Yacht Class n°38 (sept-oct-nov 2024)

Sunseeker Yachts

In its Ocean range, the British shipyard has placed two units of the same length, 27 metres, the 90 and the 182. The latter features a semi-enclosed upper deck. While the fittings on the lower deck are identical, the main deck differs significantly. Let‘s head for the 182: very comfortable and ergonomic for cruising just like her twin sister.

Written by: Alain Brousse – Photos : DR

As a preamble to this test, there is one piece of news that we cannot fail to mention. Previously owned by the Chinese Dalian Wanda Group, Sunseeker is said to be in the process of joining forces with an American investor, Lionheart, which, among other activities, manages the well-known Cigarette brand. A further step towards extending its reach across the Atlantic. The brand can proudly point to a highly varied range of yachts: 22 models from 12 to 50 metres in length, symbolising all the genres sought after in this niche, from open hard-tops to superyachts and, of course, flybridges. And among them, the Ocean 182, exhibited for the first time at the Düsseldorf show (January 2024) and we did not miss that.

Performance worthy of its class

As with most Sunseekers, the architecture of the hull and the exterior and interior design remain a matter for the internal office. Her silhouette gives two impressions. Her high freeboard and large superstructure suggest that she will offer plenty of space. Secondly, her profile, with its slightly aggressive lines, hints at the performance she can boast. In fact, in her maxi version, with a pair of MAN V12 1,900 hp diesels, she can achieve a top speed of 27 knots. And her range is estimated at 1,100 miles at 12 knots. However, the manufacturer is offering a simpler version: 2 x MAN V12 diesels, or 2 x 1,650 hp. The only cockpit is forward of the upper deck, a wheelhouse with an ergonomic dashboard and an adjustable central seat with footrest.

A safe beach club

When it comes to sailing, the Ocean 182 should be a safe bet, especially as the “in-house” designers have mastered the art of hull design. Covering the miles provides pleasure, but there is one that offers just as much, if not more: anchoring, preferably in heavenly places, and what, if not the stern, needs to be designed to make these moments unforgettable? The stern of this unit is particularly convivial thanks to its surface area: 65 m², a partially hydraulic platform where deckchairs will be welcome and which will serve as a garage for the tender of up to 5 metres in length. The transom of the 182 can be raised and transformed into a solarium for four passengers. From either side, a staircase leads to the cockpit, which has been fitted out with the traditional saloon featuring two L-shaped sofas for the comfort of six passengers. And nothing prevents this area from being transformed into a dining area with a grill unit. The panoramic view is an added bonus, thanks in particular to the glass pulpit overlooking the beach club. The sunbridge terrace completely shelters the cockpit, where a gangway on each side points the way to the 15 m² foredeck, which is also a sought-after place to relax. One can enjoy three bench seats with a solarium in the centre. The last area to be discovered is the upper deck terrace, with its 17 m² of L-shaped seating, two or three poufs and a kitchenette unit with grill. So much for the outside spaces, now it is time to focus on the inside.

The four cabins on the lower deck

For Sunseeker‘s interior designers, the main deck consists above all in a vast saloon. This is evident as soon as you enter the interior, which is two-thirds open to the outside thanks to floor-to-ceiling glazing. Nothing of the landscape will escape the notice of the passengers (between 6 and 10) comfortably seated on a plush L-shaped sofa. This faces a large TV screen built into a wall. Over the 65 m² of this space, decorated in a modern but not overdone way, we discover an area on the starboard bow, which offers a dining area, a table for eight passengers who can enjoy the view outside. Directly opposite, a totally open galley, equipped with a full range of sophisticated equipment, will soon be delivering the chef‘s dishes. A staircase leads down to the lower deck, and more specifically to the VIP cabin in the bow, with its own private bathroom. Just like the two guests, one double and one twin, whose beds are placed perpendicular to the plank. The owner‘s suite, on the other hand, has a king-size bed set against a transverse partition and occupies the entire width of the unit. It claims to be spacious, and rightly so, with a surface area of 35 m², including a bathroom with an adjoining dressing room worthy of the name. At the very stern, against the engine room, space is laid out for the crew, with a cabin and a mess (saloon and galley). The Ocean 182 is sure to win over prospective cruisers, with her unrivalled habitability provided by the main and lower decks and her four cabins. Her two-thirds enclosed upper deck is an asset for certain markets, such as the United States.