motor yacht d one

Leopard Yachts 2008

Elegance And Speed.

2008 built Leopard superyacht D'One was designed with speed in mind, cruising at 27 knots. Her elegant interiors are designed with precious woods and plush furnishings. The interior is by Cristiano Gatto Design and accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 cabins. The yacht exteriors are by Andrea Bacigalupo, boasting a sundeck bar, a large swimming platform and a foredeck Jacuzzi. Meticulously maintained by her crew, yacht D'One is ready to cruise away and in perfect condition.

Standout Features

This is D'One

Speed In Style

D'One boasts a top speed of 30 knots from powerful triple MTU engines.

Foredeck Jacuzzi

Enjoy ocean vistas from the forward Jacuzzi, surrounded by plush seating.

Movie Theatre

Enjoy a film onboard at any time in the dedicated movie theatre.

Media Gallery

D'One Through the Lens

More Yachts Like D'One

Abeking & Rasmussen

Prometheus I

Heesen Yachts

McMullen & Wing Ltd

Cantieri Di Pisa

Your Privacy

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, analyse our traffic and assist in personalised marketing. By selecting “Allow Cookies”, you consent to our use of cookies.

LET'S CHAT.

Get in touch with one of our teams around the world.

Where you'll find us

Monaco — MC

London — UK

Fort Lauderdale — US

Auckland — NZ

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

Motor Yacht

One O One is a semi-custom motor yacht launched in 2008 by Tecnomar, in Italy and most recently refitted in 2014.

Headed by Founder & Chairman Giovanni Costantino, The Italian Sea Group is one of the biggest conglomerate of the world for constructions up to 200 m, having built 575 ships and yachts since 1942.

One O One measures 36.00 metres in length, with a max draft of 1.20 feet and a beam of 7.30 feet. She has a gross tonnage of 115 tonnes. She has a deck material of teak.

One O One has a GRP hull with a GRP superstructure.

One O One also features naval architecture by Tecnomar.

One O One is a semi-custom Velvet 36 model.

Performance and Capabilities

One O One has a top speed of 35.00 knots and a cruising speed of 28.00 knots. She is powered by 2 diesel engines.

One O One has a fuel capacity of 11,100 litres, and a water capacity of 2,000 litres.

Accommodation

One O One accommodates up to 8 guests in 4 cabins. She also houses room for up to 5 crew members.

Other Specifications

One O One is a RINA class yacht. She flies the flag of Italy.

• Yacht Builder Tecnomar View profile
• Naval Architect Tecnomar View profile
• Exterior Designer Luca Dini No profile available
• Interior Designer Luca Dini No profile available

Yacht Specs

Other tecnomar yachts, related news.

DAY ONE Hargrave | From US$ 80,000/wk

• Inspiration

DAY ONE has 34 Photos

Day One News

Discover summer in New England aboard a ...

Similar yachts.

KOHUBA | From EUR€ 80,000/wk

• Yachts >
• Charter Yachts >
• Motor Yachts 50ft/15m - 100ft/30m for Charter >

DAY ONE Hargrave | From US$ 80,000 /wk

Motor yacht DAY ONE (ex G-G) was built by Hargrave in 2020 and measures 28m/91.10ft. A GRP hull and superstructure produces a shallow draft which, along with her range of 2,000 nautical miles, makes M/Y DAY ONE ideal for cruising in the Bahamas, the Maldives and other scattered island chains. Both the exteriors and interiors have a crisp modern appearance, with designer 'Yacht Interiors by Shelley' creating a monochrome environment filled with colourful modern art. The accommodation sleeps up to eight guests over four en-suite cabins with room onboard for up to 12 guests while cruising. All will be looked after by a professional crew of 4, ensuring first-class service throughout the stay.

NOTABLE FEATURES OF DAY ONE: ~Beach club ~Wet bars across the decks ~Abundance of indoor and outdoor social spaces ~Great selection of water toys ~Range of 2,000 nautical miles ~Draft of just 1.8m/5.10ft to navigate shallow waterways ~Air conditioning ~Wi-Fi

EXTERIOR The main deck aft provides a starboard bar with a sofa and fold-out table for quick alfresco dining or settling down for hours outdoors with family and friends. Two stairways connect to the lower deck swim platform below, which is deep enough for sunbathing and lounging beside the water, with the beach club facilities nearby. On the foredeck, the C-shaped sofa and two drinks tables can be shaded by an umbrella for all-day outdoor use, and after lunch guests can take a nap in the sunshine on the large forward sunbed.

The upper deck aft acts as an outdoor extension to the pilothouse offering uninterrupted flow between the two spaces. There is a C-shaped sofa and raised table to port for alfresco dining in the shade, and opposite there is a wet bar with TV entertainment for live sports and the latest blockbusters in the fresh sea air. A canvas can be extended over the sun-exposed half of the upper deck aft, where sun loungers lie along the stern.

