yacht racing solent

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RSYC Racing

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Please click on the following to access the information:

• 2024 RSYC Racing Programme & RO Rota  

• Interested in becoming a Race Officer?  Please email Jeremy Willcock Chief Race Officer [email protected]  
• Principal Racing Dates  
• On The Water Risk Assessment .

The RSYC is very active on the water, members have the opportunity to participate in the following Club races throughout the years;

On 10th March 2024 we began our popular Spring Series of Sunday races for Class 1&2 and Folkboats.   

Our Spence Willard Wednesday Evening Racing began on 24th April with all classes (Class 1&2, Folkboats, XODs, YODs & Lasers) taking part. 'WER' runs every Wednesday right through to 18th September and consists of three series of seven races. The final race is the hotly contested Champage Race where each class winner gets a bottle of Taittinger!   

XODs race each Saturday from 27th April until 21st September.  

Class 1&2, Folkboats, XODs, YODs & Lasers race on Sunday mornings from 28th April until 22nd September.  

The popular Laser Training takes place 29th July with an RYA Instructor.    

Dinghy Week is the second week of August when all ages and all dinghies are welcome.   

Racing with the Royal Lymington is actively encouraged - Class 1&2, Folkboats & XODs can race on Thursday evenings during the summer from the Lymington start box.  

We all enjoy the Sunset Series of evening races during the third week in August.  

Then the last week of August is the fabulous Folkboat Week with 9 races over 5 days ~ 2023 will be the 59th Folkboat Week, generously sponsored again by Lymington Yacht haven.   

The Winter Series for Class 1&2 & Folkboats consists of 11 races and takes place on Sunday mornings from 6th October until 15th December, these are sponsored by River Yar Boatyard and Wight Marine. The great finale (and not part of any series) is the very popular Boxing Day Race.   

On a more leisurely note, the Club has a Cruising Group which organises day trips and overnight outings during the Summer. To view their Cruise Reports, and for more information on future cruises,  please click here.

For further information on racing, crewing, race officering and sailing in general at the Club, please contact the Sailing Office on 01983 760256 or via email at [email protected] .

This page was printed from the Royal Solent Yacht Club Website on Tuesday 27th August 2024 at 5:41pm. Original url: © Copyright Royal Solent Yacht Club 2009

LYMINGTON TOWN

Sailing club, solent circuit, official notice board.

LTSC Solent Circuit

Established by LTSC in the early 1970’s, the West Solent’s principal autumn yacht racing series, The Solent Circuit has been running annually for nearly 50 years.

This action-packed event regularly attracts fleets of over 40 yachts for racing on six Sundays throughout October and November. Racing classes include IRC, YTC, Sports Boat and Folkboat. Courses are set in the West Solent, with Committee Boat start lines and race durations are approximately two hours.

This competitive series pitches sailors against some of the most talented in the Solent.

The weekly races are as well supported off the water as on. After racing competitors return to the Club House and pack the bar for debriefing, analysis and celebrations.

Dates for the 2024 Solent Circuit are on Sundays 13th, 20th & 27th October and 3rd, 17th & 24th November.

Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, Entry etc.

The Notice of Race is be available here .

The Sailing Instructions will be available here.

To enter please click here for LTSC Members and here for Non-Members.

Please note that early entries for the whole series will close on Friday 20th September.

All the results are recorded and published in Sailwave . They are updated to the website as soon as practical after the races.

Entry List / Results for the 2024 series are:-

            All Fleets except Sportsboats

            Sportsboats only ​

Any queries should be sent to the Watersports Administrator at [email protected]

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2023 Solent Race Chart

If you're taking part in any yacht racing in the Western Solent this year, having a copy of the 2023 Race Chart is of key importance.

The Chart contains the names and approximate locations of the buoys laid in the Western Solent which will be used for race marks in series run by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club , Lymington Town Sailing Club and Royal Solent Yacht Club .

Download a copy below...

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Late notice spaces available for selected courses - click here for details

Yacht Racing

Have you ever watched any yacht racing in the Solent or on TV and marvelled at how exciting it looks but weren’t sure how to give it a go?

