An owner with a clear charter strategy
The first Grand Soleil Plus 80 LC is not a privately owned yacht in the traditional sense. The Italian Marco Pastorino operates ‘Bianca II’ as part of a professional charter business under the brand name ‘Sail with Bianca" (Bianca is his daughter, after whom the boat is named). Pastorino was already a Grand Soleil customer; he had previously sailed a Grand Soleil 72, which is also a charter company, and has a background in the maritime industry, specifically in the cruise business. According to him, he went straight to the shipyard without using a broker. “We got to know the people at Grand Soleil and immediately had a good feeling about them,” he says. So it was a decision based on trust in the shipyard, not purely a choice of model.
The experience gained with the ’72 model led to a clear set of requirements for the ’80 model: more berths, a proper crew area with its own access, and a boat that offers guests comfort without making sailing an afterthought. “The 72 had too few berths for charter operations and no sufficiently separate crew area,” says Pastorino. He also wanted a telescopic keel, as he wanted his guests to be able to get as close as possible to beaches and bays. He wanted a hybrid propulsion system, as he didn’t want a generator running at night. He didn’t want a tender garage, preferring instead additional refrigeration capacity and a washer-dryer. “Bianca II” is therefore not the standard boat in the series, but rather the first example of what the shipyard aims to offer with the Plus line: a platform on which owners can realise their wishes within certain limits, yet with a great deal of freedom.
Below deck: hotel-standard accommodation at 26 metres
Very wide steps (actually more like a staircase than a traditional companionway) lead into the interior. A nice touch: handrails are fitted to the cabin roof. These are sorely needed, at least when the boat is moving about a lot. This is because, given the enormous width that gives the saloon so much living space, there would be very long distances to fall without the handrails.
The saloon area is spacious, uncluttered and clean-lined. The décor is light, elegant and nautical, yet not over the top – almost understated (though that is in the eye of the beholder). On the port side is a lounge area with an L-shaped sofa and footstools, which can also be used as small tables. On the starboard side is a seating area featuring what is almost a dining table, an L-shaped sofa and chairs. The wraparound windscreen, the sliding hatch and the large cabin roof provide an enormous amount of light and an almost 270-degree panoramic view. In addition, the hull windows create a unique atmosphere. Overall, it actually feels more like a living room, or perhaps a studio, than a classic yacht saloon.
Next to the companionway on the starboard side, a passage leads aft. Along this passage is one of the guest cabins with an en-suite bathroom; depending on the layout, this cabin may also feature a hanging berth that can be converted into a sea berth. This passageway leads to the aft section of the boat, which is clearly reserved for navigation and the galley. The vessel is thus logically divided into living quarters and the navigation and galley areas. Anyone cooking for guests will find a galley here that is fully equipped, just like a kitchen on land: a vertical Miele fridge-freezer, a Frigonautica chest freezer, a four-ring induction hob with oven and microwave, an Elica extractor hood, a Miele dishwasher, an espresso machine and a washer-dryer. Large stainless-steel surfaces dominate. The galley has its own access to the cockpit. The skipper can navigate from here without passing through the guest area. Guests can, if they wish, simply feel like guests. You do not see the crew at work unless you want to. This means that, if desired, maximum privacy is possible.
At the bow is the owner’s cabin: a large king-size bed, en-suite bathroom, a small desk, plenty of storage space, and a headroom of at least two metres throughout. It’s like an apartment, a small suite – very inviting, but also to be expected given the size of the boat. The same applies to the other guest cabins. A large double bed or separate berths, plenty of space; no one has to climb over anyone else or struggle with low headroom. Essentially, everyone has their own hotel room with an en-suite bathroom. The ‘Bianca II’ is fitted with four guest cabins and one crew cabin; alternatively, a layout with two crew cabins is possible, one of which is located beneath the sail area.
Electronics, Technology and the Price of Silence
The electronics are extensive and not confined to the chart table alone: a B&G H5000 system, NAVICO monitoring and home automation, two Zeus 10-inch plotters at the helm consoles, a Zeus 12-inch plotter at the chart table, two Nemesis 12-inch mast-mounted displays with carbon fibre mounts, radar, AIS, a hydraulic autopilot and on-board Wi-Fi. Even the 50-inch TV in the saloon can mirror B&G data.
Some of the boat’s fittings give a better sense of its size than its length: a 63-kilogramme anchor, 100 metres of 12-millimetre chain, mooring lines 26 millimetres in diameter, and ten large fenders.
The Grand Soleil 80 is fitted with a Torqeedo hybrid platform that integrates the propulsion system and on-board power supply. Two battery packs, each with a capacity of 40 kilowatt-hours, power the electric propulsion system and, via converters and inverters, the on-board electrical systems. In the long-distance cruising configuration, two 45-kilowatt generators are available, as well as a buffer battery pack for essential on-board services. Whilst in harbour, the electric propulsion system was indeed inaudible. No whirring or buzzing – nothing.
For Pastorino, this quietness was a key reason for opting for the hybrid system. At night, thanks to the large batteries, there is no need for a running generator; there are no vibrations and no noise. “For charter guests who are paying for this, the difference between the hum of a generator and a quiet night is significant.” The hybrid drive is therefore not merely an eco-label, but a selling point for charter.
“Bianca II”: A platform for long-distance cruising, charter and regattas
The Grand Soleil Plus 80 LC is not a boat for purists. Anyone who associates sailing primarily with manual labour – with a direct engagement with what nature has to offer – will find much on board to be too electric, too hydraulic, too indirect. The Winch handles in the bag are a fitting illustration of this.
However, the technology ensures that the boat remains manageable. Hydraulic and electrical systems handle what would otherwise require physical strength – in some cases, enormous force. The different areas are clearly separated. The crew have their own quarters, and the guests have their own spaces. Under sail, the boat’s length ensures a smooth ride, the twin-rudder system makes for easy steering, and the deck layout ensures order.
“Bianca II” demonstrates that Cantiere del Pardo is deliberately expanding its Plus range to cater for customisations at the owner’s request. The boat is equally well-suited to long-distance cruising, charter or regatta racing.
Anyone wishing to charter the GS 80 can do so, depending on their budget. According to Pastorino, the base price ranges from around 35,000 to 48,000 euros per week, depending on the season, plus personal expenses and VAT depending on the cruising area. The “Bianca II” was almost fully booked early on for the summer of 2026; currently, only one week remains available until the end of September, and the booking calendar becomes less busy from October onwards. However, the week from 8 to 13 September had to be kept free for the boat’s official presentation at the Cannes Yachting Festival.
The clientele ranges from couples who have the whole boat to themselves to groups of families staying for several weeks, says Pastorino. Regular customers play an important role in this, he adds.
The Strike price The Grand Soleil Plus 80 LC is priced at 5.9 million euros plus VAT. The special features of the ‘Bianca II’ are as follows: not included.
A purchase price of 5.9 million euros, 48,000 euros per charter week, and yet almost fully booked: would you also pay for peace and quiet, space and crew service – assuming you had deep pockets – or would that not be your idea of sailing, even then? Have your say!
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital