beneteau 381 v Dufour 36 v Bav 36 or 38

[Heckler]

I got back yesterday from delivering a Beneteau 381 (12 years old) from Crete to Malta, direct across the South Ionian.

We had pretty dismal weather, a F8 one night and then a F8 rapidly becoming a F9 on the last 100 miles into Valetta.

It was broad reach most of the way. The boat handled the conditions fine, although the autopilot was busy in the quartering sea. There were a few minor hull/deck joint leaks. Video clip here

Wow, impressive footage!
As we are all aware I have a 381, was impressed by my mayes 381 and am even more impressed now with mine.
Solid build, roomy, sails very well and on my delivery trip was out in 38knots all the way from Holyhead to Pwllheli, with the promis of force 9 as we turned thru Bardsey Sound, she was as safe as houses, had the engine on at 2000 rpm ( to keep her punching thru the waves and to feed power to the radar and auto pilot, the batteries were knacked) and we had 11 knots over the ground all the way to Bardsey.
The deck leaks referred to by Angus will be loose stanchion bases, a simple job, armed with a 22mm socket and a tube of sealant, SWMBO and I took a day to remove them all, reseal and job done.
Stu