Named European Yacht of the Year in her size class for 2002, the 40 went on to win overall Boat of the Year honors in the United States in 2004. Those were two of four awards in all.
Design and Construction
Frers, who has designed every Hallberg-Rassy since 1988, gave the 40 a seamanlike profile centered on the yard’s trademark fixed windshield and integrated folding dodger—a feature the builder introduced to the world in 1984.
The hull is hand-laid using isophthalic polyester gelcoat and resin. A well-engineered grid system is laminated into the hull to distribute loads from the keel and mast step. Above the waterline, the hull and deck both have Divinycell PVC foam cores, with additional deck reinforcement at hardware mounting points. The hull and deck are glassed together before the tanks or machinery are installed.
Teak decks, coamings, and caprails came standard. The show jury described the 40 as a highest-quality long-distance cruiser that reflected the yard’s deep boatbuilding experience, later refined into a discrete elegance.
The hull measures 40 feet 8 inches on a beam of 12 feet 6 inches. Standard draft is 6 feet 7 inches, with a 30-centimeter shoaler option. Displacement is roughly 22,000 pounds, including a 9,100-pound lead keel. The boat carries a CE category A rating for unlimited ocean voyages.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The 40 is a masthead sloop with a deck-stepped, double-spreader mast. Oversized standing rigging includes double lower shrouds led to chainplates on glassed-in bulkheads.
Standard sail area with the working jib is 869 square feet, increasing to 1,006 square feet with the genoa. In-mast roller furling was optional, and the genoa-track cars can be adjusted from the cockpit. Lewmar 50 self-tailing sheet winches are within reach, while the halyards lead to winches mounted at the mast. The boom-end mainsheet has only a 2:1 purchase and leads to Lewmar 30s outboard of the helm.
Cruising World’s Boat of the Year team found that the boat’s fin-keeled underbody ensured smart maneuvering through the wind in six to eight knots with only the mainsail hoisted. During a Swedish gale test, the 40 made minimal leeway and maintained good speed, proving superior to five other 40-footers that day.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Below, varnished mahogany and carefully made curved laminations set the tone. The carpeted teak-and-holly sole protects the cabin top.
In the saloon, an L-shaped settee and table sit to starboard. To port, buyers could choose either a settee berth or the well-known Hallberg-Rassy armchairs, though traditional settees were also available. Storage is generous, and the cockpit coaming provides additional headroom in the walk-through to the aft cabin.
The aft cabin could be arranged with two full mattresses or an island queen with access from both sides. A conventional V-berth is forward.
A single large head aft of the chart table includes a stall shower with teak grating, plus a separate plexiglass-door shower in the compartment. Shower water is pumped directly overboard rather than into the bilge, and the stainless-steel holding tank drains by gravity. Ten opening ports and Lewmar hatches provide excellent ventilation for the cabins and lockers.
Galley, Engine, and Systems
The galley has a two-burner propane stove with a stainless-steel guard. Opposite, the chart table provides room for electronics installations.
A 55-horsepower Volvo Penta D2-55 with a hydraulic gearbox sits in a huge engine room. Access comes through inspection doors to starboard, as well as from forward and through the cockpit-locker floor. The bolted cockpit floor allows the engine to be lifted out the same way it went in.
The machinery space also accommodates the genset, pumps, filters, charger, inverter, and a spare propeller. Electrical and onboard systems include a 115-amp alternator on the main engine, a standard Webasto diesel heater, halogen lighting, and twelve-volt refrigeration. A freezer was optional.
Known Issue
Despite the otherwise well-regarded machinery space, the review noted that better access to the forward engine would make belt changes easier. This was the only documented ergonomic criticism.
The Verdict
The Hallberg-Rassy 40 is a thoughtfully engineered ocean passagemaker. Test crews described her as safe, solidly built, fast, and elegant, and as exceeding the yard’s already high standard. Her foam-cored hull above the waterline, glassed-in structural grid, and CE category A rating suit serious cruising. Inside, the armchair saloon and walk-through aft cabin make extended stays aboard more comfortable.
The shoal-draft and furling options broaden her appeal, although access to the forward side of the engine could be better.
Pros
- CE category A unlimited-ocean rating and proven gale performance
- Distinctive fixed windshield and dodger, with a seamanlike center-cockpit layout
- Generous storage, an armchair saloon, and good headroom in the aft-cabin walk-through
- Large engine room with several access points and a bolted cockpit floor for engine removal
Cons
- Tight access to the forward side of the engine for belt service
- Standard water capacity is modest for extended liveaboard use
