Grand Soleil was already well regarded among knowledgeable sailors on both sides of the Atlantic, and its racer-cruisers had built a strong record in local and point-to-point events. Before the new 37 met a US reviewer, it had quickly proved itself in IRC competition in France, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean.
Design and Construction
The hull is hand laminated and vacuum bagged in vinylester and E-glass. It’s solid below the waterline and closed-cell-foam cored above. A two-piece mold creates an inward-facing flange at the hull-to-deck joint, which is bonded and fastened for a secure union.
In the bilge, a galvanized steel grid carries the structural loads and lends the hull its toughness, while steel beams further reinforce the grid. The glasswork is neat and smoothly finished. Overall, this is a strongly built yacht, not merely a pretty one.
Rig, Power, and Handling
The test boat sat firmly at the performance end of the racer-cruiser spectrum. It carried a tall rig over a deep fin keel with lead ballast, along with an oversized wheel.
The standard Volvo makes 27 horsepower. On the test boat, the performance package substituted a 40-horsepower Volvo diesel and bundled it with the tall rig, deep lead keel, upgraded winches, and oversized wheel.
On the water, the boat was exceptionally easy to manage. It was predictable in forward and reverse, turned within roughly a boatlength, and proved nimble around a crowded start line and during mark roundings. It tacked easily, pointed and footed with the best in the fleet, and, with a big genoa, drove right up to hull speed in the puffs. A clean deck and low coachroof allowed a full crew to move quickly when working the boat through traffic.
Accommodations
Below, the cabin detailing is finished to a high standard, with neatly fitted joinery and a lovely finish. Yet the interior remains unelaborate: it’s a pleasant, inviting space rather than a showpiece.
The two-cabin owner’s version sailed during the test accommodated a family of four on a summer cruise or a race-week crew in comfort. An optional three-cabin arrangement adds berths for another couple, but sacrifices the large storage area beneath the cockpit seats.
Known Issues
The principal constraint noted by reviewers is the keel. With the deep-draft variant drawing nearly seven feet eleven inches, the boat’s draft could limit available anchorages.
Wires in the tested systems appeared not to be tinned.
The Verdict
The Grand Soleil 37 is a genuinely performance-oriented 37-footer that punches above its length in fleet racing while remaining a comfortable coastal cruiser. Botín & Carkeek’s hull-and-deck engineering, backed by Cantiere del Pardo’s steel-grid structure, provides a strongly built platform that handles like a thoroughbred and accommodates crew or family without fuss. The deep keel is the one real-world compromise.
Pros
- Exceptional sailing performance, matching the fleet in pointing and footing while remaining nimble
- Strongly built hull with a steel-grid structure and secure, bonded hull-to-deck joint
- High-standard, unpretentious interior with a choice of two- or three-cabin layouts
- Established record in IRC events across European waters
Cons
- Deep draft limits access to some anchorages
- Wires in the tested systems appeared not to be tinned
