A deck plan and clean shapes
From the first glance at the Grand Soleil 40 we understand that the italian shipyard Cantiere del Pardo had for objective elegance and sobriety. A rather successful bet, with a discreet roof and side panels entirely free of any sound. Except for its high and marked rear chine, the design is of a successful classicism. We even note that the maximum beam does not extend to the rear.
When boarding from the stern, there are two good-sized steering wheels. On the visited version, named Performance, 6 winches allow maneuvering, but the standard version is satisfied with 4, on the roof and near the helm. The German-style sheet and the standard self-tacking jib track on the roof make the spaces clear, especially since the mainsail track is recessed in the cockpit floor.
On the foredeck, an imposing delphinium allows the classic range of modern downwind sails to be sent to be effective in racing. The built-in genoa furler leaves the deck flush.
With 84 m² of sail area in standard for 7.5 tons of displacement, the sailboat should show good performance, even more so with the boosted version equipped with 95 m².
Elegant living spaces
The exterior cockpit will comfortably accommodate 6 people. You can also lie down at anchor.
After the companionway, there is an L-shaped saloon on the starboard side, where the benches are completed by two poufs. A reasonably sized chart table is located at the aft end.
On the port side, an L-shaped galley offers the classic equipment on a boat of this size. If the lack of handrail around the companionway could be problematic, a nice wooden profile integrated in the ceiling will allow to stand in the saloon or near the galley.
The large overhead cages with their stainless steel fargues are elegant, but securing equipment while sailing can be problematic.
Bathroom or storage for the regatta
At the rear, there is a classic cabin on each side. A bathroom with shower is located on the port side.
The owner's cabin at the front offers a nice double berth. It has its own bathroom as standard, but clients can request to keep this space empty, in order to store equipment and sails, especially for the racers.
With its Grand Soleil 40, Cantiere del Pardo retains its elegant style and should appeal to customers in this key niche, especially in the Mediterranean.
The 2022 base price of the Grand Soleil 40, without sail, is 360,000 euros including tax.
