Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300: A modern racing yacht with a proven track record

Since 2008, Jeanneau has produced 150 Sun Fast 3200 sailing yachts, establishing it as a popular performance boat tailored for shorthanded events and IRC ratings. However, by 2015, feedback revealed key areas where the design could be improved:

• The 3200’s flat run aft and lack of chines made it drag a lot of wetted surface area in light breezes
• The 3200 struggled in light winds, but was fast once it got going
• The 3200’s dual rudders added a lot of wetted surface area, but they also allowed an autopilot to work with a lot of sail

What to do? Clearly it was popular and filled a need. Rather than discontinuing the model entirely, Jeanneau opted to introduce the 3300 as an evolved successor to the 3200. Guillaume Verdier, renowned for designing foiling IMOCA yachts, the 100-foot Comanche, and numerous other high-performance boats, brought his expertise in computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis to collaborate with Daniel Andrieu, the original architect of the Sun Fast line. Together, they worked on creating the design for the 3300. The aim was to create a boat that was more powerful, responsive, and enjoyable to sail than the Sun Fast 3200, while maintaining stability and balance.

Jeanneau sought a yacht that not only delivered greater power and responsiveness but also featured a bold, sleek design—because who wouldn’t want to turn heads while competing? Beyond aesthetics, they aimed for a vessel with increased versatility. Where the 3200 catered well for short-handed inshore sailing, the 3300 was designed for both inshore and offshore sailing, whether short-handed and fully-crewed sailing. 

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Since its release in 2019, the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 has become a growing favourite among competitive sailors worldwide, and has rapidly established itself as a formidable contender in the world of offshore racing. So much so that it was named the 2020 Overall Winner of Sailing World’s Boat of the Year competition. And here’s why.

The Sun Fast 3300 is constructed using advanced vacuum-infused polyester fibreglass, resulting in a lightweight yet robust hull. This method ensures exceptional rigidity and durability, essential for the demanding conditions of offshore racing. The hull features a double concave design, reducing drag and enhancing speed, particularly in downwind conditions. Its reverse sheer, tumblehome, and high-volume reverse bow contribute to its distinctive appearance and performance capabilities.

In a 2020 Sail Magazine review, Adam Cort wrote, “underway, what surprised me most about the Sun Fast 3300 was how well it went windward. I was also pleased by how much room there was for the five crew we had aboard, this in spite of the spider’s web of control lines running about. Heading up to a 32-degree apparent wind angle in 7 knots quickly produced 5 knots of boatspeed and a lively, responsive helm. As expected, we pounded a little in the chop. But coming about was a piece of cake, and the boat felt wonderfully balanced throughout.” [2]

Optimised for both inshore and offshore racing, the Sun Fast 3300 offers versatility. It’s easy to handle, whether sailing single-handed, double-handed, or with a full crew. The ergonomic cockpit layout allows all sail controls to be within easy reach; in a situation where performance is required this means manoeuvres are more efficient, not requiring the crew member to reposition themselves at crucial times. The twin topmast backstays support a large square-top mainsail, allowing for fine-tuned adjustments to optimise performance across various wind conditions. Additionally, the integrated water ballast system enhances stability, crucial during high-speed offshore passages.

In a 2019 review for Yachting World, Pip Hare (whom we have recently featured in our series Pip Hare Slow Boat to Australia) wrote, “as soon as the jib started to drop the kite filled and BOOM! Even with my co-skipper on the front of the boat our bow actually leapt out of the water and we blasted off with some pace. The grin I was wearing, sailing under spinnaker, actually made my face hurt after a while. This boat is seriously fun, powerful and responsive. We sat at 130° true wind angle, playing in the waves, pushing to the limits – our top speed surfing was 14.3 knots and the other side of the bay arrived far too quickly.” [1]

Below deck, the Sun Fast 3300 offers a functional and minimalist interior, tailored for racing needs. The nav station is equipped with advanced B&G electronics, essential navigation tools at all times.  Convertible pipe berths with lee cloths offer practical sleeping arrangements during extended races. The compact galley includes a gas stove, refrigerator, and sink, ensuring that crews have the necessary amenities without unnecessary weight or complexity.

Since its introduction, the Sun Fast 3300 has consistently found its way onto the podium throughout the world. From Australia to the UK to the USA, short-handed or full crew, amateur or professional, the Sun Fast 3300, like the famous New Zealand racehorse Phar Lap, has a nose to win.

• Zephyr skippered by Simon Toms placed first with IRC – Class 6 division and 28th with IRC Overall in the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Yacht Race, while placing third in IRC – Overall, and second with IRC – Class 6 division in 2023.
• Hip-Nautic, skippered by Jean-Pierre Ravant, placed 50th overall, 21st under IRC, and fifth with IRC – Div 5 in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart, finishing in a little under 4 days. In the previous year, Ravant sailed Hip-Nautic, double-handed with Drew Meincke and placed 43rd overall and sixth in the Double-Handed division. Ravanat is a seasoned sailor and skippered Hip-Nautic to third under IRC in the 2020 Launceston to Hobart, and won with IRC – Div 2 and Double-Handed Division in the 2022 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.

