What the fleet has seen
The Helia 44, as the fleet has seen it
Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.
The Helia 44 is a 13.3-meter catamaran designed by Berret-Racoupeau and built by Fountaine-Pajot between 2012 and 2018, offered in Maestro and Quatuor layouts with optional twin 55 HP Volvo engines. Aboard WEsail, the 2015 Helia 44 Evolution offers increased storage and living space compared to the Lipari 41, featuring two forward storage lockers, a three-cabin owner’s layout, and twin 55-horsepower engines.9:29 WEsail modified their Helia 44 with a 1400-watt solar array and a 750-amp-hour battery bank to power a washing machine, three refrigerators, and a water maker, and added a custom metal bracket to convert the coffee table into a dining table and integrated a rainwater collection system.10:40 Sail Life documented extensive repairs on a Helia 44's sacrificial keels in Charleston, South Carolina, after thermal imaging and surveys revealed water intrusion and high moisture levels due to failed sealant at the hull-to-keel joint.watch The repair involved removing wet foam, drying, re-foaming, re-glassing, and re-installing the keels with Sikaflex 292 adhesive after careful surface preparation and timed application.2:21 Sail Life also performed sail drive maintenance, including replacing lip seals, installing new shafts, and addressing a deformed nut on a vertical shaft with a DIY repair to avoid a full unit replacement. *Sailing Parlay Revival* compared their Lagoon 450 to a Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 during a light-air spinnaker run.1:44
