NEW BOAT TEST GRAND SOLEIL 43 OT
Cantiere del Pardo
has been building
high performance
yachts in Italy since
1974 and this,
their latest ‘hot
yacht,’ is typically
PHEW

sleek, speedy and
seductive. Duncan
Kent took her out
for a spin.
What a

D
esigned by Botin and
Carkeek and launched
in her original form
in 2006, the Grand Soleil
43 can proudly boast some
scorcher!
of the finest performances
ever recorded in all the major
worldwide regattas to this
day. This latest version, the 43
OT, sports twin wheels and an
open transom (hence OT) and
is set to extend the life of this
renowned marque for many
years to come – particularly
on the regatta circuit.
A rigid, galvanised steel
floor frame is incorporated to
which the shroud chainplates
are welded, ensuring rigging
loads are distributed evenly
throughout the hull. The keel
is also bolted directly onto this
frame for maximum strength.
In addition, the laminate is
robustly built up by hand using
unidirectional stranded fibres
and all 7-ply bulkheads are
bonded in with 60mm overlaps.
Her deck is a foam sandwich
for stiffness, together with high
thermal and acoustic insulation.
Down below there are
two layouts on offer, as
well as a choice of wood
finish, from light oak to
the more traditional teak.
Joinery standards are high
and fittings good quality,
although the layout itself is
quite conservative.
She looks undoubtedly sexy
on the water, with her gentle
sheer and low freeboard aft,
and the sleek, low profile
coachroof adds to the raunchy
performance styling without PHOTOS RICK BUETTNER
being impractical below.
72 Sailing Today September 09
ST149 New GSoleil 43_RTG.indd 60 16/7/09 12:02:30
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