First impressions

In a solid ten knots of breeze, the 50 accelerated quickly and smoothly courtesy of her powerful sail plan bent on a Hall Spars carbon mast and Y boom. The 85-square-metre full-battened mainsail is made from North’s 3Di Endurance, as is the self-tacking jib.

Despite the boat’s obvious and involving power, it’s easily controlled via Harken Performa winches (electric primaries) located just forward of the helm.

The German mainsheet is secured on a single block toward the end of the boom that enables the application of a nice degree of twist.

Moving around the deck is also easy thanks to all halyards and lines led aft under coamings. In fact, whoever is steering can comfortably ease or bring in the main without assistance.

The plumb bow also creates very useful interior volume happily realised in the forward owner’s cabin that boasts a very generous island bed that lifts on hydraulic struts to reveal deep storage compartments. The en-suite has an upgraded electric head and perspex door separating the shower with a quality teak floor grating. A very swish arrangement for a sailing yacht and a definite plus for the Solaris’ cruising capabilities.

The stylish and welcoming saloon contains a large folding-leaf dinette table to port, with a full-length settee opposite two loose chairs that can be secured to the cabin sole while sailing. To starboard, there is another full-length settee and a full-size nav station. Handy storage lockers are recessed in the floor.

A check here also revealed sturdily engineered keel bolts, while the keel utilises a flange to spread the load through the hull. More evidence of the 50’s build quality can be found in the thickness of the foam-core bulkheads and the fact they are laminated, not glued, to both the hull and the deck, ensuring extra strength and stiffness.

The L-shaped galley is well-equipped with a three-burner stove/oven as well as a microwave that can run off the inverter-generator. A top-loading fridge in the counter, a two-drawer fridge-freezer unit, plus an optional dedicated climate-controlled wine locker ensure catering for a weekend or extended coastal cruise.

The two aft cabins can be configured either as doubles with the option of two offset singles. Both are easy to climb in and out of, secure and comfortable.

Lifting the companionway steps on their gas struts reveals the 75 HP Volvo saildrive turning a feathering three-blade Gori prop. In flat water, the advertised cruise setting is 6.9 knots at 1,900 rpm.

Soon after Sails’ all too brief outing on the Solaris 50, it was on its way via Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean to its home port of Adelaide where its fortunate new owners intend to explore the region’s enticing cruising locations.

Once there, instead of the hassle of hosting a dinghy or RIB onboard or deploying via a halyard they can simply slide the 2.45 metre Aermarine tender out of the garage.

And, when they choose to race, the 50’s slippery hull shape and power will also ensure some pleasing results. The Solaris 50 is a combination of Italian style, luxury and comfort underpinned by high quality structural integrity that would give any owner the confidence to pursue their sailing ambitions.

teamwindcraft.com