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Allures 39.9: Review and test

Allures Yachting has been building aluminium cruisers for 10 years and has so far launched over 100 boats. The 39.9 is its latest design created by Berret Racoupeau, after taking the many existing Allures owners’ experiences and wishes into account.

Allures owns two other boatyards, including Caen-based Garcia Yachting, where its hulls are built. Garcia is expert at alloy fabrication and its hulls are phenomenally strong, yet comparatively light. Once complete, the bare, round-bilge aluminium hulls are delivered to the Allures yard in Cherbourg, where they are burnished, painted and insulated before fitting out. Unlike her bigger sisters, the 39.9 has a GRP deck and superstructure, giving less weight, more headroom below and a smoother, warmer finish.

The 39.9 is designed as a bluewater cruising yacht, although some have bought her for local sailing as well. She can be quite heavily customised – especially in the starboard quarter, which can be a cabin, technical room, workshop, or a clever combination of all three by using the workbench as a berth and the space below for storage.

There’s also a large area behind the engine, which will house a good size generator, watermaker, extra fuel tank or anything else for long periods offshore. Access to both areas is very good. A plethora of panels in the sole gives excellent access to all areas of the bilge for regular inspection and there are no no-go areas hidden behind mouldings where problems might arise. This is particularly important with an aluminium hull, as a metallic object dropped into the bilges can cause serious corrosion problems.

Lifting centreboard

One of her key selling points is her shoal draft centreboard. She has 4t of cast iron ballast set in resin in the bilge around the keel box. The alloy centreboard is unballasted, although it weighs 200kg. It is raised or locked in place using simple Dyneema lines, which run up through the mast support post before being taken to a coachroof winch.

The accommodation layout is pretty versatile and for this reason no two Allures yachts are the same. There are four or five existing standard plans, including one or two heads, double berth saloon conversion, but Allures will ‘build’ a 3D prototype of whatever you want on its CAD system.

Our test boat, hull no.3, had a small ensuite heads in the forecabin with a loo and basin, but no shower. The alternative is a roomier cabin with more stowage. Either way the berth is a good size, as is the one aft, which gives a generous double without ‘poking’ the inboard berth under the cockpit sole.

The main heads is a very roomy compartment with separate shower stall and removable bar for hanging wet oilies. Although there is a small opening port in the heads, there was no vent or hatch in the shower on our boat, but I’m sure one could be added without too much difficulty.

Headroom and views

Headroom is good throughout the boat, but not excessive, so loftier owners may want to drop the sole in a few critical places. There is no standing headroom in the workshop/tech room, though there is a small inboard port for air and a portlight in the topsides for natural light.

The cabin sole is raised in the galley, aft head and navigation areas, but then drops around 8in (20cm) in the saloon and forecabin. While it’s great to have a panoramic view from the galley and chart table, it’s a shame the seating area doesn’t share the view.

The raised cabin sole takes a little getting used to, but enables the fuel, water, batteries and ballast to be kept low in the hull and close to the centre of the yacht. This is very important for a sailing yacht that has no ballast keel. It goes without saying that thought must be given to any weighty kit carried on board – particularly above decks or up the mast. This is one reason the yard doesn’t favour in-mast furling. Standard is a full battened, slab-reefed mainsail with lazyjacks and zip bag, although a few owners have chosen to fit a furling boom.

The 39.9 is a beamy boat for sure, but this doesn’t just provide bags of interior volume for an airy and bright accommodation, it also does a fine job of increasing her overall stability and her resistance to initial heel.

To read Duncan’s boat test blog click  here.

Tech Specs:

Price From c £260,000

LOA: 41ft 6in (12.7m)

LWL: 36ft 10in (11.2m)

Beam: 13ft 7in (4.2m)

Draught options: 1.1m-2.8m (3ft 6in-9ft)

Displacement: 10,300kg (22,700lb)

Ballast: 4,200kg (9,260lb)

Sail Area: 881sqft (82m²)

Fuel: 350lt (77gal)

Water: 330lt (73gal)

Berths: 4, 6 or 8 inc saloon

Engine: 55hp Volvo D2-55 with Saildrive

Designer: Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design

Builder: Allures Yachting +33 (0)2 33 43 22 20, www.allures.fr

0 0 2013-06-26T14:12:00Z 1 771 4398 CSL Publishing Ltd 36 10 5159 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE UK agent: 01329 827053, williamsandsmithells.co.uk

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“Full main and small jib?” I asked, raising my voice slightly to project above the breeze in the low teens. “I honestly don’t know, this is my first time with the sails up on this boat,” said my friend Molly Howe, the broker who was helping me get out for a sunny February sail. This was going to be a voyage of discovery, and that felt fitting given that the boat I was testing differentiates itself from modern production cruisers in a number of ways. This is the first Allures 45.9 I’ve seen in person, let alone taken sailing. Though a number of them have been sold to Pacific Northwest sailors, they often have taken delivery abroad or immediately headed cruising. I was genuinely stoked to check it out.

The Allures 45.9 is an aluminum-hulled bluewater cruising sailboat with a composite deck, designed and built in France. It endeavors to strike an ideal balance between strength and safety, luxurious comfort and sailing performance. A high bar no doubt, but one I believe it clears impressively after my afternoon of sailing.

Though in the grand scheme of cruising sailboats, perhaps the 45.9’s most notable attribute is its aluminum hull, it wasn’t what caught my eye first. That honor went to large permanent swim step, which is integrated into the aluminum hull. As a fan of simple solutions on go-far boats, this element shined with utility and prudence. Framing the swimstep was a standard aluminum arch which supports a dinghy on davits below and a solar array above, each of which perfectly befit the design.

I climbed aboard and worked my way through a small maze of stainless steel tubing clearly designed to keep the robust cockpit coverings intact in some serious weather. This is less a design aspect and more of a lifestyle choice, and entirely understandable in this corner of the world. While these bimini supports somewhat inhibited easy movement forward, they also gave a sense of security and comfort in the cockpit, which is equally important for shorthanded sailing in the ocean.

I ducked into the interior and loved the layout of numerous windows and warm-toned woods, including the dark brown cabin sole. This isn’t a hand-sculpted custom one-off with joinery that’ll make you misty-eyed, but in the modern cruising sailboat market, it’s notably well finished and will be lastingly functional.

Returning to the deck, we readied for our sail. Flow around the cockpit was easy. We were off the dock in moments with the help of the bow thruster. Rounding the breakwater I asked how much we draw. “Nine-and-a-half with the board down.” Molly replied. That’s right, a person could be forgiven for forgetting that under the waterline there’s more cool design elements. There are two options for underwater appendages: a lifting keel or, in our case, a centerboard. The lifting keel offers heavier ballast but, spoiler alert, we certainly never felt under-ballasted on the centerboard version. It was exciting to be trying out such a deep-drafted cruising boat, that also draws less than 3.5 feet when it comes time to anchor.

The Allures 45.9 has a ⅞ fractional solent rig with swept spreaders, a split fixed backstay and checkstays. A solent rig differs from a cutter because the larger sail (the solent) is a 100% jib instead of a bigger genoa, and the position of the two sails means you won’t be employing them at the same time. Still, I lit up envisioning configuration options not available on many boats. The Allures’ sail area to displacement ratio represents its intent to be equally safe, stout, and sailable. Starting with discretion in 11-14 knots of wind on an unfamiliar boat, we rolled out the staysail with the full main.

Trimmer that I am, once we set the sails, I set about tweaking them. I quickly appreciated the ability to adjust many things. I liked the staysail leads, which could be moved aft under load, and it was interesting to see that the leads for both headsails shared placement on each side’s fore-aft track. I checked out the mainsheet traveler system forward of the dodger, which was clearly robust and wide enough to ably do its job. Pulling the loaded traveler to weather definitely required a winch, though.

Wanting to go check on a few things—cunningham rigging, jib halyard tension—I went forward, carefully exiting our cockpit cocoon. On this trip to the mast, I noticed the height of the step to the cabin top from the side decks. Where I instinctually stepped up, it felt like maybe two feet. Hmm. Looking around, I saw the better option. The coachroof has a gently convex sweep to deck level near the mast. Note to self, take the side-deck to the mast, then step up. Once there, I appreciated the pushpits flanking either side of the mast as we rolled through the wind waves.

We settled in with the preliminary sail configuration and the boat felt stout and sturdy without being sluggish, with the easy motion you’d expect from a cruising boat of this size. We took turns at the helm and noted what seemed like a pretty narrow groove sailing upwind. Taking the wheel, I unconsciously started moving it slightly looking for helm feel, only to discover that the Allures 45.9 has twin rudders. While it means I need to retune my expectations about feel, this design choice is almost guaranteed to be a net benefit for the vast majority of owners, with its increased control and reduced weather helm in breeze. We were making a lazy 5.5 knots at a 50-degree true wind angle and threw in a couple of tacks. We hadn’t come close to having too much sail up for the conditions.

