NEW YACHTS: ELAN 400 PERFORMANCE

Humphreys Yacht Design and Elan’s in-house team penned the new yacht, the 400’s twin-rudder and hard-chine hull based on experience gained in designing offshore racers and Volvo OR yachts.

Inheriting the qualities of her predecessor Elan 410 and adding some new features from the successful 350 (the 2011 European Yacht of the Year winner), Elan said the 400 performance-cruiser is fast, elegant and sets new standards in the 40-foot segment.

Elan’s Pittwater-Sydney agent Gael Moldan said the interior reveals a completely new layout by Gigo Design. The innovative concepts, she says, targets storage, boat operations and safety and are “really clever and impressive”. The theme below is of space utilisation and a sophisticated finish; cabinetry is flush with no handles or nobs and no door jams for a smooth running feel throughout the interior and a feeling of a lot more space.

“It’s also worth noting that we spec the boat for Australian conditions and will be different to the standard European boat,” said Moldan.

Elan added the sail plan and cockpit are optimised for shorthanded sailing, the twin-rudder concept allowing the 3.87m beam to extend to the transom for greater directional control and stability.

For more info, visit www.elanyachts.com.au

Specifications: Elan Yachts 400 Performance

Material Vacuum-infused sandwich lamination

Type Keelboat

Length 11.95m (overall); 11.95m (hull); 11.26m (waterline)

Beam 3.87m

Draft 2.4m (std. keel); 2.2m (performance keel)

Weight 7500kg

Ballast 2700kg

Fuel 170lt

Water 310lt

Engine 40hp

Sail area 51.56m² (mainsail); 37.6m² (genoa 107%); 135m² (gennaker)

FAST FACTS

• Design based on Humphreys Yacht Design experience in offshore racers from Whitbread, Volvo Ocean Race, Open 40 and America’s Cup

• Plumb bow and prominent chined hull

• Long waterline of 11.26m in hull length of 11.95m

• New style integrated GRP toerail lends to the refined profile

• Very large working cockpit

• Choices of Club, Regatta or Cruising Rigs

• Performance T-keels for IRC or ORC1

• Non-overlapping headsails

• Retractable bowsprit for codes (asymmetric), spinnaker

• Spinnaker pole option for short windward/leeward (symmetric)

• German mainsheet system

• Harken race-inspired deck equipment layout

• Designated liferaft storage in the cockpit sole

• Three-cabin layout with one head, or two

• No visible cabinetry hardware creates smooth refined lines enhancing the visual interior volume

• Choice of interior wood finishes and soft furnishings