The Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 Sailboat
(aka the Sun Odyssey 44)
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Design Ratios indicate that the Sun Magic 44 is a moderately heavy boat with a good sail area to displacement ratio, meaning that it can sail well in light to moderate winds. The high ballast-to-displacement ratio and the low capsize screening formula suggest that the boat is stable and seaworthy, able to handle rough seas and strong winds. The comfort ratio is in the middle range, implying that the boat is comfortable for coastal cruising, but not ideal for long ocean passages.

The Sun Magic 44 is no longer in production. It was built by Jeanneau in France between 1987 and 1993, with about 700 boats completed. The design was also licensed for production to Olympic Marine of Greece as the Atlantic 44 and was first built in 1990. The exact number of Atlantic 44s built is unknown, but it is likely much lower than the Sun Magic 44.

The Sun Magic 44 was also sold as the Sun Odyssey 44 by Jeanneau, with minor cosmetic differences such as a different deck layout and interior design. The Atlantic 44 by Olympic Marine was a licensed version of the Sun Magic 44, with some modifications such as a taller mast, a deeper keel, and a larger cockpit.

The sailing press generally gave positive reviews to the Sun Magic 44, praising its performance, handling, stability, and spaciousness. Some of the reviews are:

• "The Sun Magic has excellent stability and can carry full sail in winds up to Force 6 without reefing."

• "The Sun Magic is a well-balanced boat that sails beautifully on all points of sail. It has a light and responsive helm that makes steering a pleasure."

• "The Sun Magic is a comfortable cruiser that offers plenty of room for a large crew or family. It has a bright and airy saloon, a well-equipped galley, and four cozy cabins."

Owners of the Sun Magic 44 generally love their boats and are satisfied with their performance, comfort, quality, and reliability. Some of the comments from owners are:

• "We have owned our Sun Magic for over 10 years and we are very happy with it. It is fast, stable, easy to sail, and comfortable to live on. We have sailed it across the Atlantic twice and it has never let us down."

• "Our Sun Magic is our dream boat. It is spacious, elegant, well-built, and well-equipped. We enjoy sailing it in all kinds of weather and conditions. It is a joy to own and sail."

• "We bought our Sun Magic as a second-hand boat and we have no regrets. It is in great shape and has everything we need for cruising. It sails well, handles well, and looks great. We get compliments everywhere we go."

The Sun Magic 44 was built by Jeanneau, a French company that was founded in 1957 by Henri Jeanneau. Jeanneau started as a manufacturer of wooden powerboats, but soon expanded to fibreglass and sailboats. Jeanneau became one of the leading sailboat builders in Europe, producing a range of models from dinghies to yachts. Jeanneau was acquired by Groupe Beneteau in 1995, but continues to operate as a separate brand. Jeanneau is still in business and produces a variety of sailboats and powerboats.

The Atlantic 44 was built by Olympic Marine, a Greek company that was established in 1974 by George Andreadis. Olympic Marine specialized in building sailing yachts based on designs from renowned naval architects. Olympic Marine also offered charter, brokerage, and maintenance services. Olympic Marine ceased operations in 2010 due to the economic crisis in Greece.

The Sun Magic 44 has a masthead sloop rig, with a deck-stepped mast, two sets of unswept spreaders and aluminium spars with discontinuous stainless steel wire rigging. The standard sailplan consists of a mainsail with slab reefing and a furling genoa. The optional sailplan includes a furling mainsail and a self-tacking jib. The Sun Magic 44 can also carry a spinnaker or a gennaker for downwind sailing.

The Sun Magic 44 has two keel options: a fixed fin keel or a stub keel and centreboard. The fin keel version has a draft of 6.96 ft (2.12 m) and carries 8,155 lb (3,699 kg) of iron ballast. The centreboard version has a draft of 8.40 ft (2.56 m) with the centreboard extended and 4.90 ft (1.49 m) with it retracted, and carries 9,149 lb (4,150 kg) of ballast, consisting of exterior cast iron ballast and a steel centreboard. The fin keel version offers better performance and stability, while the centreboard version offers more versatility and shallow water access.

The average cost of a secondhand Sun Magic 44 depends on the year, condition, equipment, and location of the boat. According to some online listings, the price range for a secondhand Sun Magic 44 is between $60,000 and $100,000 USD.

The Sun Magic 44 is comparable to other sailboats in its class, such as the Beneteau Oceanis 440, the Bavaria 44, the Dufour 445 Grand Large, and the Catalina 445. These boats are similar in size, design, performance, and comfort. However, there are also some differences among them in terms of layout, equipment, quality, and price. For example:

• The Beneteau Oceanis 440 has a more modern and sleek design than the Sun Magic 44, but also has less headroom and storage space.

• The Bavaria 44 has a more spacious and luxurious interior than the Sun Magic 44, but also has a higher displacement and lower sail area to displacement ratio.

• The Dufour 445 Grand Large has a more innovative and ergonomic design than the Sun Magic 44, but also has a higher price tag and lower availability.

• The Catalina 445 has a more traditional and conservative design than the Sun Magic 44, but also has a higher quality and reliability.

The designer of the Sun Magic 44 is Daniel Andrieu, a French naval architect who has created many successful sailboats for various builders. Some of his other designs are:

• The Jeanneau Attalia;
• The Jeanneau Arcadia;
• The Jeanneau Espace;
• The Jeanneau Sun Fast;
• The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey;
• The Jeanneau Selection;
• The Jeanneau Voyage;
• The Jeanneau Leader;
• The Jeanneau Prestige;
• The Wauquiez Centurion;
• The Wauquiez Pilot Saloon;
• The Wauquiez Opium;
• The Archambault A35;
• The Archambault A40;
• The Archambault A31.