Running the Matrix

Big sailing cats have changed tremendously in the 15 years since I spent a week cruising St. Barth’s and Anguilla on a 60-foot Jeantot Marine catamaran. That was comfy, to be sure, but the new Matrix Silhouette 760 making its U.S. debut at the Strictly Sail show is in another league. Sailors tend to be the saltiest boaters, used to tight spaces and few creature comforts. But the Silhouette, built in South Africa, is similar to a larger motoryacht. Its yacht-like interior had beautiful wooden joinery in the salon and other light-hued decor that carried across its five staterooms. The VIP and master staterooms were similar to larger yachts, with en-suite bathrooms and Jacuzzis. Space is at a premium throughout this yacht.

There’s a generous 250-square-foot flybridge helm area, with a semicircle of lounges to take in sun, and a lower shaded cockpit, with a table for dining outdoors. A nifty stairwell runs down from cockpit to both sides of the hull so that guests have instant access to the water. The 38-foot beam makes the boat extremely spacious, though being a twin-hulled design, it performs well under sail. South Africa is known for its seaworthy cats, but this new Matrix sets even higher standards for quality and innovative design. The line to get onboard resembled that of a trendy South Beach nightclub, leaving no doubt that the Silhouette 760 was the queen of the Strictly Sail show.