Hanse 415

In six years, some 60 of the 400s were sold, mainly with the three-cabin layout. The 400 was also popular as the “e” variant, a $17,500 epoxy hull upgrade, with significant factory-stated weight savings (10 per cent) and better performance.

While Hanse no longer offers the “e” option on any of its yachts, the 415 still sails swiftly thanks to the same designers, Judel/Vrolijk, who have all kinds of racing successes to their name including America’s Cup and Admiral’s Cup glory.

While the 400 cements its position as an all-time classic Hanse, new 415 owners are lining up. They are coming out of the 60-odd 370s and 375s that have also been sold here over the years. That said, the 415 is so well behaved and accommodating it will attract new blood to the fold.

"It was the stand-out boat from the Sydney boat show. We’ve sold five within a month of the show to existing Hanse owners coming out of 370s and 400s, as well as one relatively new sailing couple," says Peter Hrones from importers Windcraft, which was recently anointed Global Hanse Dealer of the Year.

By default, we’re told, Windcraft inadvertently ordered their first 415 (#17 worldwide) with the standard two-cabin layout. As touched on, this goes against the lion’s share of previous 400 owners. But it’s proven a hit, with a second (#24) two-cabin 415 bound for WA. The expected split is 50/50 between two and three-cabin layouts, we’re told.

Since our test sail, the first 415 (#25) with three-cabin layout has now been sold and handed over to Sydney owners. You pay some $2200 for the extra cabin, which is neither here nor there in the overall scheme of things. That said, this two-cabin version gains in other ways. We’ll get to that.

The 415 is priced from $279,000 -- $269,000 for the first 10 orders in Australia -- but our demonstrator cost $334,082 with a boatload of gear. This included all three factory packages called Cruise, Navigation and Comfort, plus an extra $33,766 of factory options and $7,340 of locally fitted kit.

Highlights of the Cruise Pack include teak cockpit, windlass, lazy jacks and bag, car slide system for mainsail (obviously not with optional furling main), extra 165Ah AGM battery, small 350W inverter, hot/cold cockpit shower, wind indicator and more.

The Comfort Pack upgrades the boat's lighting with a touch-screen controller with dimmer, red night lights, strip lights, and LEDs throughout. There are also blinds and a three-burner gimballed gas stove in this package.

The Navigation Pack was based around the Simrad 8in NSS8 touch-screen plotter and AP24 autopilot. This would-be coastal cruiser would add radar, too. A Simrad IS20 wind display was included, along with a RS25 VHF with handheld remote below decks. There was also a SonicHub dock for ipod with cockpit and saloon speaker zones.

Factory-fitted options ranged from the twin carbon-look wheels, twin Lewmar two-speed 45 secondary winches to the must-have twin two-speed electric 45s. Thus, hoisting the main involved nothing more than extending the index finger.

We also had genoa tracks with pin-stop cars -- we’d like a gennaker or MPS in the bag for power reaching -- and a folding two-blade prop instead of the standard fixed prop.

Below decks, the microwave was an option, as was the upgraded American cherry joinery with matt finish and royal-teak floor. The Valencia mocha upholstery added to the upmarket feel.

The locally cut and fitted bimini and dodger was beautifully done and there were wheel and cockpit table covers. Barbecue, tender, kayak or SUP but not much else needed in this complete 415.

The immense saloon has been designed to sate the entertainer. Headroom, seating and space are highlights. Raft-up with your sailing friends, issue an invitation and convert the navigation station to create an even more social setting, This takes just minutes.

The armrest at the nav station conceals the infill cushion, the small table drops down to form a base, then the twin single seats morph into one big lounge that faces the main U-shaped lounge opposite. Now open the extension leaf on the dinette and you’ve got room for a dinner party for eight.

We found a three-bottle wine storage rack underfloor, a bar locker in the dinette, and storage under seat bases and side lockers for more bootleg. With your iPod in the SonicHub, the scene is set.

Five opening portlights with insect screens deliver fresh air, as do the two skylights with insect and shade screens. These open both ways, which will please marina dwellers not always parked nose to the wind.

The two-cabin layout sees the aft starboard cabin turned into a commissary/storage room. Open the door and you’ll find shelves inside, as well as the extended swim ladder on clips. We’d add a Waeco 12V portable fridge/freezer here. Cockpit access means the space doubles as a sail locker or it can be ordered as a utility room with workshop.

As the L-shaped galley extends well aft into what would more often be the third cabin, you gain more floor, food-prep and counter space. The big counters are raised to a good working height and have fiddle rails to stop spills. There’s extra storage and improved amenities in general.

