Jeanneau Sun Fast 40

When major French boatbuilder Jeanneau was preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary last year, it briefed yacht designer Daniel Andrieu: "to create the most multi-purpose sailboat possible with the racer/cruiser in mind".

Andrieu drew up a large volume 40ft hull with moderate underwater shape, onto which could be grafted four different configurations of deck layout, rig and underwater appendages to suit a variety of purposes, from cruising through to racing.

During 1999 we saw the arrival into Australia of the aft cockpit cruising model, the Sun Odyssey 40. A Sun Odyssey 40 DS (deck saloon) model is also available for cruising.

Now, the two more racing oriented versions have also reached these shores, with the Sun Fast 40 Standard model - the subject of this review, now sailing in Melbourne - and the Sun Fast 40 Performance version finding a new home in Sydney.

FINDING THE BALANCE
Jeanneau's stated philosophy is "Finding the balance between tradition and innovation".

This is evident on the Sun Fast 40, where the two most immediately striking features are the innovative twin wheel cockpit layout, and the traditional ambience of the interior layout, with its lashings of Burmese teak and royal blue plush fabrics.

The company's approach to modern yacht production is clearly striking a chord with the leisure boating market worldwide. During its 40 years Jeanneau has built nearly 60,000 boats, obtained ISO 9002 certification in fibreglass boatbuilding and established an international network of some 200 dealers and 35 distributors. Originally an independent company, it has become part of the Beneteau group while continuing to operate as a separate entity In Australia the Jeanneau range is marketed by European Marine, which in its first 12 to 18 months has been busy expanding its representation to major boating centres around the country.

Jeanneau's large scale, modern production lines bring benefits to buyers, such as the use of a 'computer controlled carpenter' to cut and mill timber components to precise measurements, plus savings on the cost of materials and equipment due to the company's bulk buying power.

The company says that nonetheless all hulls are laid up by hand and lamination is traditional, with the bulkheads and wooden structural grid of stringers and cross-frames bonded directly to the hull underneath the entire surface or around the full perimeter.

There is a Kevlar hull skin for strength and a protective coating of vinylester resin to increase the hull's resistance to water absorption and osmosis.

VIVE LA DIFFERENCE
The main difference between the Sun Odyssey 40 and the Sun Fast 40 is the rig, which is taller on the Sun Fast (providing a P measurement of 14.9m versus the Sun Odyssey's 13.2m), carries more sail area and is set up with three rather than two sets of swept-back spreaders. Keel options also vary.

Then there are two versions of the Sun Fast 40: the Standard model, as tested, and the even more racing oriented Performance version. Again, the major differences are in the rig and the keel.

The Standard model has a cast-iron keel drawing 1.95m, while the Performance model replaces this with a cast-iron keel with lead bulb, drawing 2.40m.

On both versions the rudder is fibreglass on a stainless steel frame and solid stainless steel rudder post, set up on two self-aligning bearings.

Both versions have the same keel-stepped mast with triple swept-back spreaders and 19/20 fractional rig, but the Standard model uses discontinuous wire shrouds, genoa furler with removable drum and adjustable manual backstay. The Performance rig features discontinuous SS rod shrouds, a foil headstay and adjustable hydraulic backstay.

The sail plans differ, with bigger working sails on the Performance model. Both are supplied ex-factory without sails; the test yacht has been set up with a North Sails Melbourne inventory.

UP ON DECK
The twin wheel layout opens up the aft end of the cockpit for easy access along the centreline to and from the transom, while also allowing the steerer to sit well outboard for good vision while under sail.

Seating is also provided along the transom for the steerer, with a removable section in the centre to allow walk-through access.

The twin 81cm steering wheels are mounted behind binnacle steering compasses, each protected by stainless steel rails which double as grabrails for rougher conditions.

While there may be extra weight and duplication involved in this steering arrangement, the alternative of a very large wheel would certainly restrict access aft, could be more prone to damage and does not offer the safety element of a spare wheel in case of breakage to the other.

