Despite that nod to tradition, the 40 DS is a thoroughly modern cruiser. Its 42.32-foot hull carries a 13.45-foot beam and displaces 23,148 pounds, with 8,377 pounds of lead ballast in a bulb keel.
Design and Construction
The 40 DS follows Nordship’s established construction methods. Its hand-laid sandwich hull uses vinyl ester resins, with solid fiberglass below the waterline. A steel frame laminated into the structure absorbs keel and rig loads, while the deck-to-hull joint is both glued and screwed.
This design is distinguished by a gently balanced hull shape and lead bulb, which together give the boat a composed posture in the water.
Experienced craftspeople built each interior by hand. Buyers could specify the layout, wood finish, and furnishing style to suit their tastes—an unusual degree of customization for a production yacht of this size.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The 40 DS carries a fractional sloop rig with a self-tacking jib above its central cockpit. All sailhandling controls are within easy reach of the helm, making the arrangement well suited to shorter-handed sailing.
That convenience doesn’t come at the expense of sail area. The boat carries 937 square feet of sail and has a 36-percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, supporting a lively turn of speed. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 18.45, and its hull speed is 7.98 knots. Giornale della Vela judged the 40 DS perfect for sailors who enjoy exciting performance.
Accommodations and Cruising Capacity
The deck-saloon arrangement gives the 40 DS its interior volume. Its 13.45-foot beam allows for a roomy saloon, while forward-facing windows are typical of the DS concept.
Tankage is suited to extended cruising, with capacity for 132 gallons of water and 100 gallons of diesel.
Because buyers could choose their preferred interior plan, wood, and furnishings, no two owner boats are necessarily alike. Used-boat shoppers should expect cabin counts, layouts, and finishes to vary between examples.
Verdict
The Nordship 40 DS is a thoughtfully modern deck-saloon cruiser that combines a custom-grade interior with a well-mannered, performance-oriented hull. Its lead-bulb keel and balanced shape make it a satisfying sailing boat, while the central cockpit, self-tacking jib, and helm-side controls simplify handling.
The main caveat is the variability of its customized interiors. Buyers need to assess each boat on its own merits rather than assume a fixed standard layout.
Pros
- Gently balanced hull, lead bulb, and strong ballast ratio support lively performance
- Self-tacking jib and central cockpit keep all sailhandling controls close to the helm
- Handcrafted, fully customizable interior from an experienced Danish builder
Cons
- Customized layouts mean no two boats are identical in specification; each survey must be specific to the individual boat
