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48° North Tests the Stout, Twin-Keeled Bluewater Cruiser

The Sirius 40 Deck Saloon (DS) just made its North American Boat Show debut in Seattle in January, and I have to admit, it had not been on my radar. It certainly is now, and it left a big impression. Perhaps this is because this was no two-hour boat test. I got on the boat at Cornet Bay Marina just inside of Deception Pass, and spent two very enjoyable days cruising the boat, including a night on the hook in a San Juans gunkhole at Kimball Preserve.

The first 40 DS splashed in 2015. And the first on the West Coast of this continent now has a home in Vancouver, BC, after sailing here from Germany, where Sirius Yachts are built.

At its core, the Sirius 40 DS is a stout bluewater sailor, whose design priorities begin with a large, central deck saloon with 360° views and creature comforts galore. It has several ballast arrangement options, two of which prioritize keeping permanent draft to a minimum while retaining rock-solid stability. And one of these (the twin-keeled version we sailed) allows you to safely “dry-out” on tidal flats; not just as a novelty, but daily. It utilizes a Solent rig with a readily-deployed self-tacking jib and traditional-sheeting genoa. Considering its host of interior layout options and multiple rudder arrangements to pair with the ballast options, it’s one of the most customizable production boats I’ve come across.

This Sirius 40 is big and beautiful, and it is ready to take you to far away places. Yet, the ocean is not the only place this boat will be at home—it’s also uniquely perfect for year-round cruising on the Sound, the Inside Passage, or Alaska. Its saloon windows allow you to take in the beauty of your surroundings while being out of the weather if it is cold, wet, or both; whether you’re under sail, under power, or at anchor.

Innovations

As much as any boat I’ve stepped aboard in recent memory, the Sirius 40 DS is full of surprises. It exposed some of the expectations to which I default, based on certain conventions in boat design. Being different is noteworthy in itself, but since ingenuity and creativity are on constant display in the Sirius 40 DS, there was also a significant wow factor.

The first clever invention I noticed was the burly canting wheel, hinged on centerline. This gives you many of the advantages of dual helms—the ability to drive from either high or low side for visibility or trimming purposes and easy fore-aft movement around the cockpit—while keeping the steering mechanism strong and simple.

As I entered the extraordinary saloon and passed the raised dinette to port, I walked down a couple of stairs at the forward end, expecting to find only a V-berth (it’s there and it’s lovely, by the way). On my way, I discovered another spacious cabin tucked under the deck saloon on the port side, which had one of the largest double berths I’ve ever seen on a cruising boat. This secret berth provides the qualities of a mid-ship berth, where the boat’s movement is minimized and where you’re insulated from lapping water in the stern and anchor chain noise in the V-berth.

This mid-ship berth is not the only unexpected space afforded by the raised saloon sole. I pulled up a floorboard in front of the galley to discover a storage area under the floor that was nearly three feet deep. There are four of those massive compartments. For passage provisioning, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen more ample storage solutions inside the cabin.

And then, it was time for the real kicker… The aft-most bench in the saloon dinette hinges out of the way and reveals a passageway into a hidden shop and storage room. This area houses the bones of the boat’s systems—engine access, electrical, water, gen-set or laundry for some—and comes standard with a workbench. It’s a brilliant use of space, and one that doesn’t sacrifice any of the comfort or elegance of day-to-day living.

The Sirius 40 is just plain comfortable. If it didn’t sound so much like marketing lingo, I’d even call it luxurious. This was never more obvious than when we were hit by a surprise 30-knot squall in Rosario Strait. We had already struck sail as daylight was fading fast and we needed to head directly to our anchorage for the evening.

We watched as the wall of white moved across the water at us. “Rain or wind?” I wondered aloud. Well, it was both. It hit and I was truly grateful to be inside the saloon, steering from the interior helm station, awed by the cell’s power and by the boat’s resistance to it.

Comfort is key to the styling, but it’s all about the views. Views when you’re cooking in the central galley, views while you’re eating in the saloon, views out the hull portlights in any of the three private cabins. I’ve never seen so much of my exquisite natural surroundings while inside a boat. You’re never really “down below” on the Sirius 40 DS.

