With her full-length chine, reverse bow, twin rudders and forefoot rising out  of the water, the new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey  410 has clearly taken inspiration from the latest racing boats, like the Class 40s.

While designer Marc Lombard has included some of  these performance-enhancing elements, he hasn’t left out the necessary ingredients to make her a comfortable, safe and easily-driven family cruiser.

Furthermore, a good dose of innovative styling and details have been added to the mix to make life easier and more pleasant on board.

She is well-balanced, easily driven and satisfying to helm. Credit: Graham Snook Photography

Following in the wake of the 490 and 440, both launched  in 2017, the 410 shares the family’s unique sloped deck that sweeps from the gunwales down to the sole of the cockpit  for stepless deck access, as well as the distinctive family looks.

There is evidence of creative thinking below decks too, with some impressive stowage solutions around the galley.

But is she just a rocket ship with big windows and a fancy interior, or is she a serious prospect for cruising families?

THE TEST VERDICT

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410 is well-mannered, quick and fun to sail. That a boat with this much volume can sail this well is testament to the full-length hull chine concept.

Despite carrying her beam a long way forward, the hull shape allowed the designers to maintain a relatively narrow entry and slippery underwater hull shape.

The end result is a boat that is well balanced, easily driven and satisfying to helm.

A pair of lighter composite wheels would be the cherry on top to further improve her responsive feel.

Amidships, the galley receives plenty of natural light. Credit: Graham Snook Photography

For a coastal cruiser with occasional offshore tendencies, the deck layout, galley, and stowage down below are all very good and challenged the norm; these innovative features really set her apart, even without taking her sailing.

While I was testing the first boat out of build, there were finishing details that had been overlooked that sadly detracted from the feeling of quality — floorboards, rough edges and unsupported panels.

Addressing these will bring this boat up to her full potential.

WOULD SHE SUIT YOU AND YOUR CREW?

For a couple with a family, or friends, she offers a large, sociable cockpit with the main controls at the helm so the boat can be sailed shorthanded, leaving crew to be as involved or otherwise as they want to be.

She’s genuinely enjoyable to sail, although if you opt for the smaller self-tacking jib, a larger code zero sail for light winds and off-wind sailing will be a good investment.

We didn’t get to sail her in strong winds to see how the hull handles waves, but her form stability and twin rudders promise to keep her feeling under control.

The asymmetric cockpit offers more space on the port side of the cockpit table. Credit: Graham Snook Photography

Taking inspiration from racing yacht design for the cruising market is nothing new, and it’s easy to see the gains this approach has brought this boat.

Additionally, the stepless deck access from the cockpit ramp is quite unique. Lovers of traditional lines may balk at the vertical topsides, but the volume is something few cruising families would refuse.

How Jeanneau has used that volume, however, is what really makes the 410 stand out.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Price as tested: 
£262,269
LOA: 12.95m (42ft 6in) Inc bowsprit
Hull Length: 
11.99m (39ft 4in)
LWL: 11.47m (37ft 8in)
Beam: 3.99m (13ft 1in)
Draught: 2.14m 
(7ft)
Displacement: 7,784kg (17,161lb)
Ballast: 2,003kg (4,416lb)
Ballast ratio: (25.7%)
Displacement: 142.7
Sail area: 
77.1m2 (830 sq ft)
SA/D ratio: 20
Diesel: 
200 litres (44 gal)
Water: 
330 litres (73 gal)
Engine: 40hp
Transmission: Shaft
RCD category: A
Designer: 
Marc Lombard/Piaton Yacht Design/Jeanneau
Builder: Jeanneau
UK Agent: 
Sea Ventures
Tel: 01489 565444
Website: www.jeanneau.com