boreal 52 yacht for sale

• Favorites 0
• Used Boats for Sale
• Power Boats for Sale
• Sailing Boats for Sale
• Sell Your Boat
• Motor Yacht
• Cabin Cruiser
• Center Console
• Fishing Boat
• Wakeboard/Wakesurf
• Classic Power Boat
• Floating House
• Offshore Boat
• Power Catamaran
• Pontoon Boat
• Utility Boat
• Passenger Ship

Sailing Yacht

• Regatta Boat
• Cruising Yacht
• Center Cockpit
• Deck Saloon
• Classic Sailing Yacht
• Motorsailer
• Sailing Dinghy
• Cruising Dinghy
• Flat Bottom Boat
• Sailing Superyacht
• Foldable Inflatable Boat
• Rowing Boat
• Personal Water Craft

Country • Language

• 355 Views in the last 7 days
• In the favorites of 114 persons 114

Used Boat, Cruising Yacht , Deck Saloon , Sailing Yacht

High Latitude Exploration Yacht

• USD 1.050.000,-
• apx. EUR 964.499,-
• 2020 Year Built
• very good condition Condition
• 15.86 m x 4.65 m Length x Beam
• 1.14 - 3.13 m Draught
• 16'500 kg Displacement
• A - Ocean CE Design Category
• Aluminium Material
• Wheel control Steering
• Lifting Keel Keel Type
• 4'800 kg Ballast
• 12 Persons Certified No. of Persons
• 195 cm Headroom
• 3 Cabins No. of Cabins
• 3 beds No. of berths
• 2 Bathrooms No. of Bathrooms
• 1'470 l Water Fresh water tank
• 126 l Waste Water Holding Tank
• Inboard Direct-Drive Propulsion
• Volvo D2-75 Engine
• 1 x 75 HP / 55 kW Engine Performance
• 1'413 l Diesel Fuel Type
• 1'554 h Engine Hours
• 61 m² Mainsail
• 26 m² (Roller Furling) Jib
• 69 m² (Roller Furling) Genoa
• 174 m² Gennaker

United States » Annapolis, MD

2020 Boreal 52, USD 1.050.000,-

• Shore Connection
• Battery Charger
• Fire Extinguisher
• Fire extinguisher system
• Gas Detector
• Bow Anchor Capstan
• Electric winch
• Washing Machine
• Navigation Lights
• Bow Thruster
• Water Pressure System
• Warm Water System
• Deck washer
• Solar panels
• Radar Reflector
• Chartplotter
• Wind Instrument
• Depth Instrument
• Speed Instrument
• Swim Ladder
• Bathing plaftorm fix
• Bathing platform manual
• Deck Shower
• Satellite Antenna
• Satellite Internet
• Cockpit Table
• Teak Cockpit
• Underwater Paint

Yacht Insurance by Pantaenius Get a FREE quote here

Yachtexpertise Yacht and Boat surveys

Related Ads

Cruising Yacht, Sailing Yacht

Catamaran, Cruising Yacht, Sailing Yacht

Fountaine Pajot Saona 47

Olsen cutter rigged sloop.

• Boreal Sailing Boats

Do You Want to Sell a Boat?

• News & Trends
• Monohull sailboats
• Ocean cruising sailing yacht
• Exhibitions

Ocean cruising sailing yacht 52 3-cabin 4-cabin with open transom

Characteristics

15.86 m (52'00" )

4.63 m (15'02" )

1.1 m, 3.06 m (3'07" , 10'00" )

17.8 t (19.62 us ton)

130 m² (1,399 ft²)

75 ch, 85 ch (75 hp, 85 hp)

879 l (232 gal)

1,470 l (388 gal)

Description

Other Boréal products

• Open sailboat
• Cruising sailboat
• Sailboat with bowsprit
• Sailing yacht
• Cruising sailing yacht
• Sailing yacht with open transom
• Sailing yacht with bowsprit
• 3-cabin sailboat
• 3-cabin sailing yacht
• Sailboat with center cockpit
• 4-cabin sailing yacht
• 6-berth sailboat
• Aluminum sailing yacht
• Sailing yacht with center cockpit
• Sailboat with deck saloon
• Lifting keel sailing yacht
• Expedition sailing yacht

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

Boreal 52 is a 52 ′ 0 ″ / 15.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Jean-François Delvoye and built by Boreal starting in 2014.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Sail area: 130m² Mainsail: 61m² Genoa: 69m² Staysail: 26m² Centerboard with twin daggerboards.