Quality Craftsmanship

Structurally, the Sirius 40 is a beast. When I loaded my sailing bag into the closet in the midship cabin, I discovered an approach to the chainplate that was new to me. A massive steel rod tied the deck fitting directly to an athwarships stringer. This was just an example, everything about its build is brawny.

The fit and finish is as fine as any boat I’ve spent time on. It is quiet…dead quiet. No creaking floorboards. No squeaky hinges. The saloon table is genuinely gorgeous. And when the companionway door was closed, that 30-knot squall raging outside was eerily quiet inside the deck saloon while the boat heeled 15-degrees under bare poles.

The most unique of the three ballast arrangements—a twin “bilge keel” set-up—is, as mentioned above, structurally strong and stable enough to support the boat and its contents on land twice a day in perpetuity. The night before I got on the boat, the group with whom I cruised had spent the night dried out on the east side of Whidbey Island. After being warned by some neighbors that they were going to be aground, they stood up on their keels and eventually stepped off the back of the boat and explored the soggy flat in mud boots.    

Everything about sailing the boat was pleasurable and easy. The systems all worked in harmony with one another. The boat tracked beautifully. And when we eased sails to drive down from close-hauled to a beam reach in 20 knots, the boat accelerated and put a big smile on my face. It is easy to appreciate the weight of the boat and its pair of keels when sailing. The boat’s movement felt slow, moderate, deliberate.

Sailing upwind in breeze in the mid-teens, I did wonder whether a fin keel would have slightly improved the performance to weather. I’d be very eager to try the lifting-keel version. You can certainly find more impressive upwind sailing performance in light and moderate breezes, but you have to sacrifice a lot about what makes this boat special, and the sailing was still very fun. The boat has a substantial rig and had plenty of sailpower to make good progress toward our destination under sail, keeping our 25,000lbs plowing toward Blaine. While it’s hard to say whether it was the keel arrangement or the boat’s significant heft, the only time I really wished for more performance was getting back up to speed out of a tack. However, it goes without saying that there were other priorities in its design and build. Ultimately, it was a strong sailing performance from a highly capable boat.

Ready for Anything

Sailing the Sirius 40 DS perfectly summed up all of my other experiences on the boat: numerous systems offered innovative solutions to common problems, its motion was remarkably consistent and comfortable, the layout made me want to settle in and relax, quality was on display in every facet, and the boat felt stout and ready for anything.

If we could have kept going—north to Alaska or south to warm water—I certainly would have been happy to do so. The Sirius 40 DS should be on the short list for anyone searching for a strong, heavy bluewater home, from which to explore the world in extreme comfort.

Rig and Sails: Mainsail (standard) 49.0 m2 Self-tacking jib 32.3 m2 (standard) Genoa I 63.6 m2 Mast height above water: 65′

Joe Cline has been the Managing Editor of 48° North since 2014. From his career to his volunteer leadership in the marine industry, from racing sailboats large and small to his discovery of Pacific Northwest cruising —Joe is as sail-smitten as they come. Joe and his wife, Kaylin, welcomed a baby girl to their family in December 2021, and he is enjoying fatherhood while still finding time to sail, make music, and tip back a tasty IPA every now and again.

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Sirius 35DS

• August 26, 2010

Chris Beeson challenges you to see beyond the somewhat individual looks and explore the most impressive cruiser we’ve ever tested.

Product Overview

Overall rating:, manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

It’s the highest score we’ve ever awarded, by some distance, and it reflects the wealth of ideas, craftsmanship and pride built into this extraordinary yacht. She’s expensive, but for a yacht of this quality, she’s actually very good value. For some, her looks will be an issue, but yachts are built to sail – if you want something to look at, buy a painting. As a custom-built, luxury cruising yacht, you’d struggle to match her.

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The Sirius 40 DS Sailboat Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Sirius 40 DS, a fractional sloop, was designed by Marc-Oliver von Ahlen and built in Germany by Sirius-Werft GmbH.

Published Specification for the Sirius 40 DS

Underwater Profile :  Various keel and rudder options

Hull Material:  GRP

Length Overall:  42'4" (12.90m)

Waterline Length:  36' 7" (11.17m)

Beam:  13'5" (4.08m)

Draft:  Depends on keel option: Fin keel (4 options), Twin keels or a lifting keel.

