Grand Soleil Yachts GS 44 Performance
A racing DNA 
which does not neglect to maximize comfort and easy handling. With the new GS 44 Performance, Cantiere del Pardo expands its range and still focuses on a cruiser/racer model.
Structural design by Marco Lostuzzi, naval architecture by Matteo Polli, deck and interior design by Nauta Design. These are the names that Grand Soleil Yachts has selected to create the new GS 44 Performance, recently presented at Boot Dusseldorf. Three names for a clear goal: to build a fast and easy-to-handle boat with optimized racing rating, wide interior volumes below deck, comfortable and elegant spaces on board.
The boat was officially presented by Cantiere del Pardo CEO Fabio Planamente as part of the unstoppable growth of the brand (the expected turnover for 2020 is EUR 52 million) and of a larger development project of the brand which is constantly working on the introduction of new models.
Matteo Polli, the Italian designer who has already signed many award-winning racing boats, explains the complexity of the project. In particular, the main challenge was to find the best compromise, essential for a cruiser/racer model, between “cruising ability” and “racing result”. The latter was even more complicated by the presence of two racing regulations, IRC and ORC, which the owners will have to choose, without being penalized in one or the other and always having available, according to the designers , a boat that does not sacrifice high average speeds to the advantage of rating.
The final hull, indeed, is the result of a long design optimization work, based on 4 different designs. Designers used a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software in collaboration with the America’s Cup Prada team, which allowed to extrapolate the performance forecast data (VPP), then to estimate the VMG of the boat under different conditions and to identify and then develop the most satisfactory result.
Noteworthy is the 
position of mast, which is definitely moved aft. Among the various options available, in fact, designers chose to distance the center of the mast from the bow in order to have a longer J and, therefore, a larger jib area with much canvas in the lower part. This results in better performance in light and mild winds as well as greater power when crossing waves and turning. This configuration will probably results into a not very large yet easier-to-manage mainsail.
Moreover, this solution also allows not to sacrifice the jib area when used in self-tacking mode. The GS 44, in fact, has a double jib traveler system for better performance and easy handling.
Anyway, the GS 44 Performance will be available with a double sail plain and a double deck plan in order to meet the owners’ needs who can therefore choose between a Performance and a Race version.
Interiors will have a classic layout with three cabins, two bathrooms and a dinette equipped with table, U-shaped seating and L-shaped galley. The master cabin in the bow will have a central bed and an en-suite bathroom with shower box.
The position of the mast affects even the interiors. Being positioned aft, in fact, it results in greater volumes, especially in the master cabin which can benefit from a greater beam and a greater lateral width.