Well wonder no more, as Commodore Yachting are proud to offer a series of UK inshore and offshore yacht racing events such as the RORC UK offshore races calendar (Including our famous Fastnet package), The Round the Island Race and the Lonely Rock Race on a “Buy a P lace for a Race ” basis.

You won’t need to assemble a crew, leave that up to us! Just pick the yacht race you want to attend, book and pay and we’ll see you on the pontoon!

If you feel that immediately plunging yourself into an offshore race may be a bit too daunting, why not try one of our race practice weekends, which are aimed at giving you a taster of offshore sailing and racing techniques, or honing what you’ve got to make yourself race-ready!

RORC Fastnet Race 2023

The RORC Fastnet race is a truly iconic, world famous offshore race that’s not for the faint-hearted! The race starts in Cowes and races to Fastnet Rock in southern Ireland, before finishing in Cherbourg. Our package includes three comprehensive offshore sailing practice weekends, three RORC qualifying races, ISAF Offshore Safety. RYA First Aid at Seas & RYA Sea Survival Course. Definitely one for bucket list!

Round The Island Race 2024

The Iconic Round The Island Race is an event all sailors should do at least once. Our comprehensive race package includes two full days of intensive training before the race in order to prepare you for the big day! Possibly the best introduction to the friendliest race in the Solent, you’ll see multi-million pound racing yachts mixing it in with yachts costing a few hundred pounds. It truly is a race for all and not one to be missed.

Lonely Rock Race

The Lonely Rock Race is a close alternative to the iconic RORC Fastnet race. It’s based on the 2019 “classic” version of the Fastnet albeit a bit shorter (Starts and ends at Plymouth). This race requires a great deal of determination and skill to complete. Our comprehensive race package includes three practice weekends, ISAF Offshore Safety, RYA First Aid at Seas & RYA Sea Survival Course. Definitely one for bucket list!

Yacht Racing Practice Weekend

These practice weekends are a great way to see if yacht racing is for you or to gain a bit more confidence and experience. We will put you on one of our fleet yachts with an experienced racing skipper and take you out into the Solent and further afield for race practice. You’ll learn how to tack and gybe faster, the use of race crew communication and hand signals, working the helm, close quarters sailing and a lot more. These weekends are also a great way to get practice in before any yacht races take place and hone existing skills or tactics.

Live Course Calendar

Bespoke events, customer reviews.

A fantastic weekend of sailing, almost 130 NM in all, with a relaxed, but fully engaging skipper. Great set up and brilliant on the admin. Thanks Stef, Tom et al!

I did a weeks coastal skipper course getting ready for my yacht master and I have to say it was one of the best training weeks I’ve had - our training instructor was superb, exactly the sort of person that you want. He could inspire, provide discipline and impart knowledge as well as let you learn through your own mistakes. Tom and Steph run an excellent operation there and I highly recommend it. They’re flexible and very helpful when it comes to your journey into being a qualified sailor.

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Solent Yachting – a brief history

The Solent is often referred to as the “home of world sailing” but why is this?

Racing of boats has long been an informal activity, born out of necessity. Before the marine engine was created sail was the only form of propulsion open to working vessels. Fishermen would race to get to fishing spots before their rivals – no doubt enjoying the thrill.

In the early 17th century the Dutch started ‘formal racing’ purely for enjoyment, originally racing in modified working boats. The English followed suit and races started to occur between purpose built racing yachts. Huge sums of money were wagered between owners on their own vessel winning, with spectators gambling too.

Yacht racing received Royal interest and the sport grew, with customs and informal rules changing over time. Racing was often downwind in a straight line from an anchored start. In 1782 a fleet of yachts from the precursor to the Royal Thames Yacht Club raced upwind on the Thames.

In 1815 the now Royal Yacht Squadron was founded where members agreed to meet in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The RYS started to lay down rules to make the sport fairer and safer, starting with the ‘Port Starboard Rule’ to avoid collisions.

