Sailboat Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 for sale

Arguably the hottest short-handed racer on the market: the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300

Since the 1990s, the Sun-Fast range of racing yachts from Jeanneau has ensured that genuine regatta racing with an offshore focus remains accessible even to those who do not own one-off yachts or carbon-fibre racers, or who do not have access to large sponsorship budgets. To this end, the shipyard relies on renowned designers – such as IMOCA veteran Guillaume Verdier or the architects at VPLP Design. The boats rolling off the production line under the Sun-Fast name have built up a large following and regularly achieve impressive regatta victories, including in prestigious races such as the Middle Sea Race.

The market for racing yachts may be small – and highly competitive – but it is growing. There is a strong trend towards smaller boats, simpler and more focused sailing yachts, and, above all, towards greater sailing enjoyment. The Sun Fast 3300 guarantees just that: this compact, very fast sailing yacht is designed uncompromisingly as a racer and is meant to be sailed as such. It boasts a modern, stylish and aggressive design – a ‘mini-IMOCA’, as some call it.

A ‘Pocket Rocket’ by Andrieu and Verdier

If you’ve always wanted to sail like the Vendée Globe pros – Boris Herrmann, Jérémie Bayou and the rest – then the Sun Fast 3300 is exactly the right boat for you. Admittedly, it can’t foil (in which case we’d recommend Beneteau’s Figaro 3, the first and only production yacht with foils), nor does it have a canting keel or a mast on a swivel base, but it does offer all the trimming features of its larger counterparts to get the most out of the boat, particularly on downwind courses.

Single-handed, double-handed or crewed racing: it’s all here!

The Sun Fast 3300 remains, in fact, one of the most versatile racing yachts on the market. The cockpit is designed to be easy and efficient for a solo skipper to operate: all winches and trimming devices are ergonomically positioned, ensuring that even complex manoeuvres under heavy wind pressure can be carried out safely and easily.

If you wish to sail in double-handed mode, this creates new yet equally ergonomically clever positions for both the helmsman/mainsheet operator and the bowman. The Sun Fast 3300 also performs superbly when crewed by two: It is not without reason that it is one of the most popular racing yachts on offshore regatta courses around the world. In races covering 1,000 nautical miles (both inshore and offshore), the Sun Fast 3300 competes just as frequently and successfully as it does in classic Atlantic crossings.

If you’re looking to buy a racing boat that’s also suitable for crewed racing, the Sun Fast 3300 is certainly capable of accommodating a full crew. This makes the yacht incredibly versatile; it is ideal as a club racing boat and, for private owners with ambitions to win regattas, opens up the full range of racing categories: from the Solo Silverrudder in the Baltic Sea to fully crewed events in the Mediterranean.

Buy a Sun Fast 3300 – Hull, design, construction & sail plan

State-of-the-art construction – kept affordable

Like the other brands, Jeanneau is a mass-production shipyard specialising in generating a high output of vessels, which can then be built so efficiently through precisely timed, industrialised production stages that they remain affordable. Naturally, the output of a sailing concept as radical as that of the Sun Fast – compared to the Sun Odyssey cruiser yacht – is nowhere near comparable, but the Sun Fast 3300 benefits from the shipyard’s expertise in mass production.

With a budget of around €200,000 (excluding VAT), owners can buy a brand-new, well-equipped Sun Fast 3300 directly from the shipyard. If you want your racer to be fully offshore-capable and equipped with a comprehensive range of electronic equipment, including VHF/AIS and, above all, a high-performance autopilot, you should budget for a little more. Important: This racing yacht (like almost all others) is delivered from the shipyard without sails – you’ll need to order these separately from a brand or sailmaker of your choice. Depending on how many and which sails you order, and the material they’re made from, you’ll need to budget a furthere €30,000 to €60,000 euros.

That said, the Sun Fast 3300 is certainly no bargain, but it is still well below the price ranges of the top-tier brands. What’s more, if you order from Jeanneau, they can offer different (shorter) delivery times, and there may well be some interesting deals to be had on the second-hand boat market for the Sun Fast 3300.

The Sun Fast 3300 is manufactured exclusively using the modern vacuum infusion process. In this process, dry GRP mats are impregnated with resin inside the mould in an air-free environment (under vacuum), resulting in structures that are particularly strong yet thin and therefore lightweight. As a compromise to keep the boat affordable, Jeanneau uses balsa core wood as a sandwich material in the sections of the boat that are not subject to structural stress.

Sun Fast 3300 boats hold their value remarkably well: well-maintained boats (with relatively few or less demanding racing engagements) still command quite high selling prices of between €160,000 and €180,000, which should be of particular interest to newcomers to the sport.

