http://www.myhanse.com/uploads/20070606_120344_HA430polar.pdf - uploads/20070606_120344_HA430polar.pdf

hello! Congratulations, this site is great and is amazing the quantity and quality of information on the new Hanse 430. That proves that the owners of this boat are enthusiastic sailors and that is a good sign.

I hope you can shake some doubts I have on this boat. I should say that the first time I laid eyes on it I thought that this was the boat  I was looking for: Fast and sporty without losing the cruising attributes. But later I got suspicious of the small winches, of the shape of the jib on the self-taking rail (photos) and the last drop was a boat magazine comparative test with an Oceanis 43 and a Dufour 425.

All the boats were tested simultaneously with 17k of wind. The Dufour was faster against the wind, the Beneteau faster downwind (all boats with standard geenaker) and they reported that the Hanse was a lot more difficult to control downwind (they lost control several times).

That comes as a complete surprise to me. The 425 and the Oceanis are pure cruising boats and I would say that the Oceanis doesn’t look like a fast boat.

That polar speed chart shows a very fast boat and that confuses me. It is for real? Can someone who knows the boat well confirm those speeds? A boat with that polar should smoke the 425 and the Oceanis!!!

Thanks

Manuel

First of all I want to thank everybody and declare that I don’t want to piss nobody even if I ask some not very comfortable questions. This is one of the boats that I consider to have and the questions represent my doubts about the boat. As I say, I am grateful for your help.

Alex, as Alain said the test was published on the December edition (2007) of Voile Magazine. Alain, I don’t understand why you call that test a “so called test”. Voile Magazine is an old and good sailing magazine. I have to say that I have read several other Hanse 43 magazine boat tests, including the one on Yachting Monthly, the comparative on the Yacht.de and this French one. It seems to me that the French one has the advantage of a real comparative test. I mean all the boats in the water at the same time, with the same wind and that was not the case with the German (so called) comparative test.

Alain, I believe that you have reason, in what concerns those stability problems sailing downwind, I mean the Hanse has a mainsail much bigger than usual and could need different sail adjustments.On the test they say that next day they have solved the problem putting a reef on the main sail. This means that with 17k wind the boat should go downwind with the standard Geenaker and already with a reef on the main?

Alain, about one of the boats having “tailored made sails” that is not really true. The boat, the Dufour 425, the one that could go against the wind faster and with the better angle, was equipped with good cruising sails, an option for the boat, not tailor made. Those sails are the same I have in my boat. Very good cruising sails, but not even racing sails.

And that option brings to me one of the things I don’t like on the Hanse, I mean as Alex says, it looks the Hanse sails are not great, but Hanse doesn’t propose a performance kit.

That seems to me a shortcoming. I don’t know about the options on the Dufour 425 (it is not an option for me, I don’t like the interior disposition) but obviously they have performance sails as an option. The Jeanneau 42i has a compressive performance kit, with bigger mast, longer and lighter keel, Dyform on the standing rig and Dyneema on the running rig, bigger winches and performance cruising sails (the same kind as Dufour).

Such a kit represents a big economy if you intend, like Alex, optimize the boat and change sails and cables to make it a fast boat.

Why not propose to Hanse the availability of a kit like that? After all the Hanse 43 looks sportier than the other boats on its class but the others have performance kits and the Hanse comes with not so good equipment and doesn’t propose a performance kit, not even good sails?

It seems to me that this forum has the means to bring this subject to Hanse’s attention.

What do you think about this?

(Sorry for the long post)

How fast is the 430? An interesting question because the boat gives the impression that it is very fast.

Indeed it performs well, but is not at racing boat. According to the handicap system LYS it will have a similar performance as the Bav 42 match, Solana 40, Dufourt 40, Arcona 400, and Grand Soleil 37.  This year it will be a few more Hanse 430 racing here in Norway so perhaps we will know more about the boats competitiveness.

In other words, the boat is a decent cruiser /racer with a stunning design.  

Another reason for buying the 430 is that the boat is solidly built. Lots of thick laminate which is well reinforced, gives peace of mind in shallow waters…

Well the LYS system is a handicap system where each boat receives its individual LYS number. To compute a boats initiall Lys number there exists a fairly complicated formula taking into account displacement, sail types etc.

The Lys number is adjusted annually and takes into account the performance of the boat type. Over the years the system has proven itself to be a very good indicator of the boats performance.

When it comes to the Bav 42 match it has a LYS number of 1.34 while the Hanse 430 has 1.33 and the Dufour 40 has 1.32. This means that for a 2 hour regatta (sailing time) the Bav will have an adjusted time of (1.34 * 2) 2.68, Hanse will have 2.66 and the Dufour 2.64.

In larger regattas her in Norway, we are competing in classes. For instance in on larger regatta, the Hanse will normally participate in the 1.29 - 1, 34 class.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

I think the essence of this discussion both in this forum and in others, is that Hanse boats are not at fast as we would like them to be, and that the difference between the 370, 400 and 430 is marginal at best. This despite that they are marketed as performance cruisers. As for the 430 its more like a sheep in wolfs clothing – but very attractive and functional clothes though

Adam wrote: seileren1: Pretty fast sheep though :p ----- Looks to me that with the right sails and crew, the hanse 430e flies.

Impressive results. Great hull, big initial stability, but different mast and racing sails.

I don't think standard sails are very good and I really think Hanse should offer a performance kit for this boat as an option. As it is, changing sails for good ones it is not only complicated but a lot more expensive.

I really would like to be as convinced about the Hanse 430 final stability and the ability to right itself up, after a capsize as I am about the  speed potential.

There is a rumor (which probably you’ll hard about) reported in a reputable web page that Hanse is considering launching a racing version of the 430 - Hanse 430 Competition; Carbon rig, less weight, different keel profile etc.

Panos, be advised that the sail area used in your table is with the optional Genoa. With the standard jib its only 102 sqm.

 Cheers