RUPERT HOLMES
Where: Port Ginesta, Catalonia, Spain, mid October
Wind: 5 to 22 knots, choppy sea with short swell, becoming flat
Model tested: cruising version with extensive options including Hall Spars carbon mast, V-boom and EC3 standing rigging; North Sails including Helix furling gennaker; air conditioning; watermaker; twin cockpit tables
‘The boat has potential to easily eat up the miles’
The drive to include all the features we now expect of new yachts, such as easy handling, big cockpits for al fresco dining and huge accommodation volumes, all too often risks compromising the fundamentals of creating a yacht that’s fun and rewarding to sail. When developing its latest range of 40-60 footers, however, Solaris tackled these aspects as a top priority.
An optimised helming experience is intended as a key feature. Designer Javier Soto Acebel deliberately pushed the helm stations as far out to the sides of the hull as possible to maximise the view and make it possible to see the full length of the headsail luff – something that’s difficult on many of today’s yachts. Despite the boat’s 16 tonne displacement, the steering is direct and responsive, with twin rudders offering excellent control.
This direct focus on the owner’s experience when sailing the boat also hints at the yard’s understanding that to be successful in today’s market requires more than producing great physical products – the overall ownership experience counts as well. More on that later.
There’s one drawback that, on paper at least, might
