Hull, Appendages, and Construction
The 39's flat-bottomed hull and high-aspect-ratio appendages are the clearest expression of Maletto's intent. Rapid acceleration and a well-balanced rudder system were apparent even in a truncated sea trial in the Gulf of Genoa, where the boat proved easy to hold on course at speed with little drama. The T-shaped keel — a cast-iron fin carrying a lead bulb — draws 2.4 metres in its standard configuration, with a deeper 2-metre racing keel available as an option.
Structural philosophy also changed with the 39. Rather than a structural steel grid laminated into the hull, Cantiere del Pardo shifted to carbon-fibre reinforcements within a hand-laid GRP laminate using vinylester resin, with a densely structured floor section laminated directly to the hull to distribute rig loads cleanly down to the keel. The shrouds of the Sparcraft two-spreader rig connect directly to the hull rather than to an internal grid — a cleaner load path that also simplified construction.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The mast is positioned further aft than on the preceding models, following a trend common in performance-oriented designs. This pushes the J-measurement forward and keeps the jib area substantial despite the shrouds limiting overlap to 106 percent. In practice the fractional rig is tuned for reaching as much as upwind work — at 14 knots of true wind the polar diagrams predict 6.9 knots at a true wind angle of 40 degrees, figures that put the 39 firmly in the faster half of her class.
For off-wind sailing, a code zero or code one is the recommended first addition; both can be furled without drama and cover a wide apparent wind range. A gennaker of 169 square metres is offered for freer angles, and a bowsprit can be quickly attached in a recess in the bow before racing, with the cruising version substituting a conventional anchor chain guide in the same recess. The standard mainsail of 45 square metres pairs with a 37-square-metre jib; the performance package steps up to a 49.6-square-metre main and a 38.2-square-metre jib.
Deck Layout and Cockpit
One of the more thoughtful details on the 39 is how determinedly it keeps the deck clear. Running rigging is tucked away in hidden channels and recesses whenever possible, folding cleats contribute to an uncluttered sightline, and the anchor windlass is concealed under a bow hatch. Jib sheet traveller rails sit below deck level so the sheets reach the cockpit without crossing the working surface — a feature that improves both aesthetics and safety when moving forward in a seaway.
The cockpit is built around twin wheels with a passage between them, which creates useful working space at the helm. The mainsheet arrangement leads under the cockpit floor directly to winches on the coaming rather than forward along the boom, which keeps the boom area clear. The mainsheet trimmer's position — directly in front of the wheels — is acknowledged to be somewhat confined and not ideally placed for working the winches effectively, a compromise that racing crews may want to address with the optional German Admiral's Cup mainsheet system. The helmsman, by contrast, benefits from folding footrests that work equally well seated or standing.
Accommodations
Below, the 39 marks a clear departure from the darker, more conservative interiors of the 37 and 40. White surfaces, painted composite materials, and a greater number of larger portlights in the cabin top flood the saloon with natural light. The standard finish uses mahogany veneer, with light oak and teak as alternatives. Joinery quality is solidly executed — workmanship is pleasantly high with exact and solid joiner work down to the details, the one exception being hardware and hinges on lockers and hatches, which were considered undersized for their loads.
The layout offers two or three cabins with one or two heads. The forward owner's cabin is paired with an optional extra head, while two separate aft cabins can be fitted with a dividing wall offset from the centerline to create one larger stateroom — a configuration families with children tend to prefer. The galley is L-shaped and carries two refrigerators (one convertible to a freezer), a twin sink, and generous storage. The nav station is forward-facing and practical, though compact by some standards. Diesel tankage runs to 185 litres and fresh water to 320 litres.
Known Limitations
The prototype test in Lavagna exposed one characteristic worth noting: the aluminium mast was not tuned with enough rig tension, with the leeward shrouds sagging and the spar showing significant flex in 30-knot conditions. This was a pre-production issue, but it underscores that the rig is genuinely sporting in specification and rewards proper tuning. Buyers evaluating secondhand examples should verify that the rig has been set up to the builder's tension specifications and that the relatively large, laminated mainsail has been properly maintained. The hardware criticisms around locker hinges are a minor but recurring observation — upgrading to heavier-duty fittings on storage hatches is a sensible early maintenance task.
The Verdict
The Grand Soleil 39 does what the best Italian performance cruisers do: it makes speed feel effortless and elegant at the same time. Maletto's hull is genuinely quick on a reach, the deck is as clean as any production boat in the segment, and the interior manages to feel bright and modern without sacrificing the quality of finish the Cantiere del Pardo name implies. She is not a boat for those who want a soft, forgiving cruising platform — the rig is tuned for those who want to push it — but in the hands of an experienced crew she rewards that ambition fully.
Pros
- Fast reaching hull with well-balanced rudder and quick acceleration
- Exceptionally clean, uncluttered deck with hidden rigging channels
- Bright, modern interior well above the average for her class
- High-quality laminate construction with carbon reinforcement
- Flexible layout options, including offset bulkhead for larger aft stateroom
- Gennaker and bowsprit options extend the off-wind sail plan effectively
Cons
- Mainsheet trimmer position is cramped and difficult for active racing use
- Locker and hatch hardware is underdimensioned relative to the rest of the build quality
- Rig demands proper tuning — slack leeward shrouds are a real liability in a blow
- High freeboard, while useful below, is a visual compromise in proportion