Everything an IMOCA can do too …

… and above all: downwind! The Sun Fast 3300 is described as a ‘Reaching Monster’ that enters planing mode even in moderate winds and at relatively low boat speed (around 8 knots through the water). Thanks to its extremely direct and very precise steering (twin rudders controlled by a single tiller), it remains safe to handle at all times, even at high speeds.

The 1.4-tonne keel, which extends to a depth of 1.95 metres, creates an impressive lever arm that keeps the boat rigid and upright, even when sailing close-hauled. With a ballast ratio of 40 per cent, the Sun Fast 3300 is therefore extremely rigid: this exceptionally lightweight yacht is sure to impress you with its high sailing performance in both light and strong winds.

In the latter case, it benefits from its very voluminous bow, which is also designed as a light ‘wavepiercer’. Many sailing journalists and professional sailors praise the hull’s behaviour when cutting through waves. The Sun Fast 3300 effortlessly ‘irons out’ even short, choppy waves; there is hardly any risk of it getting stuck – provided it is sailing fast. The sailing experience is aggressive, hard-hitting and wet, without ever becoming too extreme. The Sun Fast 3300 is comparatively narrow (narrower in relation to its length than the Dehler 30 OD) and therefore sails very fast even on tighter courses. A compact, ‘muscular’ and very high-performance downwind machine that won’t let you down on upwind courses either.

A true high-performance cruiser with all-round capabilities: the Sun Fast 3300 sail plan

This force from the rig drives the boat forward: for cost reasons, a simple but robust aluminium mast is mounted through the deck onto the keel section. It is secured to the side by strongly swept double spreaders. At the stern, the forestay trim is adjusted via the backstay: The full range of trimming options is available. For example, the large mainsheet traveller running across the entire width of the boat at the stern, 3D cleats for the headsails, or the light-wind sails on the fixed bowsprit at the bow.

If you want something even more extreme and aggressive, you can choose the carbon mast from the options list. And if you really want to ‘go for it’, you should logically buy a carbon fibre boom and water ballast as well.

The mainsail is designed as a not-too-extreme square-top. When sailing close-hauled, the Sun Fast 3300 can thus carry 62 square metres of sail area on the mast. On downwind courses, the large blister allows you to carry 128 square metres of sail area on the rig. This makes good double-digit boat speeds entirely possible when planing.

As mentioned, this boat is always sold by Jeanneau without a set of sails: this is standard practice in the performance sailing world, as every skipper and every sailing area has different preferences and requirements.

Buy a Sun Fast 3300 – The cockpit is designed entirely for solo sailing

A major trend in European sailing is the move towards large regattas that are sailed without handicap or class restrictions. From the transatlantic ARC to the world’s largest solo offshore regatta, the Silverrudder, these events are setting new booking records and enjoying growing interest. At the same time, interest in ORC and IRC regattas appears to be waning, as these events seem to be increasingly dominated by technical refinements, equipment and, ultimately, ‘victory by calculation’.

But don’t worry: the Sun Fast 3300 is more than capable of serving as your platform for victory, both in handicap-free races and in class races. It’s no coincidence that it has earned itself a thoroughly impressive reputation as an ‘IRC-killer’. These races mainly take place in the more southerly sailing areas of the Mediterranean. Northern Europe and the Atlantic prefer to race under ORC rules, for which the Sun Fast 3300 is also class-measured – and highly competitive.

Whether it’s a match race, a fun regatta or a serious series, as a solo sailor you’ll immediately feel at home in the cockpit. After just a few training sessions, you’ll have got to grips with the position of the lines and trim controls. You’ll adapt just as quickly to the direct and highly precise steering response of the Sun Fast 3300. Only operating the slightly more complex equipment (where fitted) will take a little more time, particularly the water ballast system, which can be very useful in solo mode during offshore regattas with long upwind legs.

The fierce competition: JPK, First, Dehler et les autres

Anyone wishing to invest the moderate budget required for a new Sun Fast 3300 should, of course, also take a look at the current competition. We can give the all-clear here, as the hot contenders such as JPK and Pogo are, in terms of purchase price, well above the level of the Sun Fast 3300. Apart from the sometimes very long waiting and delivery times for these brands, both boats are, in our view, even more specifically tuned for downwind sailing, and therefore offer fewer all-round qualities. The JPK 10.10 and 10.30 are likely to pose the toughest competition to the Sun Fast 3300.

Furthermore, with the J/99 and the J/109, J-Boats is bringing a competitor to the market which, whilst appearing more agile at the helm and likely to have more power upwind thanks to its more conservative hull shape, is, in our opinion, less suitable for offshore and have significantly poorer planing ability.

The similarly designed and only slightly smaller Dehler 30 OD offers a little more comfort on board (although ‘comfort’ does not necessarily mean ‘suitable for cruising’). The Sun Fast 3300, however, is considerably more radical and should, particularly downwind, sail away from its German rivals.

