Grand Soleil Yachts has taken its first step on a new path with the launch of its first true weekender, the Grand Soleil Blue.
Designed to maximise the joy of sailing alone or shorthanded, the 33ft boat delivers short bursts of delightful performance. Perfect for a quick burn after work, sailing to the beach for a picnic or planning a weekend with family or friends, it facilitates days on the water with the possibility of overnighting in comfort.
The GS Blue is a bold departure from the brand’s highly successful performance and long cruise models, which run from 40ft to 80ft in length. Not only is it the smallest Grand Soleil produced today, at 32ft 9in (9.99m) on deck, it is also the most sustainable ever, setting new standards for end-of-life recyclability.
“The GS Blue represents the beginning of a new concept within the Grand Soleil range: a line that is agile, sustainable, fun, highly liveable, and designed for more immediate and flexible use,” said Gigi Servidati – Cantiere del Pardo Chairman.
“At the heart of the project lies a dual intent: to simplify access to sailing for a sophisticated and demanding audience with limited time, by offering a boat that is always ready to sail, even single-handedly; and at the same time, to express a concrete commitment to environmental sustainability, by developing the first 100% recyclable production model made in Italy within the sailing segment.”
Unique as it is, the GS Blue is deeply marked by the performance and comfort DNA of Grand Soleil Yachts. It is immediately recognizable for its clean, pared-back lines and powerful hull shape, developed by a long-standing team that includes the inimitable Matteo Polli for the naval architecture and Nauta Design for exterior, interior design and layout.
“The striking hull shape is designed to provide stability when the boat heels, to maximise power upwind,” said Polli. “And in light winds, or when running, the narrow waterline beam delivers lower drag and therefore higher speeds. In this way, the Blue can be optimally sailed in all conditions.”
Massimo Gino, CEO and co-founder of Nauta, said: “The GS Blue showcases the most modern and contemporary view of the Grand Soleil style to date. The exterior design features clean, striking lines in its purity, conveying that typically youthful, ‘baby’ appeal expected from the smallest in the range – a look that is instantly likeable and easy to recognise and to fall in love with.”
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Sustainability at its core
From the start, the GS Blue project was conceived as a showcase for more sustainable boatbuilding and a pathway for the future.
Working with NL Comp, Grand Soleil revisited its building process in order to integrate the necessary technologies into its production line.
The biggest single step was to use Arkema’s Elium resin in the composite lay-up. It works in a similar way to traditional resin during the life of the boat, but has unique properties which mean it can be recovered and reused at the end, opening new horizons in sustainable boatbuilding.
At the same time, the PET core material in the hull’s sandwich construction is derived from post-consumer waste.
Along with the glass fibre itself, the foam can also be reclaimed and reused when the boat is recycled. It requires very precise vacuum infusion to obtain the necessary lay-up, but the advantage is that the weight is comparable to the best hand lay-up, with better structural integrity.
Elsewhere, the boat has been designed so that its constituent parts can be easily disassembled, just as they are in the automotive industry.
That means using special adhesives for the deck, for instance, and screwing parts rather than glueing them. Even the 4T sails by One Sails can be recycled. This symphony of different measures combines invisibly to produce a vastly more sustainable boat that nonetheless looks and performs like a Grand Soleil.
Silent power
What’s more, the Blue can be fitted with fully electric propulsion, eliminating another major source of greenhouse gas emissions around yachting. Under this option, a 6kW pod drive from ePropulsion is supplied with power from a 190Ah lithium battery fitted under the companionway. It has a range of up to 30 nautical miles at 5 knots, with the option to double that by adding a second battery pack.
Using an electric motor makes the boat silent and vibration free, with no diesel fumes to distract from the fun.
It can achieve a good top speed of 6.5 knots and revolutionises close quarters maneuvering with its instant, silent torque. Recharging is quickly accomplished via the dockside shore power connection, but the boat also has the capability to make its own electricity when sailing.
This hydrogeneration can also recharge the battery so you arrive with plenty of power to motor to your berth or spend the night on board.
