Design and Construction
Andrieu put stiffness, initial stability, and ultimate stability at the top of his priority list for the 3200, and the structure reflects that brief. The balsa-cored hull is vacuum-bagged and built using resin infusion, a laminating method Jeanneau was making standard across its models. The deck is infusion-molded around a foam-sandwich core for stiffness and resistance to delamination. The main bulkhead and forward crash bulkhead are also composite, with the latter providing a watertight barrier—an infusion-molded, vacuum-bagged dream machine.
Nearly 3,000 pounds of the boat’s 7,496-pound light displacement is concentrated in an epoxy-coated iron fin and lead keel bulb. This allows the wide, beamy hull to carry its ballast low. Jeanneau saved interior weight with a light but strong molded unit bonded with adhesives, while soft fabric lockers and doors replace wood cabinetry. A watertight hatch in the forward bulkhead and a sail locker all the way forward complete a structure intended for shorthanded offshore sailing.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 3200 has a 19/20ths fractional, keel-stepped Sparcraft mast with an aluminum rig and swept spreaders. Its symmetric spinnaker setup uses an 893-square-foot kite flown from an aluminum pole. A short stainless sprit or bobstay accommodates a roller-furling reacher, and all deck hardware is Harken.
The boat makes no secret of its temperament. Andrieu admits that it suffers in zero to six knots, and test sailors found it sticky during an October sail in light winds off Annapolis. Once the breeze builds, however, it’s very fast. The boat can easily carry its main and full genoa in 25 knots, and owners report that it stayed on its feet in gusts with crew on the rail.
Twin high-aspect rudders provide steering authority when running in big seas and continue working at heel angles that would lift a single blade clear of the water. The trade-off is their wetted surface. Writing in Sailing World, test sailors found that the twin rudders allow any autopilot to work well while carrying a generous amount of sail.
Downwind volume forward lifts the bow in gusts that troubled bigger boats. One owner recorded 14.8 knots under spinnaker, with the boat remaining unflustered.
Accommodations
Below deck, the 3200 has two identical aft double cabins. Each includes removable fabric mattress covers, lee-clothed berths, and storage beneath them. The bow section contains an athwartship head with a sliding door, sink, and holding tank.
In the saloon, a table wraps around the mast, with long settee berths to either side. The port-side navigation station has a chart table large enough for a laptop. To starboard, the galley includes a lightweight laminate counter, a single sink, a two-burner stove, and a 16-gallon icebox.
The manufacturer’s own description captures the intent: genuine cruising function within a weight-conscious shell, offering comfort not often found in boats of this class.
Machinery, Class, and the R2
Standard propulsion throughout is a 15-horsepower Yanmar diesel with saildrive. The well-insulated engine compartment can be reached from both aft cabins and from behind the companionway.
One-design class rules were established early on. Andrieu himself bought a 3200 to race and cruise with his family, providing a designer’s endorsement of the boat’s dual mission.
The R2 generation succeeded the original 3200 with three major changes aimed at high-end racers: an open cockpit, a carbon mast, and a straight keel. The builder cites improved speed, fluidity, and ergonomics as the gains.
The Verdict
The Sun Fast 3200 is a purpose-built shorthanded boat that combines offshore capability and racing pace in a 33-foot package. In return, owners must accept a sparse, fabric-paneled interior and sluggish performance in light air.
Pros
- Near-40 percent ballast ratio and a balsa-cored, infused hull for stiffness and low weight
- Twin rudders maintain steering at extreme heel angles and ease the autopilot’s load
- Genuine two-cabin accommodation, plus a navigation station and galley uncommon at this size
- Named European Boat of the Year in 2008, with a one-design class structure
Cons
- Sticky and difficult in zero to six knots of breeze
- Twin-rudder wetted surface penalizes light-air performance
- Fabric doors and lockers save weight at the expense of cruising solidity
