New Elan 350 - Out in front in design, performance and pure Wow!

by Gael Moldan on 2 Jun 2010 Back from the World Premiere launch of Elan 350 Cruiser Racer and also the Impression 444 Cruising Yacht at the Elan International Dealers Conference and Internautica Boat Show held on the splendid coast of Slovenia and straight into following through enquiries.

We've seen and sailed the new Elan 350 Cruiser Racer – the bold with twin rudder, twin steering design - and here to tell you just how much this boat radiates pure WOW Factor and causing a real stir.

Even we were more impressed than expected!

If you really want a very Special Boat mid size– this is it - no question! The Elan 350 is just streets ahead - there is simply no comparison.

Out of this tiny country of stunning beauty come these stunning blue-chip boats. It's a formidable culmination of 60 years history of boat building craftsmanship and the long passionate working collaboration with the distinguished English designer Rob Humphreys.

When travelling thousands of miles to sail test a boat, one wishes the weather could be ordered in advance but you just get on and move with what you get because the buzz overtakes it all. We scheduled ourselves for an early afternoon sail but we faced grey skies and the mirroring grey Adriatic Sea and little wind to accompany which did thankfully whip up from time to time.

We hopped on the rib and bounced out to the 350 sailing beautifully with kite flying and a team of Elan Dealers on board; we came up astern and quickly managed the jump-off/ jump-on-exchange in a flash onto her wide and magnificently powerful transom.

She continued to glide through the water effortlessly even when there was just a breath of wind. (that's the Humphreys design for you).

How did she feel? Well…simply sensational! The twin steering is so responsive and the boats is absolute joy to sail.

The twin rudders really change the character of the boat. We found that it is a boat that can be pressed hard and riding on the chine you can feel the response from the rudder which is almost vertical into the water.

The boat tracks like its on rails and so you could certainly carry full sails longer. Going to windward the boat was a dream. The 350 is designed to have real- sea-going capability and a turn of speed that promised exceptional performance for a boat in this category.

We had to take what light wind we had and collectively make our judgment on the performance of the previously launched 310 which was test sailed in 25 kts of wind and tagged ‘Pocket Rocket'.

The 350 is relatively lighter for her length than the 310 and the sail area to wetted surface ratio also greater. This amounts to sparkling speed potential and so you can truly expect great results from this new 350. The boat promises to excel downwind due to the design of the hull and powerful broad transom.

Maneuverability of the boat under motor was excellent; positive and precise especially in reverse.

With her broad transom, the cockpit space is lavish with well designed layout for the competitive sailor but also especially suited to the cruising family with easy access due to the twin wheel configuration.

Elan and Humphreys have again set the pace and this radically designed short-handed format will surely take on especially where crew numbers cannot always be assured. In all, the New 350 model looks and feels like a 40ft and has so much going for it.

And how does she look? Again we say- sensational!

Her clean, well proportioned lines and chined hull speak for themselves and just look so good with a clear neat topside and huge cockpit ergonomically detailed with helmsman footing that can be popped up out of the cockpit floor to suit the heel of the boat.

She looked every part of sleek and classy and genuinely so! Trimmed in black and white – sheets as well; black boom cover and custom made composite wheels design by Elan looking every bit Hi- Tech and teamed as well with brilliant Spectra Mainsail and Jib in silver grey.

The 350 clearly translates as an outstanding performance cruising yacht as well. Belowdecks opens out into an impressively eye pleasing mix of smart design in light woodwork with an outstanding level of finish, splendid space, head-height and comfort. The powerful aft quarters of the boat result in unrivalled cruising accommodation that would be the envy of many larger cruising yachts.

The 350 is designed in three formats; a high performance club race boat, the ultimate cruiser racer of an exciting performance cruising yacht.

You could not ask for more in a true Cruiser Racer. Sailors can be confident this boat will do what it says it will - and what they want.

To add here, during the boat show we spent a good deal of time going through the yachts on display at the and altogether the new look Elan Cruiser Range rolls out an exceptional line up. The boats are noticeably highly engineered, the level of finish and details is superior and this stands apart from the Humphreys design performance, handling, sailability, stability etc.

The baby of the range, Elan 310 which really is no baby, has been a runaway success since her release and looks equally sensational and sails like a ‘Pocket Rocket'.

Then, when we stepped on board the Elan 380, we just went WOW – yes again – what an absolutely beautiful composition, look and feel of a boat. This model replaced the ever popular Elan 37 with her remarkable success record, but we have to say the Elan 380 is tiers and tiers above!

A single rudder format, the 380 is simply a sensational looking sailing yacht that carries the well known Elan Cruiser Racer hallmark.

Interestingly we also spent a good deal of time with designer Rob Humphreys himself and do so each new model launch. This time, we were met with the exuberant ' Hey, the Aussies are here…!' as he flashed his lights pulling up outside the walled glass front of the hotel, where we sat taking in some welcomed Slovenian wine upon arrival. It's always a pleasure to listen and exchange and that goes for his whole team too.

Rob is a highly respected passionate designer internationally- with an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience and has worked with the Elan marque for some 15 years. He is notably unpretentious, sincere and has a great sense of humour and great company.

The new Elan 350 is presented at a Special Introductory Price and Navsail strongly advise to order early to take advantage of this.

Details on the new sophisticated Impression 444 Cruising Yacht will be done separately.

Contact Navsail for further details on the new model and full Elan range; 02 9999 6730, elan(at)navsail.com.au, www.navsail.com.au.