Boat Show Boat Reviews
Blue Water Boats September 200719 new cruising boats debuting at the fall boat shows
Alerion Express 33
The recently launched Alerion Express 33 is a pure daysailer— fun, fast and beautiful to look at. The speed comes from the thoroughly modern design that features a fin keel with integral bulb and spade rudder, and when combined with the sleek and slender hull and large mainsail, doing 6.5 knots in just 10 knots of breeze becomes commonplace.
And when the wind dies, there is a standard 20-hp Yamaha to get you back to the dock. In keeping with the modern design, the mast is carbon fiber, which is strong enough to allow for the elimination of the backstay. With no backstay in the way, the main is much larger than it would be otherwise.
To put the emphasis on fun, which is what daysailing should be, the Alerion is set up to be singlehanded easily. All lines are led aft to the comfortable and spacious cockpit and the main sheet is on an electric winch. The large 36-inch wheel is within easy reach of the skipper at any position in the helm station. While the draft of the Alerion Express 33 is a reasonable 5 feet, 3 inches, if your home harbor happens to be on the shallow side, there is a shoal keel option that draws just 3 feet, 9 inches.
Down below, you will find the interior is simple, clean and elegant. The classic teak and holly sole is paired with teak trimmed white bulkheads and navy blue upholstery, which gives the cabin a distinctly Herreshoff feel (the Alerion line is named after and loosely based on legendary yacht designer Nathanael Herreshoff’s personal yacht, Alerion). The accommodations are not meant for ocean crossings, but will be more than adequate for harbor hopping and weekends aboard. Two can sleep in the V-berth, and another close friend or two on the saloon settees. There is a head aft of the V-berth and a small galley aft of the head, where you will find a sink, one-burner alcohol stove and top-loading DC refrigerator.
The Alerion Express 33 is truly a modern classic—swift, elegant and a dream to sail.
Specifications: LOA 33’; LWL 26’7”; Beam 9’3”; Draft 5’3”; Displacement 8,700 lbs.; Sail Area 443 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.alerionexpress.net.
e33 daysailer
A fun day out on the water with the family is what e sailing yachts creators America’s Cup veteran and sailmaker Robbie Doyle and yacht designer Jeremy Wurmfeld had in mind when they designed the new e33. One of the most notable features of the e33 is its huge, 15-foot cockpit. Since this is the place that you spend most of your time anyway while daysailing, why not make it large enough for the entire family to stretch out?
What does the “e” stand for? Taking a look around the boat, it could easily stand for elegant, ergonomic and efficient. The e33 is inspired by the classic 30-foot Etchells keelboat racer, and many of the reasons that the e33 is easy to sail come from the Etchells. For example, there are no winches. The sails are controlled by macro and micro tuning lines that use mechanical purchase to trim the sails. The skipper will appreciate the ergonomic cockpit and dogleg-shaped tiller that is comfortable to use on either tack. All lines are led aft to a convenient line pod that is centerline in the cockpit.
A modern carbon fiber mast and boom adds to this boat’s light displacement of 5,900 pounds, and the backstayless rig allows for the large— 530 square feet—sail area. No doubts that this boat will be fast and fun to sail.
The e33 is a pure daysailer, so there is no galley down below, but you will find a proper manual marine head, a small Vberth and two settees in the saloon—a perfect place for an afternoon nap at anchor. Maybe you will find that the “e” actually stands for escape.
Specifications: LOA 33’6”; LWL 27’1”; Beam 8’9”; Draft 5’9”; Displacement 5,900 lbs.; Sail Area 530 sq. ft. For more information log on to www.esailingyachts.com.
Sabre Spirit
With the new Sabre Spirit, the designers, Jim Taylor Yacht Design and the Sabre Design Team, set out to recapture what makes most people fall in love with sailing in the first place. Instead of focusing on interior volume and creature comforts, performance was the major factor when designing the Spirit.
That’s not to say that the saloon isn’t comfortable—there is plenty of space for four, an enclosed head, a full galley and standing headroom of 5-feet, 10-inches.
