Construction well underway on the Askari 55 Performance Adventure Catamaran

Construction is now well underway on the first Askari 55 Performance Adventure Catamaran, marking an important milestone in the continued growth of Askari Yachts’ aluminium sailing portfolio.

Built in Cape Town, South Africa, and designed by the award-winning Du Toit Yacht Design, the Askari 55 is engineered for serious sailors who demand both performance and comfort. This is a yacht conceived for global exploration — fast, efficient, and capable of sustained bluewater passage-making without compromise.

Du Toit Yacht Design, recognised as the most prolific catamaran design firm in the Southern Hemisphere by metres and tonnage delivered, has created a vessel that blends hydrodynamic efficiency with structural strength. The Askari 55 features slender hulls, a fixed-keel configuration, and a balanced prismatic form that ensures excellent tracking, predictable handling, and sustained efficiency at passage speeds.

With an overall length of 16.80 metres (55.12 ft) and a beam of 8.56 metres (28.09 ft), the Askari 55 delivers generous onboard volume while maintaining the performance characteristics expected of a true offshore sailing catamaran. The total sail area of 192.8 m² (2,074 ft²) provides powerful yet manageable performance, supported by twin 43 kW (57 HP) engines for reliable auxiliary propulsion.

The Askari 55 is the first in a new performance sailing series that will also include 49- and 60-foot models. Each yacht in the series is purpose-built for long-range performance cruising, with emphasis on structural integrity, reliability, and interior versatility.

Constructed entirely in aluminium, the Askari 55 benefits from exceptional durability and long-term structural resilience. Aluminium construction also allows for significant design flexibility, enabling owners to customise cabin layouts, living spaces, and onboard systems to suit their cruising ambitions.

Three initial general arrangement options — A, B, and C — provide flexibility across different ownership profiles, from private liveaboard comfort to extended offshore adventure cruising. With full standing headroom, generous living areas, and carefully engineered systems, the Askari 55 is designed for ease of maintenance and practical bluewater independence.

An optional hybrid propulsion configuration further enhances fuel efficiency and supports low-impact cruising, reflecting Askari Yachts’ commitment to responsible long-range exploration.

Alongside the Askari 55 sailing series, Askari Yachts continues construction of the Askari 65 Power Long Range Cruiser, reinforcing the company’s focus on aluminium yachts built for serious offshore capability.

Purpose-built in Cape Town, the Askari 55 represents the next evolution in performance adventure catamarans — engineered for sailors who value seaworthiness, endurance, and understated elegance over showroom excess.