Coming over
Sydney Marine Brokerage has confirmed that the new Grand Soleil 44 will arriving in Australia later this month
05 August 2021
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The new 44-foot offering from Grand Soleil, the Grand Soleil 44, is currently on course to arrive in Australia later this month.
Since its debut at the 2020 Genoa Boat Show, the new model has developed a reputation for being an equal balance of style, design, performance and comfort. The four-metre beam, for example, maximises the stability of shape but also ensures expansive volumes throughout.
Integrated into the aesthetic design were simple technical solutions, such as four or six winches being within easy reach of the helm. The self-tacking jib is standard and allows easy boat management, while transverse rails can be mounted on request to regulate the jib lead.
As already seen onboard the Grand Soleil 48, the 44 also foresees the possibility of choosing between two different sail plans: standard, with aluminium or carbon mast to enable either cruising or racing. Grand Soleil has also confirmed there is a choice to choose between a 2.5, 2.4 and 2.8-metre draft.
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Inside, the model presents three cabins and two bathrooms with separate walk-in showers. The master cabin includes a double bed, a small sofa and a dedicated bathroom.
The space below the deck is generous and includes an L-shaped kitchen, dinette and eight-person dining table and various hull windows – flooding the area with natural light.
“With the helm in my hands, I was able to savour the characteristics of the boat in different wind conditions,” said Lead Designer Matteo Polli.
Polli collaborated with Enrico Zennaro and Cantiere del Pardo’s Technical Department in the architecture of the Grand Soleil 44.
“The GS 44 sailed well at all speeds, both upwind and downwind, confirming my expectations as a pleasant and fun hull to be at sea with, especially thanks to the ability to make careful and precise adjustments on the sails and the well-designed deck layout. Even in windier conditions, with close points to the wind and high skidding, the helm responds well.”
“It is a well-balanced boat, spacious on the deck where we find the generous walkway towards the bow, the ergonomically-designed cockpit, and wide stern lines, all adding an extra advantage when cruising,” added Zennaro.
“On the racing side, the hull with its narrow waterline runs off very well with little air, a feature also confirmed by the upwind angles and acceleration in the restarts. After the first few manoeuvres, you realise that everything is very balanced.”
“The presence of B&G instrumentation, a leading brand in the sailing sector since 1956, offers even more guarantees in navigation.”
Nauta Design co-founder Massimo Gino, who lead the exterior and interior design of the Grand Soleil 44, echoed Zennaro and Polli’s sentiments.
“The soul of the new Grand Soleil 44 is that of a performance cruiser which knows how to be competitive on the IRC and ORC regattas: a boat that is easy to use for both cruising and racing in regattas,” he said.
Sydney Marine Brokerage has stated that the hull currently on route to Australia will be commissioned and ready for a test sail by the end of September.
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