Solaris 40: Performance cruiser with breathtaking looks and powerful performance
Michael Good
· 24.08.2023
On Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, you can usually see with the naked eye in which direction the cows are standing and grazing in the pastures on the steep slopes. This is decisive for the expected wind direction, say the local sailors - no doubt not without mischief. During the YACHT test of the Solaris 40, the cattle on the lush green pastures must have been facing north. Because at 11 o'clock sharp, a brisk thermal sets in here on Lake Uri in fine weather - which, in contrast to the direction of the cows, seems to be pretty reliable after all. What's more, you can almost set your watch by it.
Of course, one might question whether a sailing yacht more than twelve metres long and over four metres wide isn't a bit too big for the rather small and ramified inland area in central Switzerland. But there is space in the harbour, the boat's draught on the mountain lake is not a problem anyway, and the owner is planning to move his boat to the Mediterranean sooner or later.
It is build number 2 of the Solaris 40, currently the smallest yacht in the exclusive programme of the shipyard in Aquileia near Trieste. Like all ships from Solaris, the plans for the new model were drawn up by designer Javier Soto Acebal in Buenos Aires. However, the Argentinian has given his latest design a new, modern and very individual design language.
Strangely pretty
Compared to the slender and perhaps rather conservative-looking designs of the larger sisters Solaris 44 and Solaris 50, the hull of the smaller ship is significantly wider in relation to its length and is noticeably fuller, especially at the bow. The chine lines now extend along the entire length of the ship from the stern to the bow, almost diagonally from the top of the stern to the bottom of the front. In addition, the chines in the forward hull area are sharp-edged and pronounced and soften towards the aft, which is quite unusual; on many modern ships with chine in the hulls it is the other way round. The unusual hull lines on the grey-painted test ship are particularly easy to see in the light. The look is somehow special and takes some getting used to - but all in all not unattractive.
The competition of the Solaris 40
- Luffe 40.20: Facelift of an exceptional cruising yacht
- Azuree 41: Exciting compromise
- X 4.3: Travelling in comfort and sailing fast - both are possible
With the unconventional hull design, Soto Acebal wants to ensure that the waterline remains slim throughout despite the increased volume and that the wetted surface remains small in a neutral swimming position. When heeling, the wide, strongly retracted hull flanks at the stern should quickly take effect and provide a lot of dimensional stability upwind. In addition, the wide stern must compensate for the buoyancy of the full front and vice versa so that the sailing characteristics remain balanced upwind.
The Solaris 40 can impressively fulfil these requirements in up to four wind forces in the best thermal conditions. The boat shows a lot of potential, especially downwind. With a self-tacking jib and an angle of 40 degrees to the true wind, the beautiful Italian manages a speed of just under 7 knots over ground. These very good performance figures are surprising because the yacht, with a total weight of 9.4 tonnes, is not exactly one of the lightweights compared to similarly sized vessels of a similar orientation. What's more, neither the amount of ballast in the T-keel nor the sail area with jib is particularly generous. The sail carrying capacity is only a moderate 4.7, which is rather low for a modern performance cruiser.
A powerful Code Zero gives the test boat a helping hand for the courses on the beam. The log shows up to 9 knots with the additional sail at a true wind angle of 100 degrees. If you also want to be fast on deeper courses, you would also need a gennaker or spinnaker. For use with the asymmetric sail, the Solaris 40 would be equipped with a permanently attached bowsprit made of carbon fibre. The standard version, as on the test boat, has a stainless steel anchor bracket on the bow, which can also be removed when not in use.
Agile in the wind
Steering is a real pleasure. The steering with the double rudder blades is set very directly, and the boat reacts immediately and surprisingly strongly to even the smallest rudder movements. The helmsman must be attentive if he wants to keep the large yacht optimally on the windward edge. The two rudder blades are relatively short, but almost rectangular in shape. In this way, the designers want to reduce resistance in the water and at the same time increase the effectiveness of the two steering profiles. Even at very low speed, for example when manoeuvring in the harbour, the Solaris almost turns on the plate. On the other hand, it takes more time for the boat to react to the rudder when reversing with the engine.
