Elan 380 Gets The YL Nod Over Big Sister
IT’S BEEN on the cards for a long time. One of those great looking boats which has been performing well since its launch in 2006, but one which we have just not had the opportunity, nor the time to get on board and enjoy a test sail, writes YL racing editor Andi Robertson. It’s a toss up whether the Elan 380 or the 410 is a better looking boat, but personally I prefer the balance of the 380 although it’s a close run thing. Rob Humphreys and Elan achieve the feat of presenting a sporty looking boat with all the essential performance criteria in a clean and user friendly package and yet it remains a highly suitable cruising boat. And while the preceding models clearly did well on the race course, they still suffered from clunky, slightly utilitarian looks when compared with the much newer 380 and 410. All these details were high on the list when Kevin and Debbie Aitken chose the Elan 380 which they have been campaigning successfully over this season. Among the keynote requirements on Animal were a three cabin layout. With two growing kids as well as the regular preference for some of their race crew to stay on board during bigger regattas such as Dun Laoghaire, Cork, and a full house on board during West Highland Week, Beneteau were pressing them to hang on for the new First 35 but the two cabin set up did not fit their requirements. After their spacious, powerful Beneteau 42s7, Duckwall Pooley, the choice to go slightly smaller was as much about having a new boat which would hold its value, as well as offer a good racing performance for its rating. Since the change, Kevin Aitken admits there has been something of a learning curve, going from the almost unbridled power of the big Beneteau to the fractional rig, big main, smaller blade jib set up, and only as they get into next season does he really feel they will be closer to the top of the learning curve. Which is not, in any way, saying it’s a difficult or demanding boat to sail. It can be set up to mostly do the job itself. It’s stiff enough, but has a relatively light bulb weight when maximum sail area is carried. The smaller non overlapping jib is great for cruising and performs really well when in the optimum wind range, but below that it needs a ready understanding, and attention to power the boat up in the lighter wind ranges. Having waited all through the summer due to a combination of our schedule, plus changes with the Elan brand moving to Kip Yacht Sales, it was slightly disappointing to have an autumn day for our appraisal during which it simply tipped down with rain and the breeze was no more than seven to nine knots. Under the circumstances we were not, forgive us for dereliction of duty, going to stay out on the East Patch to wait for the sunshine to return. Suffice to say Animal has been successful on the race course. The Scottish Series was a learning experience, not just getting her up to polars on the different points of sail, but in adapting crew work to the new boat. Among their best results to date has been a fourth at Dun Laoghaire. Only boats Kevin feels they have occasionally struggled against on handicap have been the Corby semi custom 33s, but up against most other marques he feels they are competitive for their rating. Racing off 1.040 they achieve a good mix of racing in different classes at different regattas, up against everything from the First 36.7 to the 40.7s, to the usual Class 1 suspects on the Clyde. There is nothing on the local scene that they particularly suffer against and overall they are happy with Animal which they describe as a good all rounder. Upwind the 40.7, which gives them time, is a little bit quicker, but they are faster downwind. The boat is at its best in 12-14 knots. In the light 5-7 knots stuff they need to work the 380 well and carefully to build speed and keep it moving. Overall impressions to date are that the Elan is relatively easily controlled and so likes to be moved through the gears with some precision, so that means that the principal sail shape controls mostly need upgraded from the standard, that is jib car pullers, inhaulers, and more purchase on the vang. The backstay system is OK. All these controls are quite critical on a typical big main, small headsail rig like the Elan 380. The main is just a bit over large which perhaps accounts for the boat feeling over pressed early when it is puffy and breezy. Upwind they sail to a target of just on the 7 to 7.1kts but as Kev notes, regular high 6’s are good, at about 26-27°. What we liked is the really clean layout of the cockpit, big wheel with good forward vision and the good working positions for the crew. On the helm the 380 was a pleasure to steer; light and positive. It’s too easy to stuff the helm up and sail slow, the key is to lean on to the foils, build speed, and let them start to work to build height. What Kevin is looking for next season is to slightly improve their upwind speed in the breeze and has no doubt that a little more weight on the rail will help, which is not to suggest they are going to stack it with bodies, it’s just that to date they have been sailing too light. They have just the one kite, a 115sq 0.6 oz and the one jib. Next sails to be added to the inventory would be a lighter No 1 jib and perhaps a Code Zero which would take them from 50° to 90°, and the new mainsail they will have for 2010 moves to Hyde Sails and will be about 20cm less in the hoist. Kevin Aitken is the local Hyde agent. The interior of the Elan 380 is a good mix between functional and comfortable without being plush. The saloon is spacious, there is a good L-shaped galley which is well fitted out with excellent stowage and work spaces. So too the nav station is well sized with good instrument space and easy mounting. It is a modern, simply finished interior with clean lines which is appealing. The two aft cabins are good sized and we’d love to compliment the natural light, but it was a grim autumn day. We’ll tell you when we sail one in the Adriatic… There is the option of having the three cabins, two cabins two heads or two cabins one heads. We like the layout of the Animal version which has the forward offset heads offering en-suite access from the excellent forecabin, but there is a downside that when the door is open then the forward looking view of the boat interior is inevitably into the loo. If the door is open… Overall the 380 is little short of a great boat, but a good manageable size for smaller crews to cruise. There are certainly more boats of this size which are a notch or two more down the cruiser continuum, but the Aitkens regularly cruise the west coast and will go much further afield over the following years. • The Elan 380 is available in the north through Kip Marina’s boat sales office. Current price is £163,008 including VAT, commissioned Clyde and antifouled, complete with the standard cruising pack which features some electronics.