A lot about the cockpit feels just right. It’s cleanly rigged, with cabintop lines led aft under the deck to their clutch and winch locations; and there are two clever line lockers under the cockpit sole. Generally, all the sail controls are effectively located and easy to use. Even with the extensive cockpit coverings, the visibility from the helm stations up the side decks is excellent and the windows through the bimini from the helm offered a perfect view of the mainsail for the driver. I really loved the position of the primary winches, which manage the headsails and their furling lines (the mainsheet trims to the cabin top electric winch). Placed as they are, the primary winches can not only be trimmed from the helm, but will also keep sailors standing inboard in the cockpit instead of leaning or standing farther outboard—a big safety improvement in the offshore environment.

It was only a matter of time before we decided to furl the staysail and try the solent. As soon as we did, the boat just sang. The groove was easier to find and maintain, the boat felt more balanced, and our speed jumped to 7+ knots upwind. We were happier, the boat was happier. We still didn’t feel close to being overpowered, but for the first time that day, the Allures 45.9 felt adequately powered, and all design facets were working in harmony.

The bigger sail also made vastly more sense when we turned off the wind. Soon, some commercial traffic inspired us to throw in a jibe, and I was reminded of the compromise with a solent rig when we had to furl the sail in order to jibe it through. For bluewater sailors whose intervals between maneuvers might be many hours or even days, no biggie; but for cruisers in the Pacific Northwest, furling the solent for every tack or jibe would be something to adjust to.

Getting back to the dock, I returned to the swanky cabin. Moving inside and out, you won’t forget the Allures 45.9 is very beamy at 14.5 feet, yet efforts have clearly been made to reduce the functional width (and associated risk) for sailors. The main salon’s settee table is inviting, but provides crucial handholds around its entire exterior. In the cockpit, the fixed table does the same. Every bit as important, the galley is situated so you could lean against the back of the settee seats while working there in a seaway; much better than less natural bracing or even the tethering I know some offshore cruisers do when cooking underway.

In my opinion, there’s just a lot about the design that hits the mark. The Volvo D2-60 diesel (or optional D2-75) is quite powerful for a boat of this size, and the saildrive pushes the boat to efficient cruising speeds above 9 knots. It was cool to check out the centerboard trunk and to see that it does not require a hydraulic system—a winch easily does the job and means remote repairs will be much easier. Tankage is mostly located under the floorboards, keeping the weight low. The port aft cabin has a single berth that doubles as a workbench and provides stunningly good access to the steering system just aft of there. The forward cabin is indeed luxurious, and the starboard aft double berth is cozy. There are two heads, one with a shower that had more than my 6-foot requirement for standing headroom (head configuration options also exist). To me, the layout points to this boat being mainly set-up for long term cruising for a couple who might occasionally welcome guests, or possibly a small family.

The storage throughout is substantial, perhaps nowhere more on display than the massive forepeak storage locker ahead of the watertight crash bulkhead. It’s where I’d keep my code zero, but you could keep deflated paddleboards or any number of other items stowed there and forget you even had them on board.

In sum, it’s a boat of style and sophistication, one that will deliver delight under sail, inspire confidence in rough weather, and is sure to have you charting courses for distant destinations. Its aluminum hull is strong and forgiving should you find yourself on the bottom or hit a log at full speed. The innovations evident at every turn work beautifully together such that the boat feels at home at sea, just as it was intended.

Joe Cline is the Managing Editor of 48° North . Special thanks to Molly Howe and the crew from Swiftsure Yachts for the opportunity to go sailing on this boat.

Joe Cline has been the Managing Editor of 48° North since 2014. From his career to his volunteer leadership in the marine industry, from racing sailboats large and small to his discovery of Pacific Northwest cruising —Joe is as sail-smitten as they come. Joe and his wife, Kaylin, welcomed a baby girl to their family in December 2021, and he is enjoying fatherhood while still finding time to sail, make music, and tip back a tasty IPA every now and again.

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Allures 45.9 Boat Review

• By Herb McCormick
• Updated: April 25, 2018

There’s something very French about no-nonsense aluminum cruising boats, perhaps because the vast majority of them are built in France. The very best examples are rugged yet refined, handsome yet utilitarian, and are equally at home either crossing the open ocean or tucked into a secluded cove. When you come across a bare brushed-aluminum hull in a distant anchorage, you just sense that the sailors on board will have an adventurous tale to tell.

At least that’s my impression. And when I first inspected the new Allures 45.9 at last fall’s U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland — yet another offering with a ­decidedly French pedigree, starting with its prolific Gallic designer, ­Olivier Racoupeau — nothing about the yacht’s purposeful lines or inviting interior dissuaded me from that opinion. For long-range cruising, inside and out, the Allures represents the best of two worlds. It really fits my definition of a bluewater cruiser.

With an extended bowsprit ­forward (for flying off-wind sails and housing the ground tackle, which consists of an optional self-­launching Rocna anchor) and a nifty arch aft (perfect for antennas, a wind generator and solar panels, while doubling as dinghy davits), the Allures 45.9 is clean and functional at both ends. In between, there’s no lack of spiffy features and attention to detail.

Working from the bow aft, the double-spreader deck-stepped mast features a Solent rig with a pair of headsails, both on furlers. A copious sail locker is fitted with a crash bulkhead. The faux-teak deck is a ­product called Marinedeck, a good-looking cork-and-resin composite that doubles as excellent ­nonskid. There’s a solid vang on the boom that also features a Walder boom brake, which tames the spar when jibing. A pair of safety rails at the mast are properly sized and spaced, and provide plenty of support when working forward. The traveler is stationed on deck just forward of the generous dodger.

The cockpit is very cool. The companionway includes a two-piece acrylic slat that disappears into the deck when not in use. The color-­coded vang, mainsheet and reefing lines are led to a suite of winches and clutches to port and starboard on the coachroof. The port locker also houses an opening hatch to the technical room down below; aft of the starboard locker is a nifty nook for stowing the dinghy outboard. The twin helms, affixed to a pair of ­rudders, are within easy reach of a pedestal just forward of the wheels that control the headsail sheets via a set of Lewmar winches. The walk-through transom leads to a built-in swimming/boarding platform. The underbody of the boat we inspected had the standard skeg/centerboard configuration, though a ballasted swing keel is also an option.

Down below, there are three accommodations layouts from which to choose (basically, you can go with two or three cabins, and one or two heads). Our test boat was a two-cabin model with a large single head to port of the companionway. Aft of the head was the aforementioned technical room (you could also opt for bunk beds instead), which was really terrific. It’s a place to work and store tools that are going to get oily and messy while separating them from the ­other ­living spaces. The generator ­also lives there, and there’s even room for a washing machine should you so desire.

Stepping down below, you are greeted by an interior ­layout that belies the workmanlike appearance of the robust topside. In other words, it doesn’t look like an ­expedition boat but rather a contemporary cruising boat with accouterments that wouldn’t feel out of place on a modern, French production model from builders such as ­ Beneteau , Jeanneau or Dufour .

In the main saloon, to port is the straight-line galley; the back of a long, amidships settee provides support for the cook when working at sea. To starboard is a raised navigation station (something you see less and less of on new boats) with seats both fore and aft of it. A large L-shaped settee is forward of the nav table, with a drop-down table that allows for a giant double berth in its lowered position. All three versions include a luxurious forward stateroom, with or without an adjacent head.

The construction of the ­Allures 45.9 is straightforward: The hull and transom are welded aluminum, while the deck and coachroof are fiberglass with a foam core. Down below, for sound and weather insulation, the hull is insulated foam with neoprene.

We sailed the boat in ­rather disappointing conditions on Chesapeake Bay, with winds that hovered in the 5-knot range. Surprisingly, even in the light airs, the Allures ghosted along at better than 3 knots. The centerboard is a neat feature because it provides a bite to windward when lowered but can also be raised when reaching or running off the breeze. And, of course, it allows access to shallow anchorages that are out of bounds to other boats of this size.

The Allures 45.9 is imported into the U.S. market through a sole distributor, Swiftsure Yachts, based in Seattle. But the sales reps at Swiftsure say most new owners take delivery of the boat in France, cruise the canals and coastline, then sail across the English Channel to Great Britain, where it can be loaded on a ship to cross the Atlantic in less than a week.

That sounds like a pretty good plan to me. Though, of course, you could also opt to sail the boat home as well. The Allures 45.9 can handle whatever comes its way with style and aplomb.

