Test Excess 13 winner European Yacht of the Year 2026 | Family Cruisers

I'll write it right away: the two hours of sailing aboard the new Bénéteau Group catamaran were—for SUPER YACHT 24—the least windy of all the tests of the 21 nominated boats conducted between Ijmiuden, Netherlands, and Port Ginesta, Spain. But it doesn't matter, because often the best qualities are most appreciated when the conditions are "extreme." And the Excess 13 deserves credit for being a catamaran that makes sailing its strong point. And those of the jury who tested it in appropriate conditions had no doubts about it (just read the comments below). It's not a performance catamaran, but a vessel for family cruising that still focuses on performance and the pleasure of sailing. Having sailed all the other models from the shipyard founded in 2019—the Excess 11, 14, and 15—I believe the 13 to be the most successful and, not coincidentally, the first to win the European Yacht of the Year award in the Family category. The 13 also marks a new phase, highlighted by the new design team, now composed of Marc Lombard Yacht Design for naval architecture and Piaton Yacht Design for interiors, who have taken turns with VPLP Design, Patrick le Quément, and Nauta Design. Among large-scale production catamarans like Lagoon (which is part of the same group), Fountaine Pajot, Bali Catamarans, and Leopard, Excess (together with Nautitech) has chosen the twin external helm solution, similar to that found on monohulls. And it is precisely this feeling that has always inspired the shipyard to attract younger owners, attracted by the spaciousness of catamarans but unsure about their performance.

In Spain, it's a day with very light winds and a bothersome swell, perhaps the worst conditions in general and especially for a catamaran. We're sailing with a Code 0 in about 6-8 knots of wind, which on the one hand quickly eases but on the other allows us to enjoy the seaworthiness of this Excess 13, capable of doing something simple but appreciated by sailors: resist the temptation to start the engine and continue sailing. We're sailing at 5-6 knots thanks to a sail, the Code 0, which was born and later developed thanks to multihulls that exploit it to its full potential in precisely these conditions.

The hull provided by the shipyard for testing is number 1, equipped with the Sail Away, Pulse Line, and Fast & Curious interior packages. The most interesting features include the sail plan, with a square-top mainsail and an Elvstrøm Sail genoa in eXrp Ekko laminate with a Performance mast, boom, pulpits, and handrails lacquered in black for an elegant aesthetic touch. All rigging is accessible to the helmsman, who remains in the cockpit at all times, rather than disappearing upstairs as is the case with other models. The winches are Harken with the primary electrified, while the electronics are Garmin with a 12" GPSMap display for each helm station. At the stern, the mainsail track has a dedicated winch that also serves to launch and haul the tender using two dedicated davits. The freshness of the new design team is immediately noticeable with the first innovation that is immediately evident as soon as you step aboard: the two aft platforms are no longer open as in the past but can be closed with a manual hatch for greater safety in the open sea. The two helm seats provide additional protection and lift vertically to free up the passage towards the stern. On the main deck, the cockpit and saloon are seamlessly connected thanks to a larger window and the galley that faces aft, leaving a practical space for access to the counter. The interiors showcase the new style created by Jean-Marc Piaton's team with colors, materials, and finishes that break with the past while also saving weight. The saloon features a chart table in the The front section, the extra-large windows, and the standard refrigerators. The version we tested features three cabins and three bathrooms, with the starboard hull entirely dedicated to the owner: a double bed aft, a relaxation/office area in the center (note the new, light and elegant bookcase), a large bathroom with a walk-in closet and a separate shower stall in the bow. The door separating the sleeping area from the bathroom has a dual function: when closed, it prevents anyone who uses this space from disturbing those relaxing; when open, it closes the walk-in closet. The port hull, on the other hand, is traditional, with two double cabins and a pair of bathrooms in the center, with a shared shower in the center; here too, there are two dual-function doors that close off the cabins and the walk-in closet. A version with four cabins and four bathrooms is also available. The Excess 13 was in the Family category along with the monohulls Dufour 48, Oceanis 52, Sun Odyssey 415, and the catamarans Fountaine Pajot 41, Lagoon 41, and Lagoon 42. 38 and Leopard 46, the only one not made in France in this category, the most numerous.

The jury's reasons

Axel Nissen-Lie | Seilmagasinet | NOR
Finally a fast multihull at a reasonable price. If you enjoy using sails as your primary means of propulsion and prefer functional solutions to everything else, you should take a look at this new 43-footer. The Excess 13 offers sporty sailing performance and sleek lines. It's a catamaran that sails well upwind, even without daggerboards. On the open sea, at any speed, it's a true mile-eater. The interiors are bright, minimalist, airy, yet vibrant. They hark back to 1960s Scandinavian design, a style sure to appeal to the boat's target audience. The Excess conveys the impression of a well-thought-out and meticulously crafted project.

Alberto Mariotti | Super Yacht 24 | ITA
Style and substance. Young, modern families love lively cruising, and the Excess 13 doesn't disappoint. Indeed, it offers the comfort of a catamaran and the freshness of a design updated compared to previous models. The focus wasn't just on style, but also on substance, with weight savings and more efficient waterlines. The result is a boat that prefers sailing to motoring, even in light winds. This is exactly what happened during our test, where the Excess showcased its qualities thanks to a powerful sail plan with a square-top mainsail. But be warned: the 13 remains a pure cruising catamaran, easy to handle and welcoming, with the added attitude of a sprinter when needed.

