Option 1 - Archambault Grand Surprise

Sleek and Low

Upwind Machine

Light, airy and well finished, if a little basic...

Specifications

Designer:	Michel Joubert and Bernard Nivelt		Water:	50L
Builder:	Archambault Yachts - France		Accomm:	4 berths - parts of the furniture are foam cored to save weight
Length:	31' 4" - 9.54m		Galley:	Single burner stove, sink
Beam:	2.98m		Toilet:	Under forward berth infil
Draft:	2.05m mts Lead Keel		Mast / Rigging:	7/8 fractional rig with twin swept back spreaders, adjustable backstay.
Displacement:	2480kg dry		Deck Gear:	Lewmar winches, Spinlock clutches.
Keel / Ballast:	1050kg - deep draft keel		Remarks:	A great value sports yacht. Slippery performance and a lovely balanced helm. The above-deck layout caters for serious racing crews. A stiff boat for partaking in offshore regattas. Simple and stylish below decks.
Hull Material:	GRP
Deck Material:	Balsa cored
Engine:	14hp Nanni twin, with Shaft drive and folding prop.
Fuel:	25L

Cost New - About £50k on the water.

Our Comments

We have known about this boat for some years now, as it was brought to our attention by one of our French racing crew, who was also studying naval architecture. This year however, we have seen one "in the flesh" as it were, for the first time.

It must be said, we were quite impressed. She was obviously very well built, and a very nicely thought out interior, considering how little they put in. This boat is essentially a big First Class 8. We have been saying recently that we don't want to loose out on what Neraida offers us performance wise. We often ghost along in light airs, trimming and maximising our performance in the dying breeze. This really teaches you how to be efficient, and is a fantastic way to spend an evening after work. This Grand Surprise certainly looks like she'll do that with easy. She's light at 2.5 tonnes and very slippery. She has a big rig for a good powerful mainsail, and a pop out bowsprit for the humge kite. All cracking light airs fun!

Conversely, Neraida is an utter pig at times in a bit of a blow as she is light too, however only 550kgs of her 1650kgs is in her cast iron keel, giving her a ballast ratio of 0.3. This means that with just the two of us on board, and her substantial rig (much the same scale as the GS) we need to reef early, and with 35-40knots and two reefs, she can still become over pressed and tough to get to windward.

The Grand Surprise however boasts a 1050kg keel on an overall disp of 2480kg. This makes her ratio 0.43, and on those simplified figures gives her a 43% advantage alone. This, coupled with the fact that her keel is a fin and lead bulb affair is going to make her a good stiff boat.

The cockpit layout is very clever. Big open space aft for trim and helm shenanigans, and a nice bench area forward to hide behind the optional sprayhood. Good hardware, and good line handling make for simple sailing or the ability to drive her hard should the mood take you.

Down below is, as I said above, simple, light and very well made. High gloss finish to the interior despite the lack of any lining. Sitting headroom like a first class 8, but better, and the extra 0.5m of beam makes the whole place a lot more welcoming. Good access to the little 14hp Nanni, and this itself gives rise to an increase in comfort. ie, chance of an diesel heating system, good charging facilities and the ability to motor for long periods without a) going deaf and b) requiring a refuelling tanker (Nanni quote the avg consumption at 2l/hr)

All in all a nice boat, which ticks all the boxes as far as performance are concerned, however a little less comfort than we would have liked. Lets wait for the test sail!