Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40.3

The sailing world has, for some years now, had a thing for 40-footers. And if French yachtmaker Jeanneau's new tearaway success, the Sun Odyssey 40.3, is anything to go by, there's no change in sight.

Launched in September last year at the Paris Boat Show, the Sun Odyssey 40.3 I sailed on Pittwater just 11 months later was, quite incredibly, No 214. That's a lot of 40ft yachts in a short space of time.

So why the rush to get aboard? Good question. I suspect a lot of faithful Jeanneau yacht owners have been waiting patiently in the wings for a freshly styled yacht that's not too big to sail and park on their own.

Moreover, Jeanneau has upped the ante with its 40.3 and created a yacht with lot of overdue marina cred. To its universally accepted formula of providing strength, sailability and space, you can now add the increasingly important attribute of French flair thanks to a dashing new deck design.

While the 40.3's underwater sections don't stray too much from the evergreen yacht it replaces - the Sun Odyssey 40, which is a mainstay in charter fleets the world over - its new deck looks a lot more contemporary. The generic deck design brings the 40.3 in line with its bigger sister ship, the Sun Odyssey 43.3. But it does more than that.

Compared to the old 40-footer, this new 40.3 gains an extra coach-house window for more light, lots of deck hatches and a Dorade vent for ventilation, and a lofty 1.85m or more of headroom in the forepeak cabin. Despite the increase in volume, however, the yacht doesn't look top heavy thanks to - rightly or wrongly - what one could term 'bubble-deck' styling. In other words, the boat's volume is concealed by curves.

Yet for all the pandering to fashion, Jeanneau maintains its enviable reputation for making sturdy yachts. The 40.3 leans toward the cruising side of the cruiser-racer spectrum. One of the smallest twin-steer yachts on the market, it has been built to be sailed offshore. It wouldn't be out of sorts cruising in those northern yacht races that culminate with Hamilton Island Race Week.

While the same parent company that owns Jeanneau also makes Beneteau yachts, it should be noted that the two are kept separate. In fact, the only thing they share is purchasing power. The two marques are actually rivals, although Jeanneau leans more toward the cruising spectrum. Beneteau don't make Deck Saloon yachts as does Jeanneau, for example.

Anyway, there are about 15 of the now-superseded Sun Odyssey 40s gadding about in Australian waters. If you haven't done so already, you will find them mostly in charter fleets such as those on Sydney Harbour. The reason I mention this is that while the old 40 sails well, is easily driven and is accommodating, the new 40.3 is better again. Not to mention the avant-garde French styling.

BUILT FOR THE BLUEWATER
Daniel Andrieu designed the yacht's slippery hull. It's the same hull as you will find on the original Sun Odyssey 40.

You can have the hull optimised in a new Sun Fast version with a deeper keel (slated for release in Australia later this year) or, conversely, as a Deck Saloon model for cruising out of the elements.

The hull is a beamy one that supports the weight of fuel and water back aft and in the forward sections, where there is a raked stem. Despite the cruising capacity of the tanks, the broad transom didn't drag during our sail test. You can order an optional shoal-draft keel, but most boats sold here will sport the standard-issue 1.95m deep-draft epoxy-coated keel.

The Sun Odyssey 40.3 has a new keel design with a bigger bulb and reduced fin area. The keel carries 2430kg of the yacht's 7960kg displacement, meaning the ballast-to-weight ratio is within the realms of a safe cruising yacht.

The fibreglass rudder is a balanced spade design that was indeed balanced at the helm. At least it felt that way in light airs.

While its yachts are positioned for the mainstream market, Jeanneau rightfully believes that most owners will head offshore at some stage. Hence the substantial deck fittings, mindful ergonomics in the cockpit when heeled over, and hidden features like over-engineered keel bolts and ball-valves on all the through-hull fittings.

The marine ply bulkheads are 'glassed in place, says yacht dealer Ron Jacobs - who adds that the yacht derives its stiffness more from the box frames fashioned from fibreglass-encapsulated hardwood. The Jeanneau factory has ISO 9001 accreditation (or the latest version of same).

The balsa-cored deck supports a deck-stepped alloy mast, which is backed by a substantial stainless-steel compression post. The mast has twin swept-back spreaders but a non-adjustable backstay. The yacht came with a single-line reefing system, boom bag and lazy jacks. With the 3/4-length battens, the mainsail is easy to "flake."

The furler on the test boat flew a 135 per cent No 2 genoa sheeted home via adjustable genoa tracks and two-speed Harkan self-tailing winches. Sets of jammers and two-speed Harkan winches either side of the companionway service the halyards, vang, outhaul and mainsheet.

Optional winches can be mounted ahead of the wheel for short-handed sailing or more serious racing as per the Sunfast arrangement. 

GREAT OUTDOORS
Outdoors, the cockpit is the highlight. It's broad, not necessarily long, but roomy with the traveller out of the way on the cabin top.

Add the twin leather-bound wheels - which afford a good view forward of the headsail - and separate compasses on pedestals, and you have a boat for sailing and entertaining.

