NEW boat test grand soleIl 43 OT grand soleIl 43 OT

Cantiere del Pardo has been building high performance yachts in Italy since 1974 and this, their latest ‘hot yacht,’ is typically sleek, speedy and PHEW seductive. Duncan Kent took her out for a spin.

esigned by Botin and What a Carkeek and launched D in her original form in 2006, the Grand Soleil 43 can proudly boast some of the finest performances scorcher! ever recorded in all the major worldwide regattas to this day. This latest version, the 43 OT, sports twin wheels and an open (hence OT) and is set to extend the life of this renowned marque for many years to come – particularly on the regatta circuit. A rigid, galvanised steel floor frame is incorporated to which the shroud chainplates are welded, ensuring rigging loads are distributed evenly throughout the hull. The is also bolted directly onto this frame for maximum strength. In addition, the laminate is robustly built up by hand using unidirectional stranded fibres and all 7-ply bulkheads are bonded in with 60mm overlaps. Her deck is a foam sandwich for stiffness, together with high thermal and acoustic insulation. Down below there are two layouts on offer, as well as a choice of wood finish, from light oak to the more traditional teak. Joinery standards are high and fittings good quality, although the layout itself is quite conservative. She looks undoubtedly sexy on the water, with her gentle sheer and low freeboard aft, and the sleek, low profile coachroof adds to the raunchy performance styling without being impractical below. PHOTOS RICK BUETTNER

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ACCOMMODATION

There are two layouts: one has The fridge is good and a linear galley and forward- there’s stowage in lockers facing chart table, the other an and drawers. One annoying L-shaped galley to starboard thing is the cover for the and straight settee to port with chainplate, which stands an aft-facing chart table. I proud of the galley sole by would suggest the latter would some 50mm, inviting you to 2 suit longer term cruising better. trip over it – which we did several times. 1 Saloon the second to port at the Long windows and light wood 3 Navigation foot of the companionway keep the saloon bright, but Our boat had the full-on steps. The latter isn’t huge, 3 only two small ports plus hatch navigation station to starboard but big enough to shower in let air in. Headroom is 1.97m with a roomy chart table, and useable at sea. Stowage (6ft 2in), which is a little low, separate seat (containing the is good, as is the 1.85m (6ft but it’s easy to move about battery charger), drawers for 1in) headroom and there is an with clear floor space. bosun’s stores in the plinth easily cleaned, moulded sink. Dining area was limited in and a deep bin alongside. our boat with the port settee A bookshelf would be nice. 5 After cabins seating just four. However, a There is a comprehensive, Twin double cabins are second bench seat is available, high quality electrics panel identical in both layouts and 1 which increases this to 6-8 and with gauges and AC/DC offer a sizeable double berth gives the chef important bodily breakers, as well as a console measuring 1.98m L x 1.40m W support under way. large enough for a chart (6ft 6in x 4ft 6in), good light 1a plotter/radar. and ventilation via a hatch and 2 Galley port, and ample stowage and 2 The linear galley is reasonable, 4 Heads dressing area. Water tanks 4 although a cooker cover Both options have two heads and batteries are fitted under Again, on would increase worktop area. – one en suite to the forecabin, the berths. 4 the foredeck, everything has 6 Forecabin been done to keep This owner’s cabin has a it clear of snagging large, 1.95m l x 1.75m W hazards – the furling (6ft 5in x 5ft 9in) berth on drum is below decks, as is the centreline, with seats the windlass. She has a single, each side and a drawer under. substantial, self-stowing Headroom is 1.85m (6ft roller, which protrudes clear of the bows to avoid damage ON DECK on retrieval.

