Grand Soleil 72: elegance and performance

Cantiere del Pardo has revealed the first photos of its most recent addition to the fleet — Grand Soleil 72 Long Cruise. The new sailing yacht combines Matteo Polli's naval architecture with a stylish design by Nauta. GS 72 LC combines elegant look and performance and is designed with long cruising in mind. Two yachts of this model have been already sold.

Compared to the yard's previous model of the same size, the GS 72 Performance, the Grand Soleil 72 Long Cruise has an elevated and extended deckhouse and a deeper cockpit with higher coamings. This makes the saloon particularly light and spacious and the cockpit more roomy and comfortable. The saloon offers a 270 degree panoramic view. Nauta Design emphasises that the revised deck geometry with an offset companionway between the salon and the cockpit improves circulation between both areas and increases comfort, which is particularly important during long passages. The yacht can accommodate 8 guests in four cabins.

The 20 square metres of salon space is divided between a large dining table for eight and a comfortable deep sofa to starboard. The offset aisle in the cockpit made room for a wider C-shaped settee on the port side without compromising the twin loungers closer to the stern. The raised deckhouse also let the saloon floor to be raised, providing more space for the yacht's equipment underneath. By relocating most of the electronics and mechanics to this area, more space has been made available for guest quarters. All modifications add no more than 500 kilos to the displacement of the yacht.

The Grand Soleil 72 Long Cruise impresses not only with her looks but performance. The hull is laid up using vacuum infusion in high quality epoxy-based vinylester and glass/carbon fibre and recycled PVC foam core. During sea trials the boat proved to be able to cruise at 20 knots and remained very easy to control even in difficult conditions.

With her long bowsprit and carbon rig, the Grand Soleil 72 Long Cruise can carry a powerful sailplan: a fat-head main is an option, as well as a furling gennaker, Code sail and staysail. But the Long Cruise version of the boat is optimised for the light to medium winds that most cruisers will typically encounter in the Mediterranean. Sail handling is easy, thanks to the self-tacking jib and large electric sheet winches. What’s more, the sail controls are all led aft of the cockpit to the twin ergonomic helm stations, so that family or guests are free to enjoy the sailing without tangling with the lines.