At 36 feet, the Spirit is not what comes to mind when you think daysailer. In fact, weekender would be more appropriate. The 10-foot long cockpit is the perfect place to enjoy sailing or just relaxing at anchor. Don’t let her classic good looks fool you—this sleek, sporty boat can definitely sail. Modern touches like a deep fin keel, high aspect balanced rudder and carbon fiber spars keep the Spirit light and responsive. The uncluttered decks are easy to maneuver around, but with the self-tacking jib and aft led main sheets, you will rarely need to leave the cockpit. If the 6-foot, 7-inch fin keel is too deep for your chosen cruising grounds, there is a 4-foot, 11.5-inch wing keel available as an option. And for those days when the wind is just not agreeing, the 27-hp Volvo Penta with sail drive will push you where you need to go.
Built in Maine, the Spirit continues the Sabre tradition of the highest quality craftsmanship and materials. Details such at dovetailed drawers and inlaid tables and steps put the Sabre Spirit in a class by herself.
Specifications (deep keel): LOA 36’8”; LWL 28’4”; Beam 10’5”; Draft 6’7”; Displacement 9,300 lbs.; Sail Area 668 sq. ft. For more information log on to www.sabreyachts.com.
Sun Fast 3200
Popular sailboat manufacturer Jeanneau’s 50th anniversary is this year, and to celebrate, they debuted a boat that will change your image of daysailers. Resembling an Open 60 more than a classic cruiser, the new Sun Fast 3200 is a new breed of racer-cruiser.
Designed by Daniel Andrieu, the Sun Fast 3200 has many elements that are common on much larger race boats such as twin rudders, a plumb bow and a keel bulb. This boat was definitely designed for speed. Her narrow entry will slice through the waves and the wide transom provides form stability, especially when reaching.
Unlike her Spartan, purely racing sisters, the Sun Fast 3200 actually has a comfortable cabin that maximizes the available space. There are two double cabins aft, a full galley to starboard and nav station to port, settee with centerline table and an enclosed head forward. No doubt this boat will be just as comfortable racing around the buoys as cruising for a weekend with friends. This boat is so new, that at press time, the specifications were not available.
The Sun Fast 3200 is already making waves in the European racing scene, however. The next Transquadra in 2008, which is a shorthanded transatlantic race for sailors over 40, will have an entire class for these boats. We are sure this will be the first of many for this streamlined, sporty boat.
For more information, log on to www.sunfast3200.com.
Beneteau 40
The new Beneteau 40 packs a lot of sailing capability and accommodations in 40-foot hull. On deck, the cockpit is large and laid out with two steering stations aft. A large table runs down the centerline and has a navigation pod at its aft end for a chartplotter. The swim platform aft is large enough to stand on to shower after a swim and makes boarding from a dinghy safe and easy.
The rig sports roller furling on the main and genoa so the boat will be easy to handle in a wide range of conditions. Note that the traveler is placed on the cabin top where it is out of the way.
The cabin top profile is a modified raised deck saloon with distinctive side windows and a flush skylight forward so the interior is filled with natural light; this is augmented by the narrow fixed port holes in the hull.
For a 40-footer, the new boat has a lot of room below. There are two accommodation plans, one with twin aft cabins, a Euro-style galley and two heads and one with a single aft cabin, an aft U-shaped galley and one head.
The styling of the interior was conceived by noted European yacht stylists Nauta and has a clean, modern feel. The wood used in the boat is an African hardwood known as Maobi, which has a light, warm color and very tight grain. In combination with white ceiling panels and stainless steel handrails and fixtures, the boat looks elegant without being flashy.
BWS has not yet sailed the 40, but judging from the performance of the 49, which we have sailed, the new boat will sail well and will be stiff enough to give her owners a lot of confidence as the breeze builds. Beneteau has been able to keep the base price of the new 40 well under $200,000 so the model represents remarkably good value.
