The strangest aspect of the VTX 32, the Dubai-based Victory team’s debut model for the United States sport catamaran market is that the first one sold—with a list price of $395,000—will be the last one sold. According to company representative Julian Maldonado, the Emirates-headquartered builder only plans to sell 27- and 34-footers in the U.S.

Designed to capture attention in the U.S. sport catamaran market, the VTX 32 soon will be followed by 34- and 27-footers (click image to enlarge). Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“The market between the 32 and the 34 is just too close so we have decided to do away with the 32,” Maldonado said. “If anyone purchases the 32, it will be one of one.”

All of that said, if the one-and-only VTX 32, which speedonthewater.com test driver Grant Bruggemann of Grant’s Signature Racing in Bradenton, Fla., ran on Sarasota Bay on Monday, is anything to go by, North American sport cat buyers will have a couple of hot sport cat options to choose from when Victory begins offering them stateside. (The builder reportedly is very close to signing a Florida-based U.S. distributor.)

Set up conservatively, the Verado 400R outboard-powered 32-footer reached 109 mph and handled perfectly (click image to enlarge).

“With a few little changes such as removing the GPS antenna from the dash, the VTX 32 will be at the same level as the MTI (340X) and Wright Performance (360),” Bruggemann said. “I really don’t have a bad thing to say about it.”

Built entirely of carbon fiber and epoxy, the less-than-5,000-pound 32-footer was powered by a pair of Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard engines with the 32-inch-pitch Mercury Racing Max 5 propellers. As such, the five-seater topped out at 109 mph, not fast for the breed. But as Bruggemann rightly observed, the boat wasn’t’ set up for top speed.

But it was efficient. It burned 24.1 gallons of fuel per hour at 40 mph, 27.5 gallons at 60 mph and 49.2 gallons at 80 mph.

Handling at all speeds proved to be excellent. (The VTX 32 is based off a hull the Victory team designed for the X-Cat racing series.)

“The boat is on plane at 14 mph and is very well-mannered,” Bruggemann said. “It carried the bow nicely in turns, leaned in when it should and tracked perfectly straight. Sweeping turns at 80 and 90 mph were no problem, and it could cruise all day at 100 mph.

“The ergonomics also were very good,” he continued. “The windshield visibility was great and offered great protection. There also was ample storage in the front and back of the boat. It has a very spacious interior—it’s a really big 32. And the tooling and mold work are excellent.”

Cockpit space in the VTX 32 was exceptional for that of a 32-foot sport cat (click image to enlarge).

Based on his experience with the VTX 32, Bruggemann said he expects future Victory sport catamarans to be on par with the market’s best sport catamarans. And with a list price of $420,00 for the 34-footer and $260,000 for the 27-footer, Victory’s pricing is in line with most offerings in the sport cat segment.

“I think it will be a big player in the sport cat market,” he said. “I really don’t have a bad thing to say about it.”

Check out the slideshow above for a closer look at the Victory VTX 32.

For information on Victory sport catamarans, contact Ricky Maldonado at [email protected].

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