Wauquiez 40 Pilot Saloon

Wauquiez isn't exactly a household name here in Australia, but the French yard bearing this title has earned quite a reputation abroad in the luxury production yacht market, with some 2000 boats launched over 35 years.

In recent years, Wauquiez has been acquired by the Beneteau Group, and now operates from a big new factory in northern France. Its production line includes two ranges of yachts from 37-61ft: the Centurion racer/cruisers and the Pilot Saloon cruisers.

The Pilot Saloon 40 is the latest in the latter range, designed by Berret/Racoupeau and offering panoramic visibility from the raised saloon, plus two double cabins, each with a fully-private head compartment.

First view in Australia of the 40 was at the 2001 Sydney International Boat Show, where it attracted a great deal of interest. Perhaps it was the handsome, well-finished interior, the impressive inclusion of a large and private master cabin aft, or the 'little ship' style aft boarding platform which caught visitors' attention. The yacht does have an angular, high-wooded profile which may not be to everyone's taste. But certainly, the yacht emanates a sense of refinement which is a very attractive sum of its parts.

A CLASS ACT
Construction is solid GRP for the hull, utilising polyester and vinylester resins, while the deck is balsa/GRP sandwich. Lead ballast is used in the keel, with shoal draft an option.

The interior utilises Burmese teak joinery throughout, while the cockpit and decks also feature laid teak. The standard of workmanship and finish throughout is extremely impressive, and I was unable to find fault with what is clearly a class act.

'SLUTTER' RIG
The first yacht into Australia has been set up with a 'slutter' rig (presumably reflecting its sloop/cutter lineage). This comprises two forestays, both set up with Profurl roller-furling headsails, the forward one set up with a large overlapping genoa and the inner one carrying a smaller, non-overlapping jib.

The aluminium mast is deck-stepped, with two sets of swept-back spreaders and a split backstay.

The boat is set up for easy sail handling, with (optional) two-speed electric Harken primary self-tailing winches close to the steering position, and another electric winch on the starboard side of the coachhouse to assist with halyards and sail control lines. The mainsail is trimmed there, too, with the traveller running across the coachhouse forward of the companionway. This places it way out of reach of the steerer, which has its disadvantages, but the upshot is an uncluttered cockpit.

SIT BACK AND RELAX
The cockpit is relatively small, because of the allowances made to the deck saloon, with high coamings providing a sense of security and comfortable backrests provided by the sloping aft end of the cabin.

The steering wheel is mounted on a pedestal with binnacle compass and folding teak table. Steering is comfortable standing or seated on the transom or to either side. Teak decks and cockpit seats are standard.

There is a lifting aft swim platform with stainless steel ladder and teak steps, and a cockpit shower and liferaft stowage area to starboard.

AFT CABIN GLAMOUR
The interior is very light and bright due to the large wraparound windows of the deck saloon and the warmth of the timberwork. The living area to starboard is raised for a panoramic view and features a folding dining table.

To port is the navigation station, a fairly self-contained area with comfortable seating, a large work area and plenty of wall space for instrumentation and the electrics panel. The test yacht is set up with Brookes & Gatehouse H1000 electronics.

The galley runs along the port side of the saloon forward of the nav station and is fully-equipped with two-burner gimballed stove with oven, double sink with mixer tap for pressurised hot and cold water, a top-loading icebox and lateral-opening 80lt-capacity 12V refrigerator.

The aft master cabin is quite a surprise, because of its unexpectedly generous size and airiness. It includes a large double island bed, plenty of storage space and access to a large bathroom which features a separate shower compartment, including a benchseat for washing in safety when conditions are a little bouncy.

The other double cabin is forward and also features a large double bed, plenty of storage and clothes hanging space, and access to the second bathroom.

PERFORMANCE
The test yacht was set up with a 50hp Volvo marine diesel (the standard spec is the Volvo 2040 40hp) driving a three-bladed fixed propeller. It handled well in the tight confines of the marina and had plenty of power at higher revs out on the harbour.

Sails are locally-made by Doyle Fraser. We gave both headsails a try in fairly light winds and flat water. The smaller headsail involved almost no work at all once it was unfurled and trimmed, as it was a self-tacking arrangement on a Harken track forward of the mast.

The big genoa was a little more involved to use, as it had to be furled before each tack to get it through the narrow gap between the two forestays. With electric winches, though, there was no perspiration involved in the task, and downwind we found we could gybe the sail using the sheets, without having to furl it.

The helm was responsive and the boat accelerated well when the puffs arrived. Two-handed sailing was very easy, and an autopilot would make life even easier.