Performance cruiser test Grand Soleil 39 Andi Robertson joins a growing list of admirer but easily handled perfomance cruiser ‘ew to the market last year, the Grand Soleil 39 is already proving 4 considerable success. Shown very successfully at London, Key Yachting, has already sold fve boats, worthy share of the 29 which the builder Cantiee del Pardo hhas sold since last year's Genoa show launch. ‘A new departure from the recent relationship with Borin/Carkeek, the Grand Soleil 39 is the first model to be designed by Claudio Malerto, who nas just completed work on the new 43, du ro be launched closer to Aucumn, Maletto has a storied America’s Cup background, working initially with II Moro de ‘Venezia and then three successive campaigns unxil 2007 with Prada According to the builders, their relationship with Malerto was something of a revelation: /Luna Rossa. tone which saw the designer taking @ painstaking interest in almost every design area of the boat ~ ensuring that he finished totally happy with che boat. “The Grand Soleil 39 carries many of the supersieek design and styling hallmarks of bigger Irlian superyachts and daysailes: ultra-smooth flush decks with recessed hatches and all principal lines hidden; a big wide-open cockpit, win wheels, acres of refined seak Belen) Loa 12200 ML 10.20 Max bear 3.70 Draught 2.40/2.00n Displacement 7350k0 Soll Area 52/8972 Engine Volvo 20h soll ive Designer Ciousie Maietto Builder Contiere cel Parco this voluminous finishes and very defined, confident lines. A non-overlapping headsail is set on a recessed roller furler. Although i’ a performance cruiser, itis designed robe easily sailed shorthanded. Concept and layout FOR kk The concept is immediate and it works so snuich beyond simple aesthetics. The feeling of space and simplicity is enhanced in every area from the clean, easily functioning cockpit 0 the nice cabin top and foredeck, which should make perfect sunbathing platforms when the chance arises. The attention to detail is reat. Even the moulded toe-rail forms a very tidy hull to deck join the recessed coachroof windows and hull ports all neatly complement each other. The 106 per cent non-overlapping jib is sheeted to 2 short track on the coachsoof edge rather than sidedeck, controlled easily by hidden pullers ~ and there certainly seemed ample power from this. But for light to moderate breezes then a Code Zero has been the weapon of choice for many eruising ‘owners to date, On out test boat we seta big A-Sail off a shore, alloy deck-mounted sprit. The single-line T mainsheet system is worthy of note roo, running to the recessed track that spans the full width of the cockpit floor, powered adequately by two Harken 40.2'STA Radial winches. It works well and keeps everything supertidy. Hull, deck and rig KOO KI ‘The bull is built in GRP using a mix of glass biaxial and unidirectional fabrics. A carbon reinforced internal structural grid accepts the keel and rig loads while the deck is GRP foam sandwich. A wide keel flange is recessed into the hull so as to dissipate the keel loads over as wide an area as possible. The kel itself is a relatively slender cast steel fin with a T-bulb in lead-antimony. A full carbon rig package is available for those who want to race to high level, One of the French owned boats is set up thus to compete on the Med Circuit, But the standard package is a twin-spreader Sparcraft aluminium mast and boom. Typical IRC rating will be around 1.058 ‘The hull is celatively fat bottomed aft, yet avoids excessive weited suctace, developing plenty of power aft with moderately widestem sections. Fre is qui ft with a precy flat-sided hull ng internal volume, waterline beam and form stability carried well On the water Iris hard to fault the Grand Soleil 39 for ease of use. It was a delight to sal, everything falling o hand nicely a id working very well and it was immediately apparent that this boat has space beyond her size, and yer will be easly, safely and efficiently sailed by qwo for extended cruises, Ths really isa cruiser whieh will but provide a very rewarding cruising platform benefiting from a stiff easily driven hull cks competitively id excellent, high quality sil conttol. osition is excellent. Thee is litle fold-up step forthe belm o retain a platform to stand on, but so too there is good secure and comforcable seating. The helm has exsy reach tothe headsail winch. Inthe cockpit turn of speed in relative comfort. Once settled "upwind the combination of fairly powerful ‘main and jib make working the foils pretty sy: On the breeze it was easy to build height whilst maintaining an easy sailed groove. ‘With no weight on the rail it was easy to make 6.5kts upwind at a TWA of around 40 degrees. Expect 6.9 t0 7.1 ina litte more This boat has space beyond her size, and yet will be easily, safely and efficiently Sailed by two for extended cruises), itself there are great working spaces while the sleep coamings ke p the cockpir safe and secure, Under sail Conditions really were ro order for our short Solent outing. We could have done with a litele more wind than the 6-9 knots but it was ‘enough to prove thar the 39 lives up to her 00d looks and delivers avery easily achieved Draught Displacement Standard Sail Area 9 pressure. The narrow sheeting angle produces 4 precty high pointing boat, but it is best not to overcook it. More importantly there is plenty of feel from the high aspect rudder, Under the big red A-sal the Grand Solel 39 tramped along very sweetly with a very smooth wake at close to wind speed until the breeze bail alittle more. The abiding feeling ‘was of gentle acceleration in the puffs and hholding good momentum through the ll Salone 41 Nice performance but never really cracked itn the racecourse, Nevertheies lots of Potential ota very fa pres, but does not seore for band value the way GS does Loa 12.50 WL 11.45m Max beam 3.82 Draught Displacement Sail area total Manoeuvres were easily accomplished with th boat holding way well through tacks and gybe Down below Airy, spacious and nicely executed, this 39 achieves a remarkable feat of delivering more space on deck and below than many 42-foorers, The optional polished light ‘mahogany finish of our tet boat adds to the light, modern ambience, Teak is available as an option, while light oak is offered as standard. The wood surfaces are complemented by linear white feacures like the full-length cow of deep storage lockers. ‘The galley is excellent: very spacious with four deep drawers, good top-access fridge and twin-burner cooker wit! hheads with two or three cabins, or one head with three cabins. A holding tank is standard and the engine can be upgraded to 40hp, foven. There are three interior option Conelusion A fine performance cruiser that will turn heads for her modern, clean, lovely looks as well as win silverware on the racecourse in th right hands, Little wonder the Grend Solel 3¢ is selling so wel From Paul Heys at Key Yachting Cantiore dei Pardo's latest partnership with Moletto hos mode the oiggest impact so far binging o fresh, innovative ‘nd technologicaily edvanead yacht to ine fore, he carbon composte Intemol gia, Tehape keel ond iow wetted surface oreo ore o direct resul of Maietto’s volvement, ats the sleek clean appearance overall The soace mentioned down below also continues through the cockpit with a large central lozerette locker dedicated iterott locker ond adaltional smaller locker, Add fo this options such 08 o cockpit table, sprayhood and heating and the final result isc truly superb cruer racer for both fomiles and single handed sailors alike. Contact: UK, Key Yachting itd, 1 Mariners House, High St, Hamble $021 4JF +44 (0)2380 455669 www.keyyachting.com