The eighth generation of the Sun Odyssey line kicks off a new era for Jeanneau with a boat that is brimming with innovations based on 60 years of boat building experience
It was a gray, sultry morning right after the Annapolis sailboat show last October when we met up with the gang from Jeanneau USA—Paul Fenn, Jeff Jorgenson and Catherine Guiader—to take the new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 out for a test sail on the Chesapeake Bay. But at least there was breeze, which is often lacking on the bay in October.
The boat was moored stern to the floating dock so it was easy boarding via the large fold-down transom, swim platform. The first thing you notice about the new 440, with its 14-foot beam, is the huge cockpit and large bench seats that have quite high backs for support. The twin helms are far apart and each has an L-shaped seat that provides excellent views forward around the cockpit dodger while you are steering. The boat we sailed was equipped with small B&G charterplotters and sailing instrument repeaters at both helms. Read more.