Plenty of sporty forty-something-footers already exist, such as the Firset’s imagine that you’re looking for a fast cruiser with racing potential – something between 9.1 and 12m (30 and 40ft). Where do you start? With the Bénéteau First range, perhaps, or Jeanneau’s Sun Fasts? Or would you prefer an Elan, a Maxi, a Dehler, the new Dufour 34 or one of the Hanses?

Quick though they are, it’s probably true to say that boats from none of these builders are generally considered to stand comparison with the Najads or Hallberg-Rassys of this world when it comes to quality of finish or attention to detail. And therein lies a dilemma for some: you can go fast and have a chance to bring home the silverware, or you can have a lovingly hand-crafted boat. But not both.

Or can you? Go up a size or two, and it becomes easier – if you have the cash. The Grand Soleils, Baltics and Swans, for example, are widely perceived as the gentleman’s racers: perfect for those who want to thrash around the race course (preferably in Antibes or Antigua) during the day, and entertain their guests in opulent surroundings after sunset.

Now many Bénéteau owners may well proclaim that their boats are very nicely finished, thank you, and those who own Najads will point out that they have been known to win the odd race. Nonetheless, your choice of classily appointed sporty cruiser/racers below 12m (40ft) is limited.

The boats that are probably best known in this category are the X-Yachts range from Denmark. Their 332 is among the most successful boats of her size in IRC competition, boasting a full racing calendar including national and area championships and her own start in Cowes Week. Moreover, she’s roomy, well finished, nicely put together and widely cruised. It’s not a cheap way of doing things, to be sure, but X-Yachts have made it work and proved that there is a market for boats like this.

Working along similar lines in many ways is another Scandinavian yard that’s less well-known to British sailors. Finngulf is a name that has been around since the early 1980s and, until recently, was associated with the long, slim style of fast cruiser typically found in the Baltic. The Hanse 331, which was discontinued a few years ago, was the old Finngulf 33.

Things have now changed at the Finngulf yard. While some of the old-generation slim Finns designed by the Swede Håken Södergren are still available, they’re no longer promoted. Instead, the past few years have seen the launch of a new range from Finland’s only full-time independent yacht designer, Karl-Johan Stråhlmann.

The 28 arrived first, four years ago, and was promptly awarded the title Sailboat of the Year in the under-30ft category by one of Germany’s leading yachting magazines. She was followed by the 41, 33 and 46, while this summer saw the launch of the 37.

All are thoroughly modern-looking sports cruisers with short ends, fine entries, wide sterns, bulbed keels and tall fractional rigs. But they don’t have the plumb bows and towering topsides of many of their contemporaries. With their modest freeboard, slight sheer and gently-raked stems, they’re attractive boats whose appearance hints at speedy sailing and good manners. I sailed both boats on breezy days in Finland to find out whether they lived up to their promise.

Like her 37ft sister, the Finngulf 33 presented the bigger boats at the Finnboat show with a few problems. She pulled away from one of the 40-footers upwind in light conditions, and refused to let the Nauticat 515 pass her on a breezy two-sail reach. Feisty stuff from a boat of this size.

My test sail was a 12-mile leg of some reaching but mainly windward work, in a breeze that built from 18 knots to the high 20s. As it increased, we dropped a slab into the main and found that one reef and the full headsail – a minimal-overlapper, as on the 37 – was just right for a lively beat.

Having seen 7.5 knots on the log with the wind on the beam, I was looking forward to a good upwind bash and the chance to see what the Finngulf could be made to do against the boats with longer waterlines, most of which had inevitably pulled out a slight lead on the reaches.

It was an impressive performance. The 33 was easy to slot into the groove and proved to be light and beautifully responsive to helm. Her owner, in fact, thought the steering a little too light, and Karl-Johan Stråhlmann, the designer, is thinking about moving the rudder blade aft a touch on the stock to produce a more positive feel.

The most important factor was that the wheel loaded up enough to give ample warning when the rudder was about to lose grip, though that only happened at between 35° and 40° of heel. Since the boat could be feathered with precision even in the strong, shifty conditions – providing the driver read the gusts correctly – we kept her on her feet most of the time and rarely dipped the toerail.

Our concentration was largely inspired by our determination to reel in the 40-footer ahead of us. Our boatspeed of up to 6.5 knots in the flatter patches of water, combined with a tacking angle of about 75° and a little tactical sailing, soon did the trick and we sailed away to leave our competitor trailing
in our wake.

Later on, I had a play with the bigger boat and, after a little tweaking, we managed to sail her past the Finngulf 37. It all makes drawing conclusions about relative performances rather difficult – especially when you’re sailing against different helmsmen – but the Finngulf 33 certainly gave a good account of herself upwind with over 30 knots across the deck. She was powerful, fast, fun, easy and rewarding to sail, and you can’t ask for much more than that.

Builder:
Finngulf Yachts Oy,
PO Box 16,
Inkoo,
Finland.

Tel: +358 9 2211 703
Fax: +358 9 2211 793
Email: sales@finngulf.com
Website: www.finngulf.com