In the rapidly expanding world of large performance cruising catamarans the new Balance 580 is a stand-out design’, says Phil Berman, the company’s founder and co-designer, thanks to its blend of true innovation, long-range speed and comfort at sea.
‘We are taking a lead in what was until recently a niche market sector but is now widely recognised, especially among those with a performance sailing and racing background, as being the best route to the ultimate cruising yacht,’ he says. ‘One that's responsive, fast and enormously fun to sail, but also with the deck space and internal volumes to truly offer luxury living, without the need to sail with a professional crew.’
A powerful 210m² (2,255sq ft) sailplan enables the boat to ghost along in five knots of wind or less – conditions in which most cruising yachts are likely to be burning diesel. Importantly, this is achieved within an umbrella concept that prioritises simplicity and easy control.
The three furling headsails are therefore flown from electric furlers, while the mainsail is set up for easy reefing. This allows a lone watch keeper to easily tame the sail area as the wind builds, without sacrificing performance. And one of the headsails is self-tacking, so the boat can be tacked simply by pushing the appropriate buttons on the pilot controller.
At the same time, Berman says that Balance’s unrelenting attention to weight saving, including extensive carbon reinforcement and full epoxy construction, makes this the lightest catamaran in its class. At the same time, the long and lean hulls are designed to minimise resistance and are therefore very easily driven.
The result is a boat that will sail upwind at speeds of 9-12kts, pointing remarkably high, with little leeway, thanks to the efficient high aspect daggerboards. Reaching in true winds between eight and 16-knot boatspeeds will easily equal the wind speed, without pushing hard. Once the breeze gets above 15kts, boatspeeds in the upper teens and above 20kts can be reliably achieved.
‘The 580 offers a perfect blend of freeboard, fine hulls, dual daggerboards and high underwing clearance,’ emphasises Berman. ‘She’s powerful yet easily handled solo and extraordinarily fast, while still sea kindly.’
For those not accustomed to sailing large performance catamarans, it’s difficult to appreciate the mind-blowing stability that designs of this size offer. Resistance to capsize rises exponentially with the fourth power of the boat’s length, so a 58ft model has 55 per cent more stability than a 52-footer and a whopping 442 per cent more than a 40ft cat.
In addition to offering this safe, supercharged performance, the boat was conceived from the outset for supremely comfortable living, with plenty of opportunity for owners to incorporate bespoke and homely touches. This is made possible by the state- of- the- art construction that includes hand-made ultra-lightweight foam core wood cabinetry.
This a key element in creating the 580’s elegant, Italian-designed interiors. It is an intensely time-consuming approach and an incredible 50,000 hours of skilled labour goes into each boat. However, this is the only way to avoid compromising the style and ergonomics of the accommodation, while avoiding either excess displacement or a reduced payload.
Robust and well-proven innovations, developed in the partnership with global leaders in their respective fields, are a key element in the offer from Balance. The pivoting, dual station VersaHelm, for instance, with its complete line of sight in all directions is also space saving, yet offers a perfect balance between visibility in fine weather, or when entering port, and excellent protection in adverse conditions.
1. 50,000 hours of skilled labour go into the construction of each boat. 2. Fit-out includes hand-made cabinetry with foam cores and wood veneers. 3. A spacious, full-beam bed positioned aft in one of the hulls. 4. You have a commanding view from anywhere in the saloon. 5. Attention to weight saving includes epoxy construction and carbon reinforcement.
Equally, the A-frame mainsheet, with purchase systems on both the windward and leeward sides of the boom, offers a very high level of safety along with precise control of sail shape and good long-term reliability.
This is one example of many that show Berman’s passion in identifying and refining the most appropriate systems – not necessarily the most complex or expensive – that make a big difference to life on board at sea.
The optional, next-generation VersaDrive electric propulsion system was developed in partnership with British specialist Integrel Solutions to offer smooth, almost silent and impressively powerful propulsion. It’s backed up by twin diesel engines and also includes 15kW of generating capacity per engine, along with substantial – 40kWh or larger – lithium phosphate battery banks.