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Boréal 47.2 review: a proven concept refined

• April 8, 2021

Rupert Holmes gets behind the wheel of the latest go anywhere aluminium cruiser from Boréal, the Boréal 47.2

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

Boréal is not afraid to forge its own path and its distinctive aluminium cruising yachts have gained a strong reputation over the past 15 years. The latest model, the Boréal 47.2, is a shoal draught expedition yacht that can take you anywhere on the planet, yet, as we were to discover, is also responsive and fun to sail in more confined waters.

The Breton yard’s success is underpinned by a huge amount of embedded expertise. Founder and naval architect Jean-François Delvoye based the Boréal concept on experience gained during a six-year circumnavigation with four children, plus expeditions to South Georgia and the Antarctic.

General manager and co-owner Jean-François Eeman’s vast experience includes two trips to Patagonia and the Antarctic on his own boats.

A distinctive feature of the hull design is what Boréal terms the keel ‘embryo’. This shallow, 80cm-wide vestigial keel – a kind of broad, extended skeg – provides a massively strong base on which the boat can dry out and houses the centreboard case, tankage and lead ballast. Photo Jean-Marie Liot

This first-hand knowledge shows through in many ways with this new Boreal 47.2, a European Yacht of the Year 2021 winner.

The rugged construction includes an ice-breaking stem, watertight bulkheads and 8-10mm bottom plating on substantial framing that enables the boat to be safely beached.

Equally, good sailing qualities are an important element. Both centreboard and rudder have efficient hydrodynamic profiles, while heavy items including anchor chain, tankage and batteries kept low down and central.

Sailing the Boréal 47.2

Our test took place in a large swell leftover from the weather system that forced Clarisse Cremer to delay her Vendée Globe finish.

We set out broad reaching using the optional general purpose asymmetric spinnaker , with the boat maintaining an easy motion despite the swell.

Even when the true wind dropped to only 8-9 knots we made decent progress, with boat speed rarely falling much below 6 knots. Our best speed of the test was 8.7 knots at a true wind angle of 145° in 17 knots of true wind.

The test boat was fitted with an optional mainsail upgrade to a laminate cloth and full battens, with an Antal mast track. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr

Once heeled to a certain point the boat becomes very solid and stable, with gusts not contributing marked extra heel and the lee toerail remained well above the water, even when we were deliberately pressed.

Article continues below…

Boreal 52 boat test – The sailor’s off-roader

If ‘off-road’ or ‘off-piste’ were categories in sailing, the Boréal 52 would be among the top contenders. From the brushed…

Jimmy Cornell: Why aluminium centreboarders are ideal for serious explorers

Both Aventura III, an Ovni 43, and Aventura IV, a Garcia Exploration 45, were aluminium centreboarders. Having clocked some 100,000…

I’m always interested in how a boat handles when overpowered. Keeping the sheets strapped in during gusts into the upper teens when we were carrying the kite at an apparent wind angle of 80-85° provided a good opportunity to test this aspect of handling.

The rudder gave plenty of warning before finally stalling at a much higher angle than those who sail performance boats with deep high aspect rudders will be accustomed to. But, unlike many flighty lightweight boats, the Boréal 47.2 didn’t round up and the boat’s angle of heel barely increased.

Dumping the mainsheet and centring the rudder to re-establish laminar flow was enough to quickly regain control, with the boat then happily bearing away to a more comfortable course.

While owners are unlikely to plan to push their boats to the limit, it’s good to know that the vessel ought to handle being caught unawares by a squall without undue drama.

A pair of daggerboards either side of the rudder are used to tweak the boat’s handling characteristics. With the boards raised it’s more responsive and behaves more like a smaller and lighter yacht – an ideal mode for sailing in more confined waters and for manoeuvring.

The powerful central winch makes it practical to control the yacht from the helm stations. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

With boards lowered directional stability improves markedly. When close-reaching under main and genoa the Boréal 47.2 had more of the feel of a traditional long keel design and it was possible to leave the helm for a minute or so without engaging the pilot.

