All the new Jeanneau Launches: Exclusive

It’s the playground of the rich and famous. The Côte d'Azur aka French Riviera where, the brochure said, emotions are guaranteed. So we packed our bags, readied our hearts and minds, and winged it to France for Jeanneau’s Cannes 2016 Press Sea Trials.

Nine new boats, in bunch of styles, with power and sail, from Jeanneau and its upmarket Prestige stable. They came in outboard, inboard with sterndrive, IPS and Zeus-drive configurations, with Sail Assist Trim, Code Zeros and in-mast furling, for three days of mixing it with our European marine media colleagues.

For our mission, it was all about sensations and using what we know from our backyard boating as a yardstick. What we sought to determine was how well these global boats popular in certain markets might be back on our quite different playgrounds.

Of course, the South of France is a long way to go to have your buttons pressed and to press those buttons that are increasingly part of the boating way these days. Yet as sure as you the Mediterranean sparkles, we were moved by the Jeanneau’s 2016 line-up of nine new power and sail boats.

Here was some real innovation, avant-garde design from the global boatbuilder very much on the ascendancy these last three years. Huge it may be, but its boats aren’t homogenous and, in fact, more diverse than just about any other world brand.

Pick your size and style and, with more options on the fit, finish and layout front, you can go some way to designing your own boat. Power, docking and electronic options are increasingly a big part of boats like Jeanneau’s these days. The common thread running through them all is user-friendliness and ease of operation.

As part of the Group Beneteau production pleasure-boat duopoly, Jeanneau enjoys great economies of scale, pumping out one of its Cap Cammarat boats from its French factory every 90 minutes 24/7. The company uses a mix on inhouse designers and design houses, big name boat architects for its hulls and proprietary fittings from big-name suppliers.

Its building boats for the global market, with a little bit of tradition here and there, and a whole lot more innovation. It’s been quick to embrace IPS, has a new partnership with Yamaha in Europe, and is expanding with 20 new dealers added to the family. The culture here is very much family.

We will share the press conference news soon, expand on the drives and tests for each of the boats we spent time evaluating — in our own special way pursuant to the Australian market and how we use our boats, which is quite unique I might add — and let you know the best fits and what’s arriving.

Meantime, here’s a little snapshot of the top five new boats from the nine at our disposal. These are the ones with the greatest synergy in our market and which underscore the diversity of models and new directions that Jeanneau is heading in 2017.

CAP CAMMARAT 10.5WA
An absolute headline act and new flagship in the 13-boat outboard-powered Cap Cammarat range
With an extraordinary twin-step tunnel hull from Michael Peters, which is said to be a derivation of his 40ft US Coastguard commission, this big high-powered outboard twin rig has pedigree.

The boat is running twin 350hp V8 Yamaha outboards and, on test for us, the Yamaha Helm Master docking joystick and multifunction control box. With independently articulating outboard engines, you can move this walkaround boat in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

Philosophically, as the French so often consider things, the new flagship Cap Cammarat 10.5 WA is a la mode, right in fashion and vogue, being a big outboard powered boat instead of inboard. That trend is go at present.

It’s a walkaround or centre console kind of layout, which are also selling strongly in the US market especially, offering on-water applications from fishing, diving and watersports to offshore cruising and family time.

The cockpit has flip-up seating, a lunch setting, a central amenities centre with barbecue option, behind triple helm seats and an asymmetrical helm. You get a bit more room to port to walkaround to the bow and typical “bronzing area” or sunpad. Pull the cushion and it’s a casting deck.

Below decks, there’s a surprise in store by way of fore and aft double beds that sleep a family of four. The forward double is formed from the dinette table, with a lower helm station and bathroom with full shower. The deep, high-volume hull has obvious freeboard and full headroom in the cabin.

Top speed is officially 44 knots, with reports of 48 knots light ship. Our trials in 30-35 knots of wind and a whipped up Med’ on the last day of testing proved the Peter’s hull design. Cruise of 4000rpm and 25-26 knots was convincing, with the Yamaha Helm Master system offering an auto-trim assist function to make performance driving more accessible to the masses. A bowthruster helps take care of docking.

QUICK SPECS: LOA 10.57m; Beam 3.21m; Weight 4250kg hull only; Fuel 2 x 400lt; Water 160lt; Engines on test 2 x 350hp Yamaha four-stroke outboards; WOT 6000rpm/44.1 knots

LEADER 36
Another Michael Peters hull design ensures this nifty sportscruiser performs dashingly well.
The head of sales for Jeanneau in France was bragging about some of the long-range cruising trials he’s pulled off in this smart sportscruiser. But let’s face it, this is an entry-level family weekender for cruising your local waterways. It’s more about a comfortable Sunday or a weekend away than beating a path up or down the coast. Already some 90 have been sold in 18 months.

The signature grey hull colour and hardtop and sunroof are part of the Leader DNA, but so too the sterndrive power options that run from 300hp 5.7L 350MAG MerCruisers to a range of D$ to D6 Volvo Penta diesels from 260-370hp.

