Design and Construction
At 48 feet 4 inches overall, the 46 LC is a substantial yacht. Her lightship displacement is 12,000 kg, with 4,200 kg of ballast in an L-shaped keel rather than the T-keel fitted to the performance range. She carries more beam aft than the Grand Soleil 47 and, thanks to higher freeboard, sits nearly 15 cm higher, yet she is only one tonne heavier than that sister model.
The construction draws on the yard’s performance models, with a carbon-reinforced internal grid and vacuum-infused hull and deck. The mast is stepped on deck to eliminate any chance of cabin leaks while cruising. Visually, the 46 LC is unapologetically modern, with straight, angular lines, large tinted hull portlights, and bold European styling.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
All control lines, sheets, and halyards run aft through under-deck conduits to the twin helms, leaving the cockpit uncluttered. High bench coamings provide shelter, while a rollbar-style arch supports a full bimini and keeps the boom clear of the crew’s heads.
The standard sail plan includes a self-tacking Solent jib and a forward reaching sail on a bowsprit roller. Both can be handled from the wheels. A German mainsheet leads aft to a bank of clutches, leaving the two reachable winches free for routine work, though test boats often carried four winches to make offwind sailing easier.
Yachting World’s testers found that the standard jib allowed the boat to point high and tack sharply. They also found her easy to sail short-handed. The helm was neutral, with little feedback, and stable enough to leave unattended without fear of a round-up.
Under white sails, the 46 LC felt sluggish in single-figure breezes. In double figures, however, she made 6 to 6.5 knots. A Code 0 flown from the bowsprit transformed her performance in light airs from six knots true upward, adding heel and speed and producing a peak of nearly 8.5 knots while close-reaching.
Cockpit and Deck
The large cockpit has aft-facing loungers, high coamings, and twin helms under the bimini. A fold-down hydraulic swim platform and an aft shower make access to the water straightforward, while the foredeck includes a recessed double sunbed.
In the forepeak, a single hatch divides a storage locker from the large chain locker and below-deck windlass. Teak decks are optional.
The cockpit arrangement works well for short-handed sailing, but testers found that the stowage recesses in the aft benches were too small for the volume of rope tails generated under sail.
Interior and Accommodation
The saloon sole is slightly raised to make the companionway descent easier. The layout is offset to create more room for the galley, which sits one step lower. Its inboard island sink gives the cook something to brace against when the boat heels, while centerline double sinks drain on both tacks. The L-shaped galley also has soft-closing drawers, deep lockers, and high fiddles.
The convertible saloon table drops to create a full berth. The chart table can also be lowered to form a sofa berth with a view through the hull port, although it has no backrest or privacy and is best suited to short use.
The three cabins all have hull portlights. Forward, the master cabin has a centerline double berth, a large wardrobe, and an ensuite with a separate shower. Two quarter cabins lie aft. The starboard cabin has direct access to the heads, and one aft cabin has convertible twin berths. Dropped cockpit lockers provide additional headroom for sleeping with heads aft.
The second head also serves as a wet locker. Joinery is natural oak, with teak available as an option. Despite the open feel of the interior, the doorways are surprisingly narrow.
Systems and Cruising Fit
A 75 hp shaft-drive engine provides auxiliary power. The standard tank volume is 900 liters, with an additional 300 liters available as an option. Owners can also specify a watermaker to support the Long Cruise brief.
Depending on configuration, the accommodation provides 6 to 9 berths. Together with the protected cockpit, large swim platform, and open interior, the layout favors couples and families planning sunny-climate cruising.
Known Issues and Possible Changes
The main shortcomings noted during testing were modest but specific. The cockpit rope bins were too small for the volume of line tails handled under sail, and the doorways felt narrow despite the spacious interior. The chart-table berth lacked both a backrest and separation from the saloon.
The neutral helm also led to speculation that the mast may sit slightly far forward, with the arch pushing the boom high. General manager Fabio Planamente has discussed with Lostuzzi the possibility of lengthening the boom to add sail area and rudder pressure, indicating factory awareness of the boat’s limited light-air urge.
The Verdict
The Grand Soleil 46 LC is a modern Long Cruise yacht that trades some of the range’s racing edge for genuine livability without losing its short-handed tractability. She’s particularly well suited to Mediterranean and warm-latitude cruising, with a protected cockpit, useful stowage, a flexible interior, and a stiff composite structure.
Under white sails, performance in single-figure breezes is subdued, and the neutral helm provides little feedback. A Code 0 improves matters considerably in light airs. Narrow doorways, small rope bins, and the compromised chart-table berth are minor ergonomic flaws in an otherwise thoughtful cruising package.
Pros
- Carbon-reinforced, vacuum-infused structure
- Deck-stepped mast intended to eliminate cabin leaks while cruising
- Uncluttered twin-helm cockpit that can be managed short-handed from under cover
- Light, open three-cabin interior
- Practical galley and several convertible berths
- Self-tacking jib and Code 0 combination suited to Mediterranean light airs
Cons
- Sluggish under white sails in single-figure breezes
- Neutral helm offers little feedback
- Cockpit rope bins are too small for the volume of line tails generated under sail
- Narrow interior doorways
- Chart-table berth lacks a backrest and privacy