Rig Type:  Fractional sloop

Displacement:  25,574 lb (11,600kg)

Designer:  Yachtdesign v. Ahlen

Builder:  Sirius - Werft GmbH (Germany)

Year First Built:  2015

Published Design Ratios for the Sirius 40 DS

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:  16.2

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio:  29.7

3. Displacement/Length Ratio:  232

4. Comfort Ratio:  32.6

5. Capsize Screening Formula:   1.8

Performance Expectations, based on the Design Ratios The Sirius 40 DS is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she can carry all your cruising gear without compromising her speed and agility. She has a displacement/length ratio of 232, which is typical for most offshore cruising boats today. She also has a sail area/displacement ratio of 16.2, which indicates that she has enough sail power to perform well in light to moderate winds. Her ballast/displacement ratio of 30% ensures that she has a good stability and righting moment in case of a knockdown.

Production Period and Numbers Produced The Sirius 40 DS was launched in 2018 as the flagship model of the Sirius Yachts range. She is the successor of the Sirius 35 DS, which was introduced in 2013. The Sirius Yachts company was founded in 1971 by Peter Schmidt in Germany and is now run by his son Torsten Schmidt. The company specializes in building deck saloon yachts with custom interiors and various keel options.

The Sirius 40 DS is a semi-custom boat, which means that each yacht is built according to the specific requirements and preferences of the owner. Therefore, there is no fixed number of boats produced per year or in total. However, according to the company website, there are currently more than 20 Sirius 40 DS yachts sailing around the world.

Alternative Versions & Options The Sirius 40 DS is available with four different keel configurations: a single fin keel, a lifting keel, or twin keels (either fixed or lifting). The choice of keel depends on your sailing style, your cruising area, and your personal preference. The fin keel offers the best performance and stability, but also the deepest draft. The lifting keel gives you the flexibility to adjust the draft according to the water depth but also adds some weight and complexity to the boat. The twin keels allow you to dry out on tidal flats or beaches, but also reduce the sailing efficiency and increase the wetted surface.

The Sirius 40 DS also offers various interior layouts, from two to six berths, as well as different options for the saloon, galley, navigation station, workshop, storage space, and other features. You can customize your boat to suit your needs and preferences, whether you want more comfort, more functionality, or more luxury. Some examples of unique features that have been requested by owners include a sauna, a piano room, an office room, or a wine cellar.

Number & Location of Sleeping Berths The Sirius 40 DS can accommodate up to six people in three double cabins, depending on the interior layout chosen by the owner. The standard layout offers a spacious owner's cabin in the bow, with a large island bed, a wardrobe, and an ensuite bathroom. The aft cabin has a double bed, a wardrobe, and a shared bathroom with the saloon. The third cabin is located on the lower level, under the saloon, and can be used as a guest cabin, a workshop, or a storage room. The saloon can also be converted into an additional double berth by lowering the table and adding cushions. This option is useful for extra guests or for sleeping in the saloon when the weather is too hot or too cold in the cabins.

Press Reviews The Sirius 40 DS has received positive reviews from various sailing magazines and websites. Here are some excerpts from some of them:

• "A hugely capable cruiser that dares to be different, with double-deck living. Verdict: If I was planning to sail around the world and live aboard, the Sirius 40 DS is the yacht I would go for. She’s solid, meticulously thought out, extremely comfortable to live with and superbly finished. The ‘eye-level’ concept in the cockpit and saloon and double-decker accommodation both work a treat, making sailing a much more sociable activity." - Sailing Today
• "At its core, the Sirius 40 DS is a stout bluewater sailor, whose design priorities begin with a large, central deck saloon with 360° views and creature comforts galore. It has several ballast arrangement options, two of which prioritize keeping permanent draft to a minimum while retaining rock-solid stability." - 48° North
• "The Sirius 40 DS is an innovative boat that offers plenty of space and comfort for long-distance cruising. The deck saloon concept works well, providing excellent visibility and light inside. The quality of construction and finish is high, and the customization options are impressive. The performance is respectable, especially in light airs, and the handling is easy and safe." - Sailboat Lab

Owner Testimonials The Sirius 40 DS has also received positive feedback from its owners, who appreciate its versatility, comfort, and quality. Here are some quotes from some of them:

• "We love our Sirius 40 DS because it is a very comfortable boat for living aboard. We have everything we need on board, from a spacious galley to a cozy saloon to a luxurious owner's cabin. We also like the fact that we can sail anywhere we want, thanks to the lifting keel and the twin rudders. We have sailed in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea, and we have always felt safe and comfortable." - Peter & Anna
• "Our Sirius 40 DS is our dream boat. We have customized it to our liking, with a piano room in the lower level, a wine cellar in the galley, and a sauna in the aft cabin. We enjoy playing music, drinking wine, and relaxing in the sauna after a long day of sailing. We also like the deck saloon design, which gives us a great view of our surroundings and makes us feel closer to nature." - Martin & Julia
• "We chose the Sirius 40 DS because it is a very practical boat for cruising with our family. We have three kids, so we need enough space and comfort for everyone. The Sirius 40 DS offers us three double cabins, two bathrooms, a large saloon, and plenty of storage space. We also like the fact that we can sail in shallow waters and anchor in secluded spots, thanks to the twin keels. We have had many wonderful adventures on our Sirius 40 DS." - David & Laura

History of the Boatbuilder The Sirius Yachts company was founded in 1971 by Peter Schmidt in Germany. He started by building small sailing dinghies and later moved on to larger yachts. In 1980, he introduced the first deck saloon yacht in the world, the Sirius 22 DS. He then developed other models of deck saloon yachts, ranging from 26 ft to 35 ft. In 2008, Peter Schmidt handed over the management of the company to his son Torsten Schmidt. Torsten Schmidt continued to expand the range of deck saloon yachts, adding new models such as the Sirius 31 DS in 2010 and the Sirius 40 DS in 2018. He also improved the quality and innovation of the boats, using modern materials and technologies.

Today, Sirius Yachts is one of the leading manufacturers of deck saloon yachts in Europe. The company employs about 50 skilled craftsmen.

Secondhand Values The Sirius 40 DS is a relatively new boat, so there are not many secondhand models available on the market. However, based on the few listings that we found online, the average asking price for a used Sirius 40 DS is around $500,000 USD. This is quite high compared to other similar-sized cruising boats, but it reflects the quality, durability, and uniqueness of the Sirius 40 DS.

This article was written with the assistance of Gemini, a large language model developed by Google. Gemini was used to gather information, summarize research findings, and provide suggestions for the content and structure of the article.

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Explore new cruising grounds in comfort

Our range of sailing boats from 31ft to 40ft (9.3m to 12.9m) all blend comfort and quality with performance and safety. All of our yachts give you the interior space you’d expect on a larger yacht. The unique deck-saloon design offers you an unmatched panoramic view from the saloon, galley and interior helm/navigation position. All our yachts offer a choice of six keel configurations. You can choose between twin keels or a single fin or lifting keel that best suits your style of cruising.

Every Sirius yacht is hand-built and customised for every owner. We have almost 50 years of experience building boats to draw on, whether you’d like a sauna, workshop, piano room or office we can tailor our boat to you. All Sirius yachts share common features to improve safety and make your time on board more comfortable, social and enjoyable.

Our stand-out feature is our raised deck saloon, from here you can relax in comfort, sheltered out of the elements when sailing, or able to appreciate your surrounding whatever the weather. We go sailing to see new places, and there’s no better area on board to do that, than from the saloon.

Although our boats are split level whether you’re in sitting in the cockpit or saloon you remain at the same level; those in the cockpit can see and talk to those in the saloon. We also have a navigation station which, when seated, you’re at the same level as those in the saloon and the cockpit. Those standing in the galley are at a lower level, but because they are standing, they share the same head height and eye-line as those seated. This all makes for a very social way of sailing, no one is hidden below, those in the galley get an excellent view when sailing and don’t feel left out.

All our yachts are available with four or more options (model dependent). We offer many different fin keels (varying in draught), hydrodynamically optimised twin-keels, or a fully ballasted lifting keel. Opting for the lifting keel does reduce the interior options available, but even so, every boat is customised to your wishes and we’ll help you make the best decisions.

Sirius 35 DS

Sirius 40 DS

General Manager – Torsten Schmidt SIRIUS-WERFT GmbH Ascheberger Straße 68 24306 Plön/Holstein

Fax: 0049 – 4522 – 744 61-29

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