SIG45 full-carbon cruiser/racer cat

[hugoleb]

Hi,
One of the members of this forum spotted our boat on the internet, and suggested that I post some information about the boat.
Le Breton Yachts has just launched the first of a series of 45ft high performance cruiser-racer cats, called the SIG45.
The boat is comfortable and very fast. We have seen 23 knots without pushing hard. Light wind performance is impressive, with boatspeed regularly exceeding windspeed. The very slender hulls, and the VPLP designed wave piercing bows give a very smooth motion, even in confused seas.
With three double cabins, two heads, galley, dinette and nav station, and good storage, she also has everything you could want for cruising with the family.
Any questions, just post a reply, or reply directly by email!
Kind regards,
Hugo

[solarbri]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
That is one HOT boat!
How are sales in todays market?
Any orders for the SIG yet?
What kind of pricing are we looking at?

[hugoleb]

Hi Solarbri
Thanks for the message. Glad you like the boat - she looks even better in the flesh!
As far as sales are concerned, the first boat has been sold, and we have a series of test sails planned for the summer. There has been a surge of interest in the last few months following a quiet winter.
Price is around 700k euros for a 100% carbon boat with carbon rig and fully fitted interior.
We will be showing the boat for the first time at the Cannes Boat show.
Regards,
Hugo

[Nordic]

That is one sexy looking boat! I sincerely hope you get some orders, there should be a market.

Have you considered doing a "cruiser" version with a bridgedeck saloon? I would think that would multiply the potential market size by a significant factor, but then it wouldn't be the same boat.......

Best wishes

Alan

[hugoleb]

Hello Nordic,
Good question - the answer comes in a few parts.
Firstly, Removing the bridgedeck was a decision taken to reduce windage and weight, and to provide a good working platform with excellent vision forward. We felt that the performance gain would be worth it. Being on the water with the boat shows that the sailing experience is fabulous. The boat is fast, easy to sail and easy to move around. The steering positions are comfortable and barely ever get a splash thanks to the pilothouses and coamings. And the cockpit is just huge - and this is where one spends most of one's time on a boat!

Secondly, we have never missed the bridgedeck at all. The area where we have the nav station and dinette (the pilot houses) would not normally be used on a conventional bridgedeck cat - the side deck normally takes at least 80-100cm away on either side, and usually the steps into the hull are here. As a result, while we lose the bridgedeck, we also gain quite a bit of useable space. Clearly it is not as much as a full bridgedeck, but it is amazing how much space we have below. We are in negotiation with a guy who tested the boat despite his initial suspicion that he would not like a cat without a bridgedeck. However, having sailed on the boat (in the rain too!), it is now one of his favorite aspects of the boat.
Thirdly, adding a bridgedeck on a boat with this much beam clearance is difficult. The main beam is 1.4m above the water level. Add standing headroom and the roof is 3.5m above the waterline. The boom becomes unacceptaly high, and windage would be huge (and it would be really ugly!). The beam clearance gives a very smooth and quiet ride, and changing it would require wholesale changes to the moulds...
Finally though, I acknowledge that there is a case for having some additional protection for the area at the main beam when you are just cruising, and not just going for speed. So, we offer removable spray hoods at the main beam.

We also have an option for a removable "hard top" that mounts on the main beam, and provides a protected area on deck. It does not have full standing headroom, but does allow one to sit comfortably out of any wind or rain that there might be.

You are right that in the same way that cruiser-racer monohulls sell in smaller numbers than pure cruising monohulls, adding a bridgedeck would widen the market appeal. However, the boat would then no longer satisfy the needs of our clientele, for whom some relatively small sacrifices in total accommodation space are acceptable in exchange for a fantastic sailing experience and a very elegant yacht.

Excuse the long-winded answer, but I felt your question deserved a full response - there are after all not that many bridgedeck-less cats out there!

Hugo

[imagine2frolic]

In the video that was posted. If memory serves me correct. It looked like one of the sterns folds away with steps? Would that be correct? Also my statement on the video was I WANT ONE::), but I know full well could not afford one. It's a sweet looking boat.....i2f

[hugoleb]

Indeed, both transoms open, to provide storage space (for light stuff only to keep the ends light!) and to create bathing platforms.