The Judel/Vroijk-designed Bluewater Sailboat Hanse 461. She is a 46.5-foot boat by Hanse Marine that is marketed as a “performance cruiser.” With an L/B of 3.18, she is a beamy bluewater sailboat. The ends are short and the stern is fairly broad in today’s form. The high freeboard contributes to the volume of the interior. Hamburg-based architect Birgit Schnaase created the interiors. In short, there are three alternative ways to do either the two-stateroom arrangement or the three-stateroom configuration.
Judel/Vrolijk & Co., the primary architect of the Alinghi designs that won the 2003 America’s Cup as well as other contemporary Hanse models, created the new model. According to polar diagrams from the design office, this bluewater sailboat will reach at 8.5 to 9.5 knots in winds between 10 and 20 knots.
Judel/Vroijk created the new 46.5-foot Hanse, which is marketed as a “performance cruiser.” Even though the term “performance cruiser” has been used somewhat unfairly over the years, the boat earns it given its specifications and design pedigree. There is little doubt that the boat will perform admirably, and with six distinct interior layout options available, there is a strong possibility you may find a plan that suits you.
With an L/B of 3.18, it is a beamy boat. The ends are short and the stern is fairly broad in today’s form. Although it’s not particularly attractive, the high freeboard helps to provide interior volume. The shoal draught model draws 6 feet, 4 inches, while the standard draught is 8 feet, 5 inches, and the “medium” draught is 7 feet, 6 inches. It is 166.8 D/L. The shape of the hull is noticeable.
The bilge system on the Hanse 461 was designed, according to Michael Schmidt, the company’s founder and driving force, so that cruising yachtsmen could more accurately identify a leakage source from an isolated bilge area rather than discover a full bilge with the water above the floorboards as the first sign of a problem.
Rarely, especially with a saildrive system, would water be discovered in the bilge of the 461; nonetheless, in such exceptional circumstances, it is necessary to manually move the pump suction to each chamber. Additionally, each of the bilge regions is easily accessible because to the creative design of the maple flooring squares.
All Hanse models employ the unique suction cups that come with the boat to elevate the flooring, doing away with the need for mechanical lift rings that are prone to failure.
The “crossover-design” philosophy of Hanse creates a symbiotic relationship between the expression of the yacht owner’s highly personalized individual lifestyle and the maximum speed, highest living comfort, and easy handling of a modern sailing yacht.
Looking for a used sailboat for sale? Check out the bluewater sailboat data and specs to make an informed decision. Ocean Wave Sail has data for over 10000+ boats that can help you select one to meet your sailing needs.
The spacious cockpit is quite typical of modern aft-cockpit boats. The swim platform can be reached easily thanks to the dual wheels, which are also a wonderful spot to manoeuvre. The thick, high coaming that is located forward of the wheels helps to increase headroom in the aft cabin. When you exit and enter the cockpit, you must step on top of the coaming. The foredeck has a sizable anchor locker. A flat panel conceals the halyards and lines coming down from the mast, which are then led to a bank of rope clutches on the port and starboard sides.
The fractional rig has self-tacking spreaders and sweep spreaders. The flush deck forward greatly helps in this situation. Nothing prevents you from running the self-tacking jib track all the way outboard. A cabintrunk generally makes this impossible. The 461 is vacuum-bagged and constructed using an epoxy sandwich technique.
Hamburg-based architect Birgit Schnaase created the interiors. In short, there are three alternative ways to do either the two-stateroom arrangement or the three-stateroom configuration. The location of the head next to the companionway and the arrangement of the dinette are the main differences between the two stateroom designs. The owner’s stateroom must be invaded in order to accommodate two staterooms and a shower stall, although there is direct access to the head from the owner’s stateroom. You can either have a drop-leaf table and a straight settee to starboard or an L-shaped couch with additional chairs on the centerline.
There are no options for a shower stall in the three-stateroom configurations, but you can pick between two or three heads. Two staterooms can be located either front or aft in your arrangement. With a beam of 14 feet, 7 inches, this size of boat makes it challenging for the designer to construct a pleasant, attractive saloon plan. The eating area should be divided into separate areas to the port and starboard since the boat is simply too beamy for it to span the entire beam of the saloon. They might have actually intended to accomplish it. It could be preferable in a charter arrangement to be able to disperse the guests after dinner. In all models, the entertainment centre is housed in the piece of furniture across from the dinette. This cabin is lavish with the owner’s stateroom behind it, but the designers cleverly included space aft of the stateroom for a lazarette.
The twin wheels’ connecting-rod steering and the spade rudder have a balanced, silky, and sensuous feel to them. Not for nothing had the German-built Hanse 461 been nominated by Cruising World for the 2006 Boat of the Year competition’s Performance Cruisers Over 45 Feet category. Judel/Vrolijk & Co., the primary architect of the Alinghi designs that won the 2003 America’s Cup as well as other contemporary Hanse models, created the new model. According to polar diagrams from the design office, this boat will reach at 8.5 to 9.5 knots in winds between 10 and 20 knots.
A light-displacement form that will move through the water with the least amount of fuss and produce fewer and smaller waves is indicated by the 461’s displacement/length ratio of 167.
The displacement/length ratio of the 461 is 167, which points to a light-displacement design that will travel through the water with little trouble and produce fewer, smaller waves due to less hull resistance. The other factor in its speed, which is that it is amply canvassed in relation to its displacement and hence easily driven in light air, is explained by its sail area/displacement ratio of 22.56. Therefore, the 461 is a good option for Chesapeake Bay, especially the shoal-draft variant, although a deeper-draft version would be suitable for locations where depth is not a concern. Either appears to be a strong contender for both racing and swift cruising.
The new Swan 46 and its sportier sister, the Swan 45, can be compared in an intriguing way (see “Swan Lands in Familiar Waters,” March 2006). The Hanse’s are significantly more in line with the 45’s than the 46’s for both performance ratios. Several other European racer/cruisers, like the Salona 45 and the X-46, are also comparable to them (see “Crunching the Numbers,” January 2006).
The Hanse has a relatively low ballast/displacement ratio (.29) when compared to other ships in its class. Although the large hull and strong stern portions of the 461 provide it exceptional form stability, it appears likely that in order to take advantage of strong winds and rough seas, the 461 would need to shorten sail earlier than other boats.
The 461, with its tall rig, short ends, and canoe underbody, has the outboard profile of an Open 50 when viewed from the boat’s forward window backward, and in a strong breeze, a performance-oriented crew might feel as though they are sailing one. With six retractable docking cleats and a recessed anchor windlass, the laid-teak decks, cockpit seats, and sole are spacious and transparent. Despite the rain and spray soaking the teak, there was good traction and footing on these surfaces.
While the North American traditionalists will raise an eyebrow at this unique boat’s many advances, many other regions of the world are falling in love with it for its strong sailing capabilities and modern look. The 461 is constructed of an epoxy laminate and features a steel grid for its structural support, just as previous larger Hanse models. The 461 was named the most inventive yacht of the year in Europe last year by a jury of magazine editors, but as the builder noted the 461’s purpose was: “The boat may be tough to characterize since it can’t be pigeonholed.”
The Hanse 461 has accommodations for up to seven people inside, is a highly fast boat that is also extremely easy to sail. The 461 merits a close examination for sailors who are interested in both cruising and racing, such as a successful couple with young children, lots of friends, and a taste for speed.
Now you can also precisely calculate the expenses related to boat ownership so that you can make smart choices based on your budget and sailing needs. Use this Sailboat Calculator to explore different options and make the best decision.
© OceanWave Sail. All Rights Reserved 2022
