Design and Construction
Briand’s design combines elongated hull lines with moderate freeboard, a combination the builder says gives the 479 its attractive appearance and presence at sea. The hull is fiberglass/GRP, with a fixed keel and standard draught of 2.24 meters.
Jeanneau positioned the 479 as a boat that benefited from the most recent innovations in the Sun Odyssey line and inherited the best qualities of its predecessors. That is the brand’s own description rather than an independent assessment.
With its 10,809 kg displacement and 2.24 m draught, the 479 sits firmly in the midsize ocean-cruising monohull class. Its CE Category A — Ocean certification confirms that it was intended for extended offshore passage work.
Rig, Machinery, and Performance
The 479 carries a single-masted sloop rig. It was offered with either a 57 hp or 80 hp Yanmar engine and has a fuel capacity of 240 liters.
Jeanneau says the yacht delivers exceptional performance at sea while providing the ideal balance of performance, onboard comfort, and ease of handling. These are builder-derived claims, and the available source record doesn’t include independent sea-trial verification.
The builder also presents the 479 as a boat that doesn’t sacrifice straightforward handling as size increases. Its sloop configuration and modest 2.24 m draught support that positioning, although they don’t independently verify the manufacturer’s performance claims.
Accommodations and Capacity
The Sun Odyssey 479 was available with three or four cabins. In four-cabin form, it provides four guest cabins and four bathrooms, with accommodation for up to eight guests. Maximum onboard capacity is fourteen. These capacities indicate that the design targets both family cruising and skippered charter use.
Fresh-water capacity is 615 liters, supporting the boat’s guest load on a cruising rotation. The high cabin and head count gives the 479 considerable accommodation density for a hull of this length. It comes across as a cruiser designed around interior volume rather than a stripped-out racer, whether configured for private ownership or found in former charter service.
Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 479 combines a Briand-designed hull, substantial accommodation, and serious offshore intent in a France-built, aft-cockpit cruiser. Its elongated lines and moderate freeboard give it a purposeful profile, while three- and four-cabin layouts provide plenty of living space. The sloop rig and 2.24 m draught help keep handling approachable for a boat of this size.
Production began in 2016, and the model has since been discontinued. Buyers should confirm which engine option and cabin arrangement are fitted to any particular hull.
Pros
- CE Category A — Ocean certification for offshore capability
- Elongated hull lines and moderate freeboard, credited by the builder with attractive looks and presence at sea
- Three- or four-cabin layouts, with as many as four heads, provide high accommodation density
- Sloop rig and 2.24 m draught support the builder’s claimed balance of performance and ease of handling
Cons
- Production began only in 2016, and the model is now discontinued, limiting the length of its production run
- Builder-derived performance claims lack independent sea-trial verification in the source record
