Are you interested in offshore cruising sailboats? Sailboats designed to cruise far, and for a long time, in safety, under sail power? In this article, our crew will present the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey: a unique offshore cruising sailboat that stands out from other boats on the market.
A Dependable, High-Performance Sailboat for Offshore Sailing, by Jeanneau
Designed first and foremost for cruising, Sun Odyssey monohull sailboats have been conceived by Jeanneau to enable you to cruise efficiently and at your leisure, in all conditions, even the roughest! With these sailboats, Jeanneau accompanies all crews – in coastal, semi-coastal and offshore cruising zones – with functionality, robustness, ease of movement, performance, and safety.
Originating some of the best offshore cruisers, Jeanneau benefits from a historic savoir-faire: with over 60 years of design, production, and innovation, the brand is positioned as a trusted partner, particularly for sailors planning longer passages. Five Sun Odyssey models offer a new vision of cruising sailboats, as well as big innovations to meet needs identified by sailors, themselves. In this way, Sun Odyssey sailboats truly are different from other offshore cruisers on the market.
Sun Odyssey: An Offshore Cruiser That Checks All the Boxes
For a tour of the Atlantic or the Mediterranean, whether for a sabbatical year at sea or for a world tour of an undetermined duration… an offshore cruise takes preparation. Among the numerous steps before departure, one is choosing an offshore cruising sailboat that is perfectly suited to your plans.
Must-Haves for Offshore Cruising
Offshore cruising invites you to sail far from the coastlines, for the duration. On long crossings, there are fewer possibilities for stopovers and provisions. As a future owner, to follow such a plan, you must choose a reliable offshore cruising sailboat: an ideal boat for your use and in which you can place your trust, in all circumstances.
Your offshore cruiser must be robust, safe, high-performance, easy to handle, capable of going long distances, self-sufficient… but also remain comfortable, including after multiple weeks of cruising.
Criteria for Selecting an Offshore Cruising Sailboat
In preparation, to select the sailboat best adapted for offshore sailing, consider the following:
- The seaworthy character of the hull and its stability
- The reliability and performance of the rigging
- The deck plan and characteristics of the sidedecks
- The cockpit design and the ergonomics of the helm station
- The level of complexity of handling
- The interior layout, the atmosphere, and practical features in living spaces
- Storage volume and locations
- The capacity of water and fuel tanks
- Equipment for energy production and management
Designed to enable you to head out for adventure and to cruise off the beaten path, far from harbour infrastructure, Sun Odyssey sailboats are perfectly adapted for offshore cruising.
A Production Model Sailboat for Passagemaking
Production model sailboats, as much as any others, can be perfectly suitable for offshore cruising. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey sailboats, in particular, are positioned as sailboats designed especially for offshore cruising.
A High-Performance Jeanneau Sailboat, Safe and Responsive at the Helm
The architects of the Sun Odyssey sailboats have designed powerful, reliable, very seaworthy hulls. Notably, the chine on the monohulls moderates heeling and provides excellent stability. These sailboats also benefit from exceptional ease of handling.
The boats’ open deck plan, as well as their wide, walkaround sidedecks, make Sun Odysseys safe boats, with easy movement on board. Centralised sail handling is accessible from the helm station for safe handling, particularly when cruising short-handed.
Sun Odysseys are also distinguished from other production model sailboats designed for offshore sailing by their high-performance rigging. Notably, the lowered boom, the mast positioned further aft, and the balanced sail plan result in optimised efficiency. Reducing the sail plan is quick and easy, and the Sun Odyssey cruises at a good speed, comfortably and efficiently, at all points of sail. An optional self-tacking jib is also available on certain models.
Whether you are a very experienced skipper, a family, or a couple with big cruising plans, you will see: it is very intuitive to cruise offshore aboard a Sun Odyssey.
Layouts for Sun Odyssey Cruising Sailboats
On the exterior as well as the interior, the Sun Odyssey offshore cruising sailboat has been very well considered. Simple, ergonomic layouts enable all crews to accomplish their offshore cruising plans with peace of mind.
Each Sun Odyssey model is a sailboat offering an enjoyable quality of life on board, even over longer passages. On the exterior, the deep, sheltering cockpit ensures safety and practicality while cruising or at anchor, night or day!
Generously sized and featuring significant standing headroom, interior living areas make Sun Odyssey sailboats very liveable boats within their categories. They are readily personalised, available in multiple versions. Featuring abundant natural light, the timeless design is a source of well-being.
From the chart table, head compartment, galley, cabins, etc.: all living spaces are functional, safe, and accessible, in all conditions. The berths offer the ability to truly rest, including between two watches.
Large water and fuel tanks enable you to plan longer cruises with peace of mind. Lastly, there is another advantage: maintenance is facilitated by quick access to the various components on board.
All these strengths place Sun Odyssey sailboats among the best offshore cruisers available on the market!
