Grand Soleil 44 (Polli) Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The creation of the Grand Soleil 44 (Polli) in 2020 was a testament to Cantiere del Pardo's continuous commitment to innovation and their legacy of building high-quality sailing yachts since 1973. This iteration of the Grand Soleil 44 builds upon the shipyard's reputation for producing "luxury performance sailing & cruising yachts," and its collaboration with distinguished designers like Matteo Polli marked a new chapter in its design ethos 6, 12, Builder Article. Polli, often referred to as "The Wizard of IRC," brought his signature expertise in creating sleek, high-performance hull geometries, particularly evident in the yacht's distinctive stern section. The brief for this model was to create a yacht with a "double purpose": capable of both serious racing and comfortable cruising.

Grand Soleil offers the 44 in two primary versions: Performance and Race. While sharing the same core hull design, these variations primarily differ in their deck layouts, allowing owners to optimize the vessel for their specific sailing ambitions. The design also incorporates flexible keel options, including an ORC optimization, a deep draft of 9.18 feet (2.8m), a shallow draft of 7.9 feet (2.4m), and the standard 8.53 feet (2.60m) fin keel, catering to diverse sailing requirements and preferences.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Grand Soleil 44 (Polli) is engineered for spirited performance, showcasing the design prowess of Matteo Polli in creating fast, balanced, and responsive hulls. With a reported sail area of 1205.02 square feet and a displacement of 20944 pounds, the yacht boasts a high sail area to displacement ratio of approximately 25.21. This substantial ratio suggests excellent performance in lighter air conditions, enabling the yacht to move efficiently even when winds are modest.

Despite its performance-oriented design, the Grand Soleil 44 maintains a robust character. Its ballast-to-displacement ratio of approximately 0.31 indicates a well-balanced design that, while not as stiff as some dedicated offshore racers with higher ratios, combines effectively with its deep fin keel and spade rudder to provide ample stability and control. The yacht's displacement-to-length ratio, calculated at around 318.89 based on its 40.33-foot waterline length, positions it as a moderately heavy performance cruiser. This characteristic contributes to a comfortable motion in a seaway, making it forgiving for cruising while still delivering competitive speeds. Anecdotal evidence suggests the yacht is highly agile and well-balanced, a hallmark of Polli's designs, and has proven its racing pedigree by securing multiple ORC World Championship titles and earning the prestigious "Boat of the Year 2025" award.

Accommodations and Layout

The interior of the Grand Soleil 44 (Polli), conceived by Nauta Design, offers a harmonious blend of functionality, comfort, and contemporary Italian elegance. Designed to serve both racing crews and cruising families, the layout is typically configured with three cabins and two heads, providing ample private space for multiple occupants. The use of quality materials and meticulous finishing is evident throughout, aligning with Grand Soleil's reputation for uncompromised quality.

Despite the focus on performance, the interior is described as practical, bright, and beautifully fitted, providing a welcoming environment below deck. While specific headroom figures are not universally available, the overall design aims to maximize usable space and comfort. The spacious owner's bathroom is a notable feature, enhancing the liveability of the yacht. Storage solutions are integrated throughout, catering to the needs of both short-term racing provisions and longer cruising voyages. Ventilation is also typically well-considered to ensure comfort in various climates.