Sailboat Review: Solaris 44
The Solaris 44 is well-suited to the concept of performance cruising, and it gave our Boat of the Year judges a thrilling sail. Upwind, cruising along with the self-tacking jib, the steering was silky-smooth even in the gusts, and the twin rudders provided noteworthy control.
Walter Cooper
In the expansive world of performance cruising boats from top European production boatyards, perhaps not surprisingly, the Italians play the game differently. In the cruiser-racer segment, when it comes to a consistent blend of refined style and serious sailing chops, the following brands leap immediately to mind: Grand Soleil, Italia and Solaris. Speed and grace—and racing, to various degrees—are clearly important attributes to Italian sailors. (And a shout-out to X-Yachts of Denmark, whose lineup in looks and feel is a comparable match.)
Still, I have to admit, before serving as a judge in the 2024 Boat of the Year contest, Solaris was a company that wasn’t on my personal radar. That changed soon after I sailed the Solaris 44 on an ideal Chesapeake Bay afternoon in a sweet 10- to 12-knot southerly. After a memorable stint driving the sleek 44-footer upwind and down, I jotted this in my notebook: “Beautiful helm. A Ferrari.”
The Solaris 44 is one among 11 models that the builder offers from 40 to 111 feet. This is a boat with an all-business profile that looks quick even parked in a slip. With its plumb bow and straight-edge walk-through transom, the long waterline is completely stretched out. A flat sheerline and low, sloped coachroof—paired with a couple of rectangular hull windows and a fixed, extended bowsprit, which accommodates a code-zero headsail that bolsters the off-wind sail area—add to the contemporary styling.
The cockpit, with a pair of outboard helm stations coupled to a set of twin rudders, is spacious and accommodating. A full crew of racing sailors won’t worry about tripping over one another when tacking or flying a kite. The running rigging is stashed mostly below the deck, and leads to a pair of winches and clutches to port and starboard. Even the wide traveler is recessed under the cockpit sole to keep lines and clutter to a minimum. The real teak decks are awesome, though a faux composite deck is optional.
Underway, the boat was quiet and bright down below, and had a minimalist but comfortable light-oak interior.
Courtesy Solaris Yachts
Back to that sweet sailing, which is the 44’s clear raison d’être. All of those sailhandling elements came together nicely on our test ride. Off the wind on a deep reach with the big headsail, the boat tracked along well at 8 knots, and the speedo leapt accordingly to a solid 10 knots as we headed up a few degrees and brought the breeze abeam. We then swapped the code zero for the self-tacking jib and made an easy and respectable 7.6 knots closehauled. The wheels were as light and responsive as can be, and those two rudders offered complete control.
The inventory of 3Di North Sails was impressive. And our test boat was loaded with options: bow thruster, air conditioner, generator, and full B&G instrumentation. The standard double-spreader Seldén rig is aluminum, but owners can specify a carbon stick. The 60 hp Volvo Penta diesel (30 hp is standard, and 75 hp is available) with sail drive performed well, making better than 8 knots when ticking over at 2,400 rpm.
Vacuum-bagged construction is a straightforward laminate that employs vinylester resin matched with Airex foam core in the hull and deck. Likewise, the tabbed forward and main bulkheads are a composite sandwich. The T-shaped keel (available in deep and shallow versions of 8 feet, 5 inches and 7 feet, 10 inches, respectively) pair a cast-iron steel foil with a substantial lead ballast bulb. Obviously, this is not a boat destined to gunkhole through the Bahamas.
The three-cabin, two-head layout works well for an owner with occasional guests. Our Boat of the Year judges noted an abundance of storage.
Courtesy Solaris Yachts
The floor plan belowdecks, with three staterooms and two heads, is clearly laid out to accommodate an offshore racing crew or, in cruising mode, an owner and several guests. On a distance race with a crew of 10 who are on five-person watches, there’s plenty of room for the off-watch team to crash. Cushions in the double-berth staterooms aft are split to provide a lee cloth, and two settees in the main stateroom will serve as comfortable berths.
There’s an L-shaped galley to port at the foot of the companionway and a real navigation station (a must, in my eyes) to starboard. The owner’s stateroom, with a centerline double berth and en suite head, is forward. The light-oak furniture we saw was quite handsome. There’s nothing revolutionary in this layout, but it’s all addressed to high standards.
Having the opportunity to trial the Solaris 44 provided one happy surprise after another. I have a soft spot for dual-purpose yachts that will serve the racing and cruising modes more than adequately. The Italians have an adjective that I believe works well here: bellissima.
Herb McCormick is a CW editor-at-large and was a 2024 Boat of the Year judge.
Solaris 44 Specifications LOA44’2″Beam13’5″Draft7’10″/8’5″Sail Area1,270 sq. ft.Displacement28,263 lb.D/L148SA/D21.0Water100 gal.Fuel58 gal.Engine30 hp dieselDESIGNJavier Soto Acebal Take the Next StepPrice: $700,000
Contact: solarisyachts.com
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