THE SECRET WEAPON

WITH ITS LIFT KEEL OPTION, JEANNEAU’S SO410 HAS A POTENT TRUMP CARD: IT HAS THE DRAUGHT OF A CLASS 40, YET CAN ALSO NOSE INTO THE SHALLOWS. TOBY HODGES WAS INTRIGUED

- TOBY HODGES

If you sail in tidal harbours or shallow waters, your choice of midsize new production yachts is more limited than you may realize. While most manufacturers offer a shallow draught version of their fixed keels by adding more weight to the bulb to compensate for the reduction in the righting moment, this is not a compromise all sailors are willing to make. Jeanneau, on the other hand, has long offered a lift keel on its smaller models, yet by doing so at this size, in particular, has established a clever niche.

The Vendée yard certainly didn’t follow the status quo when it developed its eighth-generation Sun Odyssey line three years ago and this model adds to a string of innovations for this latest range. First came the groundbreaking bow and hull shape, together with the walkaround deck design on the SO440 and SO490.

Now comes this lift keel option, which is technically a hinging ballasted keel. It is a similar concept to that employed by Pogo for its performance yachts, yet Jeanneau is the only large-scale cruising yacht manufacturer to offer such a system.

Consider the fact that the standard draught of an SO410 is a conservative 2.25m and the shoal keel version just 1.6m deep. Alternatively, this lift keel version reaches down to 2.97m/9ft 8in, which is the draught of a Class 40 race boat and a substantial difference in potential pointing ability. Then, at the push of a button at the helm, this swings up to reduce it to just 1.37m/4ft 5in.