Design and Construction
The 76's hull carries a nearly plumb bow that extends the waterline for speed potential, a fairly straight sheer with slight spring toward the bow, and a very broad stern with after sections imbued with a chine for initial stability when power reaching. Modern waterlines made it possible to design a hull with a double rudder, and the underbody carries a 10-foot cast iron fin keel with a bulb and winglets intended to cut the vortex and reduce drag. The deck house is seamlessly integrated into the hull lines, and the clean shapes of hull and deck are what make the yacht one that will last over time. CNB devised an innovative modular build scheme that constructed the entire interior outside the hull in four modules, slotting into place within millimetres of their 3D design and allowing simultaneous construction of hull and interior to bring build time down to five or six months. It is a production boat, not a custom boat, tapping into the parent company's economies of scale.
Rig and Handling
The deck layout uses advanced solutions so that only two people are required to handle the boat, and an experienced couple could handle it in most conditions. The rig on the tested boat stood 112 feet off the water, flying a large fully battened traditional mainsail with three reef points, while the 76 can also be fitted with an in-mast mainsail or a CNB-developed in-boom furling system. Four winches sit on deck, two per side of the mast, and twin electric winches on each side handle sheets; jib and larger genoa are controlled with hydraulic Reckmann roller furling operated by push buttons at the helms, and a self-tacking jib makes tacking effortless. Test sailors found the helm so light they could leave it hands-off for minutes, and the boat offered nicely balanced sailing that is easy on an autopilot. In 12 to 14 knots of breeze she sailed 28 degrees to apparent wind at 10 to 11 knots over the bottom, slowed to eight on a broad reach, and with an asymmetric spinnaker set reached more than 11 knots. The twin rudders set well apart and far aft give the leeward one a good water connection, but the lack of control when backing under power is a known tradeoff needing more speed than expected; bow and stern thrusters counteract those deficiencies, and joystick steering simplifies dock life.
Accommodations
The CNB 76 is the only raised saloon on the market to offer a splendid exterior view, with wrap-around saloon windows that let seated dinette occupants see out, and the coachroof stays low enough for end-to-end visibility. It is also the only raised saloon dividing the owner's zone from the aft crew area, with clearly separated spaces and a layout conceived for long, comfortable life aboard. The central saloon has a large dinette to port and two swiveling easy chairs to starboard; the master cabin lies all the way forward with a centerline double facing forward and a high headboard for privacy plus a huge head, while two guest cabins each with own head sit just aft — starboard with bunkbeds whose lower extends to a double, port with twins sliding to a queen. The after port cabin is the skipper's with joinable singles and en suite. The galley lies aft under the cockpit with three fridges, a counter with two bar stools, and a large wine cooler. A longitudinal tender garage sits aft; the transom folds down to open it and form a ramp to launch a Williams jet drive dinghy or modified RIB. Natural light comes from hull windows, deck hatches, and the saloon wrap. The engine room beneath the saloon floor is vast, accessed by two folding panels or a galley-stair hatch, and is so well insulated the motor is barely audible at cruising revs.
Known Issues
Beyond the dual-rudder backing behaviour, testers noted a faster mastbase halyard winch would be beneficial when hoisting the larger furling sail, and the aft helms leave only thigh-level guardrails behind, feeling exposed in a swell. The central pushpit support is to be raised by the builder. These are minor compared with the boat's documented control and insulation strengths.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping the model will find a production platform with a range of options rather than full custom work. An aluminium mast is standard, with a Hall Spars carbon alternative that stays lighter than alloy even with in-mast furling; a 3-metre taller performance rig raises sail area six or seven per cent. The A5 furling sail serves cruising and charters alike. Bow roller and anchor stow upside down and flip via a control wand; dodger and Bimini tuck into coaming and cabin-top compartments, the latter settable by one person.
The Verdict
The CNB 76 distills a Briand performance-cruiser hull, an interior by Jean-Marc Piaton and Rafael Bonet, and a modular production process into a 76-foot deck-saloon sloop that separates owners from crew, sails short-handed at speed, and endures. Its known handling quirks are bounded and mitigated by thrusters and joystick.
Pros
- Raised saloon with exterior views from seated dinette; only such layout dividing owner and crew zones
- Double rudder with twin far-aft placement; well-insulated engine room barely audible
- Modular build cuts construction to five or six months; production economies of scale
- Short-handed handling via advanced deck layout, self-tacking jib, push-button furling
- Broad stern chine and winglet keel for stability and reduced drag
Cons
- Twin rudders give poor backing control under power without extra speed
- Thigh-level guardrails at aft helms feel exposed in swell
- Mastbase halyard winch slow for larger hoists; central pushpit support low