In 1851 the two most prominent yacht clubs in the world, the New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, challenged each other to a race around the Isle of Wight. RYS Commodore Lord Paget donated a solid silver cup costing £100 (£1 million+ today). NYYC sailed over in a yacht called America and won! The cup (known as The Auld Mug) and regatta has been known as The America’s Cup ever since, after the winning boat and not the country as thought by some.

In 1826 the annual Cowes Regatta started, quickly becoming the Cowes Week  we know and love today. This regatta is one of the UK’s the longest running and most successful sporting events and has been held in August every year except during two world wars.

In 1875 the now Royal Yachting Association  was formed to standardise measurement and rules governing yacht racing, the headquarters of which is still in Hamble on the UK’s South coast. In 1904 the RYA secretary created what has become the global governing body – World Sailing .

The Solent, and Cowes in particular, has been at the centre of virtually every stage of the history of yachting. The Solent continues to be a major location to this day, holding National Regattas, World Championships and is even a venue on the new and exciting global 2019 Sail GP circuit… more on this very soon!

• 2022 Racing Calendar
• English Channel Offshore Racing
• Add me to the Crew List
• Booking Terms and Conditions
• RORC Channel Race | Cowes 23rd 24th July 2022
• RORC Easter Challenge | Cowes 15th to 17th April 2022
• RORC Cervantes Trophy Race | Cowes 30th April 2022
• RORC De Guingand Bowl | Cowes 14th May 2022
• RORC Myth of Malham | Cowes 2nd June 2022
• RORC Morgan Cup | Cowes 17th June 2022
• RORC Cowes Dinard St Malo | Cowes 8th July 2022
• RORC Cherbourg Race | Cowes 2nd September 2022
• RORC Racing | Easter Challenge Cowes 14th to 17th APRIL 202

Join Our Crew

Offshore Yacht Racing

Are you a weekend sailor wanting to be a bit more adventurous?  To race a yacht offshore, out of sight of land, is one of the most fantastic experiences.  Join us on our offshore equipped First 40.7  Our crew is mainly made up of enthusiastic sailors looking to sail on a fast and fun boat where they can build skills and experience, log RYA miles and have a great fun time whilst doing it!

Racing in the UK 2022

Racing in the Solent & English Channel

We have individual crew berths available for our racing and training evenmts in 2022, click on the link below to take you to the booking page and join our crew..

RORC Easter Challenge April 2022

The first RORC event in the Solent in 2022 is the perfect time to get back out on the water – this is a great training regatta!

RORC Cervantes Trophy April 2022

Offshore in the English Channel, this is an ideal experience builder for offshore racing.

RORC De Guingand Bowl May 2022

Great offshore race giving logged miles, experience of watch systems and plenty of  night hours..

RORC Myth of Malham June 2022

This is one of the most famous and eagerly awaited races of the season – a fantastic experience not to be missed.

Race Programme 2022

The Best Racing in Europe?

The Solent is the best place to learn sailing and racing in Europe – it has everything condensed into this sheltered area.  No wonder it is said that if you can sail in the Solent, you can sail anywhere!

RORC Morgan Cup June 2022

At the height of the season, this is a critical race for points and is fiercely competitive.  Close offshore racing at it’s best.

RORC Cowes Dinard St Malo 2022

There is something magical about sailing to another country – so imagine how much better it is to race there… A cross channel race with all the splendour of the channel islands.

RORC Channel Race July 2022

Closing the RORC Offshore Season in the Solent, the channel race is a fitting finale to a highly competitive race series.

Individual Crew Places

Train with us and come Offshore Racing…

Covid has had an impact on all our lives, so we will get out on the water with maximum benefit this year… We are staying in the UK in 2022 and are training and racing the World’s best sailing area – the Solent. Adventure, fun and relaxation are on the menu this year!  We will be racing in the Round The Island Race and competing in the RORC Offshore Series

Race Training

How can I start Offshore Racing?

We enable amateur sailors, often highly experienced cruisers but with little or no offshore experience, to gain the skill and experience..  We do this by providing a supportive environment where you can challenge yourself and enjoy a great adventure!

2022 Events

2022 Racing and Training Calendar

Our programme throughout the year takes us from our base in the Solent, racing from Cowes and the English Channel and racing across to France.  It’s going to be a great year!

