The builder wanted to break away from the increasingly indistinguishable look of white fibreglass yachts. The result is a radical but purposeful 32-footer intended for daysailing and short stays aboard on large European lakes, in the Mediterranean, and along the continental Atlantic coast.
Design and Construction
Beneath the polarizing styling, the 32.1 has a surprisingly conservative hull. J&J gave her fairly full, rounded sections and reasonable rocker, planting the boat firmly in the water rather than on it. A forward bow knuckle clears the water at rest, then rakes dramatically aft below the foredeck before projecting forward again into a bowsprit.
The cutaway bow slices through waves instead of shouldering them aside, a trait testers found more than compensated for any lack of planing urge in a hull displacing just north of four tonnes.
The hull is hand laid up in polyester, with solid laminate below the waterline and foam sandwich above. A structural hull matrix carries the keel and rig loads. Longitudinal and transverse stringers are bonded and laminated in, while the few bulkheads are positioned to maximize stiffness. This bomb-proof approach even allows the bilge-keel version to take the ground, using reinforced rudders as hind legs.
Large hull windows sit well forward, creating a dramatic effect underway. The engine’s weight is positioned close to the stern, freeing space for an aft berth.
Deep- and shallow-draught keels are also available. Specification values may vary with the accessories selected.
Rig, Deck Layout, and Handling
All sail-control lines lead aft to the helm, leaving the crew free to relax. The deck remains uncluttered, with lines concealed and routed to clutches immediately ahead of the twin wheels. A German mainsheet system can be operated from either side.
The test boat carried a radially cut, leech-battened furling mainsail and standard self-tacking jib from Doyle, along with powered two-speed Harken 40ST winches.
Under sail, the 32.1 sat comfortably at an apparent wind angle of 30–34º while making 5.7 knots. She could point as high as 28º, though at the cost of half a knot. Testers found her immaculately balanced and able to hold course on most points of sail without biting.
Twin steel wheels operate Jefa steering. The system was tight and almost excessively precise, but testers found that it lacked feedback from the blade rudders. Composite wheels would lighten the feel, while slackening the steering cable might reduce friction.
Cockpit and Interior
The cockpit is spacious for a boat of this size. Its benches seat six around a fixed table sheltered by the spray hood, and a bimini can shade the area forward of the mainsheet. Beneath the starboard seat, a single hull-depth locker extends all the way aft. The aft deck drops to a flush platform projecting 2m.
Below, the 32.1 is largely open plan, with no bulkheads apart from those enclosing the heads compartment. Forward-facing hull windows bring light into the U-shaped saloon. Ahead of the mast post is a table with folding leaves and bottle stowage.
The main berth is an athwartships double tucked beneath the companionway steps. With the headrest cushion removed, it measures 210cm long. It also has LED lighting, ample headroom, and a view into the cockpit through an opening hatch.
Forward, a short berth extends to 200cm by 150cm when fitted with an infill. The galley has an induction hob suited to quick meals rather than long-term cruising.
Propulsion and Options
The engine sits far aft. Access is available through a large watertight hatch in the cockpit sole, as well as through lockers and from below. However, its mass close to the stern drew comment: the boat would sail better with the lightweight electric motor for which she was designed than with a diesel.
Owners choosing electric drive can double the battery capacity to 16.4kWh. The yard also offers an optional bow thruster, with diesel tankage aft of it.
Intended Use and Limitations
The 32.1 is rated RCD Category B and isn’t intended for offshore sailing, a classification that her performance in Solent chop only reinforced. The builder described her target group in terms of changing societal needs rather than a conventional boat category.
Her main handling caveat is the steering. Although precise, the Jefa system can feel detached, with testers noting limited feedback from the blade rudders. The stern weight of the diesel is another compromise, particularly because the design was conceived around a lighter electric motor.
The Verdict
The Sunbeam 32.1 is a refined, reassuring weekender. Her conservative hull and balanced helm sit in deliberate contrast to a Marmite exterior. She suits short coastal passages and lake sailing, offering a bright, open interior and a clever aft deck—but she’s no offshore vessel.
Pros
- Conservative, well-built hull with a bomb-proof laminate structure
- All lines led aft, with immaculately balanced handling suited to short-handed sailing
- Spacious, open-plan interior with a clever athwartships berth and aft sundeck
Cons
- Steel Jefa wheels lack steering feedback
- A stern-weighted diesel compromises the sailing balance around which she was designed
- RCD Category B only; not an offshore cruiser
