One completed example, the 28.96-meter Grand Bleu Vintage, was delivered in 2003 as one of two CNB 95s built by the yard. Philippe Briand designed the yacht and completed her naval architecture, while Vripack created the interior. Built in France by CNB and registered under the French flag, she measures just under 96 feet overall, with a 7.0-meter beam, a maximum draught of 3.6 meters, and a gross tonnage of 61.0 GT.
Design and Construction
The 95 belongs to CNB’s semi-custom luxury range, produced at the builder’s Bordeaux base. CNB uses an innovative modular interior scheme that allows the entire interior to be built outside the hull before installation. This method significantly reduces construction time and production costs.
The yard’s own record places CNB yachts in a wide range of waters, including icy conditions, and credits its products with seaworthiness, quality, and reliability. Grand Bleu Vintage illustrates the material approach used for at least one hull: she has an aluminium hull and superstructure with a teak deck, although the model description characterizes the line in composite terms.
Rig and Sailing Profile
CNB offered the 95 with a large range of rigging and equipment options. Owners could therefore specify a yacht to suit their needs and preferred sailing style, whether cruising or racing-cruising.
As delivered, Grand Bleu Vintage offers a practical performance envelope rather than that of a stripped-out racer. Her top speed is 11.0 knots, while her cruising speed is 10.0 knots—0.64 knots above the average for similarly sized sailing yachts. The combination of a configurable rig and steady double-digit cruising suggests a yacht intended more for comfortable passage-making than regatta pace.
Accommodations
Grand Bleu Vintage accommodates up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms, with 4 crew members to attend to them. The Vripack interior on this hull reflects a finished-yacht approach in which the externally built modular interior is completed by a dedicated design house.
With a 7.0-meter beam and 61.0 GT of volume, the yacht supports a four-cabin guest layout served by a full crew. That arrangement fits the CNB 95’s semi-custom luxury brief rather than that of a bare-bones voyager.
Ownership Context
CNB’s yachts are relatively low-priced for this segment, and the company had built more than 100 yachts by the time of the reference record.
For buyers, the modular construction method and extensive options list mean that used CNB 95s may differ widely in equipment and rig configuration. With only two hulls built, however, each example is a comparatively rare, individually specified yacht rather than part of a high-volume class.
Verdict
The CNB 95 is a near-100-foot semi-custom luxury sailing yacht. At least one example, Grand Bleu Vintage, combines Philippe Briand’s design and naval architecture with a Vripack interior, an aluminium hull and superstructure, and a teak deck. Her cruising speed also exceeds the average for similarly sized sailing yachts.
The modular construction process and broad equipment list made the 95 a configurable platform, while the small production run keeps it uncommon on the water.
Pros
- Configurable rig and equipment for cruising or racing-cruising
- Cruising speed 0.64 knots above average for similarly sized sailing yachts
- Modular interior construction reduces build time and cost
- Documented seaworthiness in varied waters, including icy conditions
Cons
- Only two hulls were built, limiting market availability and fleet knowledge
- Material descriptions vary between the composite model description and the aluminium example realized in Grand Bleu Vintage