For those of us who love to sail as often as possible, the Adriatic Sea affords you plenty of opportunities to do so, but the quality of your experience will largely be determined by the boat you choose.
I recently took to the waters of the Adriatic out from Porto San Rocco in Muggia, Italy, for a test sail on one of the most remarkable boats I have been on in recent memory–the Hanse 575.
Commonly billed as a stress-free distance cruiser that can offer “home-away-from-home” comfort for couples and families, the Hanse 575 is quite large both in appearance and accommodations.
While this Hanse 575 yacht review will obviously relay my personal observations, it is highly doubtful that any person who spends time aboard this very capable cruiser will walk away with anything other than a positive experience.
Accommodations
The Hanse 575 model that I test sailed with a local broker featured a three-cabin/three-head layout, with the master cabin lying forward.
One of the first things I took note of was the strikingly spacious master cabin; it features a centerline double berth, giving you plenty of “elbow room” for making up the bed or climbing in/out of it without being a nuisance to your mate.
The head and shower each have their own compartments to port and starboard, and I also noticed a generous amount of hanging and locker space forward, enabling occupants to store lots of clothes for sailing and living aboard the vessel on a lengthy charter.
Interior
With a stylish, modern fit and finish, generous space, and comfortable furniture, the Hanse 575 is a boat that a couple or a family of four could easily live aboard and cruise the waters in comfort and style.
The interior is open and roomy, featuring a loft-like design with a portside center-ship galley, a forward-facing navigation desk, and a spacious settee area that features a retractable table (which can be easily converted to a king-size berth).
I was impressed with the well-thought-out design of the saloon, which features a galley to port that runs the full length of the space, along with a generously sized dinette to starboard.
The galley also features a large refrigerator and freezer, as well as allotted space for a dishwasher. The all-important wine cooler (one of my personal favorite features) is neatly tucked away in the furniture aft right beside the chart table.
The intuitive design of the accommodations for the Hanse 575 makes it a prime choice when it comes to selecting a worthy boat for your next charter.
Exterior
When I first saw the Hanse 575 at the marina, I was immediately struck by its distinctive look, impressive size, and voluminous presence.
Designed by the renowned studio Judel/Vrolijk, this German cruiser offers groundbreaking aesthetics, comfortable deck layouts, and fantastic open sightlines from practically anywhere aboard the boat.
In fact, when I looked straight ahead while standing at the aft end of the cockpit, I could have sworn that I was standing aboard a 70-footer.
The Hanse 575 has an expansive teak decking layout with an obvious emphasis on comfort and enjoying the view.
I took note of the exceptionally roomy cockpit, as well as the widely spaced twin composite wheels that can easily facilitate steering from either the high or low side.
The bow and stern are virtually plumb, and the topsides of the vessel are notably high off the water, which makes for generous headroom on the inside.
The design mavens at the Judel/Vrolijk studio spared no detail in terms of incorporating aesthetically pleasing features, such as flush deck hatches to “clean up” the visual appeal of the deck and eliminating any sharp edges on the hull to afford a sleek look.
In addition, the boat features a standard two-spreader Sparcraft aluminum rigging system (keel-stepped) with a self-tacking jib.
Under Sail
True to its Euro-designed pedigree, the Hanse 575 is intended to be sailed flat. The hull is quite quick and slippery and can cover significant ground even in choppy waters, which on this particular day, we had plenty of to navigate.
The semi-balanced, high-aspect rudder definitely makes its presence felt, as it is able to grab the water and turn the boat with impressive facility.
The mechanical steering system carries a nice feel, affording precise movement. The designers of the 575 have kept things simple by equipping the vessel with a traditional mainsail (including lazy jacks as well as a stack pack).
During our outing, I took note of the fact that the helm was keenly balanced, and the feel was remarkably precise.
The Hanse 575 offers a pleasant, stress-free, and non-intimidating sailing experience for couples or families who want to charter this vessel without a crew, but should you choose to hire a crew for your charter, you can enjoy the services of a cook, hostess, and skipper.
The Hanse 545 vs. the 575
Besides being a more recent model than the Hanse 545 (they were produced about 3 years apart), the Hanse 575 has nearly a full meter’s worth of extra LOA, as well as a slightly longer hull length.
The sail area of the Hanse 575 comes in at a little over 160 square meters, affording nearly 4 more square meters of space than the 545.
In addition, the 575 is equipped with 5 standard cabins compared to only 3 for the 545, although both boats feature 2 standard heads.
Why Sail the HAnse 575
* Dry and comfortable ride
* Remarkable control and an excellent feel
* Great tender garage
* Expansive and well-laid-out teak decks
In Conclusion
If I could relay some of the main takeaways from my experience aboard the 575, it would be the following:
The build quality of this vessel is rock-solid, its deck layout is spacious and clean, and its performance-oriented sailing characteristics and features make it an ideal vessel for practically any cruising adventure you may have in mind.
Whether you’re looking to enjoy some coastal cruising with family and friends or embark on a transoceanic cruising rally, the Hanse 575 is a very capable vessel that can suit your needs.
When creating your sailing charter, keep the Hanse 575 in mind as a top choice for exploring your next destination.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Hanse
- Length overall: 5.23 m
- Length waterline: 4.62 m
- Beam: 1.57 m
- Draft: 0.86 m
- Engine Volvo Penta: D3
- Fuel: Diesel
- Fuel capacity: 520L
- Cabins:3 to 6
- Berths: 6 to 10
Have you sailed the Hanse 575? If so, share your experience in the comment below.
