Design and Construction
The Cyclades 39.3 measures 39.27 feet overall, with a 35-foot waterline and a 12.96-foot beam. Her solid fiberglass hull and deck displace 15,642 pounds, including 4,619 pounds of iron ballast. The iron bulb-winged fin keel draws roughly 5.9 to 6.2 feet, depending on load.
Her ballast ratio is about 30 percent, while the capsize screening value is 2.07. As yachtdatabase.com notes, that figure places her outside the bounds accepted for ocean racing. A length-to-beam ratio of 2.96 and about 495 square feet of wetted surface describe a beamy, volume-driven hull rather than a narrow thoroughbred.
Jean Berret’s long association with Bénéteau through Berret-Racoupeau informs the design lineage. The 39.3 itself, however, is firmly a convenience-led cruiser, reflecting the builder’s emphasis on simplicity and pleasure.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig has a reference sail plan with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.3, rising to 19.1 with a 135 percent genoa. Those figures position the boat as moderately canvased rather than overpowered.
The cockpit is arranged to make maneuvers simple. Genoa winches sit near the helm, allowing a short-handed crew to manage sail changes without crossing the cockpit. Twin helm positions are intended to improve comfort both under sail and while moving around the boat. Instrument supports at the cockpit table and on the helm consoles keep navigation data within the helmsman’s sightline.
The running-rigging specifications are generous: the mainsheet is 96 feet of 14-millimeter line, the genoa sheets are 38.4 feet of 14-millimeter line, and the halyards are 113.4 feet of 12-millimeter line. Together, they support a standard cruising kit without requiring surprise upgrades.
Cockpit, Movement, and Cruising Systems
The twin-helm layout opens the aft deck, easing movement between the companionway and transom. Combined with the nearby winches and the cockpit’s emphasis on simple maneuvers, this arrangement reflects the Cyclades range’s focus on convenience.
The boat carries 87 gallons of water and 58 gallons of diesel. Auxiliary power comes from a 40-horsepower Yanmar single diesel. This systems capacity supports extended stays aboard, without implying specific interior arrangements that the sources don’t describe.
Verdict
The Cyclades 39.3 is a deliberately uncomplicated cruiser: beamy, well balanced in ballast terms for her class, and organized around easy handling from the twin helms. She isn’t a racer—the capsize screening value and modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio reflect a stability-first, volume-minded brief—but she succeeds as a convenience-focused yacht for coastal cruising and passage-making.
Pros
- Twin helms and nearby genoa winches simplify maneuvers from the steering position
- Solid fiberglass construction, an iron bulb keel, and a 30 percent ballast ratio
- Cockpit layout reflects the builder’s stated emphasis on simplicity and pleasure
Cons
- A capsize screening value of 2.07 excludes her from ocean-race acceptance
- The moderate sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air acceleration compared with over-canvased designs