2022 Racing and Training Events

Time to get more adventurous, get back out on the water and gain the experience and skills needed for offshore racing.

For the more experienced, take your skills to a new level with our structured training programme – we will put together a programme just for you.

Beneteau First 40.7

Offshore Race Yacht

Our yacht is one of the most successful cruiser racers ever built, capable of looking after it’s crew regardless of the weather.  Comfortable down below with (almost) all mod cons, it is a perfect boat to explore some of the most wonderful sailing areas in the World.  Our crew bring on board their sense of fun and sense of adventure.

Does that sound like you?

Offshore Racing

Why race with First Offshore?

Crew with us and learn how to race a competitive yacht, we guide you every step of the way.  Each position on the boat has a coaching programme to give you the skills to be safe, competitive and really enjoy the thrill of yacht racing.

Safe, Fun Experience.

.First Offshore Racing run training weekends and compete in some of the most exciting offshore yacht races in the World.

Connect with your Crew.

Working as a team under pressure develops great friendships in our crews.

Be totally involved.

Everyone is aware of our race strategy and gets experience of all the crew positions with an experienced race crew buddy.

Sail Overnight.

We coach you in all aspects of offshore yacht racing from sail changes to night watches

We don’t shout!

Come sailing with us – all we ask is for you to have enthusiasm and a minimum of RYA Competent Crew level!   Bring your sense of humour, your thirst for adventure and a willingness to learn.

It’s always fun…

Everything we do centres around providing a safe, supportive and fun experience.   First Offshore Racing run training weekends and compete in the best races in Europe and the Caribbean.

T: 02380 016450   |   E: [email protected]

Corporate Yacht Racing

We offer a wide range of Corporate Yacht Racing Skippered Sailing Yacht Charters covering locations in and around Brighton and the Solent including Hamble, Lymington, Cowes, Portsmouth and Southampton. We also offer a selection of yacht racing charter in the Solent for major regatta race events including:

• Round the Island Race

Little Britain Challenge Cup

Yacht race days / events.

Corporate Yacht Racing – Customer and company personnel yacht race and team building days are a fantastic way to reinforce relationships. Not all your clients want ‘just a jolly’ and we have found that to integrate your clients into a team with a focus forges trust and lasting customer loyalty.

We have found that companies have had major success at the building and cementing of customer relationships by putting sales people or management, on a boat in a race environment, with their key customers and working together as a team. Likewise the benefits from the team enhancing properties of bonding your work force are also enormous. Helped and aided with the running of the boat by the professional skipper and mate, long lasting bonds are forged in these environments.

Yacht Race Event Services

Making your event a success is an absolute priority. We ensure that we maintain close contact with your designated co-ordinator within your business and take the strain out of the organisation of the event. We offer all the below so that you can relax

• Professional Skipper
• Professional Mate
• Accommodation Ashore
• Lunches, Drinks & Snacks Aboard

All Aspects of  Yacht Branding such as:

• Hull Stickers / Decals
• Forestay & Battle Flags
• Corporate Events

Round The Island Race

Cowes week regatta, corporate team building, yacht sailing client days, join our mailing list.

If you like what you see join our mailing list and we give you a £25 voucher to spend with us. As well as this voucher you will also receive regular updates and offers from Yachtforce as they arrive.

Customer and personnel race days are a fantastic way to reinforce relationships. Not all your clients want just a jolly and we have found that to integrate your clients into a team with a focus forges trust and lasting customer loyalty.

First held in 1931, this event now has between 1500 - 2000 yachts competing in the famous race around the Isle of Wight.

This regatta firmly places itself as one of the premier sailing, corporate hospitality & social events of the summer.

This is the largest industry sailing regatta in Europe, open to any company from the construction industry.

For a unique team building activity or event try the effective bonding experience of learning to sail a yacht or taking part in some racing. Based on the South Coast of the UK, we can tailor your event to your companies needs.

Crossing the English Channel on one of our Channel Hops is an unforgettable experience! Click this link for more information.