Specifications: LOA 39’11”; LWL 33’11”; Beam 12’11”; Draft 6’4”; Displacement 16,934; Ballast 5,198; Sail Area 843 sq. ft.
For more information log one to www.beneteauusa.com.
Beneteau 43
New this fall, the Beneteau 43 joins the 40, 46 and 49 in the latest design generation from the world’s largest boat builder. The hull of the new boat, which is solid fiberglass, has a narrow entry and fairly broad stern.
The cast iron fin keel has a ballast bulb and the spade rudder, with a stainless steel rudder post, is large and quite deep.
On deck the coach roof configuration is similar to the other boats in this generation of Beneteau, with a slightly raised coach roof and large windows. The cockpit is large and very comfortable with room for up to eight to sit comfortably. Twin wheels open up the center of the cockpit for direct access to the swim platform aft.
With roller furling on both the main and the genoa and all control lines led aft to the cockpit, the 43 will be easy to sail and easy to reef when the wind pipes up.
Down below, the new boat can either have two sleeping cabins, fore and aft, or three with two quarter cabins. In the two-cabin version, the galley is moved aft and offers a lot of counter space and storage. In the three cabin version, the galley runs fore and aft on the port side. Both versions have two heads; the after head has a large separate shower stall.
The interior design of the 43 and the other boats in this series has been thoroughly modernized and streamlined. Furniture, crafted of Maobi wood, has a simple elegance. The dinette is large enough for four or five adults and will double as a good sea berth. High quality fixtures and fastenings have been used throughout.
Built in the U.S., the new 43 offers a lot of accommodation, sailing fun and value in a boat that both a fine coastal cruiser and capable of extended blue-water sailing.
Specifications: LOA 43’0”; LWL 38’1”; Beam 13’6”; Draft 5’5” (std.); Displacement 19,566 lbs.; Sail Area 891 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.beneteauusa.com.
Hanse 430
In the last 10 years, Hanse Yachts in Germany, has grown from a small start-up to one of the leading sailboat manufacturers in the world. Founder Michael Schmitt’s dedication to innovative manufacturing techniques, ultramodern designs and tradition-defying interiors has set the company apart.
The new 430 continues on those themes. The sleek Judel/Vrolijk hull design has a very fine plumb bow, a wide and open transom and a flat, businesslike sheer. Under the water the boat has a high aspect fin keel with a ballast bulb and a deep spade rudder.
The tall fractional rig is set up with a large full batten mainsail and a 100-percent self-tacking jib that sheets inside the side stays. Sailing upwind, the boat will tack easily with the turn of the twin wheels. Off the wind, a masthead cruising chute can be flown or you can rig running sheets outside the stays for the jib.
The cockpit is huge with long bench seats, twin wheels and an open transom. In self-tacking mode, this will be a great open space for relaxing with your friends while underway. When it is time to hoist the cruising chute, there is plenty of room for handling lines. The 430’s interior (with multiple variations available) shows a large Pullman double berth forward in the master cabin, plenty of hanging and locker space and a small head. Aft, in the version shown, there are two double cabins with unique berths. The main head is aft and to port and sports a large separate shower stall.
The L-shaped galley has ample counter space, a three-burner stove/ oven and double sinks near the centerline. The rectangular dinette to starboard will seat four and two more can sit on the settee to port; both will be good sea berths. The chart table is integrated into the port settee, with a panel for instruments outboard of it.
Hanse offers a variety of interior woods but most are light in color. The design of the furniture is Euro-modern, angular and simple. This is not a heavy, dark teak yacht from the past but a spacious, airy apartment of the future. If you are looking for a highperformance cruising boat that can be sailed easily by a couple and has a totally up-to-date style, the 430 may be for you.
Specifications: LOA 43’7”; LWL 39’4”; Beam 13’9”; Draft 7’3”; Displacement 24,031 lbs.; Sail Area 1,098 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.hanseyachts.com.
