I have been a bit reluctant about posting about the new Solaris 50. I still love the previous 50, that was elected 2016 Yacht of the year, and I did not see any reasons for changing it, except out of detail. The boat is fast, with an excellent interior and with potential for good storage.
In fact, the reasons for changing had nothing to do with having a better hull or a better sailing boat, but with providing a better cruising boat, for the ones that are never tired of having more interior volume and more space, and those are today the big majority.
There are several very positive points regarding that increase in volume: the garage is now separated from the two lateral spaces for storage, and that was possible because the dinghy enters the garage longitudinally and not laterally, which makes it also easier to get the dinghy in and out.
The two large storage spaces are accessed by the cockpit with a third upper access to the dinghy itself. The sail locker and the forward crew cabin are now bigger, and a very useful technical space was created between the two aft cabins without diminishing their size.
In regard to storage and place for technical equipment, like water maker or generator, the previous 50 had a problem: all the aft space (dinghy garage) was a semi-wet space because it is impossible to prevent some water from entering through the large garage door, that sometimes is partially submersed (when the boat heels).
Above, the new Solaris 50, below the old model
A very humid place and therefore not appropriate for most equipment, not to mention the dinghy, not only in relation to the space it occupies but due to the possibility of moving around when the boat heels.
Not having any space between the cabins, the only option for equipment was under the aft bunks, a space normally needed for another type of storage (provisions, pilot books, bikes, and so on).
That was, in regards to cruising, the biggest limitation of the previous boat, which could lead to the sacrifice of one of the aft cabins. That problem is solved in the new 50, but at some costs in regards to overall sailing performance, and even if they resisted the popular tendency of having large bow entries, to allow for a larger forward cabin, the beam was increased substantially, from 4.55 to 4.78m.
Above, the new 50, below, the old one
Solaris does not give hull length, only LOA and in that regard, the two boats are very similar, the new one slightly longer (15.50 to 15.40m) and with a bigger LWL (14.68 to 14.25). The older version displaces 14200kg while the new one displaces 15900kg.
The older version has a 34.5%B/D with ballast in a torpedo keel with a 2.80m draft; the new one has a 30.5%B/D in a similar keel, with the same draft (2.80m). In both keels, the fin is made of resin-bonded steel and the bulb is made of lead/ antinomy, covered with epoxy.
The sail area is slightly smaller than the previous version (155m2 to 160m2). The previous boat was narrower, lighter, with a bigger B/D and with more sail area, so undoubtedly faster, especially with weaker winds and upwind.
The hull is also different in regards to aft sections and transom design: the previous model did not have all beam pulled completely aft, and allowed more heel before too much drag was created. The new one has a hull that will heel less, hitting at smaller heel angles max hull form stability, and after that, more drag.
ICE 52
An easier-to-exploit hull, increasing easiness at the cost of speed and sensations, especially upwind. Anyway, the new Solaris, as usual by Soto Acebal, has a very nice hull, just different from the previous one, but not necessarily better, designed to maximize different priorities.
The new one without losing much in performance provides without any doubt space for a better cruising interior, and not only in what regards show off and interior volume (as many times happens) but in very important and many times neglected things, like outside storage, and inside space for equipment.
Preferring one hull over the other has to do with personal choices regarding what is valued most, if sail performance, or cruising amenities. Anyway, this is not a cruiser-racer, but a performance cruiser whose major focus is on going relatively fast with a small crew, or even solo, offering at the same time a voluminous, and comfortable interior.
First, the new S50, then the older model, below, ICE 52
That explains why both boats have a simplified running rigging, with only 4 winches near the steering wheel(s), with a self-tacking jib and without traveler for a genoa or traveler for the main. On a boat this size (and sail power) it makes sense if the main goal in what regards sail hardware choice is to warrant that it can be easily sailed solo, or with a short crew.
The older version could optionally be equipped with a more efficient running rigging, 6 winches and travelers, at an increased cost, but if that could make some sense on the previous version with a faster hull, it does not make much sense on this one, even if it is probably possible.
Above, the new S50, then the older model, last, ICE 52
On this one there is something that I find profoundly disagreeable and that would rule out this boat for my personal use, the almost inexistent seating place to sail the boat. Don't take me wrong, I don't need or like seats behind the wheel, but I do like to have a comfortable place to steer the boat from the side. In this boat, and contrary to the previous one, there is just a ridiculously small seat, that seems to appear as an afterthought.
Nobody steers for a long time a sailboat on foot behind the wheel (only while racing with frequent helmsman changes), but this is the only comfortable place this boat offers to hand steer. I guess they just assumed this yacht would be sailed on auto-pilot almost full-time.
Sure, most cruising boats, including mine, are most of the time sailed on auto-pilot while cruising, but anybody that likes sailing will like to hand steer the boat when the conditions are more difficult when the yacht is sailing fast when only a knowledgeable hand on the wheel can keep it at that speed. That is what sailors who like to have fun while sailing do, and sometimes for hours....but not standing, at least not all the time because it ends up being tiring.
New Solaris 50. Look at the seat for the helmsman
It is hard for me to understand how a boat that is about performance cruising, and that will be owned by a fair percentage of sailors that like to sail, and to hand steer on these conditions, does not offer a comfortable seating place to enjoy sailing.