Clearing 2024 is now open

• Apply online
• Start a chat
• 023 8001 1722

BEng (Hons) Yacht Design and Production - Yacht race 2024 transcript

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Grand Soleil 65LC review: One of the most stunning new designs

• Toby Hodges
• August 27, 2024

The Grand Soleil 65LC is one of the most stunning new production yachts available, but who is it for? and, most importantly, what’s it like to sail?

Product Overview

Price as reviewed:.

Granted, the sight of Grand Soleil’s president Gigi Servidati sailing the beautiful Grand Soleil 65LC off Portofino arm in arm with his partner, tanned and clad in white linen, screams Italian cool. It’s picture poster stuff, sailing’s equivalent of an Italian supercar pinup from a lifestyle photoshoot.

But that’s not what draws my eye. However well Grand Soleil has perfected such a chic theme, we’ve seen this type of imagery before. Rather, there’s a certain angle of photography showing the yacht’s lines that hooks me – the aft quarter shot – everything else becomes peripheral. Show me those flared sections.

Sexy lines sell. And the Grand Soleil 65LC boasts the blend of qualities that befit a pure performance cruiser: contemporary powerful lines mixed with a look that stands out yet should age well. It has a little of the Advanced Yachts 66 to it – another Italian model that perfected the wraparound raised coachroof look (also by Nauta Design) and has stood the 10-year test of time handsomely. But then it adds the modern kick-ass beam, together with a very subtle chine leading to those distinctly flared aft sections… Oof!

‘The aft quarter hooks me. Show me those flared sections…’ Photo: Alberto Cocchi

When the GS 72 launched two years ago, these lines stood out. That Matteo Polli has managed to replicate it on a more ‘manageable’ size without losing any of the wow factor shows a young designer at the top of his game. The GS 65 is, naturally, an evolution, using the same powerful, sporty design.

Polli explains how the hull form “maintains the pronounced V in the bow and low wetted surface of the Grand Soleil 72 for less resistance, greater dynamic stability when heeling and better performance in light airs”. It’s a design he optimised for a broad wind range, “from lightship in racing conditions up to full load in cruising mode.”

The Grand Soleil 65 is one of the most stunning new production yachts available. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

And the overall beam of the Grand Soleil 65LC is only 20cm less, at a formidable 5.95m (viewed stern-to from the dock, the transom stops you in your tracks). It contains much of the same features as the GS 72, including the same genset and watermaker, but with that brings its own challenges, Polli explains. As the lightships and loaded displacement is a larger range on the GS 72, the attention to weight and wetted surface area becomes stricter on the smaller yacht.

Again it’s offered as a Long Cruise (LC) or Performance (P) model, with the variations found in the coachroof – or lack thereof – and internal layouts. Whichever version you choose, it’s quite a minimalist deck and cockpit. Helms aft leave a roomy cockpit, with very long, wide benches – you can seat 10 around the long central table – so the higher coachroof coamings and backrests of the LC make a lot more sense for cruising, offering at least some comfort and protection. It can also house a large sprayhood.

The lines and layout of the LC do it for me personally, however the orders so far are split evenly between the Long Cruise and Performance models – across both the 72 and 65 designs.

A modern powerful shape, the 65LC carries its wide beam right aft. The coachroof oozes style, with coamings extended to encompass the long cockpit. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

Turning it on

You can perhaps sense my eagerness to sail this boat. Following a long, hot and humid, windless Mallorcan morning, just as I was beginning to fear we might not get a chance to experience this 65 LC properly, the sudden arrival of a moderate breeze from the west-northwest was highly welcomed. The uncalibrated wind instruments were not working, but the white caps forming further out in Palma Bay suggested the breeze was in the teens, and at the upper end of that in gusts. With full sail set and a lively amount of heel on, it felt special to lean onto those powerful aft sections and surge to weather. We clocked a steady 9.5 knots upwind, and could nudge into double figures by footing off a little.

You may notice that the mast is comparatively far aft. This increases the jib’s sail area and also brings the boom further aft –  “more sail without raising the centre of effort,” Polli told me. This also increases the headsail options, including a removable inner stay, and a shorter bowsprit for the same gennaker area. The 65 LC comes with a self-tacking jib as standard, although the test boat had a more conventional slightly overlapping jib.

