A New Way to Experience San Blas: Meet the Neel 51 Trimaran

This July, we are adding more than a new yacht to our fleet. We are introducing an entirely different way to experience the San Blas Islands.

Picture waking up at anchor in a quiet turquoise lagoon, surrounded by palm-covered islands and complete silence. There are no marinas, crowds or busy resorts—only open water and uninterrupted views. Inside, the Neel 51 offers a spacious, light-filled living area where the sea feels present from every angle, creating the perfect setting for slow mornings and memorable time together.

Built in 2023 by renowned French trimaran specialists Neel Trimarans, the Neel 51 combines exceptional space, sailing performance and modern comfort. Its innovative three-hull design creates a level of openness and stability that feels completely different from a conventional catamaran—making it an ideal platform for exploring San Blas in privacy, comfort and style.

More Stability, More Time to Relax

With a beam of almost 9 metres and three hulls working together, the 2023 Neel 51 delivers an exceptionally stable and comfortable experience, both while sailing and at anchor.

Its central hull keeps most of the weight low and close to the centre of the boat, helping reduce pitching and soften the motion through the water. The two outer hulls provide additional balance, limiting the side-to-side movement often associated with other vessels. For families, that means children can move around more confidently, older guests feel secure, meals remain comfortable and nights at anchor are noticeably calmer.

In the protected turquoise waters of San Blas, the trimaran naturally settles into the wind, creating quieter and steadier evenings beneath the stars. Under sail, it moves smoothly and efficiently between islands, performing well even in lighter trade winds and allowing guests to discover more of the archipelago without ever feeling hurried.

Performance Without Compromise

The Neel 51 delivers an impressive balance of speed, responsiveness and cruising comfort, making it equally appealing to relaxed charter guests and experienced sailors.

The Neel 51’s broad trimaran platform provides excellent stability with minimal heeling, allowing it to carry sail efficiently while maintaining a smooth and comfortable motion across a wide range of wind conditions.

Its generous sail plan, lightweight construction and uncluttered deck layout contribute to responsive handling and impressive performance, including strong upwind ability for a cruising multihull. The result is lively sailing without compromising comfort, control or safety.

Under sail, the Neel 51 feels fast, balanced and reassuring—offering an enjoyable experience for both experienced sailors and guests who simply want to relax and take in the journey.

Panoramic Master Cabin

One of the most distinctive features of the Neel 51 is its main-deck master cabin. While many multihulls place the principal cabin below deck, this layout keeps it on the same level as the main living area, providing easier access, excellent natural ventilation and panoramic sea views directly from the bed.

Whether anchored in a quiet San Blas lagoon or sailing between islands, the elevated position creates a bright, open and private retreat that feels closely connected to the surrounding landscape.

The master cabin feels bright and spacious, with large windows bringing in abundant natural light and uninterrupted views of the surrounding sea. A private ensuite bathroom adds comfort and privacy, while generous headroom, practical storage and refined finishes continue the modern, open-plan design found throughout the yacht.

The result is a peaceful private retreat that makes intelligent use of space while maintaining a strong connection to the natural surroundings. It is particularly well suited to couples who value comfort, privacy and panoramic views while cruising.

The Cockpit-Lounge, Also Known as the “Cockloon”

One of the Neel 51’s most distinctive features is the way the cockpit and interior lounge come together to form one large social area. This seamless indoor-outdoor layout, known as the “Cockloon,” creates an exceptionally open and versatile space for dining, relaxing and spending time together.

The aft cockpit sits beneath an extended hardtop, offering excellent shade and protection while remaining completely open to the sea. Comfortable seating wraps around both sides and the rear, with direct access to the swim platforms and the water, making it an ideal setting for everything from relaxed breakfasts to sunset

Just forward of the cockpit, the salon sits slightly higher and connects directly to the outdoor area through wide openings. Guests can move easily between the interior lounge and exterior seating, creating one continuous living space with excellent views while sailing or anchored.

