Aquila 42 Coupe: the catamaran that will revolutionize the market is a game-changer. Sea trial.

It’s not every day that we witness the birth of an entirely new type of boat, but with the introduction of the Aquila 42 Coupe, the boating industry is taking a significant leap forward. As sleek as a sporty yacht, as comfortable as only a catamaran can be, and equipped with an innovative foil system, this multihull is setting a new market standard.

So, it’s easy to understand why, when I was invited to test the new Aquila 42 Coupe on a 300-nautical-mile journey from Clearwater to Miami, I immediately said yes. After all, very few shipyards are willing to conduct such long and demanding sea trials, giving those on board the incredible opportunity to experience a boat in real-world conditions. What’s more, the route for the Aquila 42 Coupe’s sea trial is nothing short of spectacular.

On the first day, we’ll cruise across the Gulf of Mexico ( renamed the Gulf of America from January 20), following Florida’s west coast for 150 nautical miles until we reach Marco Island. The next day, we’ll continue along the peninsula to the Everglades, rounding Cape Sable—the southernmost point of the continental United States—before weaving through the labyrinth of islands, islets, and shallow waters of the Florida Keys. Our journey will end in Key Largo, where we’ll anchor off Pumpkin Key for the night, after covering another hundred nautical miles.

On the morning of the third day, we’ll set off early to reach Miami just in time to bring the Aquila 42 Coupe to the Miami Boat Show, where it will make her world premiere.

Aquila 42 Coupe Sea Trial

Day 1

To fully grasp the extent of the innovation that the Aquila 42 Coupe brings, you really have to experience it firsthand. The large central foil connecting the two hulls is fixed and specifically designed to maximize efficiency when cruising between 30 and 50 miles per hour (roughly 25 to 40 knots), which makes a huge difference compared to traditional navigation. Using it is incredibly simple: once the boat gets up on plane, adjusting the trim not only changes the boat’s trim but also affects the foil’s angle of attack, slightly lifting the hull and reducing its effective weight by about 50%.

This system works perfectly with the latest-generation outboard engines mounted at the stern: a pair of Mercury Verado V10s, each delivering 400 horsepower. At speeds over 30 miles per hour (almost 27 knots), they consume just 4.2 liters per nautical mile—or, if you prefer, only 1 gallon per land mile.

This is a significant result, as it clearly demonstrates the efficiency of a system capable of reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 40-50% compared to a traditional yacht of the same size.

But it’s only once you’re on board the Aquila 42 Coupe that you truly appreciate the benefits of this system. As soon as the boat planes—today, with a steep head sea—the impact of the waves nearly disappears, almost as if we were riding on a boat equipped with shock absorbers.

Maybe that’s why, taking turns at the helm with Jure Zule—my travel companion and Head of Product Development at Aquila Power Catamarans—the first 150 nautical miles fly by. The time passes pleasantly as we chat and even take a break to rest in my cabin. Despite cruising at over 30 knots, the Aquila 42 Coupe offers a level of comfort well above average.

We arrive at Marco Island just as the sun begins to set. Navigating through the channel into the inland waters, we smoothly reach our mooring. Thanks to the outboards and joystick steering system, docking is a piece of cake, and in no time, we’re securely tied up.

After tidying up the boat and preparing the cabins for the night, we go out for dinner. The onboard spaces are simply huge—not just the main deck, which, thanks to its nearly 5-meter beam, offers the same space as a 50-foot monohull, but also the two large cabins, which, to my amazement, are essentially two master suites, each with a private bathroom and separate shower.

Storing my luggage is a breeze. I have two wheeled camera bags, a trolley packed with clothes for two weeks, and my backpack—yet everything disappears instantly into the low cabinets in the cabin. There’s still plenty of storage space left, both in the upper cupboards and in the countless compartments this Aquila 42 Coupe has to offer.

After dinner, we return to the boat, and I head straight to bed. Another intense day awaits us tomorrow.

Day 2

Waking up on this catamaran feels a bit like discovering you’re staying in a seaside villa. I get out of the massive bed and step straight into the shower, which is so spacious that I can even dry off inside before stepping out. I shave as if I were at home, and then I’m ready for coffee. Climbing the four steps up to the main deck, I take in the sight of the expansive linear galley, fully equipped with everything I could possibly need.

The large windows of the Aquila 42 Coupe offer an incredible connection to the outside. As the sun rises, everything is bathed in a deep red glow—what a spectacle…

We set off shortly after, and once we reach the open sea, we’re greeted by a decent swell—naturally, according to Murphy’s Law, right on the bow. I take the helm, bring the catamaran onto plane, adjust the trim, and just like the day before, the magic happens again. Thanks to the large central foil, the boat lifts slightly off the water, dramatically reducing the effects of the waves.

Every now and then, we hit a bigger wave, and much like a monohull, the Aquila 42 Coupe lifts its bow before settling back down smoothly, with no harsh impacts—its seakeeping abilities are truly impressive.

After about 30 miles, the sea finally calms. We’re offshore near Everglades National Park, where the water is dotted with countless small buoys left by local fishermen. It’s the perfect excuse to test the catamaran’s turning capabilities—so, without slowing down, I spin the wheel hard to starboard!

The Aquila 42 Coupe doesn’t flinch—it tilts ever so slightly and delivers an incredibly tight turn. The sensation is completely different from a monohull: the centrifugal force increases, the turning radius is tight, but the boat stays perfectly level, as if it were gliding along a pair of invisible tracks holding it firmly to its curved trajectory.

I countersteer, and once again, the catamaran responds promptly and without hesitation. The level of safety on the Aquila 42 Coupe is truly impressive. I straighten out and hand the helm over to Jure. We’re cruising alongside other Aquila Power Catamarans, and this is too good a photo opportunity to pass up. I head below deck to grab my camera gear, start shooting, and then pause for a moment—I realize we’re cruising at over 40 knots, yet the boat barely moves. I go back to taking photos, completely at ease. I am on one of the most stable yachts in the world.

Evening

We arrive in Key Largo in the late afternoon, meeting up with the rest of the fleet to anchor off Pumpkin Key for the night.

It’s impressive how effortlessly ten catamarans raft up together—the whole process takes no more than half an hour. As the sun starts to set, I rush to my cabin, grab my drone, and launch it immediately. These are the kind of shots I simply can’t miss.

The evening at anchor is simply fantastic. We start with sushi, expertly prepared by Lex at the stunning bar of the Coupe 46, then move on to a burger barbecue set up on the flybridge of the Aquila 54. I hop from one catamaran to the next just by walking across them—the hulls are rock solid on the water, without the slightest hint of rolling.

Life on a multihull is truly something else…