AfffiTh-PThflfiftfifl BffiTh fi J/Aff 95Jeanneau 54LOA 16.16m / 53ft
Length waterline 15.75m / 51ft 8in
Beam 4.92m / 16ft 1in
Light displacement 17,164kg / 37,840lbs
Keel draft 2.24m / 7ft 4in
Fuel capacity 240l / 63gal
Water capacity 724l / 191gal
Cabins 2-6
Motor Yanmar 75hp / 55kW Sail drive
CE Category A14 / B15 / C16
Total standard sail area 111sqm / 1195 sqft
ASSISTED SAIL TRIM IS QUITE INNOVATIVE
During Jeanneau’s annual press meeting in Cannes, there was a great
curiosity about the launch of the new models, but a lot of attention was
given to something smaller and quite innovative. Assisted Sail Trim
(AST) was developed by Harken in collaboration with Jeanneau.
This sailing assistance device trims the boat automatically,
according to wind direction or course heading. So after the auto-
pilot, here is an auto-tailer.
Before answering whether it works, it’s important to understand
the basic principles. Developed with Harken over a two-year period
of preparation and tests aboard a Sun Odyssey 519 (12m), AST must
be developed on each single boat by considering its sailing area, the
length of sheets and straightening.
It is physically similar to a plotter that must be placed on the
rudder column. Its display shows the device status, settings and
operations. Buttons are traditional and laterally placed.
AST must be used with Harken Rewind winches, launched a
few years ago to assist hauling and easing. Even before activating
the automatic setting system, AST is useful because it allows for
the control of three winches and all sheets: an “operative control
unit” from which the helmsman can ease or haul the mainsail and
genoa easily and without abandoning his post.
AST must work in collaboration with the on-board equipment,
in this case it was Raymarine, but it can be used with other brands
through the NMEA 2000 connection.
Once the automatic setting function is activated, route decided
and sails set, the winches acquire the sheets and electric engines
move independently or according to route or wind variations. The
system is not able to indicate the initial correct setting, and this task
requires the Captain.
We tested AST in extreme conditions, with a very rough sea
and about 30/35 knots of wind – much more than the normal
range considered by Harken (5-25 knots). Despite this, the system
performed quite well. In these conditions, the limit is represented by
instability: continuous gusts, swerving and route variations.
Also with wet sheets, the winch grip is different from the
normal one.
It’s important to say that, as Harken specifies, AST in not a
form of independent driving. The crew must be present and active,
especially since it’s a regulation. You cannot entrust the boat to it.
However, we can say that AST makes sense and has a future. It
finds its ideal declination when it works with the automatic pilot
on medium-sized boats (it’s not by chance that the next Jeanneau
boat will be between 54ft and 64ft), maybe with an auto-turning jib,
for transfers and long navigations.- Luca Sordelli