The layout is designed for socializing, with ample room for everyone to dine, relax or enjoy sunset drinks together. Bright, open and closely connected to the sea, the cockpit-lounge naturally becomes one of the most popular gathering places during a charter in San Blas.

A Spacious Layout Designed for Shared Moments

The Neel 51 makes exceptionally efficient use of its trimaran platform, offering generous living areas without compromising sailing performance. Compared with traditional monohulls and many catamarans, its design creates a greater sense of openness and freedom of movement throughout the yacht.

At the centre of the layout is the open-plan salon, positioned on the raised bridge deck and surrounded by large windows. Natural light, panoramic views and the seamless connection with the aft cockpit create a welcoming social hub where guests can dine, unwind and enjoy their time together in San Blas.

Below deck, the outer hulls contain comfortable guest cabins with generous headroom, practical storage and the privacy needed for longer stays aboard. With the master suite positioned on the main deck, the Neel 51 also offers easier access, excellent ventilation and a layout that feels open rather than enclosed.

Overall, the design achieves an intelligent balance between space, functionality and comfort. Every area feels bright, practical and connected, creating a relaxed atmosphere that makes life aboard both effortless and enjoyable.

Experiences That Bring Everyone Together

San Blas is defined by the moments guests share along the way: snorkeling above colorful coral reefs, paddleboarding or kayaking at sunset, enjoying a beach barbecue with a local Guna family or visiting a traditional island community.

These experiences turn the charter into much more than a sailing holiday. They create lasting memories, meaningful cultural connections and the chance to discover San Blas together at a slower, more personal pace.

What makes the experience truly memorable, however, are the moments in between.

The Neel 51 is designed to make shared time feel effortless, while still giving every guest the freedom to enjoy their own space.

• Expansive open-plan living areas
• Panoramic views throughout
• Spacious, private guest cabins
• Main-deck master suite with ocean views

The Neel 51 Trimaran: More Space, More Freedom, More of San Blas

San Blas is not a destination to be rushed. It is about having the freedom to wake up in one turquoise anchorage and end the day beside another untouched island—without crowds, noise or rigid schedules.

The Neel 51’s three-hull design combines smooth sailing with excellent stability, making it especially well suited to the calm, protected and shallow waters of the archipelago. Rather than simply travelling between destinations, guests move comfortably from one experience to the next: a morning swim from a deserted beach, an afternoon paddle through a quiet lagoon and sunset drinks in a completely new anchorage.

After the flights, airports and transfers, this is where the pace finally changes. The yacht’s generous beam and intelligent layout create bright, open living areas with excellent airflow and room for everyone to relax. Movement aboard feels steady, nights at anchor feel peaceful and even guests who are usually sensitive to motion can quickly become comfortable.

The Neel 51 also provides the freedom to explore San Blas more fully:

• Access to shallow sandbanks and remote cays
• Expansive decks for relaxing and water activities
• Private spaces for families and groups of friends
• Smooth, efficient passages between anchorages

San Blas remains authentic, undeveloped and wonderfully remote. Here, true luxury is not formality or excess—it is the freedom to move, the privacy to disconnect and the space to experience the islands on your own terms.

Designed for Families, Friends and Special Occasions

This experience is perfectly suited to families looking for a safe and spacious adventure, couples travelling together, groups of friends celebrating an important occasion and multi-generational families who value privacy, comfort and authentic experiences.

San Blas remains wild, culturally rich and remarkably untouched. The Neel 51 offers an exceptional platform from which to discover it, with generous living spaces, panoramic views and the freedom to explore at your own pace. As with all our all-inclusive sailing charters, every journey is fully crewed and carefully arranged, with flexible itineraries, freshly prepared cuisine and attentive service throughout.

Available from May — Limited Dates

Our new trimaran charter experience begins in May, with limited availability. Returning guests will discover San Blas from an entirely new perspective, while first-time visitors can experience the islands as they were meant to be enjoyed: slowly, comfortably and completely connected to the surroundings.

Reserve your preferred dates and be among the first guests to explore San Blas aboard the newest addition to our fleet.