Hanse 540e
The new Hanse 540e, designed by Judel/Vrolijk, combines a fast, modern cruising hull with a low profile deck and cabin and a tall, powerful fractional rig. The boat sports a fin keel with a ballast bulb and a spade rudder. The hull has a nearly plumb bow to lengthen the relative waterline, and instead of a cut out swim step aft the builders have created a wide folding transom behind which is a storage locker for a dinghy.
The deck of the 540 is nearly flat since the cabin top has a very low profile and stops aft of the mast. That means there is a lot of deck area for working with sails or lounging in the sun. There are twin wheels in the cockpit and long bench seats. There are no seats aft of the wheel so the helmsman will sit on the wide coaming outboard of the wheels while steering.
The rig features a self-tacking jib and a cruising chute for off the wind sailing. Even though this is a big boat, with 1,540 square feet of working sail area, the rig will be manageable for a couple particularly if they opt for electric primary winches.
Like all of the recent models from Hanse, the interior of the new 540e is not your father’s teak and mahogany palace but a thoroughly modern living space that is more Bauhaus than classic yacht style.
The 540 can be had with a wide array of interior options. On the Hanse website you will find their “Yacht Configurator,” which allows you to play with the options to design the interior that is right for you.
On the accommodation plan shown, there are two large quarter cabins that each have twin berths and their own small head compartments. All four of these berths will be excellent sea berths and will be easy to make. The master cabin forward has a large centerline double that you can walk around. The forward cabin also has a large head with a separate shower stall.
The saloon is vast and has a wide expanse of floor space. The furniture is angular and modern with a dinette to port and either a bench settee or easy chairs to starboard. The galley is L-shaped and will work well in port or at sea. The nav station is at the bottom of the companionway and set up for both paper charts and an array of mounted electronics.
The 540e sports an “e” because it is one of the boats Hanse builds with epoxy instead of polyester resins. The hull is light, stiff and strong and will last a long time.
The 540e is a modern boat for a new generation of modern sailors who want a fast-sailing, easily handled cruising boat that also make a statement about comfortable and spacious living at sea.
Specifications: LOA 52’10”; LWL 47’11”; Beam 16’1”; Draft 9’2”; Displacement 41,226 lbs.; Sail Area 15,40 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.hanseyachts.com.
Hallberg-Rassy 43 Mk II
Swedish boat builder Hallberg- Rassy has been building offshore quality cruising boats for two generations and along the way has shown a commitment to ongoing improvements in their already excellent boats. Since 2001 the company has built 150 HR 43s.
This year, after assimilating all of their experience with the boat, the company is launching the HR 43 Mark II at their annual summer Open House.
Those already familiar with Hallberg-Rassy boats will know that the 43, designed by German Frers, is an excellent hull with fine sailing and passagemaking characteristics. HR didn’t change the basic hull for the Mk II version.
But, just about everything else in the boat has been refined, redesigned, upgraded and improved.
The list of improvements runs to almost two single-spaced pages. An entirely new deck was designed to make the boat easier to sail and more comfortable. A new, taller rig was created to make the boat more powerful in a wider range of wind conditions. Among the dozens of changes large and small, HR kept their focus on cruising sailors, so they also increased the size of the standard battery bank.
The center cockpit design, with a small windshield, has proven so good over the long haul at sea, that they did not mess with the concept. There is room for six adults to sit, and with a dodger or hard top, four can seek shelter without leaving the cockpit.
Down below, the builders offer four configurations to suit various owners’ needs. The after cabin is the one of the best we have seen and will prove to be a snug haven when at sea or at anchor. The forward cabins are for guests and have enough room and storage for weeks of cruising.
The saloon, finished in light woods and matte varnish, offers comfort, convenience and that special HR yacht style.
For those looking for a couple’s or family’s world cruiser, the new HR 43 MkII should be on the short list of potential boats. Solid, safe and swift, the boat was born to cruise and will maintain its value while you sail.
Specifications: LOA 44’6”; LWL 38’7”; Beam 13’5”; Draft 6’7”; Displacement 28,000 lbs.; Sail Area 1,024 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.hallberg-rassy.se.