INTERIOR The lower deck layout places the guest accommodation forward and amidships, plus a gym with TV entertainment on the port side between the bow VIP stateroom and the twin cabin. The engine room is behind followed by the crew accommodation. The stern hosts a beach club complete with wet bar, sofa and a day head for convenience. On the main deck, the Master suite is forward followed by the galley and stairway down to the guest accommodation and up to the flybridge. The formal dining area and main salon combine into one large open-plan environment. The formal dining area is forward to port and seats up to eight guests in stylish surroundings. A corner sofa and armchairs are placed around a coffee table to port, with a widescreen TV on the aft starboard wall.

DAY ONE Specifications

The raised pilothouse provides a second cosy lounge for close conversation in a bright and airy environment. The helm controls are forward with a desk behind to port and a pop-up widescreen TV concealed within the cabinetry. A sofa and coffee table complete the setting to starboard, with glass sliding doors leading out onto the upper deck aft.

A pair of MTU 10V 2000 M96L engines grant a top speed of 17 knots, a cruising speed of 14 knots and a range of 2,000 nautical miles.

Yacht Charter Accommodation

The accommodation sleeps a maximum of 8 guests across 4 en-suite cabins: 1 Master suite, 2 VIP staterooms and 1 twin cabin convertible to a double. The Master suite is placed on the main deck forward and comes furnished with a king-sized bed, opposite of which is a widescreen TV. A desk/vanity is under the port window, and two armchairs and a side table beneath the window to starboard. The en-suite bathroom behind the Master suite has his-and-hers entrances with a sink and toilet on each side, and a shared central shower. The rest of the guest accommodation is situated on the lower deck. The VIP staterooms are amidships to starboard and in the bow. Both have a queen-sized bed, widescreen TV, ample wardrobe space and an en-suite bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower. The twin cabin is amidships to port adjacent to the VIP stateroom. Within, there are two single beds which can be converted into a double, a widescreen TV, plenty of storage and an en-suite bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower. The professional crew of 3 will provide fast and discreet service throughout the cruise.

Charter Amenities and Extras

Tenders & Toys: - 28ft Axopar Towed Tender - 2 x SeaDoo Sparks 2021 - 2 x Inflatable paddle boards - 2 x Inflatable kayaks - Snorkel equipment - Light fishing gear - Towable tubes - Inflatable island

Charter Yacht Disclaimer

This document is not contractual. The yacht charters and their particulars displayed in the results above are displayed in good faith and whilst believed to be correct are not guaranteed. CharterWorld Limited does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information and/or images displayed. All information is subject to change without notice and is without warrantee. A professional CharterWorld yacht charter consultant will discuss each charter during your charter selection process. Starting prices are shown in a range of currencies for a one-week charter, unless otherwise marked. Exact pricing and other details will be confirmed on the particular charter contract. Just follow the "reserve this yacht charter" link for your chosen yacht charter or contact us and someone from the CharterWorld team will be in touch shortly.

DAY ONE Enquiry

“In our company we measure our design objectives against Jack Hargrave’s dictum that, at the end of the day, the boat has to perform at sea. Everything else in the design process needs to bend to that single principle. It’s the right way to do it, and at Hargrave, it’s the only way to do it,” - Michael Joyce, CEO of Hargrave Custom Yachts

VIVALDI | From EUR€ 80,000/wk

MALKIA | From EUR€ 80,000/wk

DRIFTER | From EUR€ 80,000/wk

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

• Landing Page
• Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
• Corporate Yacht Charter
• Tailor Made Vacations
• Luxury Exploration Vacations
• View All 3698
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Classic Yachts
• Catamaran Yachts
• Filter By Destination
• More Filters
• Latest Reviews
• Charter Special Offers
• Destination Guides
• Inspiration & Features
• Mediterranean Charter Yachts
• France Charter Yachts
• Italy Charter Yachts
• Croatia Charter Yachts
• Greece Charter Yachts
• Turkey Charter Yachts
• Bahamas Charter Yachts
• Caribbean Charter Yachts
• Australia Charter Yachts
• Thailand Charter Yachts
• Dubai Charter Yachts
• Destination News
• New To Fleet
• Charter Fleet Updates
• Special Offers
• Industry News
• Yacht Shows
• Corporate Charter
• Finding a Yacht Broker
• Charter Preferences
• Questions & Answers
• Add my yacht

View More Photos

• Luxury Charter Yachts
• Motor Yachts for Charter
• Amenities & Toys
• Rates & Regions
• + Shortlist

DELTA ONE YACHT CHARTER

35.99m  /  118'1   mulder shipyard   2017.

