The Dream Machine is Bluewater Sailboat Privilege 39. She is 39.5 feet 5 inches long and 21 feet wide. When fully laden with cruising gear, it has a draught of roughly four feet. It’s designed for offshore sailing and can take you anywhere in the world.
However, a catamaran of this size is better suited to sailing downwind in trade winds rather than sailing in high latitudes encountered in arctic regions. It can sail in high latitudes, but it was not meant for cold weather sailing in high latitudes. Catamarans exceeding sixty feet in length with a high bridge deck clearance are better suited to the work in those areas.
Philippe Jeantot (twice world champion in single-handed sailing and founder of the Vendee Globe) and René Bernard launched Privilège Catamarans in the 1980s through the Jeantot Marine Shipyard in Les Sables d’Olonne.
The shipyard was sold to a new company (La Groupe SGGR) and renamed Alliaura Marine in 1996. Gilles Wagner’s Privilege Marine Shipyard became the new owners in 2012, and Hanse Yachts purchased the Privilege name, moulds, and shipyard in 2017. Hanse declared their intention to sell their stake in 2022.
Hanse has released three models: the Signature 510, the Signature 580, and the Signature 650. From the days of Privilege Marine, they have continued to produce the Series 740 (the flagship). Marc Lombard joined the brand in 1987 and has been significantly involved with the designs ever since. Privilege is well-known for creating high-class cruising catamarans, with an emphasis on quality above quantity. The huge owner’s suite housed in the forward nacelle has been a prominent design component over the years. This construction, in addition to increasing living space, provides buoyancy in heavy seas and stiffness to the entire structure. These powerful felines are well-known for their stability and seaworthiness. A Privilege’s construction quality and finishes are superior to the competitors, as seen by its high resale value.
In the case of Privilege 39, the engines require the most attention. Fortunately, the boat has been repowered, as have many of the 39s on the used market. The engines were originally 29-horsepower Volvos with saildrive transmissions. The new engines are Yanmar 3GM units with 30 horsepower. While the engines are in fine shape and only require routine maintenance, the seals around the saildrive lower units are critical and should be replaced. This must be done while the boat is still out of the water.
The Bluewater Sailboat Privilege 39 has a masthead rig, unlike many cruising cats, and most are equipped with a fixed staysail stay. This is great for sailing in tradewinds. Carrying a huge, roachy main for days on end is a hardship, and trying to fill a small, fractionally rigged headsail is difficult. A preferable solution is to pole out a headsail or put a drifter on a Code zero furler and take a break from the mainsail. Some skilled cat sailors use dual headsails, each on its own pole. The idea is that efficient and chafe-free downwind sailing involves more than merely rigging a preventer and laying out the main. A staysail, sheeted flat behind the headsail, aids in directional stability. The staysail also functions as a storm jib that is ready to unfurl. With this in mind, you decide to forego the worn but still serviceable mainsail and genoa in favor of commissioning a new drifter and staysail. You also opt to upgrade your hardware with a Code zero furler for the drifter, a staysail furling system, and a new whisker pole for the genoa.
Now you can also precisely calculate the expenses related to boat ownership to make smart choices based on your budget and sailing needs. Use this bluewater Sailboat Calculator to explore different options and make the best decision.
If you’re 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.
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