Soon after dropping the kite to round up for the beat home against the tide the wind dropped again to 8-9 knots. Sailing close-hauled in this wind speed is relatively sedate, but above 10 knots the boat starts to come alive and is nicely powered up in 12-14 knots.

It’s no surprise that a boat of this style is not as close-winded as a performance cruiser. Pinching risks quickly losing speed, but speeds of well over 6 knots can be achieved consistently. For instance, with 15 knots of true wind we recorded 6.5 knots boat speed at 55° TWA.

Changing gear

Once we got back into the breeze funnelling out of the Trieux estuary a band of cloud produced gusts of up to 22 knots true.

As the breeze increases the concept behind the sail plan is to swap from the marginally overlapping genoa to the optional furling staysail at around 17-20 knots, a transition that proved to be smooth and easy. Alternatively, a removable inner forestay with hanked-on staysail can be provided.

A powerful vang enables good control of mainsail twist, despite the lack of a mainsheet traveller, and lines for the towed headsail cars are led back to the working area of the cockpit for easy adjustment.

In the strongest puffs a little depowering of the mainsail helped to keep the boat on its feet, and had the wind continued to rise, a reef in the mainsail would have been useful. The main halyard and pennants for the Seldén single line system on reefs one and two are all led back to the central cockpit winch, making reefing a safe task for a lone watch keeper.

My own preference would be to also lead a luff pennant for the third reef aft, so that all reefing can be done from the cockpit.

As the skies cleared behind the cloud the wind eased, so when we tacked to sail into the estuary we swapped back to the genoa. We then continued close-hauled up the lower reaches of the Trieux river, against an ebb tide, with the electric winch taking all the effort out of playing the mainsail in the gusts.

The boat behaved impeccably with no worries about lack of control even in relatively confined spaces, nor was any great physical effort required.

In this respect, despite the Boréal 47.2’s evident long-distance capabilities, it felt like a smaller and more manoeuvrable vessel.

This exercise also demonstrated that, in the event of engine failure or a fouled propeller, we’d easily be able to sail into a safe anchorage.

The cockpit has separate working and relaxing areas, as well as a clear passage from the transom to the companionway. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Nevertheless, once the channel turned such that the wind was on the nose and the width of the river reduced to less than 150m we resorted to the engine. Our test Boréal 47.2 was fitted with the optional larger 75hp Volvo Penta D2 series engine married to a fixed three blade propeller. This provides plenty of power – even at just 1,700rpm we made an indicated 6.25 knots.

Warm and dry

We put the doghouse to good use in a heavy rain squall as we neared Treguier marina. There’s good visibility from the deep, secure bucket seat on the port side, although it stops short of a full 360° view thanks to blind spots on each quarter.

In more confined waters the best place from which to con the boat proved to be standing at the back of the pilothouse, steering with the pilot remote. This gives an all-round view, with the option of popping your head above the coachroof if the windows steam up.

The doghouse offers plenty of space to open up paper charts, plus room for a decent size monitor for a navigation computer. I was glad to see Boréal wasn’t tempted to add another wheel here – doing so would have added friction and complexity, and take up unnecessary space.

On a more mundane note, for those of us who have to continue working while cruising, the doghouse would make an excellent office, with loads of desk space and a fabulous view.

A full-height watertight door seals the doghouse from the cockpit. This allows easy access, but leaves a low sill making the interior potentially vulnerable to big waves from astern – I’d opt for a partial washboard for use when the door has to be opened in severe weather.

The doghouse makes for a warm, dry working environment with easy access to the cockpit. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The pilothouse coachroof extends above the forward two cockpit seats, creating a further dry and sheltered space. This area can also be fitted a clear plastic enclosure that helps protect the boat’s interior in super-cold weather.

Overall it’s a brilliant arrangement, although it stops short of offering a sheltered position for sail trimming and reefing.

Boréal 47.2 Cockpit zones

The extra space in the back of the boat created by the more modern hull shape has been used to separate the cockpit into distinct relaxation and working areas.

The twin wheels also allow for an unimpeded passage from the fold-down bathing platform to the companionway, even with four people sitting around one leaf of the cockpit table.

Many of the lines led directly to the central winch have to pass through two 90° bends, which inevitably increases friction and loads. However, the arrangement appears to be well executed, with quality deck hardware of an appropriate size.

