south-westerly we managed 4.4-5kt of boat speed. Folding props rather than the charter-standard fixed props would have helped some more.

Deck gear is Harken, Ronstan or Spinlock and all halyards and sheets lead back to the cockpit. With the autopilot at work, the boat can be sailed single-handedly. Without the pilot, you can steer with your toes while kicking back on the helm bench seat.

A single-line reefing system, small furling jib and no-brainer lazy jack system make reducing sail a snap. An electric halyard winch would help cruising couples set sail, especially if you opt for the main with deeper roach to boost boatspeed.

While mine was a slow sail to nowhere in particular, there have been plenty of meaningful voyages completed safely and swiftly in Seawind 1200s. Several of these boats have been delivered over long distances - try Wollongong around Cape York to Perth and across to Singapore. A 1200 has cruised from the Caribbean to Toronto, Canada.

With more wind and time, who knows, maybe I could have decamped for the passage from Sydney to the Whitsundays. By now, the first charterers have probably enjoyed a top holiday exploring the Whitsundays in this relaxing Seawind 1200 Tec 4. And the cost for doing that is as little as $110 per head per day.

Highs

Lows