Jeanneau Sun Fast 52

A 15.56 m Sun Fast from Philippe Briand Yacht Design, no longer built, for sailors who want a quick boat that a small crew can handle without fuss.

Philippe Poupon spent years racing single-handed before he became Jeanneau's technical counsellor, and the Sun Fast 52 carries a lot of what he learned. His approach was about sailing fast while keeping things simple, and you can see it in how the boat was put together.

She has a light displacement and a powerful rig, with the sail area set on two furling systems. The deck layout was kept simple on purpose, so there's less to sort out when you're tacking, reefing or coming into a berth.

Draught is 2.65 m, which is plenty of depth to think about on a passage plan. Length overall is 15.56 m, the same as the hull length.

The design came from Philippe Briand Yacht Design, whose team put thousands of hours into her before she was built. Jeanneau's yard then assembled each part with real care, aiming for a fine finish throughout.

Jeanneau no longer builds the Sun Fast 52, so the boats around today will all have some sailing behind them.