• Previous Yacht

Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• High-volume superyacht
• Large sundeck with jacuzzi, swim-up bar and shaded dining and lounge area
• Spacious foredeck area
• Enormous beach club with fold-out swim platform
• Laid-back and elegant beachouse-style interiors
• Overwater balcony on main deck

Luxury yacht 'Delta One' promises the yachting vacation of a lifetime. Her high-volume design, exceptional outdoor areas and impressive amenities make her a stand-out charter platform.

'Delta One' is a 118'1 /  36m motor yacht available for charter. She has 10 cabins for up to five guests, a large beach club and a spacious sundeck with a jacuzzi and swim-up bar. She was built in 2017 by Dutch yard Mulder. Her interiors are fresh and modern, and they have been designed by Vickers Studio. Her rugged exterior styling is by Claydon Reeves.

Guest Accommodation

Delta One's  interior layout sleeps up to 10 guests in 5 rooms, including a master suite, 4 double cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 6 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience. Timeless styling, beautiful furnishings and sumptuous seating feature throughout to create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere.

Delta One's  impressive leisure and entertainment facilities make her the ideal charter yacht for socialising and entertaining with family and friends.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

On your charter, you'll find plenty to keep you busy and entertained such as the pool, useful to practice your technique or just cool off. Head to the beach club and take advantage of indoor-outdoor living and entertaining and in addition maintain your fitness routine and work out in the well-equipped gym. Sit back with a glass of champagne in the deck jacuzzi.

Delta One benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter such as Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stay connected at all times, should you wish. You can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

She is built with Aluminium hull and Aluminium superstructure. With a cruising speed of 12.5 knots, a maximum speed of 18 knots and a range of 2,200nm from her 32,000 litre fuel tanks, she is the perfect combination of performance and luxury.

Onboard Delta One has a range of toys and accessories to keep you and your guests entertained on the water throughout your stay. Take to the sea on the Jet Skis offering you power and control on the water. In addition there are waterskis that are hugely entertaining whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. Additionally, there are two SEABOBs, that allow you to skim along the surface or steer under the crystal water and see a variety of aquatic sea life. If that isn't enough Delta One also features fishing equipment and inflatable water toys. When it's time to travel from land to see, it couldn't be easier with a Tender.

Delta One is available upon request for charter this summer. She is already accepting bookings this winter for cruising in the Mediterranean.

Motor yacht Delta One has an array of charter-focused amenities to ensure a memorable experience onboard whatever the destination.

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Delta One, please provide .

Delta One Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Delta One has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Delta One is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

Delta One Awards & Nominations

• Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2018 Best Exterior Styling Motor Yachts Below 45m Finalist
• Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2018 Best Lighting Design Finalist
• The World Superyacht Awards 2018 Displacement Motor Yachts below 500GT of 30m to 41.9m Winner
• + shortlist

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Delta One' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€145,000 p/week + expenses Approx $161,000

High Season

€165,000 p/week + expenses Approx $183,500

Cruising Regions

HOT SPOTS:   Ibiza, The Balearics

Winter Season

October - April

Mediterranean France, Italy, Monaco

HOT SPOTS:   Amalfi Coast, Corsica, French Riviera, Ibiza, Sardinia, The Balearics

Charter Delta One

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker or

Update your yacht

Yacht Owner, Captain or Central Agents - Send us latest Photos, Charter Rates or Corrections Send Updates

SIMILAR YACHTS FOR CHARTER

33m | Custom Line

from $123,000 p/week ♦︎

34m | Sanlorenzo

from $118,000 p/week ♦︎

38m | Custom

from $60,000 p/week

33m | Overmarine

from $110,000 p/week *

Honors Legacy

34m | Offshore Yard

from $39,800 p/week

Maria Theresa

from $134,000 p/week ♦︎

Marina Wonder

38m | Gulf Craft

37m | Couach

33m | Benetti

from $91,000 p/week ♦︎

She's A Peach

33m | Johnson Yachts

from $65,000 p/week

Tasty Waves

from $115,000 p/week

35m | Benetti

from $172,000 p/week ♦︎

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

SEASONAL CHARTER RATES

• Share on Facebook
• Share Yacht

SIMILAR LUXURY CHARTER YACHTS

Here are a selection of yachts which are similar to the current charter yacht. To view all similar luxury charter yachts click on the button below.

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Find us on LinkedIn
• Add My Yacht
• Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

• St Tropez Yacht Charter
• Monaco Yacht Charter
• St Barts Yacht Charter
• Greece Yacht Charter
• Mykonos Yacht Charter
• Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

• Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
• Wheels Yacht Charter
• Victorious Yacht Charter
• Andrea Yacht Charter
• Titania Yacht Charter
• Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist

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

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

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.