Pre-Launch Preview of the new Hunter 45DS
As we go to press with the September issue, the new Hunter 45DS is being quietly competed in the Hunter plant in Alachua, Fla. BWS visited the plant earlier this summer and had a first glimpse of the new boat under construction. But, we have not had a chance to sail the boat—that will come in August.
The 45DS is an evolutionary boat that builds on the heritage of the 44-foot aft cockpit sloop, the 45-foot center cockpit design and last year’s 49-footer that attracted so much attention. The boat’s hull is very similar to the 44 and 45 but the deck and interior are all new and have been refined for comfort and sailing performance.
On deck you will see a streamlined deck saloon cabin top with the large cockpit aft. The cockpit is similar to that of the 49 and has two steering stations, a large centerline table and comfortable seating for up to eight adults. The cockpit arch carries the main sheet and traveler so all the control lines are out of the way. The arch also can carry the stern davits, will be a mount for cockpit Biminis and is a great hand hold when moving about the deck.
The 45DS has a B&R sloop rig with a 100-percent jib and a large, high-roach mainsail. The rig has long, aft-swept spreaders so no backstay is required. BWS has sailed the 49 and the 45, so we anticipate that the 45DS will be easy to sail and will show a good turn of speed. Comfortable, stylish and affordable cruising are what the new breed of larger Hunters are all about. The accommodations below offer two big cabins with double berths and private heads. The saloon is fairly traditional with an L-shaped galley, large chart table, a dinette to port and a bench settee to starboard.
If you have not been aboard a Hunter lately, you will be impressed with the fit and finish of the new boats and the thought and detailing that have gone into the engineering and mechanical systems. (Final specifications had not been released at press time.)
For more information log on to www.huntermarine.com.
Island Packet 465
BWS stopped by the Island Packet plant in Florida this summer to see the first 465 under construction. The new boat is distinctive in several ways but still maintains the builder’s high standards and dedication to safe, comfortable cruising boats.
The first thing we noticed was a traditional transom and large teak swim platform. The hull looks sweet and all the space added aft allows for truly voluminous lazarettes.
The 465 has a center cockpit, raised-saloon deck configuration, which proved so successful in the 445. The cockpit is large and comfortable with room for six or more adults. With roller main and headsails, you can sail the boat in all conditions from the cockpit.
The Hoyt JibBoom on the staysail makes the 465 self-tacking when the genoa is rolled away. Up forward, the broad bowsprit holds two working anchors that are serviced by a large windlass.
Down below, you will find a large master cabin aft with a huge head and plenty of storage. The double berth is angled so it is easy to make and easy to get in and out of. The forward cabin has a second large double berth and its own head. For two couples, this is an excellent layout.
The saloon is open and full of light. The galley runs aft in the starboard passageway to the aft cabin and will be secure in a seaway. Note the double sinks are positioned almost on the centerline. The saloon will seat six for dinner and is large enough to host a good party when you have neighbors over for sundowners.
The 465, like all Island Packets, has a long Full Foil Keel and internal ballast so it will have a soft motion through the waves and will hardly notice an occasional bump with the bottom. The propeller is tucked behind the full keel where it is protected.
For those who want to live aboard and who have the confidence to cross any body of water, the new 465 is packing all the design integrity, build quality and strength to make life afloat as comfortable as possible.
Specifications: LOA 48’9”; LWL 34’1”; Beam 14’4”; Displacement 34,500 lbs.; Sail Area 1,122 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.ipy.com.
J/122
The new J/122, built by J/ Europe in France, was introduced at the 2006 Paris Boat Show and then introduced in North America at the annual J/Boat Open House last spring. A long, lean and decidedly sleek 40 footer, the 122 may be one of the narrowest new racer-cruisers to be built in years, having a beam of 11 feet, 11 inches, and thus probably one of the most easily driven hulls around.
