The Last Balance 526 Enters the Water in St. Francis Bay
On 21 February 2026, Black Rose slipped into the water in St. Francis Bay – and with her, an era came to a close. Hull #36 is the final Balance 526 ever built, marking the end of a 14-year chapter for one of the most celebrated performance catamarans in the world. It was more than a launch. It was a moment the entire Balance team will not forget.
Black Rose - A Fitting Final Hull for an Iconic Series
If any boat was going to close the 526 chapter, it was always going to be one that turned heads. Black Rose arrived at the harbour wrapped in a sweeping full-hull design – deep amber, burnt orange, and black swirling detail that stops people in their tracks. She is as striking on the water as the name suggests.
Her new owners, Clay and Aneka, watched her make her splash on a calm, overcast February morning in St. Francis Bay. Not a bad start to a life on the water.
A Name That Says It All
A black rose has long symbolised transformation and new beginnings – and this one carries that meaning with purpose. The 526 gave Balance Catamarans 14 years and 36 hulls of award-winning performance cruising. Now, as Black Rose heads out to sea, production in St. Francis Bay turns toward her successor – the new Balance 540.
Every launch is more than a boat hitting the water. It is teamwork, pride, and passion coming together. Black Rose is no different – from the factory floor of St. Francis Bay to the open ocean, she represents the very best of what the 526 became.
Fair Winds, Clay and Aneka
Congratulations to Clay and Aneka on their stunning new vessel, and to the entire build team in St. Francis Bay for the outstanding work poured into every detail of Black Rose. We wish Clay and Aneka all the joy in the world on the adventures ahead.
About the Balance 526
The Balance 526 is a performance cruising catamaran designed by Philip Berman and Anton du Toit – with her heavily carbon-reinforced structures and total epoxy construction, she sails like a racer yet remains amazingly easy to operate and maintain. At 16m (52.5ft) with a 157.1m² sail plan, the Balance 526 carries more handmade cabinetry than any catamaran in her class. Named Cruising World Boat of the Year 2017, the 526 ran for 14 years and 36 hulls before being succeeded by the new Balance 540.