5 1 & 1a Cockpit I found the cockpit worked 3 Rig and sails 1 1in) and there is a sizeable Whilst her open transom makes well, although rather lacking Our test boat sported the wardrobe with shelves and her look quite racy, the twin in handholds without a table. I carbonfibre mast and boom, hanging rail. helms open up the cockpit for guess most cruisers would fit which is an option for the 3 En suite is a large heads cruising and afford clear access one for convenience and safety. racers. Either way, the mast is with shower panel and to the transom boarding step. I wasn’t partial to the white stepped onto the rugged steel separate controls. Floor space There is some deep stowage in caulking between the teak floor frame, giving it excellent is good and a small hatch one of two lazarettes beneath planks, but you can ask for the support and taking much of provides adequate ventilation. the sole; the other houses the usual black caulk if you prefer. the rigging downforce off the liferaft and a single gas bottle. superstructure. This allows the There are also two shallow 2 Decks to be tweaked under seat lockers forward. Like the cockpit, these are a fair bit via the Holmatro 6 The helming position is good easy to access and move about hydraulic tensioner. with an excellent view ahead freely over, although I’d want She has rod cap and lower/ on either tack and there are a grab rail within reach when intermediate shrouds with a flat teak coamings each side climbing out of the cockpit. bifurcated backstay, the lower with sole boards that rise up to Cleats fold flat to avoid section of which is fibre. form footrests. A double-ended snagging sheets and inboard Sails are the choice of the mainsheet runs to winches shrouds and tracks owner – common with yachts each side, giving the helmsman keep the decks free from that are frequently raced. Ours control of the main if needed, tripping risks, further aided were off a Westerly 43, the and the track runs across the by mounting the stanchions others being carefully guarded sole, just ahead of the helms. outside the toe rail. and used for racing only. www.SailingToday.co.uk September 09 September 09 www.SailingToday.co.uk NEW boat test

SPECIFICATIONS – Grand Soleil 43 0T Verdict LOA 13.25m 43ft 5in She might have the looks and performance LWL 11.40m 36ft 0in figures of an out and out racing machine, but Beam 3.95m 12ft 11in the GS43 is such a smooth performer that Draught (shoal/deep) 2.30m/2.50m 7ft 6in/ 8ft 2in cruising in her would not only be possible, but Displacement 8,900kg 19,580lb an absolute pleasure. Her decks and cockpit are intelligently designed, although not exclusively for a Ballast 2,850kg 6,270lb burly racing crew, and she has features that fit nicely Sail area 105m² 1,129ft² into the cruising mode – especially when spec’d up Fuel 230ltr 50gal to suit the owner’s own style of . Water 400ltr 88gal At the end of the day, she looks so stunningly Berths 6-8 gorgeous that anyone would feel proud to own her Engine 40hp Volvo – myself included. RCD Category A-Ocean For Against Designer Botin & Carkeek/P Roseo • Sleek, streamlined • Lack of handholds Builder Cantiere del Pardo, Italy and attractive lines • Annoying structural Contact UK main agent Key Yachting • Easier to handle step in galley sole 023 8045 5669 than many • Not the greatest www.keyyachting.com performance yachts headroom for a • Extremely well 43ft boat Price from £275,000 + inc UK delivery built with integral steel frame

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Performance

As expected, the GS43 is 2 fast, but surprisingly easy to handle. I’ve sailed a few made 7kn without a hint of regatta-bred yachts in the past rounding up. and most require 100 per cent Tacking is quick and easy, concentration, but the GS43 the powerful Harken primary is so well balanced you can winches making slick work helm and watch the scenery of taking in the , which had go by without rounding up or little overlap. As the wind broaching to. increased closer to 20kn we 3 pumped a little more tension 1 Closehauled into the backstay, which Pointing to 30º or less is rebalanced the helm nicely and gives her lift as well as keeping choice is the owner’s, who normal practice in a boat like the log stayed over the 9kn her stiff. might select a voluminous this, although if sailed too close mark most of the way. I suspected that moving spinnaker for racing, whilst the speed drops off quickly around the cockpit and decks keeping a slightly tamer, due to her comparatively light 2 Reaching at these speeds might be tricky, asymmetric chute for cruising. displacement. But trimmed Bearing away onto a close but what you need comes to Hoisting our spinnaker we correctly she stays on track reach felt like engaging hand naturally and what you shot off downwind at 14kn with little input from the helm. overdrive. The log notched don’t need is tucked out of with the wind now 20kn+. Speeds of 8kn+ were up another knot and she harm’s way. She ran straight as a die, her common during our jaunt in dropped into an easy groove. light, positive helm giving 15kn-odd of wind, peaking Her deep keeps her on 3 Downwind me precise feedback at all at 9.2kn. Even with just the track and retains her grip on These yachts are intended to times – even in the gusts, I hoisted we happily the water, while her foil keel use seriously proportioned struggled to hide a boyish ■ downwind sails, but the final grin in the excitement. www.SailingToday.co.uk September 09