Grand Soleil 43

New boat test
Grand Soleil 43
Rupert Holmes sails Cantiere del Pardo’s all-new luxury
performance cruiser racer…
The Grand Soleil 43 is the second in the
Italian yard’s M series, designed by
Claudio Maletto, who won acclaim
with his work on Luna Rossa and
Il Moro di Venezia in the 32nd America’s
Cup. We tested the first boat to come off the
production line, which was delivered to UK
agent Key Yachting just a few days before
the Southampton Boat Show. Both the new
M models aim to build on the success of
the Botin and Carkeek-designed GS43OT
and the GS46 models, which have seen
considerable success both in UK waters and in
Mediterranean and Caribbean regattas.
Concept and layout
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The new 43’s hull shape is the result of
extensive research on 25 different hull designs
in conjunction with the Wolfson Unit at the
University of Southampton. Each of the subtly
different designs was assessed around multiple
laps of a windward/leeward course, with the
object of determining the one with least drag.
To maximise the design’s efficiency relative to
its rating, wind tunnel tests were also used to
determine the optimum efficiency of sail plans.
Compared to the previous GS43, the new
boat has a lower wetted surface area, plus a
SPECIFICATIONS
Hull length 12.9m
LWL 11.7m
Beam 4m
Draught 2.0-2.4m
Ballast 3,100kg
Displacement 8,800kg
Mainsail 56.3sq m
Jib (106%) 47.9sq m
Spinnaker 118sq m
more efficient T-bulb keel. Maximum beam is
only a fraction wider, but the aft sections are
noticeably wider and more powerful. Another
key difference compared to previous Grand
Soleil models is that the galvanised steel
frame that previously took the rig loads has
been replaced by one of carbon fibre infusion
that’s lightweight but extremely stiff and very
resistant to torsional loads.
The new boat is 100kg lighter than the
previous model, but there’s an extra 250kg –
a quarter of a tonne – of weight in the keel,
increasing the already good sail carrying
ability. Overall, Grand Soleil expects the new
43 to be up to 12 per cent faster than the
previous model, but is expecting a lower IRC
rating, although this wasn’t available at the
time of going to press.
Hull, deck and rig
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The 43 is available with three keels, with
draughts of 2.0-2.4m and choice of three
rigs. Our test boat had the deep keel and
the 9/10ths fractional tall racing rig. This is
roughly one metre higher than the standard
rig, and is fitted with double swept aft
spreaders and discontinuous rod rigging.
There is a clean deck layout, with a below
deck Furlex TD furler and most controls,
including the jib sheets and headsail car
towing lines, run under the deck. Similarly,
hatches are flush fit, blocks are recessed in to
the deck where possible and the mainsheet
traveller is recessed below the cockpit sole.
The jib cars are on a short track on the outer
edge of the coachroof, which helps to enhance
the minimalist style and makes for a narrow
sheeting angle and a close-winded boat.
Deck gear is of an ample size and
specification and is laid out in an efficient way
that works for both doublehanded sailing
and racing round the cans with a full crew.
Commendably, bronze plates – rather than the
aluminium ones used by most builders – are
embedded in the deck laminate for attachment
of deck gear. Halyards and sheets are Spectra,
although as standard other lines are prestretched
polyester.
There is a rod kicker, hydraulic backstay
and a powered halyard winch. The winches
and traveller of the German mainsheet system
are within reach of the wheels, which works
well when sailing shorthanded. Equally there’s
1
2
3
4
1 The galley is spacious with
nice details including deep
fiddles and an air vent above
the stove 2 Modern styling
in the heads 3 The interior
is offered with a choice of
wood finishes 4 One of the
pair of aft cabins with good
standing space and excellent
natural light 5 The 43 comes
with three rig choices. Our test
yacht carried the deep keel and
9/10ths fractional tall racing rig
5
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Left Primary winches are located at the front of the cockpit, which
has a more cruising seat layout above Most of the control lines are
fed aft under the deck
space and for a dedicated mainsheet trimmer
in front of the helm and a tactician behind
when racing fully crewed.
Primary winches are located further
forward, at the front section of the cockpit,
which has more of a cruising style, with side
seats and coamings. There is not too much
difference between the various levels and it
shouldn’t pose a hindrance to big crews, even
when short tacking.
Stowage on deck is excellent, including a
self draining liferaft locker on the same level
as the cockpit sole, a smaller locker for warps
and the like, plus a huge lazerette which has
ample space for cruising equipment such as
dinghy and folding bikes. There’s also a large
and deep sail locker on the foredeck, just aft
of the chain locker. As with the other lockers,
a gas filled strut holds the lid open. There’s
near-instant access to the steering quadrant
from on deck, while cruising comforts include
cockpit seat cushions and a large table that
pops up from the cockpit floor.
Under sail
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
There’s an excellent view forward from both
leather-covered 900mm diameter stainless
steel wheels, with almost the whole luff of
the headsail in easy sight. It’s easy to brace
yourself in place when sitting on the side deck,
and there are folding foot chocks to provide
a sure footing when standing at the wheel.
We had a blustery autumnal day for our test,
with the wind varying from under 15 knots to
gusts above 25 knots – testing conditions for
any boat.
