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Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau
Designer: Groupe Finot  ·  First built: 1997
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About the Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau

Jeanneau's Sun Fast 40 represents the French builder's commitment to performance-oriented sailing that bridges the gap between racing and fast cruising. This sleek 40-footer embodies the modern trend toward boats that can excel on the racecourse while maintaining the comfort and functionality needed for serious coastal and offshore passages. Built with Jeanneau's reputation for quality construction and innovative design, the Sun Fast 40 features contemporary sailing yacht proportions that prioritize speed and handling. The boat's design philosophy centers on delivering exhilarating performance without sacrificing the practical elements that make extended cruising enjoyable. Racing enthusiasts will appreciate the boat's responsive helm and ability to maintain speed in varying conditions, while cruising sailors benefit from thoughtful interior layouts and robust construction. The Sun Fast 40 suits sailors who refuse to choose between going fast and going comfortably, making it an excellent choice for offshore passages, coastal exploration, and competitive sailing. This model continues Jeanneau's Sun Fast legacy of creating boats that appeal to performance-minded sailors seeking a vessel capable of both weekend racing and extended voyaging adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.35 ft / 12.30 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.45 ft / 10.50 m
Beam 13.12 ft / 4.00 m
Max Draft 7.55 ft / 2.30 m
Displacement 14,771 lb / 6,700 kg
Ballast 5,952 lb / 2,700 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 861 ft² / 79.99 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Groupe Finot
First Built 1997
Last Built 2005
Related Sailboats ["Oceanis 400 Beneteau" · "Dufour 40" · "Sabre 402" · "Catalina 400" · "Bavaria 40 Jj"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 22.84
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 40.3
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 161.29
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 20.29
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.14
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.87 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 9.69 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 400, Dufour 40, Sabre 402

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
40.4 ft
Catalina 400
40.5 ft
Dufour 40
40.4 ft
Sabre 402
40.2 ft
LWL
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
34.5 ft
Catalina 400
34.8 ft
Dufour 40
35.2 ft
Sabre 402
34.0 ft
Beam
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
13.1 ft
Catalina 400
13.5 ft
Dufour 40
12.8 ft
Sabre 402
13.3 ft
Displacement
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
14 lbs
Catalina 400
18 lbs
Dufour 40
17 lbs
Sabre 402
18 lbs
Ballast
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
5 lbs
Catalina 400
7 lbs
Dufour 40
6 lbs
Sabre 402
7 lbs
Sail Area
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
861 sq ft
Catalina 400
808 sq ft
Dufour 40
866 sq ft
Sabre 402
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
—
Catalina 400
102 s/nm
Dufour 40
96 s/nm
Sabre 402
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
22.8
Catalina 400
18.9
Dufour 40
20.9
Sabre 402
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
40.3 %
Catalina 400
40.0 %
Dufour 40
—
Sabre 402
38.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
20.3
Catalina 400
23.8
Dufour 40
24.2
Sabre 402
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
2.14
Catalina 400
2.06
Dufour 40
1.99
Sabre 402
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
161
Catalina 400
190
Dufour 40
—
Sabre 402
213
Hull Speed
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
7.9 kts
Catalina 400
7.9 kts
Dufour 40
8.0 kts
Sabre 402
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sun Fast 40 Jeanneau ★
—
Catalina 400
3.1
Dufour 40
3.1
Sabre 402
—
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