It’s really all about sailing! Designed by France’s Daniel Andrieu, the Sunfast 3200 certainly is a head turner. This experienced and well-accomplished designer has won the hearts of many for this wide hulled 9.8 meter boat lofted to address the racing and performance cruising market. It’s perfect for single handling or racing with a team.

They have done a great job in balancing the needs above and below decks very well. Already in Europe, this boat has got a tremendous following from the ever increasing single- and double-handed racing fraternity.

The builder has guaranteed a strong stiff hull by using a controlled vacuum resin infusion technique for deck and foam sandwich hull. Attention to weight requires the weighing of each component part before assembly, ensuring minimal weight differences between boats. The foam sandwich core not only provides stiffness in the deck but also helps resist delamination. Infusion molding is also used on the three main bulkheads while the forward watertight “crash” bulkhead is fabricated using composites. Below the waterline, the epoxy coated keel is made from both lead and iron.

Out of the water, you’ll stop and look at the beautifully engineered, double-high aspect rudders. A fine entry complements the wide aft sections profiling a very wide look obviously designed for stability and easy off-wind surfing.

This is just the start for this wonderful boat. Looking at the boat at the dock, the cockpit has an interesting layout; its closed transom that supports the stern platform provides a sense of safety. Two watertight hatches also provide access to the lockers and there is a well thought out centerline locker for the life raft.

The twin tiller takes some getting used to – but they are perfectly placed for the helmsman and wonderfully detailed with a hiking handle bar allowing easy control upwind. The helmsman’s position is perfectly set up allowing leg braces when needed. The mainsheet is forward of the helm while the traveller is placed across the aft bench behind the rudders – a set up many are used to and one that makes tacking and easy trimming in any breeze.

Above decks, the boat is perfectly configured with the winches placed just forward of the tillers. Controls for the backstay are accessible at either helm and instrumentation is in easy view all the time. Two secondary winches are placed on the coach roof. Harken hardware is everywhere and the genoa control cars are worth a second look; they will work well in any load. Looking forward, I was delighted to see the integrated toe rail, well placed for working forward and easy for crew to hike when needed.

The rig is centered on a keel stepped Sparcraft aluminum mast, configured in a tight 19/20 fractional that shows its stuff when the mast head chute is deployed. Durable and strong, this rig is set up to handle anything thrown at it.

Jeanneau has opted for the European sprit forward that allows for the furling cruising gennaker headsail; adding that extra blade downwind with the chute will provide great performance. The move to gennakers over asymmetrical spinnakers makes; they are easier to set and have much more range.

Down below, Jeanneau has done a wonderful job of balancing practicality in cruising with the use of lightweight technology and design for racing, as evidenced with their watertight bulkheads. The sail locker is placed forward, followed by a well layed out head utilizing sliding doors to conserve space. The main cabin is graced by a table integrated around the mast and set off by long berths. At the foot of the companionway, the galley is to starboard and includes a two-burner stove, a single sink and a large ice box. Opposite the nav station with its neat seat, is a great chart table top, good storage below and the electrical panel is easily accessed.

The wide hull design takes advantage below in the placement of the twin double-berth cabins. The use of fabric doors reminds one that weight issues are always top of mind but they make a great sense for this boat. They used fabric as well for the hanging lockers which are easy to remove for cleaning. Access to the engine compartment is possible from both cabins.

This boat was built to sail and sail alot. It’s a true testament to the theory one can balance the needs of a racing DNA with that of the wants of a performance cruising mindset.

Specifications

LOA            33’1”/10.1 m

LOD            32’1”/9.8 m

LWL            28’/8.53 m

Beam            11’5”/3.5 m

Draft            6’2”/1.9 m

Displacement            7,496 lbs./3.4 T

Ballast            2,866 lbs./1.3 T

Sail Area            532 sq. ft./49.4244 m²

To see if this boat is available, go to http://www.boatcan.com to check listings!

By John Kerr