Specifications:

Allures Yachting 206-378-1110 swiftsureyachts.com

• More: 2011+ , 41 - 50 ft , Allures 45.9 , aluminum , Boat Gallery , centerboarder , cruising , monohull , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
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Chris Beeson tests a French yacht with true pedigree, designed to take shorthanded crew around the world in safety and comfort

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

What’s she like to sail? Some context is needed here first. Beam reaching in a 45ft boat in Force 4-5 winds, one could reasonably expect more than eight knots’ boatspeed. However, most of the new boats we review are designed for coast-hopping and tested with empty lockers and water tanks. This is not a boat built for speed. The Allures 45 has been designed, from keel to truck, to take a shorthanded crew safely around the world in enviable levels of comfort. She was also loaded on the day with tons of liveaboard kit and had full tanks. So, in that context, she delivered very respectable boatspeed. I’d like to go back out again and play with her sail configurations to find out whether the heel and the rounding up were down to our unfamiliarity with the boat – owners Adrian and Jacqui have done very little upwind work with Vagaris. Perhaps with an extra reef in the main she’d have gone just as fast with less heel, but should you really need two reefs in 20 knots of true wind? Certainly the 44 we tested in 2007 tracked like a train in a similar breeze without even a sniff of rounding up, so it was a bit of a surprise to find her broaching out of a white-sail beam reach. My time on board was fleeting but there’s no doubt Adrian and Jacqui will find the right balance once they become more familiar with Vagaris. What’s she like in port and at anchor? This is where she really excels. With the centreboard raised she draws just 1m (3ft) so you can explore further upriver and anchor in less populated areas, or, of course, even dry out. The vast tankage, solar panels and wind generator give the owners the autonomy that is the trademark of a good blue-water project, and the cavernous stowage means they will want for nothing – and have spares for everything. The experience that has been built into the Allures 45 at the conceptual and design levels is stunning. The GRP deck means that she’s quieter to move around on and that the deck won’t become toe-toastingly hot. And if they ever need to fit extra kit, it will be no more complicated than doing it on a GRP boat. Down below, she is uncompromisingly luxurious. Her huge windows bring the outside in and, although she doesn’t have air conditioning installed, she does have enough hatches and blinds to keep her crew comfortable in any climate. Would she suit you and your crew? Vagaris’ owners, Adrian and Jacqui Ward, bought their first big boat, an Elan Impression 384, in 2006, shortly before reading Yachting Monthly’s review of the Allures 44. After taking part in Rally Portugal 2006 to test their aptitude for blue-water life, they cruised the Med but yearned for wider horizons and never forgot the Allures 44 – ‘It’s your fault!’ Adrian told us. Having rented out their Brighton home to finance the trip, Adrian and Jacqui took delivery of Vagaris in March this year and took her on a shakedown cruise in the Baltic, taking in Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersburg before returning via the Kiel Canal. Allures doesn’t like the word ‘dream’ because dreams tend not to come true. It believes every boat is a platform used to deliver a project. Undoubtedly Adrian and Jacqui share the energy and vision to realise their project, to explore the world under sail, and they helped to create the platform to do it. But would this be the right boat for you? If your project is as far-reaching and well-formed, and you’re committed to it absolutely, the Allures 45 would make an excellent platform.

At Allures and Garcia Yachts of Cherbourg

• November 11th, 2018
• On Location

There are just a handful of serious yards with a decent output of aluminium built sailing yachts in the world. Of course, as it really is the sailing heart of Europe the least, if not for the world, there are most of them based in France. Grand Large Yachting Group is a conglomerate that has two of the most renown brands in its portfolio: Allures and Garcia Yachts of Cherbourg. I was happy of having granted access to this yard a few days ago.

Arriving at the place the sun was shining as it was for not letting go this awesome summer of 2018 and even for it was mid-November already, the temperatures rose to a warm 14 degrees Celsius above Zero. A great day with a blue sky. But some wind was coming at us from the Atlantic Ocean as a harbinger and foreshadow of what the boats made here are to withstand: Real tough weather, real hard sailing.

Up to this point I have seen the Allures and one Garcia Exploration just on dry land in various boat shows. Early 2018 I´ve had a great interview with sailing legend Jimmy Cornell on the Garcia Exploration 45 which he was a key in developing. Now it was time to actually see where these boats are being made and when Cyrille Corlay, Sales and Marketing Manager of the yard, greeted me, he instantly invited me inside to the workshops.

About the DNA of Garcia and Allures Yachts

But what is it with Garcia and Allures?, I asked Cyrille: “Well, let´s begin with Allures”, he said. As the story goes, two friends – sailors of course – couldn´t find the right boat for their dream circumnavigation. There simply was no manufacturer making it the way they wanted to sail. Having acquired some money in their respective jobs with Boston Consulting, they hired famous naval architect Olivier Raceaupeau and developed “their” perfect boat for the long haul . They had the boats built and fitted. “But then people, who saw the boats, really liked them and so the first of them two was sold to new owners, then the second as well.”

And this is how Allures Yachting began, not so long ago, as Cyrille tells me: “In the year 2003 the company was finally founded and began production.” The Allures is a blue water cruiser, says Cyrille, made for the sailing couple. It is meant to be sailed with ease for a long period of time. “She is a boat for tropical waters, has a nice wide cockpit, good sailing characteristics and lots of stowage for this kind of trip.” Of course, an Allures can go to High Latitudes as well, thanks to the strong aluminium hull, “but more for a couple of weeks, like a short visit, it´s not meant to stay there for months”, clarifies Cyrille. That´s the job of the Garcia …

Garcia yachts are stepping up some levels when it comes to exploring the distant waters and areas of our planet: “This boat is a real explorer”, says Cyrille and cites the slogan under which the boats are sold: “Everywhere you can´t go!” And it is true: Garcia boats feature all details an owner might be seeking in his yacht to go where at least a very limited number of persons have gone yet.

No wonder that the series of Garcia yachts is called “Exploration”. The design is more voluminous, a deep V-shaped hull for ultra-stable and comfortable sailing, strong thick hull plating and a ton of details I would be inspecting later on. As Cyrille finishes his coffee and stands up to finally walk me around in the yard, he smiles: “By the way, the two guys who invented the Allures concept … they´ve never left for their circumnavigation.” Still owning and running the company, both are happy managing Allures Yachting and designing newer generations of boats.

Aluminium yachts 100% Made in Normandy

As we enter the workshop, it´s the usual walkway “pontoon” at which hulls in various stages of fitting are “docked” sternwise. I count no less than 4 boats in the big hall. Garcia currently offers five sailing boat monohulls ranging from 45 to 75 feet of which the Exploration 45 and the 52 are the most sold.  With Allures Yachts, there are three sizes from 39 to 45 and 52 feet available. Both brands are currently in the process of making a catamaran to being part of the multihull-boom.

“Allures boats have a distinct feature”, says Cyrille as we are standing above a 45.9: “The deck is made of GRP.” That has some nice effects to it, like being able to have smoother designs, more rounded shapes that are pleasant to look at. “Another point is the weight and of course the time to build a boat.” Nevertheless, Cyrille assures that stability and rigidity of an Allures with a GRP-moulded deck isn´t inferior to an aluminium-made monococque: “An Allures could sail safely completely without a deck.”

As we walk along the “pontoon”, Cyrille shows the different stages of a boat in the making. One aspect was pretty interesting: “These are yachts which are 100 per cent made in Normandy.” The aluminium hulls are welded at a company-owned facility nearby, as well as the wooden fittings and furniture and the GRP-made deck, which is also a company-owned supplier nearby. “The worldwide crisis of 2008 which has been especially devastating to the French boating industry saw a big number of brands going brankrupt, insolvent, being sold or closing down completely. There were only two French brands surviving reasonably in shape: That was Beneteau and … us.”

Meant for Blue Water and High Latitude sailing

“Garcia and Allures boats are fundamentally different”, says Cyrille: “An Allures-owner never would consider buying a Garcia. It´s the same vice-versa.” For Cyrille that´s a crucial thing to understand. Nevertheless, both boats are cashing in on each others concepts. The insulation, for example.

Both yachts will be thermally insulated, which I proof by stepping into an Allures-hull in the making. It´s a black foam of some 3 centimetres thickness. The foam will be cut to stripes and put to the hull by sticking it between the aluminium stringers. Additional, thinner, strips of foam will be glued on the joints of the stripes to ensure complete closure and proper fitting.