The mainsheet, headsail sheets and spinnaker sheets are usually handled by their own conventionally-sized winches aft of each helm station. However, the layout is arranged so they can also be led to the central winch when extra grunt is required. There’s also a halyard winch on the mast for spinnakers.

500W of flexible solar panels on the doghouse and coachroof. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr

Moving around on the deck of the Boréal 47.2 is easy – there are no big steps needed when transitioning from cockpit to the wide side decks and the V1 shrouds are mounted on the coachroof, so don’t get in the way when walking forward.

Stanchions are of substantial aluminium, which avoids problems associated with mixing metals in a saltwater environment.

Even though most sail handing, especially in heavy weather, can be done from the working area of the cockpit, sturdy granny bars are fitted each side of the mast. The painted non-slip deck of our test boat provided excellent grip. There’s also a high toerail and metal handholds welded to the boat’s structure.

The hefty, combined twin bow roller and sprit is now standard equipment for a boat of this style. However, the location of the windlass owes nothing to convention. The anchor rode is led aft through a concealed channel under the foredeck to the windlass and chain locker immediately ahead of the mast.

The anchor windlass is mounted below deck just forward of the mast. Photo: Rupert Holmes

The main advantage of this is that 100m of 12mm chain weighs almost one third of a tonne, so this weight is moved aft from the bows. In addition the windlass, which is located below an opening hatch, is not exposed to the elements and should therefore be more reliable than those perched near the stem.

Stowage and Accommodation

Principal on-deck stowage includes a cavernous sail locker forward and massive lazarette aft with twin openings. This also gives access to the quadrant and other steering system components.

Liferaft stowage is built into the starboard side of the lazarette and includes a dedicated transom door. There’s space on the foredeck to stow a decent sized fully inflated tender.

Easy steps from the pilothouse lead down into the saloon. This is offset to port, with the inboard settee neatly placed on top of the centreboard case which therefore does not appear to encroach on the accommodation.

Once you start poking around, one of the most striking aspects is the mass of stowage everywhere in the Boréal 47.2.

Thanks to batteries and tankage being low down in the centre of the boat, there are lockers under all the bunks, under and outboard of the saloon seats, beneath the cabin sole and so on.

It’s clear this is a boat that can easily swallow the enormous amount of stores, provisions and spares needed for prolonged self-sufficiency in remote areas.

Stainless steel galley worktops – Corian is standard. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr

The galley is to starboard, with extensive worktop space. As standard these are in Corian, although stainless steel was used instead for our test boat.

The large two-drawer fridge can be supplemented by an optional freezer in the starboard aft cabin if required. Our test boat was fitted with twin foot pumps at the galley – one for saltwater, the other as a back up for the pressurised water system.

Two large 13kg gas bottles, in a dedicated locker accessed from the cockpit, will provide even heavy users with several months of autonomy.

The extra volume in the forward part of the hull makes for a more spacious owner’s cabin than the previous generation Boréal 47. In particular, the peninsula bed is wider and the larger ensuite includes a generous separate shower stall.

Spacious owners’ cabin includes an ensuite bathroom with separate shower. Photo: Jean-François Delvoye

Again there’s plentiful stowage here and the bed base lifts up on gas struts to give access to huge additional volume.

The aft cabins can be fitted out either as doubles or as twins. Alternatively, the smaller space to starboard can be configured as a big technical and storage area. The doghouse includes a full width dorade-style vent for the aft cabins that creates excellent airflow.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

This is a boat borne of considerable experience and attention to detail, taking a proven concept and refining it to a new level. There are many small but clever touches that may not be immediately obvious, but make a difference to life on board. So it offers a big step forward compared to the first generation Boréal 47. In particular, the larger owner’s cabin makes living on board for extended periods more civilised, while the bigger cockpit will work just as well in the tropics as at high latitudes. It’s a supremely capable yacht with long legs that will effortlessly put in good daily mileages when crossing oceans, yet will also be fun to sail in your home waters. However, what’s really unique is the combination of Boréal’s three signature features: rugged aluminium construction, shoal draught with ability to dry out, and the protection offered by the doghouse. The latest edition of the Vendée Globe has demonstrated beyond all doubt how important effective shelter is in challenging conditions, yet the subject is rarely so well addressed in the cruising yacht market as it is by the Boréal.

• Competitions
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues

Your special offer

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting today!

