Design and Construction
Lombard’s design brief produced a boat the manufacturer called seaworthy and one that consistently yields exceptional performance, claims consistent with the 2.03 capsize ratio and 21.27 comfort ratio recorded in the specification block. Jeanneau, a high-volume builder that reached that scale through mass production, built her in fiberglass with a solid hull and deck, and she sits in the higher-spec Sun Odyssey range rather than the bare-bones tier. The 1.75 m fixed-keel version carries a single rudder, while a beachable swing-keel variant trades that for twin rudders — a rare dual-path configuration for a 30-foot cruiser. Yachting Monthly found the higher-spec range easy to sail in most conditions and comfortable below, and judged it great value.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop and modest wetted surface (a 27.1 ft waterline under a 6.98 kn hull speed) make for a boat the press described as easy to sail in most conditions. Steering came as a tiller by default with an optional wheel, so owners could choose direct feel or seated comfort at the helm. The fixed-keel draft of 5.74 ft keeps her manageable in shallow cruising grounds while the swing-keel version extends beachable access. A single Yanmar diesel drives her, with 13 gal of fuel and 42 gal of water carried.
Accommodations
Below, the 30i was laid out with standing headroom in every cabin, a claim the builder supported with numerous comfortable details that contribute to excellent liveability whether at port or at anchor. The 10.43 ft beam gives the interior volume needed for that full standing room, and the builder’s emphasis on liveability at anchor speaks to a boat meant for weekends aboard as much as daysails. Yachting Monthly’s testers reinforced the point, calling her comfortable below deck.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 30i is a Lombard-designed modern cruiser that Jeanneau built in volume with a genuine eye to liveability and easy handling. The dual keel-rudder configurations broaden her appeal from coastal hopper to beachable explorer, and the full standing headroom across cabins is a real asset in the 30-foot segment. The light-displacement hull and fractional rig deliver the exceptional performance the builder claims without demanding expert crew.
Pros
- Seaworthy Marc Lombard design with exceptional performance per builder
- Standing headroom in every cabin; excellent liveability at port or anchor
- Easy to sail in most conditions; comfortable below; great value (Yachting Monthly)
- Choice of fixed single-rudder keel or beachable twin-rudder swing keel
- Tiller or optional wheel; higher-spec Sun Odyssey build
Cons
- Engine horsepower not specified in available data
- Swing-keel complexity versus fixed-keel simplicity not detailed in sources