The cockpit seats are teak, as is the transom swim/boarding platform, which houses a lifting stainless steel ladder and a transom shower.

Purpose-designed storage is provided for gas bottles in the starboard aft locker and a liferaft in the port locker.

A removable cockpit table with leaves can be inserted into a moulding in the centre of the cockpit floor; this moulding doubles as a gear holder and footrest while sailing.

Positioning the traveller in the cockpit, with a double-ended mainsheet leading forward along the boom and then aft along the deck to winches on the coamings both port and starboard, provides a much more user-friendly system for any sort of racing than the Sun Odyssey set-up, which positions the mainsheet traveller up on the coachroof, where it's harder to work (but has the advantage of opening the cockpit right up).

Because the Sun Fast's cockpit is not huge, the headsail sheet winches have been positioned up on the coachroof, outboard of the two halyard/sail control winches. All are self-tailing models from Harken, whose deck hardware is featured extensively throughout.

A locker under the port helmseat provides access to the rudder, and there is an emergency tiller deck fitting under the removable central helmseat.

Engine controls and instrument panel are mounted at the starboard steering station; the throttle lever is within easy reach, but you have to duck down to check the revs.

Running rigging includes mainsail, jib and spinnaker halyards, plus an extra "all-purpose" halyard, spinnaker pole lift and kicker, sheets and braces, sail control lines, including two reeflines for the mainsail, and a headsail furling control line for the standard version.

Halyards and sail control lines run aft from turning blocks at the base of the mast via two five-sheave organisers to jammers on either side of the companionway adjacent to the winches. A rigid vang supports the boom without the need for a topping lift.

There are two anchor rollers at the bow, plus a manual anchor windlass aft of the anchor locker.

The companionway hatch cover and washboard are plexiglass; the latter is vented and can be locked from both the interior and the cockpit. There are handrails to assist both entry and exit, and the addition of a sturdy optional spray dodger provides good protection for an otherwise exposed area.

TEAK FOR TRADITION
Below decks almost every surface, including the floorboards, wall and ceiling panels, has had the teak veneer treatment, with solid timbers also of teak.

The look is complemented by traditional royal blue plush fabric furnishings, which are removable for cleaning.

The interior layout is not strictly by the book, however. While navigation stations are usually positioned to one side or the other of the companionway steps on boats of this size, here (as on the Sun Odyssey 40) it has been moved forward into the port side of the saloon area proper, opposite the dinette area, thereby making the nav station multi-purpose and extending the area available for dining and socialising.

On longer passages the navigator might regret the reduced space for charts and manuals in the Sun Fast's nav table, compared to the more conventional arrangement, and there is greater distance separating the on-deck crew from the navigator in a tight situation, where rapid communication might be needed.

By the same token, the radios and electronic equipment are further from the main hatch - reducing the chance of them being drenched by water coming down the companionway, and in real terms the interior of a boat like this would generally be used far more often for socialising than for serious passagemaking.

There is storage under the single benchseats either side of the nav table and access to water tank controls is under the table.

On the hull wall next to the forward facing navigator's seat is the electrics panel, set up with 12 breakers plus auxiliaries and a 12V voltmeter. There is also room for optional electronic instruments and navigation aids. On the test boat a Seiwa Mako GPS chartplotter, Icom VHF radio and GME Electrophone CD stereo, plus a repeater for the yacht's Brookes & Gatehouse Hydra 2000 wind, navigation and performance system were fitted.

The U-shaped settee to starboard provides comfortable seating for four adults (five at a pinch) around a teak saloon table, with seating for two more on the individual seats in the nav area. There are storage lockers on either side above the backrests, plus storage compartments behind the seats.

Headroom throughout the interior is generous, with 1.90m in the saloon. Teak handrails are provided under the coachroof windows on either side of the moulded fibreglass deckliner, and there is a large opening deck hatch with blind. Halogen lighting is used throughout the interior.

