Design and Construction
The 575 was built to Germanischer Lloyds SE standards for oceangoing yachts. Its balsa-cored hull and deck use a mix of polyester and vinylester resins for lightness and strength. The primary bulkheads are laminated to both the hull and deck, then tied into a composite grid that gives the structure its rigidity. A performance T-bulb keel is externally mounted on stainless fasteners.
The forward sections carry enough volume and depth to keep the hull from slamming in a short chop. At the dock, the freeboard measures 110 centimeters at the stern and 150 at the bow. That height creates the luxurious volume below and leaves room to stow a jet tender in the transom.
The builder’s material described the 575 as the perfect cruising yacht and claimed it was the fastest cruising yacht in its class.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The fractional triple-spreader rig uses outboard chainplates, reducing the chance of crevice corrosion over time. A self-tacking jib sheets on a curved track and runs aft beneath the deck. Buyers could choose a 105 percent genoa instead.
The standard full-batten main spans more than 900 square feet and carries lazy jacks and a lazy bag. Its sheet attaches near the middle of the boom through a triangular block arrangement rather than a traveler. All halyards lead aft to a winch beside the wheels, so the sails can be set and trimmed single-handed. Electric primary winches sit just outboard of the widely spaced twin composite wheels. With the main halyard and reefing lines also led to the helm, one person can reef using the powered winches.
Under sail, the boat feels stiff and stood up well to the wind. Testers recorded a steady 8 to 8.5 knots upwind at 40 to 45 degrees true, tacking through 90 degrees. Writing in Yachting World, test sailors found that she rarely made less than double figures when broad-reaching. The Jefa steering linkage felt direct and communicated the power of the boat’s 20 tonnes of displacement and tall rig.
Deck and Cockpit
The twin composite wheels are set far enough apart for the helmsperson to steer from either the high or low side. A walkway between them provides clear access aft.
The stern folds down hydraulically to create a large swim platform and reveal a dinghy garage beneath the cockpit. It was sized for a Williams Jet Drive RIB but can accept other similar tenders. A folding fiberglass passerelle for Mediterranean mooring is standard. So are a single anchor roller with a vertical windlass and, on the anchor platform, a tack point for an asymmetrical sail.
Twin teak cockpit tables have robust stainless-steel bases that double as leg supports when the boat heels. The low, flat cockpit floor and high topsides help keep the crew dry, but the cockpit still feels exposed to wind and spray. On the tested boat, the sprayhood sat annoyingly level with the reviewer’s chin.
Accommodations
Hanse offered six factory layouts, with the standard arrangement using a Pullman cabin in place of the second aft heads. The reviewed three-cabin version had three en-suite heads, giving the interior an aura of luxury. Depending on the layout, the boat sleeps between six and twelve people.
The master cabin has a huge island berth, lit by curved coachroof hatches and hull windows. The aft cabins measure 235 centimeters from sole to deckhead, while the saloon has 227 centimeters of headroom beneath the hatches. At those heights, the handholds in the headlining aren’t reliable places to grab.
A shallow companionway and two sets of flush saloon hatches bring in ample light. Red-stained mahogany veneer finishes the interior. One less practical detail is the shallow, fiddled shelf above the raised saloon and galley lockers, where small items tend to collect dust.
Known Issues
The first reviewed boat hadn’t been built with enough space for foam engine insulation. On that hull, the turbo from the Volvo D3 beneath the companionway produced a loud hiss that was amplified above the wind. Later access to the engine and genset showed that the insulation remained inadequate.
The same boat was not peaceful at sea. The soles creaked, button latches reverberated through the lockers, and doors slammed. One side of the twin-sheet mainsheet system also let go where it passed through the coachroof conduit, although the redundant system prevented a worse outcome.
The companionway steps lift to provide primary engine access, but doing so exposes sharp corners on the aluminum supports that would be nasty to hit. The builder intended to seal all exposed end grain on future hulls.
The Verdict
The Hanse 575 is a big, cleverly engineered cruiser that lets a couple manage a 56-footer through powered winches, a self-tacking jib, and lines led to the helm. Its balsa-cored hull, construction to classification-society standards, stiff ride, and transom garage mark it as a serious passagemaker, while the interior offers apartment-grade space.
The noise, creaks, and insulation shortcomings found on the early reviewed boat are real. Even so, the structure and sailing behavior are strong.
Pros
- Self-tacking jib and helm-led halyards make short-handed sailing practical
- Balsa-cored hull and deck built to Germanischer Lloyds SE oceangoing standards
- Fold-down transom with dinghy garage and standard passerelle
- Stiff, quick hull that sails efficiently on a 50-foot waterline
Cons
- Early boats showed inadequate engine insulation and loud turbo hiss
- Interior sole and locker noise is intrusive at sea
- Low, flat cockpit leaves the crew exposed to the elements
- Companionway access exposes sharp aluminum corners