However, the Sun Fast 3300 faces competition from within its own range: although its predecessor, the Sun Fast 3600, is no longer in active production, it remains popular on the second-hand market. This boat is, however, more than a metre longer, noticeably heavier and bulkier, but should be more comfortable to sail in long offshore regattas. That said, the Sun Fast 3600 takes longer to plane and is, by nature, less aggressive.

Buy a Sun Fast 3300 – All the information for skippers and sailors

What sort of sailors does the Sun Fast 3300 appeal to?

You really need to want to sail ‘for real’ and, above all, have the competitive drive to measure yourself against other sailors. The Sun Fast 3300 is designed and optimised purely as a racing boat. Family sailors (even those looking for high-performance boats) are unlikely to be satisfied with the Sun Fast, as the boat is not only very basic and cramped in terms of on-board comfort, but it also sails ‘hard’ and ‘wet’.

If, as a member of a sailing club, you regularly take part in competitions and regattas, the Sun Fast 3300 is an affordable, high-performance and aggressive platform that gives you a very competitive edge in both IRC and ORC regattas as well as in open-class races.

The boat likes moderate to strong wind conditions, although – like any flat-hulled planing yacht – it prefers calmer seas and offshore winds. The Sun Fast 3300 cuts through the waves with ease, but needs speed to do so: When sailing close-hauled, it may be necessary to bear away early, depending on the wave height and amplitude. Downwind, the Sun Fast 3300 is almost unstoppable – early planing followed by a radical surge forward leaves the competition trailing in its wake.

Does this appeal to you? Can you picture yourself behind the wheel? Then go for it!

IRC-killer and ORC rocket?

The Sun Fast 3300 is one of the most successful production boats of recent years in IRC- and ORC-sanctioned regattas. Its strong showing in the Rolex Fastnet Race is particularly noteworthy: for years, Sun Fast 3300s have been achieving strong placings in the solo and double-handed classes. In the over-40s amateur category, the Sun Fast 3300 has achieved excellent results, for example in the Transquadra, followed in 2024 by a class victory at the prestigious Giraglia; in IRC/ORC, the Sun Fast 3300 wins regularly and secures numerous titles and podium places in RORC, Mediterranean and international regattas as far afield as Australia.

Buy a Sun Fast 3300 – comfort below deck

The Sun Fast 3300 below deck: everything you need

You’ll be surprised at just how much wood there is inside the boat and how much comfort the skipper and crew find below deck. Unlike its little sister, the Sun Fast 30 OD, the Sun Fast 3300 offers a proper saloon with double benches (which can also be used as berths), a genuinely spacious chartroom with a lovely, ergonomic skipper’s chair, as well as (on request) a well-equipped galley where you can cook for the whole crew.

The boat also features a pleasantly spacious toilet and shower room. The toilet is fitted on the starboard side, which can be quite a challenge for the user when the boat is heeling sharply to windward or in rough seas – the Dehler 30 OD has solved this better, as its bathroom is situated amidships, making it much less stressful and safer to use.

At the stern, beneath the cockpit, there are two sleeping quarters separated from one another by a longitudinal bulkhead. You could clear these out completely and use them as storage space, or leave just one of them as a berth.

Thanks to this layout, the Sun Fast 3300 is ideally suited as a racing yacht for longer regattas. A crew member off watch can make themselves relatively comfortable at the stern, and provisions for meals and basic hygiene on board are well catered for. Anyone looking for a fast sailing boat for their holidays would be better off checking out Beneteau’s First range; the Sun Fast 3300 is definitely too sporty for that and rather unsuitable.

Summary and conclusion

Could the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 be your next boat?

If you’re looking to get involved in the regatta circuit and are after an uncompromising racer with a genuine chance of victory, then the Sun Fast 3300 could be the perfect platform on which to build. This yacht is characterised by top sailing performance, particularly on reaching courses (where it glides at breakneck speed), and impressive all-round capabilities. Whether sailed solo, as a double-handed yacht or with a crew, the Sun Fast 3300 offers sufficient stability and modular upgrade options for all aspects of sailing, from a carbon rig to water ballast. It remains affordable and, even as a second-hand boat, retains its value for a surprisingly long time for a racing yacht.

Buy a Sun Fast 3300 – What we particularly like about it:

• An aggressive, beefy hull shape, well suited to offshore regattas.
• Very good IRC rating, but also a good ORC rating.
• Suitable for single-handed, double-handed and crewed sailing.

Buying a Sun Fast 3300 – Here’s what you need to look out for:

• There’s still plenty of room for improvement in the basic version.
• Fixed bowsprit (mooring requirements).
• Not suitable as a fast cruiser.

Further reviews and test reports: