TEST Sun Odyssey 380, the new cruiser (11m) from Jeanneau

We were aboard the new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 (11.75 x 3.76 m) at Marina di Scarlino, where 43° Parallelo, Jeanneau dealer and test center for Tuscany, Liguria di Levante, Sardinia and Lombardy, is located. We share with you on video our experience aboard the boat with Sailing Newspaper tester Fabio Portesan and testimonials from Dario Zana and Andrea Calamai of 43° Parallelo. Enjoy your viewing!

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 – Video Test

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 – The Idea

The ‘stated goal of the new 380 Sun Odyssey from the beginning was ambitious: “Hull, appendages, sail plans, design and ergonomics, layout, weight savings-everything has been thought through to the smallest detail to make this the best sailboat in its class” the designer had stated, Marc Lombard, at the time the project was presented by the Jeanneau shipyard.

Whether the goal has really been achieved, namely to be the leader of the 11-meter cruising boat, this will probably be decided in the coming months by the market when the boat makes its debut at the upcoming boat shows in late summer. We, in the meantime, tell you about our testers’ onboard experience duringthe sea trial that took place in Scarlino, Tuscany, on a windy day from 7 to 20 knots.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 – Hull and Deck

The hull now has the usual edge of the new Jeanneau line; it starts pronounced from the stern and runs toward the bow, a solution that on the one hand allows for greater stability when sailing, when the boat is tilted, and on the other hand increases the space available below deck. Aesthetically, the boat is reminiscent of the Sun Odyssey 410, especially in the bow exits, and in general is well in tune with the family feeling of the range that has been going on for a few years on the new production.

Straight fore and aft are vertical, indeed, the bow angle is inverted so as to improve entry on the wave and to better distribute the weight. In general, the bow volumes of the boat are not too sharp but on the contrary quite generous.

Compared with the 389, a boat that goes out of production to make room for the 380, the hull length-not the overall length-is a full 38 cm longer (10.77 vs. 10.39 m), which in navigation will be a factor, and of course it also means a little extra volume inside.

Another important detail, already seen on the latest generation Sun Odyssey (such as the 410 or the 490), walkways run unobstructed and in a single plane along the deck: you can walk from bow to stern without steps, reaching up to the transom seats from which you can be comfortable at the two wheels of the rudder (which control the double blade).

The boom compared to its predecessor has been lowered slightly, for easier access to the sail but mainly to increase the area of the mainsail. There is no dedicated trasto, but the system with a double hoist positioned on the deckhouse is reintroduced. It is not the same as having a real mainsail carriage, but it is still a way to be able to adjust the shape of the leech a little bit.

An important integrated dolphin guard is located in the bow, which allows the tacking point of gennaker and asymmetrical Code Zero type masts to be advanced, significantly improving their efficiency, as well as acting as an anchor nose and preventing it from touching the hull during downhaul.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 – Maneuvers

On deck, the standard layout is 4-winches: two behind the wheelhouse to steer mainsail and jib, with the former deferring on the upwind winch and the latter on the leeward winch. The other two, however, are the classic halyards positioned in the deckhouse.

The solution for the cockpit table is interesting: perhaps aesthetically it is not the best and lends itself poorly to sporty use of the boat, but it is equipped with sturdy grab bars that in rough seas help with holding on.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 – Living Opera

Speaking of live work, there are two L-shaped keel options: the short one draws 1.56 meters, the long one, recommended to improve the sail qualities of the boat, goes up to 2. There is also option to have the lifting keel, with draft ranging from 1.31 to 2.70 m for those who like to sail in shallow water, but also want to have a very high performance sailing dinghy.

Keel and rudder blades are distributed in such a way that they become a foothold on the sand at low tide: an overtly “Atlantic” solution, obviously dedicated more to the French market.

Note a detail in the hull: looking at the boat from the stern you can almost see a double edge. In addition to the main one, in fact, another one is mentioned at the rudder blades, which creates a small flat volume aft of the rudder blades.

This volume is lower than the main edge, which does not dive except when the boat is heeled. In fact, when the boat is flat, the wetted surface is smaller, so as not to penalize the boat too much in light winds since the maximum beam is quite pronounced, and if it was always all submerged it would be a problem with little air.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 – At Sea

Rather muscular day for our testers, who sailed under disturbed weather that threatened thunderstorms off the Tuscan coast. Situation that generated a nervous wind with fluctuations in intensity, from 6-7 knots up to even 20, accompanied by a fairly short and at times annoying wave.

The boat’s top speed was touched on the slack with Code Zero: just over 9 knots in 22 wind, upwind wide we sailed at about 8 knots, around 50 degrees true heading the boat settles on 6.5. The version under test was the one with the standard sail plan, which gives up several square meters compared to the Performance with the square top mainsail. The fully loaded displacement of over 9 tons certainly does not make it a light breeze hunter, particularly upwind, but at the end of the day this is a pure cruising boat and its strengths lie elsewhere.

In sustained air we could see that the boat maneuvers with ease, without needing to work too hard on the mainsail since even upwind the double heeling rudder blade provides good control. Even at 20 knots we sailed with full sail area, without reducing we did not experience any particular difficulties in handling the boat. When the air dropped to its minimum intensity, about 6 knots, we could reach 4 knots of speed while maintaining 50 degrees to the wind.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 – The Interior

Inside, the design recalls the classic canons of the Jeanneau line, but more emphasis has been placed on the perception of interior volume and the simplification of lines: space management and bulkheads have been rethought to increase both visually and physically the available volumes.

The salon is bright, with an L-shaped galley full of storage space and with the two sofas (one C-shaped on the port side and one running along the starboard broadside, forward of the chart table) from which you can eat in comfort on the extendable table.

A compartment with large storage capacity (optional) is accessible in the center of the boat to complement the kitchen compartments.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 – Boat Factsheet

Overall length: 11.75 m
Hull length: 10.77 m
Max. beam: 3.76 m
Light displacement (short keel): 6,896 kg
Full load displacement (short keel): 9,360 kg
Short keel draft: 1.56 m
Long keel draft: 2.00 m
Keel lift draft: 1.31/2.70 m
Sup. vel. upwind: 63.40 square meters
Fresh water tanks: 330 L
Fuel tank: 130 L
Designer: Marc Lombard
Interior: Piaton Bercault & Co.
Price: 168,000 euros+VAT

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