Solaris 72 Classic Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Approximate drawing

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The Solaris 72 Classic is a 21.6meter semicustom monohull built by Solaris Yachts at its Aquileia yard in Italy, manufactured from 2013 through 2022 as a completely new development carrying the "Classic" designation. Conceived as a rapid, comfortable, and luxurious blue water yacht, it completes the builder's offering in that segment up to 80 feet, pairing a modern mainstream hull with an easy reference to classical traditions in its styling.

Measurements

Dimensions 01

Length Overall
Length on deck
Waterline Length
Beam
Draft
Maximum Headroom
Air Draft

Construction & hull 02

Construction
Hull Type
Keel Type
Ballast
Displacement
Water Capacity
Fuel Capacity

Rig & sails 03

Rigging Type
Mainsail luff
Mainsail foot
Foretriangle height
Foretriangle base
Forestay Length (estimated)
Sail Area

Calculations 04

Sail Area to Displacement Ratio
Ballast to Displacement Ratio
Displacement to Length Ratio
Comfort Ratio
Capsize Screening Ratio
Hull Speed

Design and Construction

The 72 Classic is a fiberglass/GRP monohull with a Mediterranean cockpit deck arrangement and a lifting keel whose draft varies from 4 meters down to 2.6 meters, freeing her from the limitations of shallow bays and marinas. At 35,000 kg displacement on a 5.85-meter beam, she carries a CE Class A Ocean rating and a capsize screening formula of 1.81, figures consistent with a vessel the builder describes as designed for sailing across the ocean. The exterior was developed by Javier Soto Acebal, while the interiors came from the Solaris Design Team, and the interior and deck were further refined by the yard together with the owner — a semi-custom process that produced a classic setup and appearance without sacrificing modern performance intent.

Rig and Handling

Her rig is a single-masted sloop carrying a high modulus carbon mast with integrated magic trim in a Park Avenue boom, and the standing rigging itself is carbon. A Reckmann recessed furler is specified for the code zero. The powerful rig and waterlines are Javier Soto Acebal's work, and the yard chose a carbon mast and boom to optimize sail settings and better distribute weight through the structure. With a 159 m² mainsail and 140 m² genoa, the sail plan is sized for a yacht described both as a cruising and racing platform, suitable for independent handling or operation with a hired crew.

Accommodations

The space allowance corresponds to a bigger yacht, and the large deck is spectacular in its execution. Below, the layout separates two living areas with a saloon that occupies the full footprint of the deckhouse raised above the deck, its windows giving all-around visibility so the sofas and dining area double as a sea-going cabin companion. A very sizable owner's cabin stands out particularly, placed aft along with one guest cabin; forward of the saloon a longitudinal galley serves both saloon and cockpit as well as another guest cabin, while the bow holds a crew cabin with bathroom, laundry, and navigation area. The boat is listed with four cabins, seven guest berths, and four bathrooms. Access to the sea is through a folding transom, and the cockpit itself is divided into work and rest areas.

Builder Trials and Commissioning

Before delivery, a minimum of three weeks of builder sea trials were planned for the yacht, reflecting the semi-custom, owner-involved build path and the yard's final-stage commissioning discipline at Aquileia.

The Verdict

The Solaris 72 Classic is a purpose-built ocean cruiser that wears classical styling over a thoroughly modern, carbon-rigged semi-custom platform. Her lifting keel broadens the range of anchorages, her deckhouse saloon delivers genuine all-around sightlines, and the owner-driven development process produced a volume of accommodation normally associated with a larger hull. She is equally at home under independent command or with professional crew.

Pros

  • Lifting keel drops from 4 m to 2.6 m for shallow access
  • Carbon mast and rigging with Park Avenue boom and Reckmann code zero furler
  • Deckhouse saloon with all-around visibility and exceptional owner's cabin
  • CE Class A Ocean rating and ocean-crossing design intent
  • Semi-custom build refined with the owner and three-week minimum sea trials

Cons

  • 4-meter draft with keel down limits some deep-water marinas before lifting

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