Solaris 50, SEA FOX

Broker’s Comments

To say the Solaris 50 by Javier Soto Acebal was a success would be something of an understatement. 50ft/15m is arguably a bit of sweet spot in the market but the Solaris 50 took it new heights. The combination of easy handling wrapped in a gorgeous hull that delivers not only performance but unparalleled levels of comfort for a 15m performance cruiser ensured they had created a class leader. SEA FOX is a particularly nice example; skipper maintained, she has enjoyed regular scheduled maintenance and updates throughout her life. She sports a 2022 sail wardrobe, full suite of Raymarine electronics and all the prerequisites for comfortable Mediterranean cruising. Below decks she features and oak interior, leather upholstery in the saloon and some nice details such as the clear coated carbon surfaces in the toilet compartments. Now offered for sale to make way for a larger Solaris, a testament to the owner’s love of all things Solaris.

Yachting World (August 2015)

The Solaris 50 is the melodious meeting of South American design flare with Italian styling. Does she have the substance to match her style? The quality of build and finish is excellent. She has a feeling of luxury, is an absolute pleasure to helm and she has engineering to equal her looks. This is the second excellent new Italian yacht I’ve sailed recently – the other was the Italia Yachts 15.98 – and the latter shares that shortcoming of shallow benches in an exposed cockpit. But just how much time would you spend trying to sit on a windward cockpit bench while sailing to windward? Owners of the modern Solaris production range predominantly sail in the Mediterranean, where it’s about enjoying the conditions, not sheltering from them. Yes, she heels easily, but strap the crew in and enjoy the ride, because this is where she excels. The flat deck and accessible bathing platform make so much more sense when the majority of sailing time is spent in pleasant conditions, rather than parting Ocean swells.

But note that the Solaris 50 is nonetheless a moderate displacement performance cruiser, with plenty of hull below the waterline, and not some lightweight flyer.

The Solaris 50 is a bona fide trendsetter. She is sexy, elegant and sophisticated, and, to my mind, the most stylish Mediterranean production yacht to date.

– Toby Hodges