It was an increasingly rare pleasure to again sail a performance yacht of this size with a single rudder. This high-aspect blade is mounted comparatively far forward, acting as a foil with plenty of grip. That said, and for a yacht with such a balanced sail plan, I found that upwind leg a little heavy on the helm. The 65 LC carries a significant amount of sail for her relatively light displacement so playing with the sail and weight trim more should help (we had 10 aboard, a mixed ability crew and in cruising mode).

Form and function: the clean decks see lines led underdeck. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

A shimmering halo surrounded the bright afternoon sun, which, together with the breeze ruffling the sparkling seas, made for distinctly pleasant conditions. The wind freshened up more as we approached the lighthouse at the bay’s western point of Cala Figuero. It was now 15 to 18 over waves with clear white caps, the GS 65 still clocking 9 to 9.5 upwind with full sail. We could push up to 10 knots in the gusts if we dropped off a few degrees, but even when close-hauled I noted we were not pointing particularly close, tacking through almost 100°.

This is perhaps explained by the wider angle of the headsail sheets, which is reportedly 12° rather than the 8° of the Performance version. The coachroof on the LC version finishes before the mast, with the jib tracks pushed out to the side decks, where the roof on the Performance model extends past the mast and carries the tracks on top and further inboard.

significant beam buys space for large aft cabins and a tender garage below a very open transom. Note how the teak deck wraps up the coamings to soften the visual line of the coachroof. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

As with the GS 72, the project was spearheaded by veteran racer and boatbuilder Franco Corazza, who stressed how good the coachroof line is for a raised saloon boat – seated at either helm under sail, you can still clearly see the bow. That said it’s very much a Med-style performance cruiser deck, where streamlined looks come above cruising practicalities and comfort. This is particularly noticeable at heel.

Article continues below…

[colletion]

Reaching machine

We were gifted a lovely, long, early evening leg back from the lighthouse. The wind was blowing off the island over clear, flat water so it was easy to see each bullet of breeze approaching our aft quarter. With a deep reaching A0 set and pulling from a furler midway along the bowsprit, we averaged 9-10 knots in the lighter breezes, up to 11 in the gusts.

Heat it up a little and you can feel the power. The Grand Soleil 65LC has a potent amount of sail area and relies on the form stability of her powerful hull shape for righting moment. So while it can harness light breezes and puffs, loads should be respected (and the temptation to carry too much sail avoided!).

Signature Nauta styling. The saloon table can seat eight. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

It was certainly enjoyable sailing, but perhaps not the fully exhilarating ride her shape promises. I also found the winch setup a little unusual, particularly for the mainsheet. It’s led neatly each side through the deck to clutches right by the helms and winches further aft. Although these are within reach for those wanting to sail short-handed – or when the trimmer is in contact with the helmsman – the winches are right in the quarters. Here you’re also conscious of the significant beam and flat deck space to cross, and a lot of open transom behind.

The mainsheet is a reverse T system, led to a single point as on the test boat, onto a winch on a central plinth, or to a captive winch. You can also opt for a recessed and powered traveller. Mastbase halyard winches help keep the cockpit clean, plus there are tailing lockers. But with a completely open transom I’d worry about lines trailing overboard, and the pushpit rail is only 2ft high so I’d want a third guardwire higher up.

The styling on deck is slick, especially the way the teak deck rises up on the coachroof coamings to help lower the visual line. The tender garage is low but provides enough room for a dinghy up to 3.1m, and there’s deck access from above for stowing fenders. The sail locker is also generous, with a heads and pipe cot within, yet still plenty of space for spare warps, sheets and sails.

The galley is at the same eye-level as the saloon. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

Semi-custom step-up

The GS 65 and 72 are available as this ‘LC’ model, though they’re different beasts to the smaller LCs in Grand Soleil’s range (more suited to their ‘Long Cruise’ name). “Over 60ft the concept and the owners change,” Corazza explains. He oversees these more semi-custom builds, in a separate facility to Cantiere del Pardo’s main production site.