While the traditional US sportscruiser market remains stuck in the doldrums, Jeanneau is going all out to own a bigger slice of what it hopes will be a rebounding market for inboard power. The 3600 is your typical little sportscruiser.

The layout doesn’t stray, with familiar transom lounge with flip backrest, lunch table and seating, amenities centre with fridge and barbecue options, co-pilot seat and adjoining aft-facing sunlounge, all under a moulded hardtop with sunroof.

But below decks is a new tweak on this previous release: a fresh walnut interior that adds visual contrast and a richer feel to the budget boat. The interior is from Garroni Design, another popular choice for Jeanneau, and a superyacht stylist.

It's not breaking new ground in the accommodation department, with an open bow with inbuilt double bed and lounge at the base around a table. There’s a small galley module, bathroom with a full shower opposite, and an aft cabin that sleeps two, plus another on its sofa that converts to a bunk with foot space.

Opening portlights and big hull windows are features throughout the interior and Jeanneau is going to great lengths to create a modern apartment-like ambience.

With the Volvo Penta D4 260hp diesel engine pairing with Joystick, this boat pulled more than 32 knots and cruised at 22-23 knots for a range of a 175nm-200nm. Ergonomically, it’s a nice boat to drive, running and turning flat, and affording good vision across the rev range.

It’s also a rather beamy little boat with a very stable footprint ideal for families and safe at-anchor play anywhere from the broad boarding platform to the foredeck sunpad.

QUICK SPECS: LOA 11.47m; Beam 3.62m; Weight 6616kg hull only; Fuel 550lt; Water 160lt with optional extra 100lt; Engines on test 2 x Volvo Penta D4-260; WOT 3540rpm/32.1 knots.

LEADER 46
The big new flagship in the Leader inboard range offers amazing volume
There is a lot of fanfare around this new flagship and Jeanneau is justified in being excited. For this is first in a sportscruiser of this size that we know of — a full-beam aft stateroom with adjoining en suite. This aft cabin really is impressive in respect of volume and it rivals that found on 50 footers.

This en suite to port has a split head and separate shower with frosted bi-fold doors that come together to create a private head and wash area. Doors open, you create the full-beam effect and can see right through to the portlights from the bed.

This is a big boat layout pulled off in a relatively small boat using quite some styling finesse thanks to the well-known J&J Design house, which has also provided the options for a three-cabin layout. We had the two cabin design on show with the second cabin and en suit forward. The private guests’ retreat featured scissor berths that form a double bed.

The other big thing is the option of open back or full enclosure using a glass electric window and vertical swinging glass door. The open back version had a classic central island sunpad, while the glass door version had a cockpit table and facing lounges.

The former open version was fitted with the base 370hp Volvo Penta D6 diesel engines with Duoprop sterndrives and joystick. It was good for 31 knots flat out and 23 knots cruise for 103lt/hr, according to the supplied data.

The sister ship with the hardtop and rear glass enclosure was powered by a pair of IPS-600s and was a 34-35 knot boat, with a 25.4 knot cruise for 120lt/hr. The sprightly acceleration and IPS handling cost a premium approaching $100k in the back pocket and an extra 17lt/hr at cruise.

The Australian importer Matt Willett Marine was tossing up which engine version to bring in at the time of writing. While the IPS is a more refined experience, there is a place for the affordable DPS sterndrive power and it is that market which Jeanneau is looking to own with this big 46 undercutting the competition. There’s also the option of fitting a hydraulic boarding platform to carry a decent tender.

The new flagship Leader 46 would make a very nice big-city cruiser and weekender, especially for those new to luxury boating who can’t justify paying the big tickets for luxury badges. In the 30-35 knot test conditions on the final day, the boat was remarkably smooth riding into a headsea, making it a good fit for port hopping and big bays like Port Phillip.

QUICK SPECS: LOA 14.30m; Beam 4.10m; Weight 10,600kg hull only; Fuel 900lt; Water 400lt; Engines on 2 x Volvo Penta D6-370 DPS and 2 x Volvo Penta IPS-600; WOT 3600rpm for 30.6 knots (DPS) and 34-35 knots (IPS)

PRESTIGE 550
The luxury motoryacht receives an interior makeover in keeping with its high-end bigger sister ships
Stepping up the designer aspect of its luxury motoryacht marque, Jeanneau uses the term chic and on-trend when discussing its coupe and flybridge Prestige models. They range from the 420 to a new 620S with sportsbridge and 680, all of which are built in a separate factory,

The news from Cannes was this 550’s new interior finish in ashen grey oak, borrowed from the bigger sister ships in the Prestige Yachts Division that start at a 620 and range to a 750. All are exclusively Garroni designs.

Designed for the 750, the grey oak interior was up till this point an exclusive for yachts of over 60 feet. But that styling upgrade is now available back down the line on this popular 550 and it does lift the finish from the former Alpi Moabi timber.

Our test was on hull #118, all of which are resin-infused and balsa-cored to among other things save weight. The test boat had the standard but relatively modest Cummins 600hp QSC-8.3 engines for a boat of this size with Zeus pod drives and the Cummins’ Joystick.