• Transcendence Rudy Project, skippered by Martin Cross, was dismasted and unluckily retired early in the rough and ready conditions of the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Harbour Yacht Race. Previously, father and son, Martin and John Cross, first competed in the 2022 Sydney to Hobart in which they placed 50th overall, and seventh in the Two-Handed division. In 2023, the Cross duo sailing Transcendence placed sixth overall in the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race, and in 2024, second overall.

• Toucan, raced Double-Handed by Edward Curry-Hyde (skipper) and Scott Robertson, placed 53rd overall, 22nd with IRC, and sixth in the Double-Handed division in the 2024 Sydney Hobart. This was Curry-Hyde’s first Sydney Hobart race. Toucan was placed seventh in September 2024’s Flinders Islet Race, fourth in the Tollgate Islands Race, and eighth in November’s Bird Island Race.

• Munjek RS, skippered by Dusko Tomić, placed 44th with IRC – Overall, and eighth with IRC – Class 6 in the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Yacht Race. Mujek RS also competed in the 2024 Yachting Malta Coastal Race, placing sixth with IRC – Class 6 division and 24th with IRC – Overall, and in the 2023 Middle Sea Race, placing 15th with IRC – Class 6 division and 66th with IRC – Overall.
• Alquima, skippered by Matteo Uliassi, placed 46th with IRC – Overall, third IRC – Double-Handed, and 46th with IRC Overall in the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Yacht Race. 
• Obsession, skippered by Steve Lawson, competed in the 2024 Yachting Malta Coastal Race, placing 32nd with IRC Overall and eighth with IRC – Class 6 in the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Yacht Race.

• Arkana, skippered by Glenn Walters and his crew of three, competed in the crewed division of the 2023 Ida Lewis Distance Race (a sailing competition growing in popularity) hosted by the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, RI, finished second in their division. “I’ve been involved with the Sun Fast 3300 now for the past three years, and I can tell you without hesitation, that this boat never ceases to amaze me’ says Glenn. In 2022, Arkana also raced in the Newport Bermuda Race and took second in our division, and then Sarah Stone and Cat Hunt raced Arkana back from Bermuda in the double-handed division and won the whole thing.
• AVALON, Ken and Brad Read, also competed in the 2023 Ida Lewis Distance Race winning the Double-Handed division (for the third time); “We finished in 26 hours which is pretty close to the published goal of a 24-hour race. – Ken Read
• Lee Condell raced his new Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300, Sun Fast Racing, in the 2022 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, having only launched it in June that year. Already in 2022 he had contested the inaugural Tollgate Islands Race and finished an impressive sixth overall and runner-up in the Two-Handed Division. Condell secured second place in the Double-Handed Division in the 2022 Sydney Hobart. 
• Ten Sun Fast 3300s competed in the 184-boat, 89 Double-Handed 2021 Fastnet Race; notably, Swell, co-skippered by Scottish Olympian Shirley Robertson and Henry Bomby, came second in the Double-Handed division and 14th with IRC Overall, and FastTrack XII, sailed by Nigel de Quervain Colley & Mathew Smith finishing 10th in the Double-Handed division.
• The Transquadra is a biennial yacht race only open to amateur crews of over 40 years of age both double-handed and single-handed across the Atlantic in two legs. In the 10th edition of that race, held 2021-2022, Alex Ozon clinched first place in the single-handed division aboard Sapristi. 

Specifications

Here are some specifications for the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 sailboat: 

• Length: 33’2″ (10.11 m) overall, 32’9″ (9.99 m) hull, 29’2″ (8.90 m) waterline
• Max beam: 3.40 m (11’2″)
• Displacement: 2,650 kg (5,842 lbs)
• Keel draft: 6’5″ (1.95 m) with standard keel
• Cabins: 2
• Berths: 6
• Engine: 15 HP / 10 KW
• Water capacity: 100 L (26 US gal)
• Fuel capacity: 50 L (13 US gal)
• Standard sail area: 61.9 m2 / 667 Sq ft
• CE category: A6 / B7 / C8 / D10

The Sun Fast 3300 is a high-performance sailboat designed for racing that can be handled by a single person, two people, or a full crew. It has a hull speed of 7.24 knots (13.41 km/h).

From the stormy Southern Ocean to the Atlantic’s shifting winds, the Sun Fast 3300 consistently proves its diversity . Sailors across the globe appreciate its innovative features, such as the twin topmast backstays for sail control, the spacious and ergonomic cockpit, and the lightweight yet robust hull design.

These features not only make the 3300 competitive in races but also easy to handle for skippers and crews of all experience levels. Whether in long-haul ocean races or short technical regattas, the Sun Fast 3300 is a boat that thrives on the edge of performance.