As I was wondering about this fitting method – up to this point I thought insulating material will be sprayed onto the hull – Cyrille says that this method is preferred to spraying because it is super easy to later remove the insulation partially in case a repair on the hull is needed. Sounds legit. As long as there are no air pockets between hull and insulator material, everything might be fine I guess. But here comes the Garcia …

“These yachts are meant to stay in High Latitudes for months and months to come”, says Cyrille, “so thermal insulation is absolutely crucial to the whole boat.” Garcia yachts are double insulated, meaning that the foam covering the whole boat from ceiling to floorboard-level is 7 centimetres thick. As I stand inside an Exploration 52 I could witness the painstaking efforts in insulating the boat: Each and every little corner exposed to outside conditions is thickly covered.

A detail you barely notice when standing in the finished product: As for the bridge of the Exploration 52, only skilled eyes will notice differences to ordinary boats. Thick insulated glass windows for example or the big heating unit underneath the chart table , that, by the way, is mounted in a raised position forward of the nice salon with helm and engine controls at hand.

Garcia yachts: Exploring the wide world

Some details which define the boat´s unique properties can only be seen underneath the waterline, explains Cyrille and guides me to another workshop where a Garcia Exploration is currently fitted. “Look at the bottom of the hull”, Cyrille points to the keel plate: It was flat and especially strong. Right at the tip of the bow a thick plate with a hole was welded to the frame. “When in need of repairs, the boat can be put to a wire and being pulled out of the water, maybe on round piles of wooden trunks up a beach or slipway.”

More details emerge, such a small skegs which protect the rudder shafts from approaching stuff floating underneath the hull. “Just in case the boat will heavily hit something bigger, the double rudders are designed to bent backwards and – see this thin line visible on the top part of the blade …?” I look carefully and, yes, I can barely see a thin line there.

“This is a pre-determined break point. The rudder blades on the Garcia yachts are made of aluminium, except for this upper part, which is made in GRP. Now, if you hit a big rock in high speed, the blade will bend backwards and the upper part won´t damage the hull as the GRP will be shattered and break off.” Clever. And a safety feature as well.

Both Allures and Garcia boats share all the benefits of having variable draft. For the sailing couple exploring the world I too consider this a must-have-feature on a yacht because entering shallow areas, going up-river or sneak into sheltered bays is essential and integral of going around the world. With Allures and Garcia the yard opted for the lifting daggerboard-version. “In this boat we have five tons of ballast right at the centre of gravity. The daggerboard is just there for better pointing abilities, not for adding stability and ballast.”

One thing of painting aluminium – and that honestly is one of the big disadvantages – is painting. With Allures and Garcia, hulls usually won´t be painted as this would mean that the owners would have to re-paint the boats every 10 or so years. But, as Cyrille says: “Crucial is three things for keeping the good advantages of an aluminium hull: First is mass-free electrics. Second is good anodes and third is a proper anti-fouling paint shop.” In this yard they take pride in spot-free underwater paint jobs for their products.

Pro Aluminium: Nice details on these yachts

I do notice some other details which I found particularly interesting. Details which are advocating the pro of having an aluminium boat as the material of choice when it comes to exceeding the ordinary cruising-range of a boat. Take the rudders again for example.

The mounting base with the shaft and the rudder bearings is of course made of aluminium metal and look at this construction! Shafts are aluminium too and oversized to take on the loads of the boat´s stern part when falling dry. Also, the bearings are super-thick and so rigid that it seems inconceivable that they could break even if one hits a big rock.

Back in the Garcia Exploration 52, a boat that has been delivered lately and awaits her maiden voyage in spring next year, Cyrille kneels down and opens a floor board: “These are not just wooden floor boards. As you have seen, we do insulate the boat´s hull just to the level of the walking deck below. To close the hull´s insulation, we constructed these floor boards which are super thick and have the same 7 centimetre-insulation inside you´ve seen on the hull.” Amazing!

In high latitudes ordinary yacht heating systems won´t really be sufficient to create a warm, stable inside environment for the crews and since Garcia boats are made to stay up (or down) there for longer, something more appropriate must be installed. That´s the Reflex oven which I not just find perfectly stylish for a boat like this but I know that these things can supply the radiators mounted in each of the cabins with sufficient heat.

Real ships for real sailors

As all of the finished boats I saw have already been handed over to their owners I refrained from taking pictures of the cabins (and you might as well check the yard´s websites to see them even better photographed that I would be able to do it), but there are some interior details I want to talk about to show the level of thought and craftsmanship that goes into these boats.

For example, in the Garcia Exploration 52 there´s a full fledged office desk with a nice rigid stool at port side of the owner´s cabin. The wood grain, if you look closely, of all of the furniture fittings is seamless and wooden front covers seem to be made from one single piece. Corners are well-rounded, lots of massive wooden fittings. This is an interior made to last. A true owner´s designed boat. The yard goes as far as it can to make happen owner´s wishes. On this particular boat, for example, the aft cabin has been fitted to house another office instead of berths …

Even veneered parts, like for example the doors and the pivots, are made with care and eye for beauty. I know from boat companies where the yachts are made in far greater numbers and way faster that making round shapes is a pain in the ass for industrialized products, no matter if it’s a galley , a table or a simple corner of a piece of furniture. So here´s lots of handcrafted effort.

Which by the way can also be seen when looking at production- and delivery times: For example, a 46-footer of Beneteau will be on the production line from starting of lamination to actual delivery of the boat for 20 to 30 days in general. A boat like the Garcia will be built in a matter of months, let alone delivery time of a Garcia right now is 18 months due to a good capacity utilization and order status of the yard, which is good news to hear.

In the end I thank Cyrille and the workers at Allures/Garcia in Cherbourg for this intimate insight in the production process and the detailed clarification of what the difference of both boats really is. As I am standing in the sheltered though large cockpit of the Garcia Exploration 52 and imagine myself arriving in Nunavut half way through the Northwest-Passage I can barely imagine a better suited boat for a trip like this than this well built, well thought-through Normandy-made Garcia yacht.

Like the idea of a rigid aluminium sailing yacht? Try these articles too:

Aluminium marvel: A Berckemeyer BM 49 Pilot House is in the making 

Talking to Marc Lombard on his Cigale 16 design

Walkthrough in the Gulliver 57 : True giant ship

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Video: test sailing the Allures 51.9

• Toby Hodges
• December 28, 2021

The alloy-hulled Allures 51.9 is set to be a much bigger boat than her predecessors, the Allures 51 and 52. Rupert Holmes and Toby Hodges report

Allures builds alloy centreboard cruisers with fibreglass decks and superstructures, which many contend is the the ideal combination for cruising. With that in mind, we picked the right boat to sail on a squally day off the coast of La Rochelle as he took the Allures 51.9 for a test sail.

The Allures 51.9 is the third generation of the flagship of this French bluewater range, and she retains the brand’s core concepts of a rugged aluminium hull combined with a composite deck that reduces weight and improves insulation, plus shoal draught and twin rudders.

However, it’s effectively a much larger boat than the previous Allures 51 and 52 models, with a longer waterline and more powerful broad stern sections, even though maximum beam is only 12cm greater.

An important part of the Allures 51.9 concept is also to raise the interior fit out to a higher level. Larger windows and overhead panels create even more natural light and there’s a 270° view from the generous navigation station at the forward end of the saloon.

Larger windows and overhead panels create plenty of natural light

Beyond this, the most obvious difference compared to the previous models is in the spacious full-beam aft master cabin, which is sure to be a major selling point for many prospective owners. The forward part of the accommodation can be arranged with either two equal en-suite double cabins, or a larger double guest cabin with a peninsula bed and more stowage, plus a smaller offset Pullman cabin with two single bunks.

The sizeable aft cabin doesn’t impact on the space available on deck and the cockpit is an impressive 6m long. Key sail handling operations are carried out from the security of the cockpit, making this an easy boat to sail short-handed.

Core Allures concepts of a rugged aluminium hull combined with a composite deck that reduces weight and improves insulation, plus shoal draught and twin rudders feature on the Allures 51.9

The first example was launched in May and is fitted with an optional hard bimini. After sea trials the first Allures 51.9 will join the 2021/2022 Grand Large World Odyssey 500, taking the southern route via the Magellan Straits.

Allures 51.9 specifications

LOA:  15.57m 51ft 1in Beam:  4.82m 15ft 7in Draught:  1.34 to 2.92m 4ft 5in to 9ft 7in Displacement:  18,400kg 40,600lb Base price:  €706,860 ex VAT Builder:   allures.com

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• Boat Tests , News , SAILBOATS

The ALLURES 51.9 making waves

• May 30, 2023

We find out as we test their flagship model, the Allures 51.9, on a blustery day in Cherbourg, France.

