Yachting Monthly — November 2017

30 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com November 2017

NEW BOAT TEST

to point. The Azuree felt freer with the
traveller up and easing the mainsheet
a little to get some twist in the main.
As a consequence, with a little less
heel, the speed upwind rose from the
low sevens up to 7.5 knots. Sacrifice
another 5° to 10º pointing and this
quickly rises to 8 knots.
There is also certainly potential
to get better performance out of her
by adding the designed roach into
the main, for example. The test boat
had approximately 500kg of extras,
which could potentially be removed,
including the teak decks, certain
lockers and the bathing platform.
Unfortunately by the time we
hoisted the gennaker the wind had
dropped right away, so we were
denied the exciting offwind blast that
her shape promises.

At the helm
The layout around the twin helms
helps provide a sporty sensation when
steering. The side decks are slightly
raised for sitting out, from where
there are good views forward. And
there are lifting foot chocks to provide
support for standing when heeled.

When straddling or sitting forward of

the wheel, the helmsman can easily

trim the German mainsheet system

with self-tailing winches.

Design and construction

Three years ago, Rob Humphreys

took the wide aft beam, hard chine,

twin rudder theme of the original

Ceccarelli-designed 40ft hull and

ran with it to produce a more user-

friendly, aesthetically appealing and

all round better product in the 46. And

now, with this Azuree 41, we see the

fruits of yet further refinement.

Humphreys, who joined us for

a test sail aboard the prototype,

is particularly pleased with

improvements in weight control.

Sirena is building stiffer hulls with as

much weight as possible concentrated

deep in the bulb of the T-shaped bulb

keel. The hulls and decks are built in

composite GRP using vacuum-infused

vinylester resin and have carbon

reinforced GRP inner structures.

Humphrey’s brief was for a modern

take on the classic cruiser-racer, but

with the emphasis on the ‘cruiser’. 'If

the balance was the other way it would

have a more aggressive fit-out of the

interior,' he explained. As it is, some

of the weight can be shed – the teak

decks, for example; this 200kg luxury

is the equivalent of having four people

on the rail.

Sailplan

A two spreader fractional aluminium

Selden keel-stepped rig with outboard

chainplates comes as standard. A

German mainsheet setup leads the

sheet back to two winches within

reach of the helm. An arch for the

mainsheet is also available. The fixed

bowsprit has an integrated anchor

roller, which helps keep the ground

tackle clear of the plumb stem.

Deck layout

For those who would prefer a more

cruiser-friendly cockpit, a mainsheet

arch over the companionway is

an option. It would be good to see

Dyneema used as standard for the

running rigging, as our polyester lines

stretched during the test. Although

this is a small upgrade, it is one

that would be more in keeping with

the performance credentials of this

cruiser-racer. Harken deck gear is

now standard.

Living below

With the 41, the concern for Sirena

will be whether it is actually stealing

potential customers away from its own

46. There is little to choose between
    the models. The 41 has three cabins
    with an optional second heads and the
    aft cabins are a similar size to those
    of the 46. Plus an offset forward berth
    helps to make the 41 feel voluminous
    down below.

The UK’s mosT comprehensive yachT TesTs

The layout

around the twin

wheels gives

the helm a

sporty feel

The Azuree 41 is a fast, modern-styled cruiser-racer with the emphasis on cruiser