During initial sail trials in England last winter, the boat proved to be very quick out of the blocks and capable of high sustained speeds on all angles. Since then the new 122 has shone in regattas on both sides of the Atlantic. Since the Paris introduction, more than 45 boats have been ordered.
The boat has many unique und useful features on deck, including the carbon fiber sprit for flying an asymmetrical spinnaker, a carbon fiber Hall Spars mast, a “dock box” seat in the transom that can be removed when lightening ship for race days, and the extra-large destroyer wheel, which makes steering from both sides of the cockpit a breeze.
Down below, owners can have a two-cabin, two head arrangement or a three-cabin, one head plan. With either choice, the saloon remains the same with a large nav station and chart table, a very useful U-shaped galley and bench settees on either side of a large centerline table.
J/Boats has long set a standard for high quality, high performance, dual-purpose boats that really claim a lot of silver at the major racing events and provide warm, comfortable accommodations for the family cruises in between events. And their boats are blue-water capable, a point underscored by the recent victory in the Transpac by a J/125.
Specifications: LOA 40’0”; LWL 34’7”; Beam 11’11”; Draft 7’4”; Displacement 14,800 lbs.; Sail Area 865 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.jboats.com.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39DS
The Sun Odyssey 54DS that was introduced several years ago set a trend for the French builder that continues to steamroll along. The DS designs have been so well accepted around the world by those looking for comfort and elegance that it is no surprise that this fall Jeanneau is introducing a new smaller version in the Sun Odyssey 39DS. The new boat has the distinctive curved deck house design of her DS sister ships, a shape that evokes the sexy curve of the Audi TT. The curve of the deck house flows organically back into the cockpit coaming, which has the benefit of making the cockpit large and well protected from the weather and deck spray. The ergonomics of the cockpit are excellent, with bench seats, twin wheels and open access to the swim platform aft.
The 39DS is equipped with roller main and headsail so it is a snap to control all sheets and control lines from the cockpit. You only have to go onto the foredeck to set the spinnaker or drop the anchor.
Down below the 39DS has one of the largest aft double cabins you will find in a boat under 40 feet. The berth is situated sideways with the foot under the cockpit and is huge. Ample storage and hanging lockers will make this a comfort-able home away from home. The guest cabin forward is also spacious and has a big V-berth. The head and shower are aft next to the companionway.
The saloon has a large U-shaped galley, a full-size chart table and a dinette that will seat four. The settee to port will double as a good sea berth when making overnight passages.
Like her sister ships, the 39DS has a varnished teak interior that is warm and traditional. The finish of the joinery is very good and top quality hardware has been used throughout.
A cruiser’s cruising boat, the Sun Odyssey 39DS makes many of the amenities found in the 54 available to those on a smaller budget in a distinctive and stylish package.
Specifications: LOA 38’11”; LWL 35’2”; Beam 12’9”; Draft 6’6”; Displacement 17,355 lbs.; Sail Area 725 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.jeanneauamerica.com.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i
As Jeanneau has been innovating with its production techniques by introducing injection molded decks, they have also been innovating with hull and rig designs that will set the boats apart in the cruising fleet and on the race course as true racer-cruisers with a strong performance pedigree.
The new 42i, like her smaller sister ship the 36i, is just such a dual-purpose boat. In 42 feet Jeanneau has been able to create a sailing platform that has ocean going capabilities and accommodations that will serve those who will be living aboard for weeks or even months at a time.
The performance package offered by the builder has more sail area, high-tech sails, Dyform rigging, adjustable backstay and genoa cars, a deeper high aspect keel and a folding propeller. If you want a turbo charged cruising boat, the performance package on the 42i will do the job for you.
But even without the added horsepower, the 42i promises to be a fine sailing boat that will be easy for a couple to manage. With twin wheels in the cockpit and all sail control lines led aft, you will find sail trim, reefing and furling can for the most part be handled from the cockpit.
Down below, two accommodations plans are offered. A three-cabin version has twin quarter cabins and a V-berth forward while the two-cabin version has one quarter cabin, a larger aft head with stand alone shower and extra storage in the port cockpit locker.