The Allures sailboats, also this Allures 51.9, are designed and constructed in the same French shipyard as Garcia, so you appreciate the incredible craftsmanship and pedigree of blue water cruisers going into the range of Allures yachts. From the beginning, it retains Allures’ niche of using aluminium hulls with glass fibre decks and superstructures, which, the yard maintains, gives the optimum combination of low maintenance and less weight higher up. Priorities for this design were a full beam aft cabin and a spacious, long cockpit. At 7m long, the latter offers formidable social, sailing and aft deck zones. The range consists of 2 models, 45.9 and 51.9 (from 45 to 51 feet), intended for adventurous sailors looking for a reliable, safe, comfortable and easy-to-handle blue water sailboat singlehanded or with a reduced crew.

With a glut of 50ft yachts launched this year, there’s something for everyone – as long as you want and can afford a 50-something foot yacht. If you’re after a go-anywhere cruiser, the Allures 51.9 firmly ticks that box, but just because she can sail across oceans doesn’t mean she’s any less of a coastal cruiser.

The grey aluminium hull might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s insanely beneficial; it won’t crack or craze, it doesn’t fade or need polishing, or like most owners nowadays, you can have an excellent colourful wrap as this particular 51.9 has.

I don’t have anything against fixed keels, but there are times when I wish they weren’t so deep or so fixed. The centreboard makes a host of harbours and anchorages more accessible to this boat than to many smaller yachts. She’s also a comfortable yacht to live on board. What’s not to love about her? Surprisingly little.

Great conditions

The day started well with 18-22 KTS of wind; as far as I’m concerned, perfect sailing weather . We had 1-1.5 metres of swell as the tide changed with 2KTS of tidal flow. This particular Allures 51.9 had just been put in the water two days ago, so we had a team of carpenters, mechanical and electrical engineers on board, plus a skipper to test all the systems as the long but thorough process of getting this Allures 51.9 ready for the owner. You would have thought the boat would be a little crowded, but there was plenty of space for everyone, down to the intelligent way Allures designed the cockpit area or, as the team kept referring to it, the three cockpit zones.

In lighter conditions, she won’t win many prizes for speed and agility without extra sails, but as cruisers go, she’s excellent. We set full mainsail and genoa, and she came into her own as the wind increased.

She has a long skeg, which protects the prop and gives her good directional stability. Her centreboard can reduce her draught from 3.1m to 1.34m; with the board fully down, she wasn’t particularly high-winded, feeling most comfortable around 35-38° off the wind close hauled.

On a fetch, she makes good speed, and as the wind increased to 18-22 knots AWS, she was soon charging along in excess of 8.5 knots which by any means is a result as she is not a light boat weighing in at 18.4T and around 22T fully loaded.

Allures 51.9 Deck Layout

The cockpit is one of the best I have seen and worked in, with three decisive zones; Zone 1 aft, you have a voluminous sun deck and colossal storage lazaret, with room for bikes, paddle boards, dive tanks, outboard motor and so on. Both to port and starboard, there are two more lockers (and access to steering) and extra storage. This locker also is part of your 1st and 2nd water-tight bulkheads ensuring high levels of safety. Like most yachts, there is a sizeable drop-down transom (bathing platform), giving excellent access to the water.

Zone 2 is where the magic happens; twin helm stations and all the working multi-speed self-tailing winches are located. On both pedestals, you have the options of chart plotters, autopilot, electronic engine controls, bow and stern thruster, multi-repeaters VHF, light switches, and the list goes on. All the sheets for the sails and fullers, reefing line, etc., are brought back to this area with plenty of tail bins by the primary and secondary winches to keep your workspace tidy and clear. This area is a skipper’s dream.

Zone 3 , guest and relaxation area, here you will find ample seating for 8 to 10 people sizeable split cockpit table, you have a clear walkway through the entire cockpit, but the table wings fold up to provide a generous table for you and your guests easily seating 8 for those all essential sundowners. This is a very well-protected area, and this particular owner had chosen to have the hardtop option installed, which I can tell you, with the chilly spring northerly wind we had on test day, was extremely welcome as I was agreeably cocooned here, warming up as the engineers were running through the systems. The Allures 51.9 comes with the mainsheet arch as standard and a spray hood, but the hardtop option for extended cruising is well worth your sanity for those colder climates. Moving forward on this 17M yacht is straightforward with inboard and outboard shrowds and a wide walkway, high guard rails, and hand holds/ rails everywhere. The foredeck is huge with flush hatches, so there are no trip hazards giving you easy access to the chain and sail locker. There is a handy ladder for you to descend into the depths of this locker if need be. I felt safe and navigated this boat with ease. The Allures 51.9 is equipt with 30kg spade ancker and 80m of 12mm chain.

Allures 51.9 Rig & Sailplan

This yacht had a large genoa forward a gib and the possibility for an inner staysail – helpful when cross-tacking or with winds over 25 knots TWS; the mast has extra support from running backstays while it’s in use. The genoa can be tacked without furling by experienced sailers, but to make the operation smooth, I found it much easier to furl and unfurl the sail as you might get into a bit of trouble otherwise. With fewer crew, furling most of it before tacking is the better option. The fixed bowsprit can take a code zero, jeneca as we had on the day of testing or furling asymmetric to increase the off-wind sail area.

Accommodation

Stepping down the five companionway steps, you are greeted by what can only be described as an outstandingly modern, clean-lined interior. Large, bright windows open up this luxury living space . This makes her bright and contemporary while retaining traditional values like a functional living space with plenty of valuable handholds everywhere. The layout sees the main saloon offset to starboard with L-shaped seating outboard and a long drop-down table that can be converted into a large double berth (day bed). The table can easily seat 6 to 8 people with the help of two puff-style chairs ( which also give you access to the centre board mechanism. The choice of materials is rich and varied depending on your preference. There’s good stowage under the seats but less outboard due to the hull’s foam insulation (65mm). However, this is less important as the general storage around this Allures 51.9 is generous, as you will see, especially in the technical area. To port, you have a chaise long-style seat adjoining to the chart table and, further forward, a designated chart table chair. This is your command station, come home-office space, which I love having a workspace and chart table in one as an online blogger and YOUTUBER. It tics all the right boxes for me. The swivel chair helps you stay connected with everyone on the boat, whether at the helm, in the galley or salon, making it both practical and social. Here you have the option of another chart plotter, multi-function display, VHF radion, fusion stereo and your onboard digital display for your electrical and fuel systems, to mention a few. A command station gives you that extra peace of mind to check on your systems or work comfortably while on passage or at anchor.

Looking aft, you step down from the saloon to the port side and enter the galley, if you can call it that. It is almost better equipt than my kitchen at home. This galley is designed to be used in any sea condition yet gives you all the mod-cons we demand today: dual stainless fridges, microwave, dishwasher, coffee machine, and storage; you can fit every kitchen tool and appliance invented. The galley has a standard four-burner gas hob, but you can upgrade to induction. As you have plenty of space on this 17-metre (51ft) yacht for solar, it would be a worthwhile option to tick. Fresh water is not a problem, as the watermaker can fill the 620L water tank within an hour or two. The amount of light entering this boat really does show off the modern light oak interior; small details can be missed at first glance, like the band of polished aluminium set into the cabinets and woodwork around the boat; the handholds are covered in light grey hand-stitched leather.

The VIP cabin of Allures 51.9

Moving forward, you have a twin bunk cabin on the starboard side; both bunks are larger than a standard single and equipped with their own reading lights and fans. This small cabin has its own opening hatch for ventilation. An excellent space for your kids or additional crew if you want. There is some storage in here, but it could be better. Just across the passageway, you will find the heads and separate shower, as expected on a sailboat this size. This bathroom can be used as the day heads, shared with the two forward cabins or with the second door used exclusively as the VIP on sweet heads for extra privacy. Electric fresh or salt water flush for the heads and plenty of stowage for all your gubbins. There is a seat set into the shower, which is an excellent safety feature for showering while underway at sea.

The forward VIP cabin is precisely that, light, spacious and a touch luxurious with its walk-around double bed. Eight overhead lockers, an ample single hanging cupboard with draws and a huge draw at the foot of the bed. Twin opening hatches and electric fans help to keep this space well-ventilated if you don’t have the reversible air conditioning option installed. This is another one of those must-have options if you are going to seriously circumnavigate the world. The hull windows are just the right size and height to give you fantastic views from your bed; imagine waking up with the sun shining over white sandy beaches, the distant dark green of palm trees, and the expectation for your days diving at a coral reef or enjoying an importune BBQ on the beach, perfect, except for one thing Allures have done such a good job insulating the hull (65mm) of the 51.9 that it’s very likely you won’t hear the gentle lapping of the sea against the hull, but a sacrifice I am willing to make.

Returning to the salon heading aft, I am reminded why these are such good seaboats; she is a very stable craft with all the wait central (18.4 tones). This is helped by having the fuel tanks (730L) and your water tanks (620L) below the salon floor, providing easy access for any maintenance.