Save 32% on the shop price when to subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting!

Save 32% on the shop price when you subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Boréal 55 – tested and reviewed

The new boréal 55 is a go-anywhere yacht that will get even the most stolid sailor dreaming of far-flung horizons.

There is something about yacht cruising that seems to attract dreamers. If you don’t believe me, head to any boatyard and have a chat with a few of the owners pottering about on their yachts. If  – and I stress if – you manage to cut through the perfunctory niceties of anodes, seacocks and favoured types of antifouling to get on to cruising destinations, I almost guarantee that it won’t be long before spots like Patagonia, the South Seas or even the Northwest Passage crop up. Never mind that the yacht in question has never sailed past Portland Bill, the dream is still hazily there in the owner’s mind. I guess it’s part of what keeps us interested in sailing – the promise of the far-flung horizon.

The Boréal 55 is a dangerous yacht because it makes those distant pipe dreams far too attainable. She is one of a growing fleet of rugged aluminium boats tailored for the kind of adventure cruising that could just as easily take in picking your way through ice fields or booming before the trades.

Boréal is based in the pretty French town of Tréguier in north Brittany, but was actually the brainchild of Belgian sailor Jean-François Delvoye. Initially, he was simply trying to build his own dream boat, distilling everything he had learnt from six years of bluewater cruising with his family. But the resulting Boréal 50 proved so popular that he ended up going into the boatbuilding business. The Boréal 52 was the natural development of the 50 and was launched in 2014 to great acclaim, scooping the European Yacht of the Year in the bluewater cruising category. The 55 I tested is essentially the same boat with a sugar scoop stern instead of a transom.

Rugged good looks

Like many yachts in this genre, the Boréal 55 boasts a centreboard and aluminium construction of both hull and deck. Double-chined and not as beamy aft as many contemporary designs, she is incredibly solidly built: the bottom plates are 12mm-thick aluminium and her lower chine is 8mm. She features a specially reinforced sacrificial forefoot and a watertight collision bulkhead behind this – handy for ice or sunken containers. Understandably, her displacement is a healthy 15 tonnes.

One look at the rugged exterior of the 55 leaves you in no doubt about what she has been designed for. Those brushed aluminium topsides and hard angles all speak of utilitarianism, while the solid aluminium sprayhood fairly yells practicality. Yet for all that, she’s not bad looking, with a certain power and purpose at rest. I find myself dreaming of Patagonia and have to give myself a stern ticking off when no one is looking.

Step aboard and there is an instant feel of solidity. The stanchions, for example, are welded right through to the hull giving absolutely no flex (not so handy if you bend one). This is a yacht designed to take a beating if required. The cockpit is uncluttered and the mainsheet is sited out of the way on top of the coachroof. There is a single steering pedestal – a feature that is becoming unusual on any yacht over 35ft these days – and a simply huge lazarette. I am told that this was designed for the express purpose of accommodating a 125cc motorbike. I can only say that this rather novel design brief has been accomplished. You could pretty much live in there.

I was initially surprised at how open the cockpit was for a serious bluewater cruiser; the large deck space aft clad in synthetic teak looked more suited to Med sunbathing. Yet there is a well sheltered and secure space just abaft the doghouse and once I was ushered in through the watertight door I fully began to understand how secure you could feel in a storm. Seated in a comfortable chair with a large chart table in front of you, there is an excellent all-round view and you can happily control the yacht using the autopilot. Storm-tossed night watches need never be quite such an ordeal again.

The side decks have a generous amount of non-skid and are open and clear with a plethora of good handholds. Up at the mast is another clever touch: rather than siting the anchor windlass at the bow, it is situated just forward of the mast with the anchor chain led back from the bow and stored in a locker by the mast step. When you have a serious bluewater yacht, you need large amounts of anchor chain and this keeps all that weight nice and central.

The hydraulic windlass can also be used for raising the mainsail, although the halyard goes back to the cockpit for raising in the usual way. At the bow is a very sturdy roller/bowsprit for setting a Code 0 or gennaker.

Thoughtful interior

So far so good, but I headed below with some trepidation. These French go-anywhere yachts can have the sort of stark interiors that make you want to go anywhere other than down below. I was therefore pleasantly surprised by how civilised the Boréal was.