The control system comes from Jefa and works via a continuous wire rope hoist on a traveller rail attached to the bulkhead in the aft peak. From there, the two quadrants are operated with push rods. The excellent quality of the components guarantees smooth running and a completely slip-free response. However, the system unfortunately has no redundancy. This would require both rudder shafts to be controlled and connected directly and individually by the respective wheel.
An exciting new feature of the Solaris 40 is its modified cockpit layout. In the aft section, the cockpit is completely cut out up to the bulwark, while the side running deck ends in front of the steering positions. This allows the shipyard to build the wheels even further outwards, giving the helmsman a better view forwards and into the sails. In return, however, the helmsman has to stand permanently, which is tiring in the long run, especially when heeling. Unfortunately, foot platforms that can be folded up on one side for standing on are also not provided as an option. However, the shipyard could fit small folding seats at the sides to relieve the strain.
The hobbyhorse of Solaris Yachts is the sheer uncovered decks. Of course, this should also be the case with the 40. All hatches are flush-mounted and there is not a single line to be seen on deck. All halyards and sheets are led below deck to the stopper batteries in front of the steering columns, where a powerful winch is available on both sides. Electric drives are available on request. A second pair of winches on the side of the cockpit coaming is intended for the sheets of Code Zero or gennaker, but remains inaccessible for the other functions of setting and trimming the upwind sails.
The disadvantage of this arrangement is that a large number of lines arrive at the back of the cockpit on both sides, which can quickly become tangled into a chaotic mess. Tidiness is therefore essential. In addition - at least on the test boat - there are still no usable storage compartments for the sheets that have been pulled through. The shipyard wants to come up with suitable solutions for this.
Upgrades at will
Boat handling with the standard self-tacking jib is simple and fully suitable for single-handed manoeuvres. Once the sails are set correctly, there is not much to do upwind and in manoeuvres other than steer. The manoeuvres become more demanding if the Solaris is to be equipped for sportier sailing - something the shipyard is open to. The list of options includes, for example, line-adjustable hollow points for an overlapping genoa or a traveller sunk into the cockpit floor for the mainsheet. A higher carbon fibre mast is also available on request.
Solaris manufactures the hull, deck and bulkheads in a GRP sandwich with E-Glass and Airex foam core using vinyl ester resin. The laminates are then compacted and cured under vacuum. The floor assembly is designed as a solid GRP laminate and reinforced with additional carbon fibre layers where necessary. It is produced separately and later glued into the finished fuselage.
Classic division
There are no surprises in the interior layout of the 40-footer - it retains the classic layout for boats of this size with two double cabins aft and a spacious owner's cabin with wet room forward. Solaris offers additional variance with the option of designing the aft cabin on the starboard side as a large forecastle; however, this is then only accessible from the cockpit. In this case, a separate shower compartment would be added to the aft wet room.
The arrangement in the central saloon is also conventional. This means an extended U-shaped sofa on the port side around the large dining table, with the functional L-shaped galley behind it. In addition, there is a tidy forward-facing navigation area with a reasonably large work surface and a short sofa for two people. The saloon table is available in a lowerable version on request. With additional insert cushions, it would be possible to set up another nice-sized double bed for two people.
Utilisation of space below deck is suboptimal
The berth in the foredeck is installed quite high as a central island bed. Steps on the side help with access to the mattress. However, the shipyard makes poor use of the available space in the particularly voluminous forward cabin. At shoulder height, the width of the berth is just 1.31 metres. For two people, that's pretty tight.
In the aft cabins, the space utilisation of the berths does not appear to be optimal either. Despite the width of more than four metres at the stern and the large transom in the hull, the berths, which are designated as double berths with a width of 1.35 metres, remain below the standard for yachts of this size. In addition, Solaris has integrated a wide channel for technical installations in the extension of the engine compartment between the aft compartments. Although this increases comfort in terms of privacy in the cabins, it also limits the maximum possible width of the berths.