In fact, such is the room that two people could cook and serve guests on the aforesaid sprawling dining setting. Galleying gourmands will welcome the three-burner gas stove/oven and optional microwave oven, decent 130-litre fridge with top and side access, scope for second 70-litre drawer fridge, twin sinks, and vast cupboard space.

While the galley is the boat’s crowning glory, the single bathroom opposite near the companionway will serve its communal role just as well. Full marks for the separate shower stall, porcelain sink, and cherrywood vanity. An electric loo would be nice, though.

The aft cabin to port doesn’t break new ground, but includes a big double bed, cross-flow ventilation, hanging locker with shelves, and headroom at the entrance to dress. As ever, there’s a hatch and access to all sides of the engine, a freshwater-cooled Volvo 38hp D2 that can be upgraded to a 55hp model.

The stateroom up front has considerable floor space, with a double berth flanked by a seat and vanity, opening portlights and escape hatch, shelves, cupboards and more joinery. Trick pencil-style reading lights add to the European styling in the 415’s big-hearted and upmarket interior.

The mainsail area is the same, but there’s a different cut to the jib with a slightly longer J section to help downwind sailing. The extended waterline length of the 415 should also equate to a tad more speed over the 400.

Meantime, construction is all GRP with an internal strong back to bear keel/sailing loads and vinylester resin in the first layer to ward off osmosis. Balsa coring is used above the waterline and all the bulkheads are laminated to the hull.

The cored deck and hull are bonded in such a way there’s no rubbing strip. Elsewhere, we noted beefy chainplates and stainless steel bolts. But there’s limited viewing access to all underfloor compartments.

Cruising buffs might tick the optional 200-litre water tank to extend the standard 320-litre supply. The water and fuel gauge are at the control panel. But make sure you monitor the smallish 35-litre black-water holding tank, especially at holiday time.

The extra 165Ah AGM house battery is a good thing considering the boat has an inverter. But it was a small 350W unit that can't power the onboard microwave oven, which is therefore only useable when hooked up to shorepower. We’d opt for the upgraded inverter option.

All sailing controls lead back to the Lewmar manual and electric winches alongside the twin wheels. This creates a good ‘visitor cockpit,’ as one might put it. Non-sailing family and/or friends can keep clear of the lines during tacks, which are performed easily one-up.

The large cockpit has new rope-tail lockers, concealed shorepower connection, gas struts on hatch lids, which are double moulded for a top-shelf finish, and a 4kg gas bottle locker with bayonet deck fitting. The moulded seats have ergonomic backrests, with dry storage, drink holders, even a quasi servery under the dodger.

A drawbridge-style boarding platform adds to the waterfront real estate, while moulded toe rails -- no-one will be sitting on the rail -- grab rails, a bow rail with lifeline, flush deck hatches and a concealed windlass assist with deck work. There’s an eye on the bow to which Windcraft adds a wire strop should you insist on a furling genoa.

De-cluttered decks and concealed lines add to the sailing pleasure that existed even in the light airs. In perhaps eight knots of wind in the best puff, our lightly laden 415 was gadding along at 5.8-6 knots, which is consistent with the polar graphs.

We maintained five knots plus most of the time, according to centre pod-mounted Simrad NSS8 and multifunction displays before each wheel. 

Of course, the Hanse hook of self-tacking headsail -- by no means its own invention -- made going about a snap, while the German mainsheet system means you can trim within reach of either wheel. The whole setup is just so simple

Eventually, we deferred to the Volvo D4, which dished up 7.5 knots (about hull speed) at 2600rpm and 6.8 knots at 2200rpm motorcruising speed. With Saildrive, the 415 proved manoeuvrable under power.

But in two-cabin guise, it’s just beckoning to play the entertainer, with a galley and dinette that take centre stage. With an optional electric berth conversion for the dinette, you get sleeping for six on this two-cabin 415. Converted, the portside saloon lounge can double as a sea berth, too.

Above deck, the boat has evolved to become yet easier to sail. Though it was lightly laden, it proved slippery in light airs. The high-aspect rig with North Sails caught the puffs nicely.

Like its predecessor, we expect the German-made 415 to be seen variously racing around the club cans, with cruising couples casting off, and kid crew aboard. It’s a versatile, user-friendly 40 that answers the call of just about everyone including present Hanse owners.

With a sail area/displacement ratio just above 20, there’s enough performance to please club and regatta sailors and scope to optimise the 415. There’s also ease of handling for new and dab sailing hands, while the below decks space will accommodate those with itchy feet or tickets on entertaining. Yep, the shoes are filled.