Sunbeam 29.1 (8.99 m), the sporty weekender for short, fast cruises

As the market offers ever larger and more extreme boats
Sunbeam Yachts
, an iconic Austrian brand known for its build quality and craftsmanship, has decided to focus its production on small boats under 32 feet, renewing its style lines with modern, cutting-edge design. The new Sunbeam 29.1 follows the path laid out two years ago with the launch of the 32-footer that amazed a bit of everyone, featuring a cantilevered bow for added comfort on deck and an open-plan interior. On Sunbeam 29.1 we find some of the styling elements already seen on its big brother, although here they have been slightly toned down. The goal, perfectly hit, was to make a small, modern, sporty cabin cruiser suitable for short cruises. After seeing it up close at the Düsseldorf show, we were invited to Lake Attersee, near Salzburg in Austria, to try it out on the water.

Sunbeam 29.1 is the weekender for short, fast cruises

At first glance the glance is truly unique, not only because of the color, an emerald green, but also because of the shape of the hull. The design, as with the 32-footer, is again a collaboration between Jerney Jacopin, who invented the Bavaria in the 1980s, and Austrian designer Gerard Kiska, who instead designs KTM’s motorcycles. Sunbeam 29.1 is intended to be a weekender, a boat designed for short cruising, with a very large cockpit, large areas on the deck and a single open space below. As we said, the look of this model, compared to the 32.1, is sportier: the boat is not only smaller but also lower and sleeker. Candlesticks and dragnets are optional and, perhaps, not so necessary, considering that rigging is designed to bring all maneuvering back to the helmsman in the cockpit.

The cockpit of Sunbeam 29.1

This is a boat designed to be carried solo, as are all Sunbeams. The helmsman, thanks to the two convenient electric winches (which, however, in the standard configuration are manual) can handle all maneuvers directly, without the need to go to the bow. Very interesting detail is the mainsail circuit, which is located behind the tiller and not in the middle of the cockpit. A solution that allows a clear distinction between the space dedicated to maneuvering and the space for guests. A fairly rare attention to comfort on a boat of this size, which we usually find on much larger boats. This solution is an evolution of the Sunbeam 28.1 circuit, now fully integrated under the cockpit floor. The swim ladder is also integrated into the transom, and disappears when not in use.

What does it look like?

The sides and the blanket of Sunbeam 29.1 are made of hand sandwiched and fiberglassed, while the keel and live work are made of laminate with some carbon reinforcements. Above the deck, instead of teak, a material called Resysta was used., made from recycled rice husks, a waste product of the food industry. Only 20% of this material is composed of resin;80% is an all-natural material. A focus on sustainability that has led the shipyard to adopt an electric drive, powered by lithium-ion batteries, as standard on Sunbeam 29.1. It remains an option to install a conventional diesel engine upon request

Tilting and trailerable keel

Thanks to a movable, tilting centreboard and twin rudder blades, the Sunbeam 29.1’s draft can be reduced from 1 meter 85 centimeters to only 85 centimeters. This makes it possible to reach shallow water areas and, a great advantage given the scarcity of berths on Austrian and German lakes, also moor close to the shores or easily wing the boat ashore. Sunbeam 29.1 also is trailerable, the boat weighs only 2.3 tons and does not exceed 2.5 meters in width.

Sunbeam 29.1 Weaponry

The mast has no backstay, the standard mainsail is a square top in dacron and with two coats of reefing while the jib is self-tacking, also in dacron. All rigging slides concealed and resurfaces in the cockpit in front of the two side winches. The bowsprit is integrated and, concealed within the dolphin locker, an electric anchor windlass can be installed and pours into its dedicated forepeak. It is possible to equip the boat with either a code 0 or a furling gennaker; both are in fact designed to be operated directly by the helmsman in the cockpit, without the help of a bowman, as indeed are all on-board maneuvers.

Inside, a single open space

Upon entering below deck, one immediately has the perception of a very large and bright space, not only because doors and bulkheads have been eliminated, but also because there is sufficient height space to sit comfortably on the side benches. LED light strips add a touch of elegance and modernity. If desired, the two side bunks and the bed in the bow can be used to accommodate up to 4 people overnight. In the center of this open space is the drift and the hydraulic system to raise it.

A toilet can be installed on the starboard side, but this is optional and not present on the test boat. On the port side, however, there is a small table that can be used either as a cabinet or converted into a bar area, with a refrigerator and sink being optional. Very practical and convenient is the solution adopted for storing dishes on board, equipped with a magnet that holds them in place even when the boat is heeled.

The water test

We tried Sunbeam in late April and in decidedly unstable weather. In the background the snowy peaks, lots of cold and a few snowflakes. With little wind, the boat reacts well and is relatively fast with 6 knots we make almost 4 knots upwind and across, without gennaker we go even faster than the wind. The maximum upwind angle is around 34°. When the wind picks up a little bit, around 10 knots, the boat starts. This is probably the right intensity to enjoy it at its best, comfortable yet fast. We extend the upwind a bit and reach almost 6.5 knots of speed. Meanwhile, the wind has dropped, so we lay down and open the furling gennaker.

I must say that it is very convenient to be able to manage the whole boat with a few buttons directly from the helmsman’s position. In fact, Sunbeam 29.1 is the perfect boat for family outing or with friends who are not really sailors. Gust coming in and the boat starts up again, on the slack with 6 knots of wind we make 6.3 knots of speed. As we gain confidence, a cold front is advancing very quickly in the distance straight toward us. In less than a minute the sky darkens and we are hit by winds over 30 knots. Despite the sudden gust of wind, the lowering goes smoothly, we furl the headsail and turn on the electric motor, which provides us with the necessary thrust to safely return to the dock.

How much does it cost

Sunbeam 29.1 with electric motor and batteries, supplied as standard, is priced from 124,900 euros (excl. VAT). Unfortunately, adds Tommy Moscatelli of YachtSynergy, the official importer for Italy, the emerald green color of the test model is not standard but optional.

Sunbeam 29.1 – Data Sheet

Overall length 8.99 m
Hull length 8.99 m
Length at waterline 7.90 m
Maximum width 2.48 m
Tilting keel draft 0.85 / 1.85 m
Standard displacement 2,300 kg
Sail area 47 sqm
Electric motor 4.1 Kw with batteries 8.2 kWh (standard) 16.4 kWh (optional)
Vetus 12 hp diesel engine (optional)
Designer Jerney Jacopin / Gerard Kiska
Importer YachtSynergy

• LEARN MORE ABOUT SUNBEAM 29.1

James Barbaro