dazcat

Darren Newton, or Daz built his first catamaran Dazcat 1 with the help of his parents Rodney and Sonia and his brother Carl. He’d been a keen Hobiecat sailor in his teenage years and ended up winning the Round the Island race on his first boat. Then came the second build: Renegade after which he moved to Millbrook in Cornwall to work on the third Dazcat and set up the business.

dazcat 1395

In 1994 he won the Trans-Atlantic with Bob Beggs on Active Air (Dazcat 3).

In 1999, Multimarine was formed. Business expanded into building boats from other designers and maintenance work which helped the business grow on a solid footing going into the new millenium. In 2013, the company bought the Multihull Centre (previously run by Pat Patterson from Heavenly Twins) allowing them to expand their services into brokerage and berthing.

The combined strengths of Dazcat, Multimarine and the Multihull Centre has enabled the group to grow steadily over recent years with rising demand for their services and products including a refit for Gunboat 55 Rainmaker which was salvaged and relaunched as a performance power cat.

The Boats

Photos credit: Dazcat from Multihullcentre.com

Dazcat #1 1988

Dazcat 1

Dazcat #1 was a 28 footer that won the 1991 Round the Island Race in 3h 55m.

Dazcat #2 Renegade 1991

dazcat #2 renegade

A 26 footer that you could dismount and transport by trailer. Built with ISO Polyester and Spheretex core biaxial glass.

Dazcat #3 Clarke’s Active Air, renamed Brain

dazcat #3

This F26 Micro-racer was built in 1994 and was the first Dazcat to be built in Millbrook. Originally called Clarke’s Active Air, then Brain, she was last spotted in Croatia. It looks like she’s now called Oceano.

She completed two transatlantic races, first with Darren Newton and Bob Beggs in the two-handed, then later in the single handed by Bob.

LOA: 8m
Beam: 5m (approx.)
Weight: 1150 kgs
Berth: 2 (for 2 small ones)
Construction: Airex PVC foam core

Dazcat #4 Cloud 9 1995

dazcat #4 cloud 9

Launched as a 35 footer but later extended to 40 foot. Cloud 9 was Dazcats first cruiser

Dazcat #5 “Specially Selected”: Dazcat 920 SBC: 1997
SBC stands for Sports Bridgedeck Catamaran

This was designed for the Three Peaks Yacht Race, a race up the West Coast of the UK with runs up the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, the highest peaks of Wales, England & Scotland. The galley and navigation station are set half down in the hulls like the new designs give full standing headroom and great all-round views. The saloon seating is U-shaped and the table drops down to create a double berth.

Dazcat #6 “Paradox”. 9m Trimaran 1997

Designed for Alan Grace for the Round Britain and Ireland Race which she wi=on 3 times. Also came 2nd in class in the Fastnet

Dazcat #7 Deja Vu 1998

8m beach cat with trapezing racks

Dazcat #8 “Leigh” Dazcat 920 ORC 1998
An open bridgedeck 920. Won a 3 Peaks Race.

Dazcat #9 “Belladonna” D10 1999

dazcat d10 belladonna

Built as a 10m cruiser and refitted in 2006. Construction is vacuumed foam sandwich, with multi-axial E-glass fabric, Kevlar and carbon reinforced with vinylester and isothalic polyester resin systems.

Dazcat #10 “Zaba” D10 2001

dazcat zaba d10