The new Grand Soleil 39 made its world debut at Italy’s Genoa boat show this weekend.

Upon approaching the boat show display, it is clear that the new kid sister is very much one of the family she has the same sleek lines,  flush hatches and an integral bulwark with the cleanest sidedecks of any of her peers.

Hull 1 the show boat is very well equipped; the standard specification includes a very clever removable anchor roller, an electric windlass and a Selden through deck genoa furler. A Sparcraft mast with long spreaders and chainplates on the sheer, 6 Harken winches, twin steering wheels and laid teak cockpit seats, floor and winch planes.

Domestic equipment includes hot and cold water, a very powerful refrigerator, 220 v shore power and battery charger.

The show boat was embellished with teak side decks and coachroof, a taller racing mast with rod rigging and a hydraulic tensioner.

The winches had been upgraded a size and carbon steering wheels had replaced the standard.

Starting at the bow, the low level removable anchor roller is extremely functional, cruising owner in the med will probably leave it in situ with the anchor rigged ready for everyday use. Racing owners in the UK can (by the undoing of 4 bolts) remove the unit leaving the bow clear and clean. The major benefit of the system is that it will allow an optional on-deck bowsprit to be installed for flying a gennaker. The open pulpit and through deck furler further enhance the lovely clutter-free hull to deck junction.

Within the anchor locker the windlass is mounted to port with its gypsy rotating in the same orientation as a water wheel. Below the gypsy the chain passes through a stainless fairlead that will prevent the chain jumping off the gypsy during a fast deployment of the anchor. To starboard is a small locker with a water resistant door to house the gas bottle, this frees up space aft. The anchor locker is very spacious and well suited to the stowage of fenders.

The GS39 shares many of the design features of her larger sisters and takes some of them on to a new level: Having a built in bulwark in lieu of a toe-rail has many benefits:

• It greatly increases the strength of the hull to deck joint
• It gives a smooth bow to stern toehold
• Water on deck is contained and the drained by scuppers saving the topsides from staining
• It is wide enough to be comfortable for a racing crew when “hiking”
• The hull windows add greatly to the light in the main saloon
• The GS 39’s big sisters have long had their halyards and reef lines concealed below deck, the 39 takes the clean deck philosophy further by:
• Installing the genoa tracks in recesses on the coachroof, thus keeping the sidedecks clear. This also allows the absolute optimum sheeting angle without the need for inhaulers.
• Insalling a “T” mainsheet system instead of the now popular “German” system
• Utilising a brand new design of frameless flush hatches made by BSI in Denmark.

The cockpit proportions are perfect, larger enough for a racing crew, deep enough to be comfortable when cruising.  The helmsman has a superb view of the luff of the genoa and can reach both traveller control and mainsheet when required. To starboard is a locker for storing ropes and small gear, to port is a custom locker for the liferaft.

Between the twin steering pedestals is access to the steering quadrant and the emergency tiller socket.

Aft and running the full width of the broad stern is a lazarette for storing larger items.

Two hinge up footrests are provide for the helmsman.

The fist thing that you notice about the companionway is that the washboards are located on tracks and slide from their stowage in to their working position in an instant. The washboards and sliding hatch are made from Plexiglas, thus enhancing the amount of light that floods below.

There are two stainless steel grab rails either side of the sliding hatch and two grab handles at the top of the steps making entry and exit safe and easy.

Down below the GS 39 has great headroom throughout, a very large owner’s cabin which easily accommodates the optional second head compartment. The saloon is light and airy with a very large dining table. The galley is probably the best in its class, L shaped, near the companionway, with numerous drawers and lockers, a very large fridge, large and small sinks and a stainless steel cooker.  The twin aft cabins are smaller than those of the bigger sisters; however there are two different options available here: The standard is equally sized cabins, as an option the port can be larger than the starboard making it a double to port, single to starboard. The third option is for the starboard one to be converted into a separate shower stall at its forward end and a huge sail locker at the aft end. The sail locker will be accessed from the cockpit and by way of a door from the shower cabin.

The other really significant point is that Claudio Malletto the naval architect and the Grand Soleil design team have invested more time and money on hull, rig and appendage design than any previous model, so stellar performance under both sail and power will be achieved.

So there she is, sleek elegant, beautifully appointed and a joy to sail.