Maintenance

One of the stand-out areas of the Allures is the technical space, accessed on the starboard side aft of the salon and forming the corridor to the owner suite. Allures have dressed this space up for the 51.9 by making it blend in with its surroundings, and all the cabinetry is in the same light oak finish hiding the spare parts, draws, wet locker, extra fridge or freezer and washing machine. There is plenty of room for your tools and any other bits and bobs you might collect for your next adventure. To port, you will find the door for the engine and tec room. The soundproofing and insulation (65mm) are as good as the hull insulation, and I will admit that coming back to the marina, there was some engine noise, as can be expected, but not enough that it would disturb your sleep if you were of-watch on passage. She comes equipt with a Volvo penta D3 110 HP diesel, 40L water heater, fuel & water filters, generator and the list goes on. What is noticeable is how clearly marked all the electrical cables, water pipes, and manifolds are. A well-lit area that was designed with sailors in mind, and access for the generator (Fp generator 5000i) is by lifting three of the companionway steps allowing you complete access.

Aft cabin, Owners suite

The beam of this yacht is genuinely visible here at 4.82M and a standing height off well over 2M. Only a few yachts at the 50ft mark can boast this amount of space and comfort; in fact, only one or two comes to mind, and one of those is a French manufacturer as well. Entering the cabin, you are greeted with light from the nearly complete beam-length windows above the island double bed. As you face the bed, there are two good-sized hanging lookers to your left (starboard side), four overhead lockers, an air-con controller; mains plug and USB chargers. Draws under the bed, and the bed also lifts on gas struts to provide even more stowage. To your right (port side), a lovely lounging chair offers a spot to relax as you soak in your surroundings, pinching yourself occasionally, knowing how lucky you are; four overhead lockers and stowage behind your lounger for books and personal things as well. You also have your own plugs and USB chargers on this side of the bed. This cabin also has its own ensuite heads and separate shower mirroring the forward heads. The choice of materials and fittings grant this cabin a true feeling of luxury.

Would I buy one? The strait answer is yes; I would love to own an Allures 51.9 . It has everything I want in a cruising yacht and much more. She feels indestructible on the water and, with some extra canvas to increase her sail area for light wind days, she’ll lift her skirts and go whatever the weather.

She might not be the most responsive boat on the helm, but when she gets going, you feel like nothing can stop her.

I love that she’s got an aluminium hull because it requires just the amount of upkeep I have time for – absolutely none!

Seeing her approaching will scare most GRP boat owners into action and looking for extra fenders.

The accommodation is spacious, comfortable and versatile; there is room for maintenance and running repairs, relax, be social or hideaway.

The thought of making a morning coffee, sitting at the Salone table, looking out across some remote anchorage.

Is she for you?

If you’re looking for a serious sailboat capable of coastal, offshore and bluewater sailing , the Allures 51.9 should be on your shortlist.

She has layout options to satisfy a couple or a family and can easily be sailed short-handed over long distances. Add to that the ability to dry out or navigate in just over a metre of water gives you a formidable package, even without all the advantages an aluminium hull brings to the table.

With the GRP deck, aluminium round-bilge and centreboard, she’s unique.

Like most yachts, she could benefit from a few minor tweaks here and there, which any owner would have their views on, but Allures can adapt to and incorporate your ideas.

Fact and Figures Allures 51.9

One Response

Beautiful boat. Does the yacht come with a washer and dryer for live aboard cleaning clothes?

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On a steel yacht, the paintbrush for touching up bumps and scrapes never has a chance to dry whereas when somebody puts a scratch on your aluminium hull you just wish them good day and forget about it.

credits: Joachim Willner

Production numbers are shared openly:

ALLURES Allures 39.9 / 40.9 2013 – 2021 # 43 built Allures 45: 2016 – 2022 # 34 built Allures 45.9 # 30 built so far Allures 51.9: two under construction, nine on order Allures delivery time: two years

GARCIA EXPLORATION Exploration 45: 2013 – 2021 # 40 built Exploration 52: 2020 – 2021 # 12 built, 24 on order Garcia delivery time: four years

Escalator clauses have been included in contracts concluded since 2006 due to the long delivery times.

Hamburg 29.01.2022 Peter Foerthmann

FURTHER INFORMATION Grand Large Yachting Blue-Yachting

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Designed by Olivier Racoupeau, Allures cruising yachts feature aluminum hulls, fiberglass cockpits and cabin tops, centerboards, and twin rudders.  The benefits of these “Deriveurs” extend beyond their shoal draft and ability to dry out. Downwind sailing performance and comfort are greatly improved with the centerboard raised up into a trunk. There’s no keel to trip over and yaw around. Upwind performance is surprisingly good with the twin rudders and generous form stability of the wide stern. Aluminum is the preferred hull material for strong, easy to maintain blue water cruising boats. A welded centerboard trunk is far better than an underhung, bolted in place steel assembly on a fiberglass hull. When Xavier Desmaret and Stephan Constance founded Allures Yachting in 2003, they started with the Allures 44 and built two dozen of these single wheel, closed transom boats before replacing this design with the Allures 45 in 2010. The Allures 45 features twin wheels, taking advantage of the walk-through transom and other design refinements over the original Allures 44.

Timeless Odyssey is hull No.  8 of this model and has three staterooms and two heads with separate shower stall in the aft head. The current owners bought the yacht in January 2014 and it was lightly used at that stage. It was initially based in The Solent UK and after retiring in 2015 the owners sailed her to the Baltic with a return through the Gota canal and the canals in Holland (standing mast route). The following summer she was  sailed to the Mediterranean where 5 seasons were spent exploring those waters mostly in Greece. In 2022/23 Timeless Odyssey crossed the Med and the Atlantic via Madeira, The Canaries and Cape Verde. This was followed by time exploring the Caribbean and the following season cruising northwards thorough the island chain to the Bahamas and the East Coast of America. On average the boat was sailed for 2 to 6 months of the year and hauled out in the off-seasons under cover with all canvas and sails stored inside the boat. Engine hours are low at 2500. Cruising gear and sails have plenty of life in them and equipment includes staysail and solent on furlers, a Parasailor and a Jeckells spinnaker/gennaker, AIS and radar, dodger, bimini with zipped on back and side panels, bow thruster, 2 spare anchors as well as a stern anchor, watermaker, Webasto diesel heater, 825 watts of solar. Also included are a second downwind pole and a Hydrovane self-steering gear, towed hydro generator and Eclectic Energy D400 wind generator. Timeless Odyssey is ready to head off across oceans and is truly blue water/around the world capable for off grid cruising and passagemaking. This is an excellent choice for a family or couple wanting to cruise the Bahamas and beyond. Think of the cruising grounds available with the 3 ½ foot (1.05m) draft!   EU VAT tax is paid.

DECK & HULL:

The hull is  constructed  from marine grade 5083 aluminium alloy with extensive longitudinal and transverse framing.  Plating is 10mm thick on the bottom, 8mm at the turn of the bilge, and 6mm on the hull sides and deck.  A watertight bulkhead is forward, forming a sail locker in the bow. Ballast is encapsulated in epoxy on either side of the centerboard trunk and capped with aluminium plating.  Fuel and water tanks are integral aluminium.  Diesel and water can be transferred from low to high side for stability.  The cabin top and cockpit are molded fiberglass with high density PVC foam coring.  The fiberglass to aluminium interface is a wide flange sealed with polyurethane and secured with rivets and bolts.  The centerboard trunk is welded aluminum and the centerboard is a 1.5” thick aluminum plate with faired edges.  The board is lifted with a 3:1 tackle and lifting line led to a rope clutch and electric winch by the companionway.  Gravity lowers the board.  A single down line can assist in the event of fouling of the trunk with marine growth.  The design of the centreboard mechanism was upgraded by Allures in later models. This upgrade was ordered from the Allures factory and installed on the centreboard in 2021. Rudders are aluminium framed with NACA profile fiberglass skins on foam cores and self-aligning needle bearings in rudder tubes (extended above waterline allowing in-water removal).  Design details are extremely well-conceived for operation and maintenance in remote locations.

Naval architect Olivier Racoupeau is a master of this design category with dozens of twin rudder, centerboard, aluminium boat designs to his credit.  The bow is slightly raked.  A welded bowsprit with twin anchor rollers and tack attachment for flying sails projects forward.  A bow thruster tunnel is welded into the deep forefoot which transitions to an area of flat bottom just forward of the mast.  A robust wedge-shaped skeg below the centerboard trunk and extending aft protects the saildrive and tips the hull forward, lifting the rudders clear of the beach when drying out.  The area of flat hull forward of the mast provides transverse stability.  Outboard canted twin rudders allow fingertip steering control at varying angles of heel while minimizing autopilot loads and draft.  The wide stern has an integral scoop/swim platform.