Expansion at its finest
Solaris Yachts is renowned for the high quality of its interiors. The boat builders from Italy deliver first-class craftsmanship in the interior, and the new boat is no exception. You will look in vain for rough workmanship or inconsistent gaps. The furniture is fitted precisely and the floorboards are laid without any discrepancies.
The technical systems, such as those for the water circuit or the power supply, are also flawless, clearly installed and easily accessible without any further complications. Should a technical problem occur, the affected components and possible sources of error are easy to find, even for non-experts.
There is also no shortage of storage space on board. Large lockers and many additional compartments are built into the sides of the foredeck in the passageway to the saloon. There are also further large storage spaces under the island bed. The bunk boards can be easily folded up with a flick of the wrist. Further storage options are available under the seats of the U-shaped sofa in the saloon. However, these are difficult to reach due to the massive, permanently installed saloon table.
Solaris Yachts specifies the Volvo Penta three-cylinder engine with an output of 30 hp as the standard built-in engine. However, this drive with Saildrive seems too weak for a 40-footer weighing a good nine tonnes. As a recommended option, the shipyard installs the four-cylinder engines with 50 or 60 hp. The test boat, equipped with the D2-50F from Volvo Penta and a Maxprop controllable pitch propeller, reaches a top speed of 7.6 knots at full load; 6.9 knots at cruising speed at 80 per cent of maximum speed. However, it is quite loud below deck. 77 decibels are measured in the aft compartments, 75 decibels in the saloon. The shipyard should therefore take another look at sound insulation in the engine compartment.
Affordable dream boat
The current base price for a Solaris 40 ex shipyard is around 420,900 euros. This is the price including 19 per cent VAT, but without the sails, which is the norm in the performance cruiser category. The buyer will have to invest at least an additional 20,000 euros for a set of good quality upwind cloths (self-tacking jib and main), and correspondingly more for the desirable additional sails such as code zero and/or gennaker. At its market launch in 2021, the Solaris 40 still cost 343,910 euros. The difference to the current base price can be explained by the fact that the toilet room in the foredeck is now standard equipment. Previously, the second wet room at the front was only available as an option and at extra cost.
The boats from Solaris Yachts are understandably on the wish list of many a yachtsman, and not just because of their breathtakingly elegant appearance. Until now, however, the exclusive programme was only really accessible to a few. This is set to change with the new and smaller vessel, which can meet a wider demand with a reasonable price structure.
And: this 40 remains uncompromisingly and unmistakably a true Solaris yacht - inside and out.
The measured values for testing the Solaris 40
The Solaris 40 in detail
Technical data of the Solaris 40
- Design engineer:Javier Soto Acebal
- CE design category:A
- Torso length:12,36 m
- Width:4,10 m
- Draught/alternative:2,40/2,00 m
- Weight:9,4 t
- Ballast/proportion:3,1 t/32 %
- Mainsail:57,0 m2
- Self-tacking jib:43,0 m2
- machine (Volvo Penta):21 kW/30 P
Hull and deck construction
GRP sandwich with foam core and vinyl ester resin, vacuum process. Floor assembly with carbon reinforcements
Prices and equipment
- Base price ex shipyard: 420,900 euros, gross incl. 19% VAT
- Guarantee against osmosis: 2 years
Prices as of 08/2023, as the prices shown are defined, you will find here !
Shipyard
Solaris Yachts srl, Aquileia, Italy; www.solarisyachts.com
Distribution
Dealer network
YACHT rating Solaris 40
The Solaris impresses with strong performance under sail and a breathtaking appearance. The build and finishing quality is superior, as is the basic equipment ex shipyard
Design and concept
- + Exciting optics
- + Fresh design approaches
- + Solid construction
Sailing performance and trim
- + Strong upwind performance
- + Simple handling
- - Lots of lines at the helm
Living and finishing quality
- + Bright, beautiful interior design
- + Many storage spaces
- - Narrow berths in the cabins
Equipment and technology
- + On-board technology perfectly installed
- - Control without redundancy
This article first appeared in YACHT 19/2021 and has been revised for this online version.