The deck saloon arrangement let in plenty of light and the standard of finish was good. The galley was sited to starboard with the centreboard case offering a good bracing point.

The saloon area to port is raised up to give you the benefit of the view, and could comfortably accommodate eight. That said, the yacht felt relatively small for a 55-footer and this can partly be explained by the fact that she is thoroughly insulated with 80mm polystyrene throughout – she even features double glazing to ensure you are cool in the tropics and warm in the high latitudes.

Again, there are a number of thoughtful little touches on show: a good example being when you turn on a light, it initially comes on in red mode, so your night vision is not impaired.

Forward of the galley is a workshop area, although on this yacht it had been turned into an office – all Boréals are semi-custom. There is also a Refleks diesel stove here, which will ensure a cosy cabin in cold climes.

I could easily picture myself toasting my toes by this while bound for Patagonia. The owner’s cabin is forward and is well appointed with its own ensuite heads and shower.

There is also space for a washing machine here.

Aft, there are two more berths with a communal heads/shower unit. There is the option to use one of these berths purely for storage or have bunk beds. Engine access is also excellent.

Patagonia bound?

Interior thoroughly inspected, it was time to go sailing. For those unfamiliar with Treguier, the marina is a tight one, situated in a narrow bottleneck of an estuary with exceptionally strong tides. To complicate matters, the breeze was fresh and gusty.

This particular 55 had bow and stern thrusters which I had initially tutted at, but I must admit they were a blessing.

Two of my biggest gripes actually concern the engine. First, the control panel for firing it up was in the pilot house, while I generally prefer to have it within reach of the helmsman. Second, the throttle was one of those weird ones where you have to lift the top of the lever up to drop it into gear – just the kind of thing to screw you over in a tight situation.

The Boréal has a 75hp Volvo and an 879lt fuel tank in the keel core, with the option of two extra 378l tanks giving her a phenomenal range. She also carries 1,470lt of fresh water. There are special water catchers built into the lazy jacks to further boost your supplies. These kinds of things are important when you are headed to Patagonia which, in my imagination at least, we were.

Out in the shallows of the river, the Boréal’s draught of 1.14m with the centreboard up became a real asset. It is raised on a hydraulic ram and there is the option of a push-button control in the cockpit, which certainly could be handy around the rock-strewn coast of Brittany. Once clear of the estuary, we put up and reefed the mainsail with the aid of the anchor winch, which sounds odd, but worked very well. The 55 is cutter rigged with a 9/10ths fractional rig and we had taken the precaution of reefing the main. The conditions were pretty wild, to be fair, with a 20-25kts breeze blowing and a hefty swell rolling in. I had spent the previous week skippering a particularly beautiful deep keel cruiser/racer which I’m ashamed to confess I had fallen in love with. I was interested to see how the shallow draught centreboarder contrasted. Not too badly was the answer. She wasn’t quite so well mannered upwind and had a propensity to gripe somewhat in the gusts, but this was natural given the conditions.

This tendency was also tempered by an interesting innovation: Jean Francois was adamant he wanted a single rudder on a skeg for the strength and protection this configuration affords. The problem here is that, with this hull shape, twin rudders offer a good deal of extra grip. The solution has been the addition of two small daggerboards either side of the main rudder. Once lowered when on the wind, they immediately steadied the yacht down. Running with the wind, they also mean you can completely retract the main centreboard and retain good control of the yacht. It’s a clever touch that saves precious power with your autohelm on a long voyage.

At 15,000kg, the Boréal is no lightweight flier and this was to her benefit in the conditions, as she sliced to windward with no slamming, making an easy 7kt plus at 40 degrees or so off the wind. I am assured that she is also pretty obliging in light airs, but will have to take their word for that. Off the wind she was impeccably mannered and on a beam reach she got easily into her groove and stayed there, hitting 8kt-plus. Suddenly the Atlantic seemed to beckon.

When Boréal set about designing the 52 and 55 it gave itself the unenviable design brief of ‘a ballasted boat with a centreboard going to windward, without bashing into the waves and with a soft helm’. Now, that is a challenge but one that the company has risen to admirably. Delvoye’s deep understanding of a bluewater cruising sailor’s requirements shines through in his design, with all sorts of little touches here and there adding up to a winning combination.