The saloon has a large dinette, a bench settee that will be a good sea berth and an excellent galley with acres of counter space. The interior is finished in teak and white and offers a teak and holly sole. The ambience is comfortable and bright. For those with ambitions for speed on and off the racecourse, the 42i will serve their purposes and, in the bargain, will be a highly capable offshore passagemaker.
Specification: LOA 42’2”; LWL 38’1”; Beam 13’6”; Draft (std.) 6’11”; Displacement 18,540 lbs.; Sail Area 877 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.jeanneauamerica.com.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36i
The new Jeanneau 36i combines a sleek Mark Lombard-designed hull with a simple but powerful rig that results in a cruising boat that will truly sail well. And, Jeanneau offers the boat with a “performance” package that increases sail area and stiffness for even better sailing qualities.
Like the successful Sun Odyssey 39i, the new 36-footer has a unique injection-molded deck that enables the builder to create very high quality work that is finely finished both inside and out.
The styling of the new 36i is sleek and purposeful. The cockpit provides a comfortable area for up to six adults. The boat has a single large destroyer wheel so you can easily sit to windward or leeward to steer.
Down below the interior is finished in a warm, traditional teak with a teak and holly sole. The overhead is molded white and accented with varnished teak strips. The interior comes in two versions, one with two aft cabins and the other with only one. The single aft-cabin version has much larger head with a separate shower and a ton of storage space in the port quarter.
The galley to starboard is compact but has plenty of counter space, twin sinks and a large refer box. The nav station has been integrated into the port settee so it can double as a table for games or projects. The U-shaped dinette will seat four comfortably. The forward cabin has a good-sized Vberth with a hatch above it for ventilation.
A compact cruiser that offers a lot of space for living and very good sailing characteristics, the new Sun Odyssey 36i will be a real head-turner, particularly as it sails by you.
Specifications: LOA 35’11”; LWL 32’3”; Beam 11’9”; Draft (std.) 6’4”; Displacement 12,566; Sail area (std.) 686 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.jeanneauamerica.com.
Najad 44AC
The new Najad 44AC (aft cockpit), which was introduced in Sweden in 2006, makes its U.S. debut this fall. A real departure for Najad, the 44AC is the first aft cockpit design launched by the builder and the first to be styled by noted yacht stylist Dick Young.
A Judel/Vrolijk design, the 44AC has a modern cruising hull with cruising fin keel and ballast bulb and a deep, high-aspect spade ruder. Although a dedicated cruising boat, the 44AC sails extremely well and is capable of making very fast daily runs and offshore passages.
Najad has gone high tech with the new boat by incorporating a long list of useful features including a complete Mastervolt electrical system, hydraulic furling systems on the Selden spars, hydraulic vang and backstay adjustments and, in partnership with Raymarine, a stylish and well equipped nav station suite.
The new boat has twin quarter cabins aft, with a large head and shower stall just forward to starboard. The forward cabin features a large double V-berth and has its own head.
The saloon has an L-shaped galley with the single sink on the centerline so it drains on both tacks. The dinette to port will seat four comfortably and will also be a good sea berth. Across from the dinette are two built-in armchairs with the chart table and nav suite in between.
Finished in matte varnished mahogany, the interior is quite traditional, but the flush cabinets and stainless steel latches and hardware give it a modern and elegant look.
A true world cruising boat that will also acquit itself well in races and rallies, the new Najad 44AC is a boat that redefines the notion of performance cruising.
Specifications: LOA 44’0”; LWL 39’ 8”; Beam 13’ 3”; Draft 6’10”; Displacement 28,000 lbs.; Sail Area 1,039 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.najad.com.
Tartan 4300
In the August issue of BWS, we ran a full design review of the new soon-to-be launched Tartan 4300. Hull number one is due to premiere at the Newport (R.I.) boat show in September.
The new boat has a number of unique and interesting features. The hull is pure Tartan and molded out of epoxy instead of polyester resins. The spars are carbon fiber laminates; the boom is a “pocket boom” design that literally captures the mainsail as it is lowered or reefed.
