Twelve boats were sold within eight months of the design being announced, a telling response to a model aimed at owners who want spirited sailing without giving up comfort. Central to the design is its long waterline: 51 feet compared with 57.4 feet overall. That provides both accommodation volume and sailing length, while the builder maintains that handling at sea wasn’t sacrificed in the process.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are solid fiberglass. Open structural areas aft help minimise weight in the ends, a deliberate choice intended to make the boat’s 41,667-pound displacement feel less sluggish than the figure might suggest.
Owners can choose from three keels, allowing them to tailor the 58 to different sailing styles and the draught restrictions imposed by some sailing areas, rather than accept a single compromise. A ballast-to-displacement ratio of 36.96 points to a stiff platform built to carry sail.
The wedge-shaped cabin house and uncluttered decks give the boat a sleek, thoroughly European profile.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
All lines lead aft, including the halyards, the genoa or self-tacking headsail sheets, and the furling code 0 controls. This allows a short-handed crew to work the boat from the cockpit. A recessed electric mainsheet traveller keeps the deck clear and gives the trimmer excellent control of sail shape. Rig options include a self-tacking jib for easier work upwind.
Retractable bow and stern thrusters simplify manoeuvring in harbour. The huge, open cockpit is arranged with its forward bench seats at the same height as the side deck, reducing the number of levels the crew must clamber over. Coamings offer some protection from solid water coming aboard, while the spray hood disappears beneath fiberglass mouldings as neatly as the roof of a high-end soft-top car.
That openness brings a trade-off. Some crew may feel exposed when the boat is heeled, with little to brace against in the cockpit.
The layout clearly works well when racing with plenty of crew aboard. The boat can also be set up in race mode for inshore racing or classic offshore events.
Accommodation
Below, the saloon feels spacious and receives ample natural light. The interior is available in light oak or teak, with quality solid cappings and deep fiddles that suggest a boat intended for serious use at sea. Its minimalist treatment can be specified in a range of woods and layouts.
The two aft quarter cabins are impressively spacious, with full headroom throughout. The starboard cabin has twin berths that convert into a giant double using an infill.
The owner’s suite is right forward and also offers generous dimensions. Buyers can choose either a central peninsula berth or a bed set to one side. A fourth cabin can replace the third heads. An optional crew cabin in the bow has its own heads and a separate deck-access hatch.
The galley includes Corian worktops, extensive refrigeration, and provision for a built-in dishwasher. Overall, the accommodation prioritises greater space and comfort for fewer people rather than trying to house a party of ten or twelve.
Equipment and Options
The Grand Soleil 58 comes with a generally high standard of inventory. Beyond the thrusters and rig refinements, options include an electric retractable gangway intended for stern-to Mediterranean berthing, a tender garage for a small jet-powered RIB, and the bow crew cabin.
Verdict
The Grand Soleil 58 is a flagship performance cruiser that combines a long-waterline hull with genuine offshore accommodation and a deck layout suited to both short-handed control and full-crew racing. Its open cockpit and minimalist interior make the boat’s priorities clear: comfort for a few rather than capacity for a charter crowd, with substantial construction behind the sleek styling.
Pros
- Long 51-foot waterline provides accommodation volume and sailing length without sacrificing handling
- All lines lead aft, with a recessed mainsheet traveller keeping the deck clear and controllable
- Spacious quarter cabins and forward owner’s suite, with flexible berth layouts
- Three keel options suit different draught limits and styles of sailing
Cons
- Open cockpit may leave crew feeling exposed, with little to brace against when heeled
- Accommodation is intended for a smaller group rather than larger, charter-style parties
