In this drawing of Grand Soleil 48, the Italian shipyard Del Pardo has put all its expertise to work. This shipyard wants to revive its image of chic and high-performance yachts. Thus the new 48 will have a quieter version called "Performance" (note the nuance!), and a second one called "Race".
To design this boat, the shipyard relied on a pole of 3 competences: The design office of Chantier Del Pardo, Nauta Yacht Design for the interiors and the deck and finally Marco Lostuzzi for the naval architecture.
Built on the same mould, the two versions will not receive the same materials and manufacturing processes, nor the same equipment.
Del Pardo Grand Soleil 48 in Race version
The hull of the Performance version will be conventionally constructed in glass/vinylester with structural laminate bulkheads. The keel will have a steel sail and a lead bulb, while the rudder (single) will be in glass laminate with a stainless steel wick.
At the same time, the Race version will have a glass/epoxy infused hull (epoxy resin saves weight on the hull) and an epoxy carbon option will even be offered in the catalogue. In the Race version, a carbon chassis (like the X-Yachts) takes up all the rigging and keel efforts. A deep draft will be proposed (3 m draft) to increase the stiffness of the canvas. Finally, the rudder will be deeper and made of carbon.
Note that the hull portholes may or may not be present depending on the owner's wishes. Fewer portholes reduce the weight and increase the rigidity..
Del Pardo Grand Soleil 48 in Performance version
The fittings of the two versions will also be different. 4 winches positioned close to the helmsman in the Performance version so as not to clutter up the cockpit while 8 winches, a hydraulic forestay and a jib adjustable in 3 dimensions will embellish the Race version.
Same for the sail with the possibility of carbon mast and textile rigging on the Race version (aluminium mast and rod as standard).
The layout with 3 double cabins will be the same in both versions. Plated sandwich bulkheads allow a weight saving of 30 to 40% on the race version. Part of the furniture will be removable during the regattas.
We can't wait to see this little bombshell on the water, but above all we can't wait to discover the final price of the boat, especially in its full carbon Race version... Undoubtedly some unavowed heights!