The L-shaped galley is aft of the dinette on the starboard side, adjacent to the companionway. It is set up with a double sink, which can be covered by cut-outs from the laminated countertop.

Pressurised hot and cold water supply is via a mixer tap. There is a shelf and wastebasket under the sink, storage lockers behind the countertop and a two-burner stove/oven with a SS protection bar.

The top loading icebox is set up with an interior storage bin, has a stated capacity of 140lt, and is powered by a 12Vplate.

LAYOUT OPTIONS
The Sun Fast 40 is available in two or three cabin versions, with the option of one or two bathrooms. The testboat featured three cabins and two heads.

The two aft cabins each feature a large double berth, opening cockpit port and roof hatches with curtains, white heavy-duty fabric hull-liner on the wall and varnished teak headliner; reading lights; storage shelves, large hanging lockers and access to the engine compartment.

The port cabin contains the battery shut-off switch and provides access to the compartment housing two 96 amp/hr batteries.

The forward cabin houses a big, long double berth, with storage space and a water tank underneath. In the two-bathroom version the ensuite is situated on the starboard side of this cabin, immediately aft of the bunk, with a single benchseat and a large hanging locker opposite to port. (The single-bathroom version carries an additional hanging locker on the starboard side.)

Air supply is via two opening deck hatches with blinds and a low profile hatch ventilator. The teak look is carried through in the floorboards, headliner and wall panelling under the lateral storage shelves.

The main bathroom compartment is on the port side of the main saloon, adjacent to the companionway, and is well set up with fibreglass furniture mouldings for a sink/vanity unit, shower area with folding seat and shower curtain, and storage lockers with doors behind the manual marine toilet.

Hot and cold pressure water is supplied to the sink and shower, with access to the thru-hull fittings in the storage area under the sink and removal of run-off water via an electric shower sump pump.

There is a mirror and shelf mounted on the outer wall behind the sink, and ventilation is via a deck hatch with blind.

The optional forward head is smaller in area but includes basically the same features, fitout, ventilation and headroom as the main bathroom. In both cases the door opens outwards rather than inwards to maximise the usable bathroom space and avoid pinning an unsuspecting crewmate into a tight corner.

The engine compartment is in the standard location under the companionway steps, with a moulded fibreglass engine bed, all-round soundproofing and air supply via an engine blower.

The auxiliary power specification for both the Standard and Performance versions of the Sun Fast 40 is 30-40 hp; the test yacht has been upgraded with a Yanmar 56hp marine diesel engine.

Standard items are a fuel filter/separator, raw water filter, anti-siphon valve, battery charge distributor and quarter-turn water intake thru-hull, with propulsion via a stainless steel propeller shaft and folding two-blade propeller.

WIDER APPEAL
My sailing experiences with both the Sun Fast and the Sun Odyssey have been in light wind, where both have proven manoeuvrable and willing to accelerate smoothly, and have displayed no vices.

This is a sophisticated, modern production yacht and for potential buyers, the question is which model is most suitable to their individual requirements.

The simply rigged Sun Odyssey 40 with its completely open cockpit and small rig is well suited to the charter market.

Putting a bigger rig and a more effective mainsheet setup on the Sun Fast 40 should widen the yacht's appeal to private buyers, who would like to do at least the occasional twilight race, as well as having a yacht with an impressive fitout for social sailing and entertaining.

Without yet having had the opportunity to sail the Performance version of the Sun Fast 40, I strongly suspect that this would be my pick of the Jeanneau crop, as it retains the handsome and functional interior while devoting more attention to sailing performance, to make racing occasions more enjoyable.

The Sun Fast 40 has not been specifically aimed at the IMS cruiser/racer market, like the phenomenally successful Beneteau First 40.7, but according to European Marine, it has been achieving good results in recent IRC handicap regattas in Europe.

Buyers expecting to receive a well-prepared package should not be disappointed. In common with the handful of other major players in the international production yacht market, Jeanneau pays attention to detail, right through to the comprehensive owner's manual.