If you're not playing host when underway, the guests will certainly pile aboard at the marina via the opening transom gate. There is a teak cockpit table with drop-leafs and drinkholders for staging lunches, and teak-topped seating for six.

The open transom leads to a swim ladder, creating a direct route for a summer dip when at anchor. A handheld shower is nearby. And there is a windlass when you want to weigh anchor and change the scenery.

Should the wind fizzle, no worries - the boat motors very smartly to 8kt or more with its 56hp Yanmar. As with all other Jeanneaus, the motor spins a shaft-drive and standard-issue fixed three-blade propeller. The Sunfast has a folding prop.

Storage comes via a gas-bottle locker, a locker for your liferaft, and at least two more spare cockpit lockers. The boat is traced by double lifelines, topped with six cleats, and factory rigged with appropriate navigation and anchor lights.

None of this is rocket science, but the boat is equipped with good, honest, time-proven fittings that work as well in charter as they do for couples.

LOFTY AND LIVABLE
There is a two-cabin/single-head version of this boat with a huge aft owner's bed. But the three-cabin and twin-head version is better for passagemaking, since you derive a sea berth no matter what tack you are sailing on.

Needless to say, two heads are better than one when you take guests aboard.

Before testing the beds, the boat's broad saloon beckons. A plexiglass hatch slides out of the way to reveal moulded teak-topped companionway steps. These are backed by handy handrails. As is to be expected, the Yanmar lives under the steps.

The motor appeared well insulated and accessible via removable side panels. You will find the water filter and fuel filter without much ado. The yacht's water heater and plumbing are tucked away under the saloon lounges.

Clearly, Jeanneau's 40.3 Sun Odyssey is geared for serious conferencing, with crew and/or the clan below decks. Very few 40-footers can boast such an impressive array of lounges tracing the saloon margins. The seating is almost akin to one of those sunken lounge rooms you find in designer homes. Whatever, it is most certainly geared for social intercourse.

The circular seating can accommodate 10 people and at least six people around the timber dinette. The table is offset to starboard in the broad saloon, thereby maintaining a direct route down the centreline to the for'ard cabin. Handrails to help you forward in a seaway trace the windows, at least.

En route, immediately to port, you'll pass the forward-facing navigation station. Ingeniously, the nav station's table slides aft when not in use to maximise the boat's already generous seating. In fact, when slid aft, the resulting lounge is big enough to make a single berth.

SLEEPING GIANTS
Each double bed in the port and starboard aft cabins boasts a 2.05m-long by 1.50m-wide double bed. An opening port light into the cockpit, with privacy curtain, and ceiling hatch should help with cross-flow ventilation in summer.

Both aft cabins have hanging lockers, storage shelves and impressive standing headroom of about 1.92m at the foot of their beds.

The owner's cabin in the bow features a 2.06m-long by 1.70m-wide double bed. There is a large hanging locker, storage shelves and storage under the mattress. Even here in the bow one gains about 1.85m of headroom. But the highlight for owners will be the en suite.

Close the door from the saloon and you'll gain privacy from your guests or crew. In the en suite you will find a manual loo, hot/cold handheld shower, sink and storage for personals, and an overhead hatch with privacy curtain. And did I mention headroom of about 1.85m?

The second dayhead-cum-guests' head to port near the companionway goes one better. The shower has a folding seat and curtain.

The cabin upholstery was a lovely maritime blue diamond pattern with a gold highlight. Ceiling liners were cream-coloured. Together with teak joinery and halogen lighting, the yacht had a timeless feel. But style was evident in galley by virtue of a glass splashback, saving the lounges from ambient water from the sink.

Without a brace, the L-shaped galley to starboard will function best at rest. Amenities include twin sinks, single hot/cold mixer, two-burner gas stove, 140lt top-loading fridge, a generous 310lt of water linked to a water meter, 240V outlet, and a handy opening hatch. There is plenty of pantry, pot and provision space, as well as a small concealed garbage bin. 

LIGHT-AIR SAILING
I was dutifully escorted from a jetty to somewhere downstream where there was some wind. Under power, we searched Pittwater for a gust or two. The throttle for the Yanmar was within reach of the starboard wheel. At about three-quarter setting, the yacht appeared to slip along at about 8kt.

With the factory-supplied full main and No 2 furling genoa, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40.3 felt better than honest. It actually sailed quite enthusiastically to 6.5kt on the GPS in about 8kt of late-winter seabreeze. That wind was becoming more fickle as the afternoon wore on.

So I didn't conquer any Everests in the sailing department. Rather, I grabbed the leather-bound wheel, streamed the telltales and rode the tiny shifts and puffs inside Pittwater. If those fleeting tastes were anything to go by, then in a stiff summer nor'easter this should be a fleet-footed 40.

Clearly, the yacht has been designed for cruising, charter work and no-fuss club racing with owner/drivers. And that's exactly what the mass market seems to be stuck on these days.

Look for a 40.3 in a marina near you. The next one to arrive Down Under is being optimised for its owner who wants to go short-haul racing on Saturdays in IRC and cruising on Sundays.

HIGHS

LOWS