A playful flush-deck bridge
First of all, it should be noted that the deck plan is adapted to different uses. Whether it is with a crew for racing or as a couple for cruising, there is a place for everyone. The space dedicated to manoeuvring aft of the cockpit is large and also allows the helmsman to intervene if he is sailing solo. Everything comes down to the four electric winches, which makes manoeuvring very simple. In this spirit, the possibility of installing a self-steering jib is another good point. The lazy zone in front of the cockpit is not hindered by the ends. A table and a canopy that retracts under a hood make this area very convivial and well protected.
A muscular version
A confidence tells us that the three-stage carbon mast with three spreader stages is 28 m high on this version, which means a little over 24 m of mainsail guidance. We will soon understand the advantages of this. In a light breeze, the boat wedges on its chine at full throttle and then accelerates. A little tap of the fingertip on the tiller and you're upwind. The hull heels and the boat speeds up again. Climbing like this in a staircase, we reach more than 8 knots at 20° to the apparent wind and control the boat with our fingertips. It's already very impressive, but when we realise that the code zero is rolled up 10 cm in front of the genoa forestay, disrupting the air inlets, it becomes bluffing. The boat heels well, but with the very angled rudders the control remains very fine and effortless. You just have to pay attention to this outgrowth when manoeuvring in port and avoid shaving the pendulums. The turns are one after the other and the descent under code 0 makes us reach 10 knots at a slightly tight speed and fills our ego.
A very discreet motorization
After a few highly emotional edges, it is unfortunately time to return to port. The engine of our boat is a 110 hp Volvo penta D4 which corresponds to the strong option since the standard is 75 hp. But here again, a surprise awaits us, or rather the near absence of noise. The soundproofing of the engine compartment is particularly effective. Several layers of insulation and perforated and painted grilles for an impeccable finish make a nice acoustic difference. No more fear of making long trips to the engine in the wind, this is an undeniable plus that has long been expected on luxury yachts in this category.
