The rebirth of a legendary model
Cantiere del Pardo took advantage of the Cannes boat show to unveil new projects for its various brands. On the sailing front, Grand Soleil will introduce the Grand Soleil 52 Performance in 2024. Inspired by the lines of the original model designed by German Frers in 1987, this new model, 17.05 m long and 5.15 m wide, marks the return of a legendary model. At the time, some sixty units were produced. The Italian manufacturer entrusted the design to the duo Matteo Polli and Nauta Design. It retains the elegance of its predecessor, notably the navy-blue stripes that underline the hull lines.
Two versions for two different programs
The Grand Soleil 52 Performance will be available in two versions, Performance and Race, to satisfy the needs of more sporty owners, and those who prefer fast cruising to racing. It is built in sandwich construction, with composite wood bulkheads.
A warm, bright interior
The saloon is warm and bright, with a chart table forward, a large U-shaped dinette to port, a large sofa to starboard and a C-shaped galley to port of the companionway. In addition to the numerous storage compartments on board, three fridge/freezers offer up to 172 liters of storage space for long cruises on board. The rest of the layout consists of three cabins: the owner's cabin forward with its private bathroom, a VIP cabin aft with a double berth or two single beds, with direct access to the bathroom with shower cubicle, and a guest cabin to port, with a double bed.
Owners can choose between different types of wood, such as oak, grey oak or teak.
A different deck and sail plan depending on the version chosen
The deck layout and sail plan, like the hull, are designed for both versions. The "Performance" version offers an easy-to-sail deck layout, with 4 winches at the stern near the double steering wheels, a travelerless mainsail and self-tacking jib as standard, and a carbon bowsprit, also standard. The cockpit is free of all maneuvers for the safety of guests. The "Race" version features 6 winches, a longitudinal jib track, a mainsheet track, a larger sail plan and a carbon bowsprit 90 cm larger than the standard version. The mast is positioned aft of the main cabin to optimize the center of effort.
There's plenty of storage space on board, starting with the sail locker at the bow for sails of all sizes, including a Code 0. The anchor locker is also used to store the 6 fenders, while the 2.90 m tender is stored in the watertight garage.
In terms of hull construction, the Performance version features a standard ductile cast-iron keel with a T-shaped lead/antimony bulb for a draft of 2.90 m, while the Race version has a steel keel, a hydrodynamic fiberglass fairing and a lead/antimony bulb measuring 2.7 m, which can be reduced to 2.30 m.
State-of-the-art electronics
The new Grand Soleil 52 Performance benefits from a 24 V electrical system, with thinner wiring and longer battery life managed by an electronic battery switch. Air-conditioning can be adjusted via three controls at the rear, in the dining area and at the front, with a dedicated thermostat in each room.
Great autonomy for cruising
For long cruises in total autonomy, the Grandsoleil 52 Performance has stainless steel water tanks totaling 600 liters, positioned amidships below the waterline. A fuel tank holds 400 liters of diesel. The 75-hp Volvo Penta engine comes as standard with saildrive transmission, bow and stern thrusters, and can be replaced by an 80-hp Yanmar.
