Design and Construction
The 52 LC's profile deliberately runs against modern cruising fashion: there is not a chine to be seen, the waterline gently nipping in at the stern so the topsides flare slightly aft and shape the transom curves with no reflections off the deck. The long decks are finished in graphite gelcoat that absorbs light, and black hatches and windows prevent a direct view inside, giving the boat a muted, private exterior. Her full beam of nearly 16 feet is achieved around half the waterline length and carried all the way aft on deck, while the bow is blunt but slim, capped with a chunky carbon bowsprit and anchor roller.
Structurally, the deck is kept empty, with the mechanics of sailing hidden from view in the vast cockpit, and all control lines are led under the deck and through the low cockpit coamings to two banks of jammers just ahead of the twin helming positions hidden from view in the vast cockpit. A glassfibre tray in the top of the keel provides a very deep sump, and the transom drops down on hydraulic rams to form a bathing platform. Forward, a tender garage is large enough to hold an inflated 2.7-meter tender.
Rig and Handling
Both the standard 52 LC and the Sport version are offered with in-mast furling as standard, and the test boat carried membrane sails with full vertical battens in the main. A self-tacking jib is standard, though the reviewed yacht also had longitudinal tracks on the coachroof; the jib cars, however, are set with pins rather than adjustable from the cockpit. The Sport package brings a higher mast with sail area increased by 14 square meters, a German mainsheet system tacked to a single point in the cockpit and led forward under the boom, rod rigging, a hydraulically adjustable backstay, and larger winches — a configuration that promises a taste of performance yet can be handled by minimal crew.
On the water, test sailors found her powerful and responsive, with helming fun even in 8 knots of true wind. With a crew of three, they easily pushed boat speed to 9 knots in only 11 knots true, and in 9 knots of wind with flat water the mainsail alone drove the 17-tonne hull along at a solid 4 knots. Most aspects of controlling her under white sails were achievable by one person from behind the twin wheels. The reviewed boat was set up with an electric primary winch on each side, but the winches are not reversible, so easing a heavily loaded sail may require an extra pair of hands.
Accommodations
The 52 LC offers a couple of different layouts, sleeping six guests in three cabins with the option of converting the ample sail locker into crew quarters. One layout presents a traditional owner's cabin with a centerline berth; the other uses a Pullman-style berth forward with a larger head. The standard aft arrangement is a spacious twin and a double, with enough headroom under the cockpit sole to sit up on the bunks. The owner's suite is plush and roomy, with an island double against the forward bulkhead and a huge private heads and shower compartment.
The interior focuses on space and light, with instruments and draining boards hidden behind locker doors, and the teak finish on the test boat was to the same standard on handrails and cupboard interiors alike. All heads carry elegant porcelain countertop bowl sinks, black water tanks are now fitted as standard, and the aft heads use a pull-out fabric shower blind rather than the solid Perspex door found forward. The sail locker itself is vast and nearly 3 meters deep, and a separate sail locker or crew cabin is available as an option.
Equipment and Power
The standard engine is a 75-horsepower Volvo Penta, while the reviewed example carried the upgraded package of a 110-horsepower shaft-driven engine and Flexifold prop, delivering a flat-water cruising speed of 9 knots. House power comes from nearly 600 amp-hours of AGM batteries, and the boat holds 600 liters each of fuel and water for extended time aboard. Bow and stern thrusters are optional, and the deep sump and tankage support longer coastal or bluewater stretches without frequent replenishment.
The Verdict
The Grand Soleil 52 LC is a thoughtfully resolved long-cruise yacht that keeps the sporting character of the marque while softening the experience for lifestyle-minded owners. The chine-free hull, hidden deck gear, and light-absorbing finishes make her distinctive on the dock and composed on the helm, and the optional Sport rig widens her appeal to those wanting more pace without a big crew. Interior volumes are generous for the length, with flexible cabin plans and a genuinely private owner's suite.
Pros
- Chine-free hull with flared transom and graphite deck that absorbs light
- Sport package adds 14 m² of sail and single-point German mainsheet for minimal-crew performance
- In-mast furling standard; self-tacking jib and hidden line routing keep the cockpit clear
- Three-cabin layout sleeps six, with optional crew quarter from the deep sail locker
- 600 L fuel and water plus nearly 600 Ah AGM support extended time aboard
Cons
- Jib cars set with pins, not adjustable from the cockpit
- Non-reversible winches can make easing loaded sails a two-person job
- Rope bins on early builds were cramped; builder reports more space on later hulls