As part of its flexible design philosophy, the Grand Soleil Blue can also be configured with a traditional diesel propulsion system and classic vinylester resin construction, catering to a wider range of owners and operational preferences.
But one of the greenest things about the new Grand Soleil Blue is that its sparkling performance means you’ll always want to sail it. With a 2.2m bulb keel (1.8m shallow draft option) and a generous sailplan, the boat has the power to extract exhilarating speed out of even light winds. The square-top main and choice of self-tacking jib or genoa makes upwind speeds of 6-8 knots a reality.
Downwind and on a reach, the Grand Soleil Blue can manage easy speeds of 10-12 knots.
Best of all, this performance is simple to achieve, not requiring a large or experienced crew. The boat has been carefully designed for easy shorthanded or solo sailing with push-button electric Harken winches. “The GS Blue is for those who view their boat as a personal space of escape and well-being, not necessarily tied to long cruising programs,” explained Servidati.
“It will appeal to experienced owners looking for a gratifying and easy boat for quick getaways, without the need to organise a crew or plan long passages. But it is also conceived for discerning newcomers, attracted to sailing but discouraged by the technical and logistical complexity of traditional yachts.”
Elegant modern design
Aimed at achieving sailing nirvana for shorter spells, the GS Blue is liberated from a lot of the extra weight and baggage of a larger cruising yacht. Lower weight equates to faster, more responsive handling and a simpler, cleaner interior in contemporary Italian style. It offers all the basic functions of its larger sisters: a bright heads compartment with a freshwater shower, an efficient galley with a hob, oven and fridge, and berths for up to four – although it is optimised for two.
A table is built into the saloon around the mast support, lightweight with sailcloth pockets hanging beneath it for storing small items.
When the table is folded out, the seating along the hull enables four to eat here in comfort. And when folded away, these seats become comfy sofas with plenty of sitting headroom. This modular approach makes it easy to transform the space from a functional day zone into a night-time layout, offering flexibility without compromising on comfort or aesthetics.
At night the two main berths in the forward section can be complemented by two additional berths created by converting the lateral settees. There are cabinets in the galley for storing food, and more lightweight sailcloth ‘lockers’ in the forepeak for clothes. There is also storage under the seats.
Sitting headroom feels generous, despite the low profile of the coachroof, something the Nauta team worked hard on. “A key element of the interior design is the light scheme, which ensures that even with lower ceiling heights, the yacht feels spacious and welcoming for guests,” said Massimo Gino. “This allows the owner and guests to enjoy the boat effectively and pleasantly as a true weekender – perfectly aligned with the winning concept she was designed for!”
Out on deck, the cockpit is the focus for an outdoor lifestyle. It has been designed by Nauta with long, deep seats that provide plenty of room when not sailing. Sockets in the cockpit sole allow an optional carbon fibre table to be fitted for alfresco dining. Otherwise, the exterior cushions have been cleverly designed to turn the space aft of the wheels into a lounging area for sunbathing or admiring the anchorage.
The design team has also done a fantastic job of creating a fold-out bathing platform that serves multiple purposes. It adds a dedicated space to facilitate climbing in and out of the water on a stainless steel ladder that can be stored inside it. This also makes a useful boarding platform when at the dock, and increases the aft lounging space when under way or at anchor. There’s even a deck shower here.
A boat for all climates
Although the Blue is at heart a Mediterranean boat, with the option of creating shade using four bimini sockets recessed into the side decks, it has undoubted appeal for sailors in northern Europe and elsewhere in the world.
“Even in northern waters such as the Baltic – where the climate differs and the sailing season is more defined – there is strong demand for yachts that are fast, elegant, and easy to use, even for just an afternoon or a short weekend,” said Servidati. “The yacht can be adapted with minor technical variations, but its conceptual essence – a true weekender, emotional design, and fun at the helm – remains perfectly relevant in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, or along the Atlantic coasts.”
The project is co-financed by the Emilia Romagna region as part of the PR-ERDF 2021/2027 program – Action 1.1.1 – Call for experimental research and development projects.