The  hull  is painted with epoxy primer and black antifouling below the waterline. This was last renewed professionally in January of 2024.  Hull sides are bare aluminium from the bottom paint up to 12” below the deck.  A narrow red vinyl accent stripe in line with the hull side ports covers the aluminum to paint junction.  The bowsprit and hull sides just below the deck are painted with white LPU.  Some deterioration of the paint is noticeable on the bowsprit.  Many Allures owners have removed the paint in this area to bare the aluminum.  The transom is aluminum and painted white.  The swim platform has welded handrails on each side and is covered with non-skid super durable Deck-King faux teak decking. The cockpit area has the same cosmetically pleasing decking.

A welded aluminum toe rail runs from bow to stern on each side just inboard of the radiused  deck  edge.  Holes in this strong toe rail allow water drainage and lashing/attachment of preventers, outboard leads, fenders and other utility.  Removable lifelines run from the stainless-steel bow pulpit to stern pushpits through stainless steel stanchions.  The stanchion and pulpit attachment are through-bolted with plastic bushing and washer isolation of the aluminium.  Midships and stern boarding gates are fitted.  Side decks are aluminium and painted with white non-skid.  The cabintop is white gelcoat covered fiberglass with moulded non-skid.  Lewmar deck hatches in the cabintop are flush-mounted.  Handrails run along either side of the coachroof.

Wide coamings slope aft from the cabintop, protecting the  cockpit  sides.  A canvas dodger and bimini protect the companionway and cockpit.  Cockpit seats are long enough for sleeping. Those and the cockpit sole are covered with Deck-King faux teak.  A teak cockpit table with drop leaves and centre storage area divides the wide cockpit.  The wide helm seat running from side to side between the dual helms easily seats seven across.  A hinged centre seat folds over when using the walk-through transom.  Dual helms afford excellent views of the water and sails from either side.   Primary and secondary winches are mounted on the coamings. 6 winches in total in the cockpit area, one of which is electric. The boat is rigged with single line reefing and all reefing lines, halyards and other control lines are led back to jammers in the cockpit, allowing the sail plan to be altered without needing to go on deck.

Storage  lockers for cooking gas are below the outboard helm seats.  Top opening lockers are below the inboard helm seats and accessible from the swim platform.   The side settees lift to access sole-level lockers for lines, sailing hardware, and other gear.  Life raft storage is below the transom walk-through.  Forward is a large, climb-into, sail locker accessed through a deck hatch just aft of the staysail stay.  A top opening chain locker is forward of the sail locker and a raised bottom allows overboard draining.

One feature that clearly identifies the Allures 45 as a blue water cruiser is the  stern arch .  Built from welded aluminium, this structure holds solar panels and nav/com antennas.  A cantilevered stainless steel hoisting frame with block and tackle allows easy lifting of the inflatable tender (with the engine on it for short trips). One of the stern lockers is fitted to store the outboard during passages with the Highfield tender stored on the foredeck.

DECK EQUIPMENT

• Lewmar Ocean Concept II 12V anchor windlass with line capstan and up/down foot button on bow. Additional anchor winch controls at the helm.
• Rocna 33 kg anchor with 80m of 10mm chain. Needs regalvanising.
• Secondary aluminium Fortress anchor with 100 meters of 1” nylon line rode and 10m of chain.
• Spare Delta anchor (the original anchor on the boat).
• Stern anchor that can be set through the integrated roller on the stern and or used as a kedge.
• Lewmar size 65 deck hatch to bow sail locker
• (3) Lewmar size 44 deck hatches to front cabin and salon
• (2) Lewmar size 10 deck hatches to front cabin
• (2) Lewmar size 3 hatches to head and aft cabin
• (5) Lewmar size 2 opening portlights
• (8) Hull portlights
• PMMA scratch-resistant smoked acrylic ports in salon sides and front windows
• (8) 330mm welded aluminum mooring cleats
• Cruciform welded aluminum cleat in anchor locker
• (2) 160mm aluminum cleats on stern arch
• Stainless steel swim ladder with teak treads on swim platform
• Hot/cold freshwater shower on transom
• Burgundy yacht acrylic cockpit dodger with aft grab rail
• Burgandy yacht acrylic cockpit bimini with stainless steel bows
• Burgandy yacht acrylic cover for teak cockpit table and helms

SAILS & RIGGING:

TIMELESS ODYSSEY is cutter rigged with the staysail on a fixed furler.  The mast is deck stepped and spreaders are swept off with cap shrouds run to welded chainplates on the hull side.  Standing rigging is 1×19 wire rope and all the standing rigging was replaced (a 10 year insurance requirement) in 2022 before the Atlantic crossing.  There are two backstays run to the stern quarters.  A Lazy-bag catches and stores the mainsail.  The 1 st  and 2 nd  reefs are single line while the deep reef has a clew and tack line.  Halyards, reef lines, and sheets are led aft to the cockpit.  Running backstays are rigged for stabilizing the mast while using the staysail.  Lines from the mast to the cockpit are led below a removable fiberglass cover to keep the deck clean and uncluttered.  This versatile sailplan and deck hardware are suitable for a wide range of wind conditions while sailing shorthanded.  All winches were upsized from standard spec.

• Sparcraft anodized aluminium double spreader mast; stepped on deck
• Sparcraft anodized aluminium boom
• Foredeck and anchor light
• Masthead Windex wind direction arrow
• (2) Signal halyards run to bottom of lower spreader
• Facnor LX series furler for jib and staysail
• Lewmar mainsheet traveller and 5:1 mainsheet
• Sparcraft rigid boom vang with lifting spring
• Lewmar staysail and jib sheet lead cars with line pullers led aft to cockpit
• Incidences 55m2 full-batten mainsail with three reefs
• Facnor mainsail luff track on mast
• Incidences 45m2 furling genoa/jib with UV cover
• Incidences furling staysail with UV cover
• Parasailor 156m2 symmetric with sock and all the rigging for guys and sheets
• Jeckells asymmetric spinnaker with sock
• Mast-mounted Sparcraft spinnaker pole and topping lift
• Spare light weight pole for the staysail to allow wing on wing foresail only downwind sailing.
• (2) Lewmar foot/block off blocks on coaming for genoa and staysail sheets
• (2) Lewmar 54ST two speed self-tailing primary winches (upsized for standard 50)
• (2) Lewmar 46ST two speed self-tailing secondary winches on coaming
• (2) Lewmar 46ST two speed winches on coachroof adjacent companionway (one is electric)
• (13) Spinlock rope clutches on coachroof
• Spinnaker halyard, genoa halyard, staysail halyard, mainsail halyard, boom topping lift, pole topping lift, boom brake, Cunningham.
• Blocks and tackles for spinnaker pole downhaul
• Walder Boom brake.
• Twing lines and block for spinnaker sheets
• Line storage bin aft of companionway for halyard and line tails
• (2) Lewmar locking winch handles plus spare winch handle
• (4) Winch handle storage pockets

MECHANICAL & PLUMBING SYSTEMS:

• Volvo D2-55 engine with 2500 hours
• Volvo MS130S – B saildrive with 18” 3 blade feathering J-prop
• Engine room insulated with soundproofing foam
• Volvo single lever shift/throttle at port helm
• Dual steering wheels and Jeffa steering system with shafts and gears; two independent systems connected with removable synchronizing bar
• Maxpower 12V tunnel bow thruster and windlass/thruster battery bank
• Engine space 12V blower
• Racor twin switchable cartridge style primary fuel filters with vacuum gage
• (2) Vetus sea strainers
• Plastic through hull valves on welded aluminum standpipes
• Webasto Airtop EVO 5500 forced air diesel cabin heater
• Sigmar 20 liter hot water heater (Replacement water heater aboard)
• SPX Diesel and water 12V transfer pumps for side to side transfer
• (2) Whale Gulper 220 shower drain pump
• Manual Whale bilge pump
• Johnson water pressure pump with accumulator tank
• Electric galley pump for saltwater rinsing in the sinks
• 12V high capacity bilge pump with Quick EBSN10 electronic switch
• Sahara 12V automatic bilge pump in forward bilge
•  12V Eco-systems Splash 25 water maker

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:

• (4) Victron AGM 12V batteries (4 x 240=960Ah in house bank (new January 2024
• 3 x Bluetooth enabled Victron MPPT solar controllers (new January 2024)
• Victron 12V 110ah AGM engine start battery (new January 2024)
• Victron 12V 110ah AGM bow thruster/anchor windlass battery (new January 2024)
• Bosch 12v 115 amp engine alternator
• 5 x solar panels totalling 825 Watts on stern arch and above the bimini frame with MPPT regulators as above
• D400 Eclectic Energy Wind Generator
• Towed Eclectic Energy Hydrogenerator
• 25 meter 16 amp shorepower cord
• Victron 12V/800 watt inverter (outputs 220V 50 hz)
• (2) Battery isolation switches
• Victron 3600 watt isolation transformer. Switchable with jumper sets between any combination of 220v and 110v
• Stirling Procharge Ultra charger (with Global AC input & active power factor correction)
• Stirling ProSave 12V/12V Switch Mode DC/DC galvanic isolator
• Victron Bluetooth enabled battery monitor
• Philippi tank level monitor
• Allures custom switch panel with nav light mimic
• Wave Wifi router with long range antennae to catch shore based Wifi
• Red Box Wifi router currently attached to Starlink but can be used with a 4G dongle or a satellite phone
• Predictwind Datahub tracking device
• DC Earth leakage detector

ELECTRONICS & NAVIGATION:

• (2) Plastimo Olympic 135 compasses at steering pedestals
• Simrad RS12 VHF radio at nav station
• iCom IC-M802 SSB radio, tuner, etc. at Nav station
• Dragon P4 Pactor modem for use with the SSB radio
• Simrad chartplotter display at nav station
• Simrad IS20 multifunction display above companionway
• 2 x IS20 wind displays at each helm
• 3 x Simrad AP40 controllers one at chart table and one at each helm
• Simard chartplotter display centrally located between the helms
• Simard minigyro autopilot compass
• Simrad AC42 Auto Pilot calculator
• VHF speaker and control switch at helm
• Simrad broadband radar mounted on mast
• Simrad NAIS AIS transceiver
• 580 Wind sensor
• BR24 Radar unit
• DST 200 depth, log and echo sounder
• Sonic Hub sound system, Bluetooth enabled and USB, iPod, iPhone compatible.
• Jeffa DD1 autopilot drive
• Stereo speakers in salon and cockpit
• Handheld VHF
• Spare VHF (with no GPS function)

SAFETY & MISCELLANEOUS

• Lifesling in rail-mounted soft case
• Webbing jack lines
• (4) Safety harnesses
• Highfield 2.4m aluminium bottom ultra-light tender (4 years old)
• Chaps (need minor repairs) and separate fitted cover for the Highfield tender
• E-Propulsion electric outboard
• E-Propusion 220v charger
• E-propulsion 12V charger and MPPT (can be used with solar panels or to charge from the main boats 12v system.
• 2 x 50W solar panels for remote E-Propulsion battery charging
• 4 hp 4 stroke Yamaha outboard
• 8 person liferaft in valise (serviced October 2022)
• Simrad EG50 EPIRB (serviced October 2022)
• IOR rated man overboard pole
• Canvas winter storage full cockpit cover
• Lifejackets x 6, lifelines, bosan’s chair, flares, medical kit
• Grab bag serviced and updated 2022

There are is comprehensive set of manuals for almost all of the equipment on the boat.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

TIMELESS ODYSSEY has three sleeping cabins and dual heads with stall shower  layout in one .    The salon dinette can seat seven for meals.  Lee-cloths have been made for both the central bunks for comfort during lively passages.  The forward stateroom has a king size double bed that can be slept across transversely on a heel. There is a cupboard comprising a shelf with hanging area below as well as two large drawers below the bed. Between the cupboard and bed is a dressing chair with storage bin below. The owner has installed an additional cupboard on the aft wall of the cabin. The forward head is a wet room and is on the starboard side off the forward stateroom.  Both the front and aft starboard cabins have futons and memory foam mattresses. The galley is linear and to port of the salon.  The nav station is raised ten inches above the cabin sole with seats forward and aft of the chart table.  The main head is to port of the companionway and has a separate stall shower aft.  The port aft stateroom has a large berth with removable inboard cushion to allow access to mechanical spaces under the cockpit and the stern storage/steering space.  The starboard aft stateroom has a large berth, cupboard and dressing seat with storage bin below.

The  interior  was designed by Frank Darnet Design with American Cherry woodwork of solid and laminate ply resulting in an elegant and functional accommodation space.  The cabin sole is Wenge faux teak; a durable, scratch resistant material with good traction and elegant appearance.  Ample panels in the cabin sole access bilge areas.  Hullside and overhead linings are marine plywood covered with white vinyl.  The salon cushions are upholstered in cream.  Wall-switched overhead dome lights, reading lights, 12V and 220V outlets and USB charging plugs are well placed throughout the interior.  Hull sides in way in the living areas are lined with neoprene foam for thermal and acoustic insulation.  Cabin doors are easily removed from “lift off” hinges.  Cabinet doors have euro hinges and pushbutton latches.  Overhead panels are mounted on ball/socket mounts and easily removed to access deck hardware and wiring.

• Oceanaire sliding Skycreens (sunscreen and mosquito nets) on large overhead salon and main cabin hatches and forward heads hatch.
• Blinds for all other hatches and ports
• (3) 12V cabin fans
• Positive pushbutton latches on cabinet doors
• Oscalati safety catches on all opening cabinet doors and draws
• Berths fitted with ventilation/spring slat boards under mattresses
• All lights have LED bulbs
• Safe fitted below the Nav table

Interior access is easy with the well-designed  companionway .  Retractable acrylic doors slide into a recess in the cockpit sole.  The overhead slider is smoked acrylic with low friction plastic slides and solid teak cover boards.  The companionway steps are curved and fitted with antislip tape.  Stainless steel handrails are on either side.  The companionway step assembly lifts on gas springs to access the engine space.  Additional side access panels are in the aft staterooms.

The  salon  is bright and open with good handholds for security at sea and ample storage.  A bar cabinet is on centerline, aft of the centerline settee and has bottle and glass storage.  The centerboard trunk is beneath the slightly curved centerline settee.  The dining table is mounted on two pedestals and could be modified to allow the table to lower and infill into a large berth.  A centre, top-opening storage bin holds bottles or condiments.  The starboard settee is “L” shaped with storage below and outboard of the seats and seatbacks.  Additional cabinets are above and outboard of the seats. Two large drawers are below the centreline trunk.

The  navigation area  is to starboard of the companionway, on a 10” high raised platform.  Two panoramic seats are forward and aft of the chart table.  Storage bins are under the seats.  The seat bottoms are hinged and can be angled up when sailing on starboard tack.  Two large drawers are below the platform.  Nav/com electronics are mounted outboard in Anthracite panels.  The DC switch panel with battery and tank monitoring is recess-mounted in the aft bulkhead.  12V and 220V sockets, complete this area.

The  galley  is along the port side of the salon and down one small step from the salon level.  Bracing against the centerline settee, one can cook underway on either tack.

• (2) Stainless-steel rectangular sinks
• Single Lever mixer faucet
• Seawater electric pump with faucet
• Watermaker taster faucet
• Corian countertops with cherry fiddles
• Gimballed three burner stove and oven with pot clamps
• Vertrifrigo 144 liter with drawer fridge below and drawer freezer above
• Cabinet over fridge for microwave oven
• 220V Nespresso machine
• 220v kettle
• Drawers and cabinets for dishes, cutlery, cups, cooking gear, and provisions

The  heads  are located to port of the companionway and to the starboard as you enter the main stateroom. They are both entered through a locking privacy door. The forward head has an extendable sink nozzle and the shower pump makes this a secondary shower unit.  White laminate and moulded surfaces make this space bright, easy to clean, and water resistant.  A Jabsco manual flush toilet in both heads is forward with storage cabinets outboard of the forward head.  Both have a vanity with porcelain raised bowl sink and single lever faucet is along the forward bulkhead.  A mirror is on the inboard bulkhead.  Storage cabinets are below the sink.  A shower stall is aft and closed with a hinged acrylic bifold door.  A mixer, hose, nozzle/wand, with high mount allows standup or seated showering.

OTHER EQUIPMENT AND/OR NEGOTIABLE:

• Davis Sextant
• Marine Clock
• Ships thermometer and hydrometer
• Iridium Go satellite communicator for voice and offshore ocean weather routing data.
• Starlink with 12v conversion kit for more efficient power consumption
• Starlink dish/aerial (wire runs complete but needs a new mounting bracket)
• (2) Folding bicycles
• Comprehensive set of tools, electric drills, jig saw, cordless angle grinder etc.
• Brazil, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico
• East Coast of America and the Great Lakes
• Library of sailing books and manuals
• Pilot guides for Caribbean, Atlantic islands and several European countries
• Paper charts for the entire Caribbean and various Mediterranean and European locations