Pasi Nuutinen | TotalVene.fi | FIN
A deserving winner. The new Excess captivates with its fresh and pragmatic interiors. The galley is well-organized and equipped, the relaxation area is easily accessible and generously sized, and the chart table is cleverly positioned. None of these spaces is overly multifunctional, but they serve their purpose well. The same goes for the accommodations: they're not overly over-the-top, yet offer sufficient space for the crew and their belongings. The owner's version even offers a full-fledged office space for onboard work. All the spaces are well-connected. Given the impressive performance and the excellent sensations underway, at the helm, and while maneuvering, the Excess 13 is clearly worthy of the award.

Diego Yriarte | Nautica & Yates | EXP
A fresh approach that can win you over. The Marc Lombard Design team has managed to maintain and even strengthen the essence of the Excess brand with this new 13, while also incorporating their expertise in multihulls and performance. Focusing on lightweight construction, they worked with the shipyard to further optimize the hull lines, allowing sailing purists to enjoy a youthful and playful style without sacrificing interior space and natural light.

Roland Regnemer | YachtRevue | AUT
Promised. Delivered! The Excess 13 delivers on the brand's promise better than any other model from the young French shipyard to date: good sailing qualities and a minimalist design with a high level of comfort. Below deck, the owner's version we tested completely won me over thanks to its sometimes unconventional but intelligent solutions.

Marinus van Sijdenborgh de Jong | Zeilen | NED
Cruising catamaran with monohull sensations. The Excess 13 is the boat the shipyard had been looking for from the beginning. It's not the brand's first good model, but in my opinion, it's the first truly mature Excess. Not only does it have a sporty feel, but it can easily reach hull speed. The helm is responsive and lively. It's the only cruising catamaran I've ever sailed that feels like a monohull at the helm. It's packed with simple yet intelligent solutions that make life on board easier, and the interior layout, designed for private owners, works wonderfully. Truly well done.

Morten Brandt-Rasmussen | Bådmagasinet | DEN
Designed for sailors. The Excess 13 represents the most compelling realization yet of the promise Excess made when the brand launched in 2019: to create a performance-oriented cruising catamaran that would appeal to sailors with experience in surfing, light sailing, and hands-on sailing. Compared to previous models, the 13 feels lighter, more responsive, and closer to the original ambition. Central to this is the Nautitech-inspired cockpit concept, with twin helms and all rigging and sheets located on the same level as the cockpit and saloon. Sailing becomes an integrated activity shared by everyone on board, rather than a solitary task for a skipper isolated on a raised platform, as is the case with most cruising catamarans. In a multihull market often dominated by “floating apartments,” the Excess 13 puts sailing back at the center of the experience.

Toby Hodges | Yachting World | GBR
A rare combination of performance and comfort. The maturity demonstrated in changing designers has helped Excess make a qualitative leap with this model. The Excess 13 is designed and built to its design weight, while ensuring rigidity and agility for high-level performance. The result is a boat that's rewarding to sail, even in rough seas, while offering more space than others in its category. It successfully blends performance and accommodation volume, making it attractive for manageable family cruising. Hats off! 

Sébastien Mainguet | Voiles & Voiliers | BETWEEN
The best Excess catamaran ever. Why? Because it sails very well while offering all the comfort and space you need for cruising. At the helm, in a fresh breeze, you can really have fun. This boat isn't overly equipped or overly complex: it simply has what you need for proper sailing and a long life on board.

Joakim Hermansson | Praktiskt Båtägande | SWE
All boxes checked. The Excess brand was launched in 2019, and since then we've reviewed most of the models, unfortunately not always leaving us completely satisfied. Until now. The Excess 13 ticks all the right boxes with a successful design, good build quality, well-placed equipment, and great comfort below deck. Sailing her is pure pleasure, and unlike many other catamarans, she transitions naturally and effortlessly from one speed to another.

Lori Schüpbach | Marina.ch | SUI
A catamaran packed with smart ideas. After some initial difficulties, Beneteau has achieved exactly what the designers wanted with the Excess brand. The Excess 13 is a fast cruising catamaran with good sailing characteristics. The helm feedback is very similar to that of a good cruising monohull – only the beam sections of the hull still lacked potential, according to the jury. Many intelligent solutions have been skilfully implemented on board, such as rainwater collection, dual-function doors, and an unusual storage concept.

Jochen Rieker | YACHT | GER
A catamaran packed with smart ideas. Hervé Piveteau is a discreet, extremely polite, and attentive man. No one would guess that Excess's current product manager was once a seasoned racer in the Mini 6.50 class, winning the famous Mini-Transat in 2007. When he joined Excess nearly four years ago, his goal was to transform the brand to deliver on its original promise. And he succeeded. Not radically, but step by step, bringing everyone on board with the change. His influence was already evident with the Excess 14, the first new model under his management. With the 13, he has fully achieved his goal. Finally, a cruising catamaran that brings true excitement to an otherwise uninspiring segment of the market, where progress is measured in square meters of living space and deck space rather than sail area. Hervé has not limited himself to increasing the new boat's performance by saving weight and refining the hull lines and sail plan together with the Lombard studio. It also significantly stiffened the structure, resulting in a much more direct helm response, better acceleration in gusts, and far fewer creaks and vibrations from the furniture below deck. All this, combined with a fresh, minimalist design approach, made the Excess 13 a clear winner. It reminds us why sacrificing emotion for space might not be the right choice for a sailboat. For any sailboat, after all.

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