A huge 4.4kW solar array is sufficient to run typical house and boat loads. It’s a setup that improves comfort levels while significantly reducing the number of refuelling stops needed when sailing off the beaten track. Indeed, Balance calculates that the system typically reduces fuel consumption by 25 per cent.
Given the yard’s location in South Africa, Balance have to be certain of their boats being fully functioning and reliable when they leave the yard, often joking they have the world’s longest sea trial due to their launch location! After commissioning in April this year, Windigo, the first 580, sailed to the Chesapeake Bay where she made the design’s official US début at the Annapolis Boat Show in October. While en route to the Caribbean the owner reported speeds of 17.4 knots in just 15.3 knots of true breeze.
Swann, the second example to leave the yard, completed her 7,355-mile delivery voyage from Cape Town to Caneten- Roussillon in the south of France after 36 days at sea, with stops in St Helena, Mindelo (Cape Verde) and Tangiers. Highlights of that passage according to her crew include “crossing the Equator, numerous encounters with dolphins, full electrical autonomy at sea and countless perfect sunsets.”
She will be showcased at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2025, offering visitors a rare opportunity to view a new yacht that has already covered substantial ocean miles.
Impressive attention to detail is evident from the design stage right through to completion. For instance, there are sight lines right around the boat from the saloon seating, plus big custom overhead hatches that optimise natural ventilation.
A well-appointed forward navigation and watch-keeping station also has excellent visibility, making this an ideal place from which to control the boat at night or in inclement weather.
Interior layouts, in three, four and five-cabin configurations, have been thoughtfully developed to meet the varied needs of liveaboard owners, long-range cruisers and charter operators. In the three-cabin layout, one entire hull is used as a dedicated owner’s suite that blends airy comfortable spaces with excellent stowage.
The king-size berth is positioned aft – a departure from Balance’s smaller models – allowing for larger living space forward. There’s also generous cabinetry and hanging lockers, plus a dressing area. The adjoining bathroom is equally well proportioned, with abundant stowage and a large, fully enclosed shower.
The opposite hull houses two spacious en suite guest cabins. It’s a layout with huge appeal for couples planning extended blue water adventures, but who still need the flexibility to accommodate guests or crew in comfort. Forward of this is a full height workshop and storage room accessible via a dedicated oversized deck hatch. Access is therefore easy and there’s ample space for surfboards, spare sails, tools and much more.
The four-cabin version pairs the owner’s suite in the port hull with an additional guest cabin. The five-cabin option has additional accommodation in the forward sections of the hulls.
‘The three-cabin version has a seriously large amount of storage capacity — ideal for liveaboard couples that can comfortably host crew and guests,”’ says Balance Catamaran’s Dean Paarman, ‘while the four-cabin version is ideal if you plan to have permanent crew or plan to entertain larger groups of guests.’
Stepping aboard the 580, one of the most immediate impressions is the openness and connection between cockpit and saloon. The wide glass doors fully retract to create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Flush thresholds, smart design lines and an island galley layout ensure unimpeded movement throughout the boat, even with many people on board.
The finish is distinctly Balance, with the foam-cored cabinetry faced with real wood veneer, offering the warmth of traditional joinery without the weight. Flooring options include high-quality vinyls, selected for both their aesthetics and durability, while real glass windows – not acrylic – deliver a clarity of view and long term durability.
‘The 580 offers an excellent blend of freeboard, hull fineness, dual daggerboards, and high underwing clearance, together with a powerful, yet easily reefed sailplan,’ explains Berman, summing up the key points of the design. ‘It all adds up to making the boat extremely fast under sail. Options to make her even lighter include a lightweight carbon coachroof, cockpit, bulkhead, partitions and soles as well as daggerboards, rudders, trunks and more.’
Balance Catamarans has clearly hit a sweet spot in the market with this design and a further seven hulls are in build, with delivery times already extended to 2027. We can expect to see a lot more of them in harbours all around the globe before long.
