Why “Nina” is the Ultimate FastCat 435 for Comfortable, Reliable Cruising

Among FastCat 435s, Nina distinguishes herself as an exceptional value for those seeking a well-equipped, safe, and comfortable cruising catamaran. Commissioned in 2010 and meticulously maintained, Nina has been thoughtfully upgraded to enhance both livability and long-term reliability. A comprehensive refit in 2016 saw new sail drives, rudders, and saloon window seals installed, ensuring she remains a turnkey solution for sailors ready to embark on their next adventure.

The African Cats FastCat 435 is renowned for its advanced construction. Designed by Angelo Lavranos, Nina is built using vacuum-infused epoxy resin, reinforced with carbon fiber and Divinycell foam cores. Unlike mass-produced charter catamarans, this robust yet lightweight structure ensures superior durability, increased efficiency, and resistance to osmosis—giving her a lifespan far beyond typical chapter-design production boats.

While Nina is designed to be fast and easy to sail, what truly sets her apart is her self-sufficiency and onboard comfort. She boasts a powerful solar array (630W), a reliable AGM battery bank (880Ah), and a Honda EU 2000 generator, providing reliable off-grid energy for extended cruising. Her air conditioning and Webasto heater make life aboard comfortable in any climate, while the Schenker 60L/hr watermaker ensures fresh water at all times. Her full suite of navigation and communication electronics includes a Raymarine ST70 autopilot, Garmin GPS Map 5212 chartplotters, SSB radio, AIS receiver, and satellite communication, allowing for safe and easy navigation across oceans. The new Dyform rigging (2018) supports an excellent sail inventory, including a fully battened North Sails mainsail, furling genoa (2025), and two gennakers, making Nina not only a comfortable home on the water but also a capable light-air performer. Built for strength and safety, Nina features built-in buoyancy chambers and watertight compartments, ensuring she remains unsinkable. Her well-engineered hull design helps minimize wave impact, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable ride in offshore conditions, and the cockpit layout allows for complete sail control without leaving its safety—ideal for single or short-handed sailing.

In summary, Nina is the perfect balance of speed, comfort, and self-sufficiency. Unlike many boats in this price range, she offers high-end construction, extensive upgrades, and a full suite of cruising essentials that make her one of the best values on the market today. Whether you’re looking for a liveaboard catamaran with premium amenities or a capable bluewater cruiser that can take you anywhere in comfort and safety, Nina is ready to go.

Boat History & Owner’s Comments: “Nina”

Nina is a stunning 43-foot performance-oriented catamaran, designed by Angelo Lavranos and commissioned in August 2010. Built with private owners in mind rather than the typical charter market, Nina was designed to be safe, fast, and easy to sail, making her an ideal vessel for serious cruisers seeking comfort and performance in equal measure.

“Unlike many other production catamarans which are constructed with polyester resin, Nina’s deck and hulls are epoxy resin infused, ensuring she remains osmosis free. She also boasts built-in buoyancy chambers and is constructed with tabbed-in fittings that remain silent under way.” – Owner

Constructed using vacuum-infused epoxy resin, Nina offers superior strength while remaining light and nimble. Her Divinycell foam core, carbon fiber reinforcement, and Twaron woven mat (similar to Kevlar) for impact resistance ensure she is both durable and safe for long-range cruising. The keels, rudders, mast step, and high-load elements of the structure are further reinforced with carbon fiber, while Nomex honeycomb materials, commonly used in aircraft construction, reduce weight without sacrificing structural integrity.

“The boat was built in two halves using female molds layered with woven glass fiber mat, a Divinycell core, and a final layer of woven mat. The hulls are also reinforced with the Twaron woven mat (similar to Kevlar) for improved impact resistance.” – Owner

A Proven Bluewater Cruiser with Upgrades to Match

Since her launch, Nina has proven herself as a capable bluewater cruiser, completing a South Atlantic crossing from South Africa to the Caribbean, showcasing her ability to handle long passages with ease. In 2016, she underwent a comprehensive refit in Chaguaramas, Trinidad, which included new sail drives, rudders, and resealed saloon windows, ensuring her systems and structure remained in top condition. Since then, she has been continuously cared for at the highest level, with thoughtful maintenance and strategic upgrades to enhance her self-sufficiency and onboard comfort.

Beyond her structural advantages, Nina is thoughtfully equipped for self-sufficient, liveaboard cruising. Her 630W solar array, AGM battery bank (880Ah), Honda EU 2000 generator, and Schenker 60L/hr watermaker make her capable of extended time at anchor or offshore without reliance on marinas. Comfort is equally prioritized, with air conditioning, Webasto heating, and a spacious, well-lit interior featuring king-sized cabins with en-suite heads.

“A key safety feature of the boat is that she was designed to be sailed single-handed without the need to leave the cockpit. Both the fully-battened main sail and the roller-furling genoa can be deployed, lowered, and reefed (single-line reefing) from within the safety of the cockpit.” – Owner

Sailing this catamaran is a stress-free experience, whether solo or with a full crew. The recently replaced Dyform standing rigging (2018), a full suite of modern navigation electronics including SSB radio, AIS, and redundant GPS systems, and an excellent sail inventory with two light-air gennakers make her capable in a wide range of conditions. Her well-engineered hull design minimizes wave impact, ensuring a smooth ride, while her buoyancy chambers provide exceptional safety in offshore conditions.

For those seeking a fast, safe, fun, and easy catamaran that is fully equipped for self-sufficient cruising, Nina is ready for her next adventure. Her premium build quality, top-tier upgrades, and proven bluewater performance make her one of the best values in her class on the market today.