With low topsides, a reverse wave-piercing bow, a broad open transom, and a low-slung cabin top, the 43 is a cruising yacht shaped by state-of-the-art raceboat thinking. Yet it was conceived for two people to explore the world in comfort at higher-than-average speeds.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are entirely carbon fiber. Vacuum-infused carbon is used for every structural element, and even the keel fin is rendered in carbon. Oscar Södergren notes that the structural engineering carries far larger safety margins than a pure raceboat would use.
The hull is moulded in three pieces, with the side decks, aft section, and transom effectively forming part of the hull. On such a narrow boat, this method massively increases stiffness.
Pronounced hard chines run the full length of the hull. They’re large enough to provide real form stability, reducing heel upwind and adding meaningful power when reaching and running. The designers also used computational flow dynamics to assess six different rudder sizes before settling on the larger of two options, which has about 15% more area.
Below, the joinery uses epoxy sandwich construction, mostly with linen fibers. This takes the edge off cabin noise compared with bare carbon.
Rig, Sail Handling, and Performance
The mast sits fairly far aft, reducing the mainsail’s relative size while opening a larger-than-usual foretriangle for a self-tacking jib. The sail plan is built primarily around that jib.
The keel-stepped carbon mast carries fiber shrouds, and its spreaders sweep aft by 24 degrees. Maximum permissible headstay tension is five tonnes. Under 2.6 tonnes of upwind load, testers saw very little forestay sag.
Hydraulic systems control the vang, backstays, and deflectors. The traveler and twin-rudder toe-in adjuster are electric, putting all these controls at the helm. Test sailors found that one or two people on deck could manage all sail control and trimming. They also reported quick acceleration and sharp responses.
Upwind in 15 knots true at 40 degrees, the boat held 7 to 7.5 knots, with VMG around 30% above many similar performance cruisers. With a Code 0 in 13 to 16 knots at 110 degrees, it made 9 to 10 knots, with bursts to 11, while the helm remained finger-light. At 150 degrees apparent under full main and Code 0, the 43 becomes a rocket ship.
Accommodations
The narrow beam and low freeboard leave less interior volume than the boat’s length might suggest, though there is still enough space for family cruising.
The layout provides three double cabins: one forward and two aft. Its semi-open plan minimizes full bulkheads and remains open to the forepeak until a pair of double doors is closed.
A table and bench settees form the center of the saloon. The galley is aft to port, with the nav station opposite. Three large overhead hatches work with the coachroof and hull windows to bring in light, while a well-appointed heads and shower complete the accommodation. The Scandinavian finish is simple, elegant, and impeccably built.
Known Issues and Trade-Offs
The low freeboard that helps performance also creates a tendency to bury the bows in leftover swell. The result is a wetter ride than wind-driven waves alone would suggest.
At 6,100 kg, the light-displacement Shogun 43 is still proportionally heavier than a Class 40 or Fast 40+ and is less prone to planing than those designs. Its narrow beam and low topsides also limit interior volume.
Verdict
The Shogun 43 is a genuinely fast cruising yacht that translates raceboat attributes into a two-person, world-cruising brief without pretending to offer class-leading interior volume. Its carbon structure, hard-chine form stability, and remote-controlled rig make short-handed high performance realistic. In return, the narrow hull trades cabin space for speed and seakeeping behavior that rewards experienced hands.
Pros
- All-carbon, vacuum-infused structure with exceptional stiffness for its beam
- Hard chines provide real upwind form stability and offwind power
- Hydraulic and electric systems allow one or two people to control the sails from the helm
- Upwind VMG well above that of comparable performance cruisers
Cons
- Low freeboard allows the bows to bury in swell, producing a wet ride
- Narrow beam and low topsides limit interior volume
- Heavier than pure race designs and less prone to planing