The interior is also a huge improvement on many of the previous go-anywhere aluminium boats which seemed to see the tag as an excuse to be spartan below. Not so the Boréal; the fit and finish is excellent and the feel is light but cosy.

My only real question mark applies to any yacht in this genre: I understand that a centreboard and shallow draught is mighty handy when coastal cruising – be that in Patagonia or Poole – but is a deep hull form or even long keel not better suited to the wilds of the Roaring Forties?

Performance: 4/5 Comfort: 4/5 Bluewater 5/5

THE SPEC LOA: 53ft 8in (16.4m) LWL: 45ft 3in (13.8m) Beam: 15ft 3in (4.7m) Draught (board up): 3ft 9in (1.1m) (board down): 10ft 3in (3.1m) Displacement: 15,000kg (33,070lb) Engine: Volvo D2-75 (75hp) Sail area: 130m² (1,400sqft)

PERFORMANCE AVS: 120° Sail area/displacement: 22 Displacement/LWL: 153

PRICE Base price: £565,000 As tested: £719,000 boreal-yachts.com

Insure this yacht with  Craftinsure  from £2,288.25.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Boat Test: C-Cat 48

Boat Test: Bali Catsmart 38′

Boat Test: Italia 12.98

Offering a wealth of practical advice and a dynamic mix of in-depth boat, gear and equipment news, Sailing Today is written cover to cover by sailors, for sailors. Since its launch in 1997, the magazine has sealed its reputation for essential sailing information and advice.

• British Yachting Awards 2022
• Telegraph.co.uk

ADVERTISING

© 2024 Chelsea Magazine Company , part of the Telegraph Media Group . | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Make your dreams come true

6 years cruising with the family, 17 note- and sketchbooks... our yachts have a story.

Boreal are solid performance boat, a roomy all-rounder, as comfortable at sea as at anchor with appealing «bonuses».

BOREAL... 6 UNIQUE VERSIONS

Boreal yachts, from dream to reality, boreal 47.2.

“European Boat of the Year 2021” Category “Bluewater Cruiser”

US Yacht of the Year 2018 Category “All”

“Yacht of the year 2010” in France “Yacht of the year 2011” in Hollande

“European Boat of the Year 2015” Category “Blue Water Cruiser”

L’Écho

“It does not happen very often to see a boat forged by that much experience at sea and reflections in situation.”

Voile Magazine

“Boreal 44, a concentrate of boating intelligence”

• 22 January 2021

The new BOREAL 47.2 : “European Yacht of the Year 2021” Winner in the category “Bluewater cruiser”

Last September, a few days after her launch, “CHIARA”, the first Boréal 47.2 sailed her maiden trip to La Rochelle to participate at the test sails with the jury of …

• 6 December 2018

Boréal 47 – Year 2018

We have launched this Boréal 47 in April 2018. Her maiden trip took her to the Lofoten and back to France, where she has now been put on sale. This boat…

Gordon Island : video onboard the Juan sa Bulan 3

First-born of the Boreal 44, the Juan sa Bulan 3… …belongs to both Jean-François. Since Juanary 2014 and the long cruise of JF Delvoye and his 4 children to South…

• 1 September 2014

When “Coyote” meets “Sila”

Unlikely ! On this picture « Coyote » (Boreal 44) is arriving at the Easter Island, coming from Tahiti.

Votre nom (obligatoire)

Votre adresse de messagerie (obligatoire)

Votre message

• Boats for Sale

New and used Boreal boats for sale

Find your perfect Boreal today. We have Boreal brokers and sellers from around the world at great prices.

Sign up to our newsletter

By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy & Cookie Policy

Change units of measure

This feature requires cookies to be enabled on your browser.

Show price in:

Show lengths, beam and draft in:

Show displacement or weight in:

Show capacity or volume in:

Show speed in:

Show distance in:

• https://www.boreal-yachts.com/
• ZA Convenant Vraz 22220 Minihy – Tréguier

The first Boreal, borned from note- and sketchbooks written during the Delvoye’s family’s first trip. This 6 years trip took Jean-François, his wife and their four children around the world on the 12 meter’s yacht he built himself in his garden. From the Mediterranean sea to Cabo Verde, from Brazil to Argentina, the apotheosis of this long trip certainly was the two years spent wandering in Patagonia’s canals.