A composite sandwich build, with composite main bulkheads and interior furniture all foam-cored, produces a light displacement of 26.5 tonnes on the GS 65. The hull is built by vacuum-infusing Vinylester resin into biaxial glassfibre (in one shot), with unidirectional carbon used for reinforcement. The infusion is all done in-house.

It’s an impressive, semi-custom approach. “It’s why we bought Adria Sail,” says Corazza, referencing the quality and experience of the Fano shipyard which has built custom yachts for a variety of Italian brands. Next up is a Grand Soleil 80 which will really see the brand kick ahead with this new semi-custom range.

Inviting master cabin has good headroom right up to the forward end of the nice low berth and plenty of stowage. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

The LC version of the 65 provides a generous amount of natural light to the semi-raised saloon and the natural teak veneer finish looks smart (also available in Alpi and natural oak). It’s offered with three or four cabins and a midships galley, while the Performance version sites the galley aft.

As well as the 270° views it brings, a prime benefit of the LC’s raised saloon format is that the generator and tank space is all contained below the saloon sole. This also helps to maximize the space of the two aft cabins as no technical/engine room is needed between them.

Here we see the volume gains the flared sections and all that beam brings. Indeed, these aft cabins can be chosen with doubles or twins and have wider berths than the master cabin (they are noisier though, particularly under engine).

The aft cabins can be doubles or twins with lots of natural light and a good feeling of space. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

The port side has separate day-head access, but this is via the shower – somewhat unconventional considering those in the optional fourth cabin will likely need to use this heads too. Although there is space for a crew berth in the large sail locker, the fourth cabin option makes a wiser choice for those wanting to keep a crew for any length of time. This Pullman features good sea-going berths opposite the mast base, tall locker space and is aside the galley, though it’s also right next to the owner’s cabin so lacks segregation.

The standard layout sees a dinette area rather than this fourth cabin. As well as providing a mess area, this could also benefit those wanting extra office space (he writes, while working on his kitchen table…), as the navstation is an aft-facing affair that adjoins the saloon sofa berth. Opposite, the U-shaped galley has a relatively compact but practical format with good work surface and refrigeration space, even if it lacks the finesse of customised crockery or glass stowage.

Optional Pullman cabin. Photo: Alberto Cocchi

The test boat costs €2.8m without sails, but with a high level of equipment included. Which is a lot of money. It’s a very appealing and well-done package, with a high-end stylish interior that maintains the Italian chic theme, but it’s not quite premium finish quality. Some joinerwork didn’t line up, floorboards creaked underfoot etc (Grand Soleil says it is changing the sandwich floorboards because owners don’t like the flexing). I’m sure such areas will keep improving as the brand pushes more into this semi-custom sector.

Grand Soleil 65LC specifications

LOA: 21.60m / 70ft 10in LWL: 18.50m / 60ft 8in Hull length: 20.10m / 65ft 11in Beam: 5.95m / 19ft 5in Draught: 3.50m / 11ft 6in Displacement: 27,500kg / 57,320lb Ballast: 7,200kg / 15,837lb Water: 840lt / 185gal Fuel: 825lt / 181gal Sail area: 278m2 / 2,992ft2 Sail area/displacement ratio: 29.2 Disp/LWL ratio: 117 Design: Matteo Polli & Nauta Design Builder: grandsoleil.net

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Looks-wise, this boat had me at first glance... Take my money! In terms of performance, the GS 65LC carries plenty of sail and form stability so should suit fast Med cruising if handled respectfully. While I’d like to sail it with fewer people, with working wind instruments, and with Matteo Polli aboard to get his thoughts on best trim (weight and sails), I have a lot of faith in the design and designer and therefore the yacht’s potential to please. As far as build quality is concerned, it’s impressive, especially for a long-established mainstream brand that is used to producing smaller yachts in high volumes. The decision to use a specialist yard has paid off, although some finish quality could be improved if it’s to compete against premium brands. And the style: it’s one for us dreamers. Just hand me a linen shirt and beam me aboard on the Italian Riviera.

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