On the wind, even with full sail and no
crew on the rail, she could be dropped into
a groove, feathering into the gusts. The
helm has plenty of feel and, although the
high-aspect rudder is clearly powerful, it has
enough balance area to ensure that the helm
remains light without being so low geared
to lose responsiveness. On the wind it only
lost grip if the full main wasn’t depowered in
the most severe gusts. With two deep single
line reefs and appropriate marks already on
the main halyard reefing is easy and rapidly
reduces sail area by a significant amount. One
person can tuck a reef in within 60 seconds
and needs only half that time to shake it out.
Bearing away onto a reach she made an
easy 8 knots with a long legged ease. With the
wind continuing to build we chickened out of
hoisting the kite as there were only two of us
on board and no pilot, but even under plain
Below decks
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The new boat has a larger interior than the
previous 43, through better use of the volume,
including three very good cabins, a forward
facing chart table and large galley and saloon,
with excellent natural light and ventilation.
The effect is enhanced by the use of light
veneers, although a dark mahogany trim is
available as an option for those who prefer
more traditional styling.
Hatches have integral blinds and fly screens,
while locker doors have gas struts and there
are soft close drawers in the galley. LED
lighting throughout, including navigation
lights will reduce the frequency of bulb
failures as well as saving a considerable
amount of power.
It would be a waste of this boat to solely use
it inshore – it has excellent offshore potential,
whether fully crewed or short-handed
sail we smoothly edged into double-figure
speeds on the top of small waves. The polars
confirm this ease of exceeding hull speed, with
the graph showing no significant hump to
power over. Throughout the boat remained
predictably responsive and tracked well, and
clearly with a race crew we could have had
a considerable amount of fun, planing under
good control.
The saloon has two hull windows on each
side, as well as the windows in the coach roof
and two big opening overhead hatches. To
port is a large folding table, with U-shaped
seating that will accommodate the entire crew.
Opposite this is a forward facing chart table
with its own seat, plus a short settee forward
of this. On our test boat this was too short
to be a sea berth, however, whenever possible
Grand Soleil will work with customers to
ensure that they get what they want from the
boat and short of moving bulkheads, most
changes can be accommodated.
The galley has plenty of space with
excellent worktop areas, twin stainless steel
sinks and sufficiently deep fiddles to keep
things in place and plenty of stowage. The
test boat had both a top loading fridge and
a smaller front-loading one. There are also
twin sinks with pressurised hot and cold fresh
water. There is an opening port above the
three burner cooker – this may sound like a
small point but it’s all too often overlooked,
leaving the interior uncomfortably and humid
when cooking in warm weather.
There are two excellent mirror-image aft
cabins – each a decent size with good standing
COMPARISONS
First 45
Ostensibly very similar in concept and more
boat for your money, but at 11.5 tonnes it’s
very significantly heavier than the Grand Soleil,
with only a marginal increase in sail area.
Hull length 13.68m
Beam 4.2m
Displacement 11,545kg
Ballast 3,875kg
Draught 2.0-2.75m
Sail area 113.2sq m
space, a large bunk with plenty of headroom
and excellent natural light and ventilation.
This comes from two coach roof windows, an
opening port and a window onto the cockpit
and an overhead hatch. The owner’s cabin
forward is much larger and more luxurious –
there is a semi-island bed, lots of floor space,
more than ample storage and a spacious en
suite heads with a separate shower stall.
Overall
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The new Grand Soleil 43 is a well thought
out design with quality gear and offers an
appealing blend of performance and comfort.
It has the power to charge round the cans
with a full crew and a likely IRC rating that
will see these boats taking plenty of silverware
J/133
Blends lighter displacement with more
traditional styling, but still a quick boat with
the potential to perform very well under IRC.
Interior feels smaller than the Grand Soleil 43.
LOA 13.11m
LWL 11.52m
Beam 3.9m
Standard draught 2.29m
Displacement 8,119kg
Sail area (100%) 89.6sq m
home. But it would be a waste of this boat to
solely use it inshore – it has excellent offshore
potential, whether fully-crewed or shorthanded,
and would make an enviable steed
for racing across the Atlantic in the racing
category of the ARC, followed by a time spent
cruising between the Caribbean regattas.
Attention to detail is evident throughout
the boat, with quality systems and efficient
arrangements both above and below decks,
making this boat a very different proposition
to one in which the systems are scrimped
for the sake of small economies. While there
are boats of this length that offer even more
accommodation, there’s certainly enough space
that you wouldn’t want to trade the GS43’s
excellent sailing qualities for what would be
only marginally more interior volume.
ANSWER BACK
From: Paul Heyes at Key Yachting
For the last three years Cantiere del Pardo
has been working very hard to produce a
thoroughly modern range of high quality
Grand Soleil cruiser-racers. The new 43
and 47, both launched this autumn, fill the
gap between the 39 and the 50/ 54 thus
completing the range.
The collaboration with naval architect
Claudio Maletto has proven a great success.
The new Maletto 39 outsold its first year target
by 25 per cent and has been nominated as
European Yacht of the Year 2012/13
The new 43 refines the concept further,
the “German mainsheet” and main traveller
have joined the jib sheets, halyards and
reefing lines in under-deck mountings.
This further improves the functionality and
elegance of the boat.
www.keyyachting.com
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