The sail plan shows a Solent rig with a reacher on the outer headstay and a 100-percent self-tacking jib on the inner stay. Although slightly more complicated and more expensive than a single headsail, the Solent rig really gives you great headsail options for a wide range of sailing conditions.
Down below, Tartan offers either a two-cabin or three-cabin version. The two-cabin arrangement has a large double berth aft and an even larger double in the master cabin forward. Both cabins have heads with separate shower stalls.
In the two-cabin version, the chart table has been moved aft of the galley to port and enlarged to the point that is becomes a really useful work station where you can set up a computer and printer and spread out your paperwork while navigating or tending to business.
BWS will be sailing the new 43 this fall and will report back with a full on-the-water test.
Specifications: LOA 43’1”; LWL 37’10”; Beam 13’6”; Draft 5’10” (shoal); Displacement 23,800 lbs.; Sail Area 994 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.tartanyachts.com.
Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 41
French builder Wauquiez has built more than 130 of their original pilot saloon model, the PS 40, and after talking with PS 40 owners and re-evaluating all of the innovations that went into the successful launch of the PS47, they came up with the new PS 41. Pilot Saloon concept is to deliver to owners cruising boats that combine a lot of comfort and accommodations in a package that also sails well and looks stylish. And, unlike some deck saloon designs, the PS 41 had to have an arrangement under the raised deck that allows you to sit in the dinette and see directly out to the watery world around you. No small endeavor in a boat of this size. But they succeeded.
The hull is fairly high sided to accommodate full headroom throughout the boat. This is a powerful hull that will be able to carry working sail in a good breeze. The raised deck is a high curve that melds well visually with the sheer line and frames the side windows with a stylish deck molding. The cockpit has a single wheel and can seat six. The transom folds down aft to form a large swim platform when at anchor.
Down below, the pilot saloon has a dinette to starboard that seats four and the galley and chart table to port. The master cabin is aft and has a huge centerline double berth and a large head. The guest cabin forward has its own head and plenty of storage for a few weeks of cruising.
The interior of the PS 41 is simple, elegant and very bright. The dinette will be the social center of the boat since everyone on board will want to share the view. If you are looking for a high quality liveaboard cruiser that can take you across oceans, the new PS 41 can do the job.
Specifications: LOA 42’3”; LWL 41’0”; Beam 13’3”; Draft 5’7”; Displacement 22,075 lbs.; Sail Area 898 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.wauquiez.com.
Wauquiez Centurion 40s
One of the most venerable names in European boat building, Wauquiez has a well earned reputation for crafting elegant, performance cruising boats. The new Centurion 40s continues the company’s tradition.
The hull and deck are infusion moldings that have a high strength to weight ratio. With a high aspect, bulbed fin keel and spade rudder, the sleek hull will be light and easily driven. And with 1,024 square feet of working sail area, the boat has the sail power to really get up and move.
The cockpit is laid out for both comfortable lounging at anchor and sail handling when on the move. With a large destroyer wheel, the helmsman can steer from the windward rail.
The accommodation plan for the new boat offers two double cabins and a single head with a separate, large shower stall. There is a good wet locker in the shower so wet foul weather gear can be stowed away.
The main double cabin aft has a huge athwartships double berth and plenty of storage. The smaller double forward will make a fine guest cabin. The saloon is fairly traditional with a dinette and settee—both are good sea berths—a large U-shaped galley and a good chart table.
The fit and finish of the 40s is handsome and assembled to a very high standard. That said, the 40s has a simple, functional elegance below that will be easy to live with for years. For sailors who demand high quality, performance and ease of handling, the new 40s will be a fine dual-purpose boat.
Specifications: LOA 41’2”; LWL 38’6”; Beam 12’7”; Draft 7’7” (6’1”); Displacement 18,960 lbs.; Sail Area 1,040 sq. ft.
For more information log on to www.wauquiez.com.
