Discover what James Jermain thought of new boats at Southampton Boat Show including the Westerly GK35 and Hallberg-Rassey 342

 ABOVE: The new Westerly GK35

In the November issue of Yachting Monthly you can read four pages of James Jermain’s first impressions of the newest yachts at the Southampton Boat Show.

Here are some extra reports that there just wasn’t room for:

HALLBERG-RASSY 342
This small but stout offshore cruiser shares an almost identical interior with her predecessor but the hull lines have been redrawn to give more space in the bow and higher topsides. The forecabin is, therefore, much improved with a wider double bunk and more stowage. The rig has also been enlarged with more area in the main and a comparatively smaller jib. Hallberg-Rassy’s quality joinery and finish remain unchanged.
Price approx £109,107 LOA 10.29m (33ft 9in) beam 3.42m (11ft 3in) draught 1.82m (6ft) displacement 5,300kg (11,650 lb)
Contact Transworld Yachts Tel 02380 456069 Website www.hallberg-rassy.com

WESTERLY GK35
The Westerly name returned to Southampton in spectacular style with the launch of the carbon fibre-clad, Slovenian-built Westerly 35. Based on the Ocean 33 mouldings – the last design Ed Dubois drew for the former Westerly company – the boat is built using vacuum infusion technology for hull and deck and carbon fibre for the outer and inner skins. It is 800kg (1,760 lb) lighter than the original. It has a tall, performance orientated, rig and a deep, lead keel. The neatly built interior is colourful and modern and can be extensively customised to owners’ tastes. The company will also be producing the Westerly Ocean 35, which will have a smaller rig and a choice of single or twin keels and a more fully fitted interior. Both come with a good inventory.
Price: from £128,072. LOA 10.53m (34ft 5in), beam 3.40m (11ft 2in), draught 2.00m (6ft 6in), displacement 3,800kg (8,377 lb).
Contact: New System Yachts, Tel: 00 386 (0) 1521 1913; www.westerlyyachts.com

GRAND SOLEIL 37 (web site)
High performance and Italian elegance come together in this cruiser racer. Available in cruising or racing versions, both are capable of winning. The race version has a taller rig and deeper draught. Both have a steel frame for stiffness to cope with heavy rig loads. The interior, though, is fully fitted for cruising in a relatively traditional style. The layout is conventional with an owners cabin forward and one or two double cabins aft.
Price: £126,716. LOA 11.30m (37ft 1in), beam 3.68m (12ft 1in), draught 2.40m (7ft 10in), displacement 6,200kg (13,640 lb).
Contact: Grand Soleil UK, Tel: 02380 455977; www.grandsoleil.co.uk

AMBER 40
This boat was originally a one-off design, built by MB Yachts as an example of its boatbuilding skills. It will appeal to owners looking for traditional lines above and below the waterline, with modern, stylish and beautifully crafted interiors. She has a strip-planked, WEST epoxy hull and deck and a compact, cutter-headed sloop rig. If you have your own ideas of how you think a yacht interior should look within a traditional, long keeled hull, these could be the people to go to.
Price from £282,000 LOA 11.90m (39ft 1in) beam 3.90m (12ft 9in) draught 1.80m (5ft 11in) displacement 9,800kg 21,560 lb)
Contact MB Yachts Tel 01258 861444 Website www.mbyachts.co.uk

SUNBEAM 53
This is a big boat in all respects – exceptionally strongly built and with a high standard of finish yet with a light, open interior. Sunbeam Yachts in Austria build each one to order and can fit almost any interior a client requires. In standard form she has a huge after suite under the after deck and an almost equally large one forward. The saloon is bright but comparatively compact. Among a wealth of good details are blue night lighting on the floor and a dedicated shoe locker. Despite her apparent bulk she sails extremely well. On the way to the show we close-reached at speeds in excess of 11 knots.
Price £497,696 LOA 15.97m (52ft 5in) beam 4.55m (15ft) draught 2.60m (8ft 5in) displacement 16,800kg (36,960 lb)
Contact Portway Yacht Sales Tel: 01803 380518 Website www.portway.co.uk