The evolution from the previous model, (auto-pilot sailing included) marks the continuation of Solaris yachts towards the main market, a less sportive one, continuing to offer relatively fast and elegant boats, now with a bigger interior.
If someone desires what Solaris used to provide a decade ago, boats more aimed at the cruiser-racing market, or more sportive, faster performance cruisers, demanding an experienced sailor, then the boat to get is the ICE 52.
ICE 52 is slightly longer, with a 15.80 LOA (versus 15.50), with less beam (4.65 to 4.78m), lighter (12500 to 15900kg), with a bigger B/D (36.8% to 30.5%), on a similar keel with about the same draft and more sail area (157 to 155m2).
Being a more sportive boat the ICE comes with travelers for the genoa and the main and with 6 winches and a running rigging less simplified, allowing for better sail control, and more work (and knowledge) to have everything correctly trimmed. It demands an experienced sailor.
New Solaris 50
Solaris and ICE are very well-built boats. ICE has the possibility to be built fully in Carbon or Carbon and E-glass fiber, using epoxy resins, and, except for the custom ICE building and the use of epoxy (that allows for a lighter boat), they have many things in common in what regards building, even if the one of ICE is a bit superior.
Solaris uses E-glass, Airex closed cell foam vacuum bagged sandwich, using polyester resins for the hull and deck. Main bulkheads, and the one forward, are made in sandwich and all the composite and plywood bulkheads are resin bonded and laminated to the hull and deck.
Previous Solaris 50
Transverse and longitudinal reinforcements are made in E-glass and laminated with epoxy resin to the hull. In the high-load areas, reinforcements with unidirectional and bi-directional Carbon fabrics are used and the Airex core is replaced with a higher-density foam or marine plywood.
This allows for a stronger, lighter, and more rigid hull, but much costlier to build than the ones from the bigger main brands, which are built using mostly single skin and a contre-moule, plywood bulkheads and bonding agents to hold everything together.
ICE 52, a good quality interior, a bit less exuberant than the one on the Solaris
Below, previous Solaris 50, sailing to Australia, with a Sprayhood
Even having these boats a superior built, with more B/D, allowing them to be stronger and with better safety stability than most, inevitably there will be always many that will say that these boats are not ocean-worthy, and are only built for the Mediterranean.
This misconception originates from the images of these boats that are portrayed on the brand's website or on the images of Solaris tests in magazines, due to the provided yachts, without a mounted sprayhood, a bimini, or solar panels.
Below, Solaris 47 with sprayhood and two biminis
Today even mass-production boats are portrayed for publicity purposes without sprayhoods or biminis, partly because test sailors from magazines do not criticize the fact, and because they look faster and more beautiful in the eyes of the majority.
But of course, in the real world the Solaris or ICE that are used for extensive cruising, and they are many, are equipped with sprayhood, bimini, and some with solar panels. Typically on a boat this size with two biminis. They are available as options and mounted by dealers.
Solaris' interior quality is top, the design is even better and this boat looks particularly well sorted out, especially in the saloon.
Ice has also a high-quality interior but I would say that it is a more discreet one.
Solaris interior goes with the outside and it would be harder to find a cruising boat, beamy and with relatively high freeboards, that overall looks as well as the Solaris, especially at this time when almost all cruisers, even the very expensive ones, look fat, due to high free-boards and huge beams.
Yes, the new Solaris 50 is considerably beamier than the previous model and more than ICE 52, but it maintains slender bow entries, a not-too-excessive freeboard, and the max beam of 4.78m is not that big if compared with the one of the much smaller Hanse 468 (4.79m).
If we look at better-built boats, the beam the Hallberg Rassy 50 is 5.00m, the new Contest 49/50 beam is 4.90m and the same happens with almost all newly designed main market cruising sailboats, either from the main brands or from luxury ones.
Above and below, new Solaris 50
ICE 52 seems to be the best option if one wants a faster cruiser, if one does not care much about speed or sailing with lighter winds, doesn't mind the yacht looking a bit fat, and wants an even bigger interior, then the best options seem to me the Contest 49CS and the Hallberg Rassy 50. I have posted about them here:
What about price? Well, due to the way it is built, the quality of materials, the finish, and the quality of the interiors, it cannot be an inexpensive sailboat, but I would say that it has a better price (like ICE) than some other well-built luxurious brands. It costs around 542 000 euros standard without VAT.
Of course, a yacht fully equipped with VAT will be much more expensive but if we compare this price with the one of the Hallberg Rassy 50, or Contest 49CS, that cost without VAT more than one million euros, I would say that it is a very interesting price, for the ones that can afford it.
Maybe some think that I am praising too much this yacht. Well, the Solaris 50 was already tested by the biggest world sail magazine, Yacht.de, by one of the most experienced sail testers, who has already tested hundreds of sailboats and is difficult to impress, I am talking about Michael Good, since 2005 test editor of Yacht magazine, that, after having tested the Solaris 50 said:
"A true Gran Turismo and a feast for the senses: The look is simply stunning, the sailing characteristics excellent, the workmanship first class. Solaris Yachts in Italy is setting new standards for exclusive performance cruisers that other manufacturers find it difficult to match. The brand new 50 can underpin this reputation."
You can read the full article here, and have access to exclusive and very good pictures.
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