Six years spent by Jean-François asking to himself and the sailors they met “what is missing to your boat to make it the best yacht of the world ?”. And it is true to say that the question benefited greatly from their port-calls and encounters with Philippe Poupon, Oleg Belly, Alain Caradec, Bertrand Dubois and many others.

Coming back to France, the idea was to make the best of all the experiences they accumulated to design and build the almost perfect boat to leave for new adventures with the family.

That was the start of the Boreal 50…

A 15 meters aluminum boat that Jean-François draw in every details in 3D on his computer. The original project, build and sail oceans again, has quickly gone awry… Two yachts were sold before the prototype even touched the water…

The company “Boréal” was created in 2005, a little bit by chance, with three clients, experimented sailors and totally convinced by the concept. The first sea trials totally validated the specifications.

Yacht models

Discontinued production models

• Advertising

Customer reviews

• Netherlands
• United States
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom

• THE PRINCESS PASSPORT
• Email Newsletter
• Yacht Walkthroughs
• Destinations
• Electronics
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology
• Boating Safety

For Sale: Horizon Power Catamarans 52

• By Jake Lamb
• March 19, 2024

The Horizon Power Catamarans 52 delivers a bluewater cruiser that’s capable of long-range voyages with home-size volume. Sunbird , a 2022 build, is currently listed for sale through Horizon Powercat Co for $2.145 million. The 52-footer ticks all the boxes with its three-stateroom, two-head layout that sleeps six, multiple exterior entertainment spaces and a well-appointed galley.

Sunbird has a reported 21-knot top hop thanks to twin 550 hp Cummins QSB 6.7 diesels. At 18 knots, this power cat should have a 400-nautical-mile range. Dial it back to 8 knots, and range increases about 1,000 nautical miles. Maximum range is 1,780 nautical miles at just under 5 knots. The Horizon PC52 has a 4-foot-6-inch minimum draft, enabling it to cruise safely over shallow waters.

When it’s time to turn in for the evening, the three staterooms are belowdecks. The starboard hull houses the master stateroom with an en suite head aft and a queen berth forward. The port hull has the VIP stateroom forward with a queen berth. The second head is positioned between the VIP stateroom and the third guest stateroom, which has twin berths that convert to a queen berth with an insert.

Guest can enjoy shaded dining with a view in the cockpit at the high-gloss teak table and transom bench seat. Pull up a few chairs and there’s space for six.

Alfresco dining spaces are also found on the flybridge where guests can enjoy cocktails and conversation at an L-shaped dinette to port or relax on the lounge pad forward and to starboard.

Sunbird has an aft-galley aft layout, which makes serving guests in the cockpit and the salon easy. And for chefs who strive to please everyone, the salon is large enough to accommodate several chefs simultaneously, and is equipped with a Miele cooktop, Miele speed oven and full-sized refrigerator. The galley’s countertop bar also has three stools and is sure to be a gathering spot after hours.

We recently reported on the construction process for the Horizon PC52, “This open-water capable powercat has one-piece hull lamination and longitudinal stringers for added backbone, and the hull is built with the trademarked SCRIMP process for improved strength without added weight. It also has a high-density, foam-cored construction for the bottom and topsides, solid fiberglass laminate for the stem and keel, and high-density foam-cored stringers for the power cat’s Cummins diesels. For strength with reduced top weight, Horizon Power Catamarans uses foam-cored reinforcement in the deck and superstructure.”

Some other notable features aboard Sunbird include:

• GE freezer on flybridge
• Miele washer and dryer
• Underwater lights
• Wine cooler
• Rod holders
• Fish cutting board

Where is Sunbird located? The yacht is currently lying in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  

Take the next step: Contact the listing agent, Jason Ford, 954-552-0868, [email protected]

Quick Specifications

• Length Overall: 52′
• Maximum Beam: 22′
• Fuel Capacity: 970 Gal.
• Draft: 4’6″
• More: 50'-99' , Brokerage , Horizon Power Catamarans , Yachts for Sale
• More Brokerage

For Sale: Sunseeker Predator 68

For Sale: CL Yachts CLB 72

10 Yachts Under $500,000 You Can Have Today

For Sale: 2019 Cruiser Yachts 54 Cantius

How to Swing a Compass on a Boat

“Energy Observer” Zero-Emission Boat Showcases Sustainability

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding