CNB 78 ONE

SUBTLE CHANGES BORN OUT OF CNB'S WEALTH OF OWNER EXPERIENCE HAVE MADE ITS REPLACEMENT FOR THE 76 A WELL-ROUNDED, EASILY MANAGED CRUISING CONTENDER, WRITES TOBY HODGES

- TOBY HODGES

A little over 10 years ago we had a memorable sail trial on the original CNB 76, a two-day return voyage from Palma. It's since proven to be a popular model for both Med and offshore cruising, particularly in terms of manageability with a small crew. A decade later we were sailing out of Palma Bay again on the new very similar-sized and styled 78. Was history repeating itself - and why create such a similar-looking replacement?

'If it ain't broke don't fix it' is perhaps the easiest answer to that, and yet once you delve into the new 78 you start to appreciate many subtle differences. CNB changed hands three years ago and its yachts are now built in Italy at Solaris's Aquileia yard. The upheaval a move like this involves is significant, from the boatbuilding workforce to a different network of sales agents. Retaining the same original design team, together with long-standing director Vincent Arnaud, maintained brand familiarity.

Designers Philippe Briand and Jean-Marc Piaton have helped CNB forge a recognisable DNA of a sleek deck saloon range set off originally by the Bordeaux 60.

SAME BUT DIFFERENT

While the look may seem extremely similar to its predecessor, the 78 has a powerful new hull shape that includes upper and lower chines. It's a little wider than the 76, especially aft, with more volume through the boat. The main layout improvements the team wanted to make were with the guest accommodation, where the increased volume has allowed for a third double cabin.

Previously, Groupe Beneteau had devised a clever modular technique for the 76, building large sections of the interior outside the hull - an industrial engineering approach to mass producing a yacht of this size. CNB says Solaris' return to traditional laminated-in bulkheads makes for a marked improvement, as does the joinerwork of the Italian yard.