Jeanneau Va Voom
Jeanneau’s Sun Odyssey 42i Performance will eat up the miles quickly, says YL racing editor Andi Robertson. FACED with stock production cruising boats, time and again we have drawn the same conclusions, ‘Add a decent set of sails and a little more canvas area and this boat would be a good performer.’ And equally, as soon as a boat is described as a cruiser-racer, or even a racer-cruiser, then one whole section of the market switches off. Jeanneau have addressed this with their Sun Odyssey Performance and ‘i’ models. And in effect they are just what their road going car counterparts are badged. The 42i, which we sailed earlier in the summer on the Mediterranean at Jeanneau’s annual media test in Hyères, has the normal rig, but the Performance version has a taller rig and more sail area as well as tri-radial panel sails constructed in Mylar with a taffeta outer, and a deep fin keel which is fully epoxy coated and uses an elongated, modern bulb. The 42i Performance adds half a metre in rig height over the normal i version and incorporates a keel which has a draft of 2.30m and a ballast weight of 2,520kgs. To consider its market, you reference the Beneteau - Jeanneau alliance and of course the sister company have their First range of IRC type racer-cruisers, so the Sun Odyssey 42i Performance is very much an efficient performance cruiser with no real racing bent. That said, within the context of our market, it is the ideal comfortable cross-over craft to cruise most weekends and holiday in style, but also to compete in the likes of West Highland Week and Scottish Series in the white sails class, and the CCC weekend races like Tobermory. It is a pleasingly styled boat, certainly one of the neatest Jeanneau have created for many years and at 42ft, it is at a size which gives a sizeable international cruising range. Here again is a good cruising based boat at a good price that you would consider sailing down the coast of western Europe over a summer and taking on the ARC transatlantic rally where you would not want to go much smaller, more in terms of space and crew carrying capacity. The performance additions include Dyform stainless standing rigging, all essential halyards and running rigging are dyneema and the twin groove foil has an easily removed roller drum. The genoa track cars are adjustable from the cockpit. A feathering, folding prop is standard. Designed by Marc Lombard, the deck styling is extremely sympathetic and modern with the recessed window line making a really welcome change from alloy surrounds. The cockpit is probably one of the SO42I’s most endearing features. It is big, comfortable and feels safe, with excellent ergonomics and proportions. Twin wheels produce excellent all round vision and the helm has a good choice of secure and comfortable seating options while the one set of Harken 48.2ST primary winches fall easily to hand. Electric winches are optional on both the primary and halyard winches. We liked the space, the table and the wide, gently angled coaming seats which wrap round the cockpit. There is a good, functional cockpit table, three large storage lockers and one accessible liferaft locker between the helm’s seats. In a handful of knots on the Bay of Hyères it is difficult sometimes to envisage the cockpit in all its different guises. Would it feel comfortable and safe in a sea way on a dirty night in the North Channel? I think the answer would probably be yes. The coamings are quite deep and there are ample hand and foot holds, not least the big hoop on the aft edge of the table. The rig is a standard alloy Selden section. On the Performance version it is supported by discontinuous Dyform rigging set with two spreaders and a single backstay, while the normal i version has a standard split backstay. The engine is a Yanmar 54hp which has excellent access from the companionway and from either side. We only had a matter of less than an hour to sail the 42i but as luck would have it, and it does sometimes run our way, the sea breeze was just filling as we hopped aboard. As it built to 9-10 knots at times it proved an enjoyable encounter. The boat felt stiff and at all times manageable, particularly when short handed. The hull shape gives good form stability, even pace and handling. Upwind it was pleasingly predictable but responsive to the finer adjustments of sail handling. We would go for the Performance version where possible, but even in this whitest of white sails form it clearly slipped through the water with ease. In what puffs there were, it was a case of easing down the traveller a little and the acceleration was appreciated. Overall, despite the modest summer breezes, it was clearly a lovely performer, with easily driven hull shape and decent foils which will consistently reward fine tuning and additional investment in improving performance. Down below the most impressive features are the space, light and the open ambience. The main, deep u-shaped saloon seating area is to starboard with a good sized table which folds down to form a double berth. There are two removable wooden island stools which can be semi-permanently attached, and to port a two person settee. The nav station features Jeanneau’s unique sliding nav table which slides aft to take up less space when the boat is at rest. There are two layout options: with two mirror image aft cabins, or an owner’s version with one starboard double aft cabin and a second toilet and shower room to port. The continuous improvement in construction methods and refinement of systems and layouts, as well as the ongoing feedback from a huge customer and dealer network base ensure that this Jeanneau is an excellent package. It will eat up the miles at speed in all conditions, and go anywhere. • Further information from northern Jeanneau dealer Euroyachts. Price: £119,016 inc VAT, delivered Clyde.