Sun Odyssey Models
Are you considering choosing a Sun Odyssey sailboat for offshore cruising? We present, in this article, why these five models have become references in their categories.
The Sun Odyssey 350 & 380: Combining Pleasure, Performance and Comfort
The Sun Odyssey 350 and Sun Odyssey 380 constitute excellent choices for sailors who envision a first offshore cruise – in the Mediterranean, or from France to the Antilles – or a new offshore cruise, as a couple or family. These are responsive, easy to handle, compact sailboats, offering well-being and peace of mind on board.
Launched in 2024, the Sun Odyssey 350 is the successor of the famous Sun Odyssey 349. With a hull length of 10.40 metres, today, she is the smallest Sun Odyssey sailboat. Boasting a new innovative hull, an ergonomic cockpit and walkaround sidedecks, she is a contemporary sailboat, simple and efficient, particularly responsive at the helm. On board, both handling and movement about the boat are easy and comfortable.
Learn More: Sun Odyssey 350, Innovating to Improve Life on Board
The Sun Odyssey 380 also promises very enjoyable, smooth passagemaking. Owing to her augmented sail area and her inverted bow, she is an efficient cruising sailboat – particularly downwind. Movement about the deck is safe, the offset twin helms offer very good visibility, and the lifting keel enables beaching.
On the interior, the bright, streamlined and contemporary style, as well as the varied layouts, contribute to making the Sun Odyssey 380 an excellent production model for offshore sailing.
A boat that sails fast and very smoothly, with minimal heel and with very responsive helms, very nice sidedecks, very big cockpit for her size […] The interior is comfortable and well designed.
Jacques-Antoine A. | Owner of a Sun Odyssey 380 since 2022.
Sun Odyssey 410 & 440: Well-Being and Peace of Mind on Board, Passagemaking
With these two 12-metre and 13-metre monohulls, Jeanneau offers sailors an unforgettable experience at sea: the two models include comfort, safety, and enjoyable sailing, including on long passages.
With protective coamings, a lower boom, and an inverted bow, the Sun Odyssey 410 is a safe, elegant, and particularly inviting offshore sailboat. On board, cruising is efficient! Even offshore, life aboard the Sun Odyssey 410 is harmonious: the crew enjoys common living areas conducive to conversation, as well as very thoughtfully designed private living areas.
The Sun Odyssey 440 also meets the expectations of all on board: stable, resistant, with a safe cockpit and deck plan, she is perfectly adapted for offshore cruising. Her generous fuel and water tanks, storage capacity, and equipment for longer cruises enable you to live aboard with greater self-sufficiency.
Spacious living areas, various possible layouts, and considerable comfort aboard the Sun Odyssey 440 make her an ideal home for cruising families.
We really like our Sun Odyssey 440. She is, by far, the most comfortable cruiser I have ever used. She is pretty sporty: we have done several races, and her performance is respectable. On the whole, we are very satisfied with her.
Alex M. | Owner since 2022.
Sun Odyssey 490: Ultimate in Comfort and Performance, for Cruising Freedom
Flagship of the line, the Sun Odyssey 490 is the offshore cruising sailboat dedicated to those who seek, at once, self-sufficiency, ease of handling, efficiency, and comfort. With powerful, elegant lines, a generous sail area, a bowthruster, and top-of-the-line equipment, she is the perfect cruiser for passagemaking. She will appeal to sailors seeking complete relaxation as well as those seeking performance!
On the interior, the 49-foot offshore cruiser offers one of the best Sun Odyssey layouts: a true owners’ suite with a queen-sized berth, notably, occupies the forward bow.
We really love the stability and ease of handling of our 490. With our Code 0, we can move quickly, even in very light winds.
Bruce and Peggy G. | Owners of a Sun Odyssey 490 since 2021
Sun Odyssey model comparison for long-distance cruising
| Model | Length (m) | Beam (m) | Cabins | Water Capacity (L) | Fuel Capacity (L) | Key Strengths |
| Sun Odyssey 350 | 10,4 | 3,59 | 2 - 3 | 206 + 130 | 130 | Innovative hull, ease of handling, ideal for sailing offshore double-handed |
| Sun Odyssey 380 | 11,22 | 3,76 | 2 - 3 | 330 | 130 | Lively and responsive sailboat, excellent handling downwind, bright, comfortable interior |
| Sun Odyssey 410 | 12,35 | 3,99 | 2 - 3 | 528 | 195 | Safe and elegant, comfortable offshore, harmonious life on board |
| Sun Odyssey 440 | 13 | 4,29 | 2 - 4 | 330 | 200 | Great autonomy, generous living space, comfort offshore: ideal for family |
| Sun Odyssey 490 | 14,42 | 4,49 | 2 - 5 | 640 | 240 | Top-of-the-line offshore cruising sailboat, exceptional comfort, remarkable performance |
Would you like to learn more? Our Jeanneau dealer network will assist you in finding the Sun Odyssey that will launch your offshore cruising experience.