Design and Construction
The Sun Fast 3300 is a collaboration between veteran Sun Fast designer Daniel Andrieu and Vendée Globe and America’s Cup naval architect Guillaume Verdier, and the hull shows that pedigree. The boat is constructed entirely by infusion moulding, with the hull and deck both infused in vinylester with a balsa core, yielding exceptional resistance and rigidity with considerable weight reduction. The hull carries a moderate version of the powerful wedge shape seen on today’s IMOCA 60s for power-reaching, paired with full bow sections, a blunt stem, a dramatic reverse sheer, full-length soft chines, and tumblehome that narrows beam at deck level. A high-volume reverse bow and a simple fin keel without bulb complete the underwater profile. Jeanneau describes a double concave hull form that works to further reduce wetted surface under sail and help the boat get up onto a plane. Twin rudders keep the boat under control even at dramatic angles of heel, and the hull-deck joint is slightly beveled to keep crew comfortable with legs outboard.
Rig and Handling
This is a boat expressly configured for solo or doublehanded offshore competition, yet also suited to fully crewed racing inshore and off soundings. The rig is a deck-stepped, double-spreader Axxon carbon mast carrying a 374-square-foot high-aspect square-top main, with a fixed carbon sprit for voluminous asymmetric sails. Dyform rigging is standard, rod available on request, and the test boat’s aluminum boom can be swapped for carbon. Because the square-headed main necessitated split backstays, Jeanneau uses coarse and fine-tune cascades so the doubles can be cranked across like runners when gybing. Sail controls are led to the helm for single-handed crossings, with main and backstay controls running to a pod in the cockpit sole just forward of a low-set tiller the driver can step over when maneuvering. A 3D jib-trim lead and end-boom mainsheet traveler span the cockpit, and Harken winches with Spinlock stoppers handle the loads. The builder cites a five percent speed gain over the 3200, and the hull was specifically shaped to enhance downwind performance — testers recorded surfing to 14.3 knots and around 6.8 knots upwind with over 5 knots VMG.
Accommodations
Inside, the 3300 is a stripped racing interior with two cabins and six berths. The forepeak is empty save for a toilet and small sink, leaving room for sails and gear. Mirror-image settees in the saloon double as sea berths with lee cloths, and mirror-image double quarterberths aft add crash space or storage. A small galley sits to port of the companionway, with a large nav station to starboard carrying B&G electronics. Inward-facing molded seats flank the companionway for watch-standing, while wide side decks, a molded-in toerail, beefy cabintrunk handrails, and molded antiskid give secure footing when the boat is on its ear. Cockpit benches are kept short to open space for a full crew.
Known Issues
The extra volume forward brings a downside: some pounding when sailing to windward in a seaway, and with no bow overhang or flare, plenty of spray travels aft. More seriously, testers found the rudders could lose grip with little warning during spinnaker reaching, with no chance to recover before a wipeout. The two designers committed to reworking the rudders so future boats avoid the problem, meaning early hulls deserve close rudder inspection.
Refits and Ownership
Water ballast is an option, with a 52-gallon tank to either side aft of the companionway giving slightly over 400 pounds outboard when full; on boats so equipped it replaces the two aft wardrobes. The standard 15-horsepower diesel, 13-gallon fuel, and 26-gallon water capacities suit short offshore passages rather than extended cruising. Sails on the test boat were North 3Di, and the carbon rig invites owner upgrades.
The Verdict
The Sun Fast 3300 is a purpose-built offshore racer that distills IMOCA thinking into a 33-foot package, fast downwind, manageable short-handed, and structurally modern through full infusion construction. Early rudder behavior is the one clear caveat.
Pros
- Twin-rudder, infusion-built hull with Andrieu and Verdier design
- Square-top rig and led-to-helm controls for short-handed speed
- Surfing performance and a genuine transatlantic capability
Cons
- Rudder grip loss during spinnaker reaching on early boats
- Pounding and spray forward from the high-volume bow
- Minimal cruising accommodation and tankage
