- Founded
- 1973
- Headquarters
- Forli, Italy
- Shipyard location
- Same as headquarters
- Official website
- https://www.grandsoleil.net
Brand Overview
Italian builder of performance-oriented sailing yachts, established over 50 years ago, part of Cantiere del Pardo S.p.A.
Overview written fromgrandsoleil.net/pages/about-grand-soleilread 9/7/2026
YachtCodex Analysis
AI-generatedAn independent reading of this builder written by AI. Unlike the specifications and descriptions elsewhere on this page, it is interpretation rather than a sourced fact — treat it as a starting point, not a citation.
What this builder is
Grand Soleil is an Italian shipyard, part of Cantiere del Pardo, known for performance-oriented sailing yachts under 65-80 feet that blend racing pedigree with cruising comfort. It occupies a premium niche between pure racing yards and volume cruising-catamaran builders, distinguished by its dual 'Performance' and 'Long Cruise' model lines and a five-decade competitive racing record.
Who sails them
Grand Soleil owners are typically experienced sailors who want a yacht capable of both competitive racing and comfortable cruising, often sailing with family or small crews on coastal and offshore passages, including regattas like the Middle Sea Race or Rolex Giraglia. Long Cruise line buyers lean toward extended, self-sufficient blue-water cruising, while Performance line buyers are drawn to club racing and spirited sailing.
Signature models
The GS 44 and GS 52 Performance models represent the brand's racing-oriented core, while the GS 42 and GS 52 Long Cruise variants extend the same hulls into blue-water cruising configurations; the new GS Plus 65/72/80 line marks the brand's move into larger, more exclusive semi-custom yachts.
Strengths
Grand Soleil is widely credited with strong sailing performance and hull design derived from its racing pedigree (IMS/ORC titles, Fastnet, Giraglia, Middle Sea Race), combined with Italian build quality and finish.
Considerations
As a performance-oriented Italian production builder under a corporate parent (Cantiere del Pardo), Grand Soleil sits at a premium price point versus mass-market cruisers, and buyers seeking pure ultra-luxury superyacht customization may find the range (mostly under 65-80ft, dual-purpose race/cruise design) a narrower fit than dedicated blue-water or full-custom yards.
Analysis generated 9/7/2026
Part of
Also in the catalogue
Where they build
The building sites this yard publishes, in its own order.
Forlì
Forlì, Italy
Cantiere del Pardo
Fleet at a Glance
Calculated from the models in the YachtCodex catalog, not from the builder's claims.
- Models in catalog
- 13
- Length range
- 11.3–26.2 m
- Hull forms
- Sailing Monohull 13
- Cabins
- 2–5
Models by this brand
13 models
GS 40
LOA: 13.5 m
GS 42 LC
LOA: 13.83 m
GS 44
LOA: 15 m
GS 52
LOA: 17.05 m
GS 52 LC
LOA: 16.98 m
GS 60 LC
LOA: 19.68 m
GS Blue
LOA: 11.3 m
GS Plus 65 LC
LOA: 21.6 m
GS Plus 65 P
LOA: 21.6 m
GS Plus 72 LC
LOA: 23.75 m
GS Plus 72 P
LOA: 23.75 m
GS Plus 80 LC
LOA: 26.2 m
GS Plus 80 P
LOA: 26.2 m
History
The Grand Soleil Line is where the brand began, more than fifty years ago, and it remains its core: sailing yachts under 65 feet built by Cantiere del Pardo. What the yard calls its dual DNA is the refusal to make an owner choose between speed and comfort -- on one side a racing heart, pushing for hydrodynamics, sail plans that are powerful but manageable, and current construction; on the other the long-distance line, with the volume, range and stowage of a home at sea. The racing half is not a slogan: Grand Soleils have won the IMS and ORC world championships more than once, and raced the Fastnet, the Rolex Giraglia and the Middle Sea Race.
History written fromgrandsoleil.net/pages/about-grand-soleil· The Grand Soleil Lineread 9/25/2026