In short, the Prestige DNA includes: aft galley; panoramic vision inside; and separate owner’s cabin, which on this 550 has full aft shower stall and adjoining walk-in robe. Our test boat also had a pile of options for the European market, things like a passerelle and aft mooring electric windlass, but the layout remains globally appealing.

Among the big hooks are the private aft access stairs to the separate aft owner’s stateroom with en suite. The forward accommodation has a bunk cabin and VIP double cabin forward. The saloon in between sports deep glass and glazing that illuminates the new light grey oak joinery and white upholstery. There was an upgraded lower helm bench seat.

The flying bridge on this 550, where I spent a lot of time, is just huge and we carried a fair throng of photographers at one point without it feeling overcrowded. On the throttles in fair weather without them, this 550 was a joy to drive with the 600hp Cummins and Zeus having noticeable mid-range performance and acceleration.

Somewhere off Cannes in the beaming sunshine and blue water, where a whale was even seen gallivanting about, we hit 31 knots with the wind on our hair. The 550 cruises effortless at 22 knots. The boat now has the provision to fit a SeaKeeper 9 gyro, but it’s an inherently stable motoryacht.

JEANNEAU 54
A modern yacht to mollycoddle owners with new levels of onboard liveability, space, amenities and sail handling
The yachting market has changed and this new-for-2016 Jeanneau 54 is born out of these evolving times. This is currently the smallest model (we hear a 50 will break cover soon) in the three boat 54, 57 and 64 Yacht range, all of which are new and/or redesigned in the past 18 months.

The latest 54 certainly arrives with great fanfare and will make a big splash at this year’s Sydney International Boat Show. The stylish yacht is available with various layouts, as ever, but Sydney importers Performance Yachts have backed a winner with this two cabin owners’ version.

This is where the luxury sailing is at these days — yacht owners want more comforts, greater conveniences, and less concerns. They want more static appeal, as much as they demand pedigree and sailing performance.

Ease of handling goes without saying and is a common thread throughout the Jeanneau range. This 54 has designed with concealed lines leading aft to electric Harken winches, modest 48sq m in-mast furling main (baton-less as standard), and a 109 per cent genoa with scope for inner forestay, very much for short-handed sailing.

Using Phillipe Briand for the new hard-chine hull, Garroni and Andrew Winch for the interior and superyacht influences, the 54 mirrors the 64 with big yacht lines and a suite of big features, starting with the patented Aft Terrace that is the stuff of superyachts.

Realising a garage is really only suitable for a tiny tender, the dynamic transom unfurls to create a long aft deck with cushions making sun lounges at private waterfront. Telescopic davits from Opac Mare let you carry and dispatch a 3.2m tender and the whole thing packs away to a full cockpit transom for bluewater sailing in moments.

Up front, the foredeck has a sexy concealed sun awning over its sunpad and our test boat had the sail locker fitted out as crew quarters — the ultimate grand kids’ retreat during those holidays afloat. The decks are uncluttered with the concealed lines and German-type mainsheet system.

With the 107 per cent genoa and main on the Z Spar rig in 7-8 knots of wind, we held 5-5.5 knots running and reaching. With all the accoutrements onboard — generator, air con, washer dryer and more — the 54 as tested was no lightweight. But it was in realistic owner’s trim and the light airs performance underscores the Briand pedigree. In the 30 knots later on, the 54 was smoking.

While there are flexible accommodation plan including cabin and head arrangements of 5/3, 4/4,/3/3, our test boat had as mentioned to the two-plus-two layout. Although Jeanneau has retained a big forward-facing navigation station, the spacious saloon is given over to lounging and living, with a pop-up TV, wine fridge, and lounges that double as sea berths and a dinette that converts to a spare double.

The galley was in the starboard aft cabin area with drawer fridges and washer dryer, thereby freeing up the saloon for that open-plan layout. The portside cabin gains space from the bulkhead pushed across and has room to stand alongside the double bed.

But it's the stateroom forward that makes the 54. It’s enormous, bathed in lights, with an island bed like a jewel around which you can move with great freedom. The en suite with shower stall is part of this arrangement, creating some of the best accommodation on a 54 for owners we’ve ever seen.

The cockpit is of similarly generous proportions with a central table including fridge, rear-facing sunpads and there are 360 Docking joystick options. If not sailing off Cannes as we did, with the 108sq m Code Zero getting us along in the light airs, then the new 54 really is worth a look at the Sydney boat show just to see where the owner-yachting market is headed.

QUICK SPECS: LOA 16.16m; Beam 4.92m; Displacement 17,164kg; Draft 2.24m standard, 1.77m shoal; Fuel 240lt; Water 724lt; Sleeping 4+2; Engine 80hp 4JHC Yanmar with Saildrive, optional 110hp with shaft; Sail Area, Furling Main 48sq m, standard 109% genoa 63sq m.

More from local Jeanneau dealer Matt Willett Marine at www.mwmarine.com.au.