Journalist Marilyn DeMartini took the Aquila 45 Sport sailing in Florida waters for YachtWorld. The verdict is summed up in a single word that he repeated throughout the test: fly.
When an outlet like YachtWorld gets on a boat, it’s not looking for easy headlines: it’s looking to see how it really behaves on the water. And what Marilyn DeMartini found when testing the Aquila 45 Sport was, in her own words, a boat that doesn’t sail, it flies.
“Most cats prowl, pounce or purr, but the Aquila 45 Sport flies,” DeMartini wrote after the Florida sea test. A phrase that well summarizes what distinguishes this motor catamaran within the Aquila Sport segment: above-average performance, without giving up the stability or social space that characterizes the brand.
A social platform that transforms in seconds
The 45 Sport’s 15-foot (4.57 m) beam becomes 19 feet (5.88 m) thanks to two hydraulic folding terraces aft. In a matter of seconds, the cockpit transforms into an XXL platform for sunbathing, entertaining or descending directly into the water, with no steps or obstacles between the bow and stern.
Engine and navigation: the heart of “flight”
Two 600 HP Mercury V12s in outboard configuration, combined with a double-step hull, are responsible for that sensation of flight over the water. The result: speeds in excess of 50 mph (43 knots) with stable sailing even at high speed, thanks to the hull design reducing the wetted surface as power increases.
Also designed to spend the night on board
Beyond daytime use, the 45 Sport incorporates a king-size cabin and a full enclosed bathroom, allowing you to plan weekend getaways with the same ease as organizing a day trip.
The conclusion of YachtWorld
For DeMartini, the 45 Sport achieves something unusual in its category: combining the speed and sporty feel of a fast boat with the space and social comfort of a catamaran designed for large groups. A balance that explains why, within Aquila’s Sport range – along with the 32 and 36 – the 45 Sport has become the flagship.
Do you want to get on board?
If this test has left you wanting to live the experience firsthand, at Estupenda Náutica we can give you all the information you need about the Aquila 45 Sport and answer all your questions about configurations, engine and availability.
