Alberto's journey from dinghy racing to family cruising has reaffirmed his loyalty to Jeanneau's Sun Odyssey range. His second boat in the line is now the base for annual family voyages across the Mediterranean.
Alberto, who lives in Menton on France's Côte d'Azur, took up sailing at eight years old, progressing through an Optimist, a 420 and a 470. Weekends were given over to racing throughout his youth, building what he describes as a solid foundation in sailing.
As work commitments grew, regattas became less frequent, though Alberto kept his connection to the water through windsurfing and kitesurfing. Meeting his future wife, who shared his love of the sea, shifted his focus from competitive sailing towards cruising, anchorages and time spent on board with family.
In 2009, the couple decided to buy their first cruising boat, with a clear plan: use it for family cruising along the Côte d'Azur and to Corsica, and charter it out the rest of the time. Proximity to a dealer was a deciding factor, with a Jeanneau dealer based near the port in Menton.
"This is a real advantage, to easily be able to order a piece, obtain advice, or plan an intervention," Alberto said. "That brings you considerable peace of mind when you are the owner of a sailboat."
Before buying, the couple visited boat shows and chartered several Jeanneau models, including a cruise between Hyères and Corsica that confirmed the versatility of the Sun Odyssey line for their needs.
"Value for money, the reputation of the brand, the dealers' experience... all this meant that I never hesitated," Alberto said. "I always knew that Jeanneau represented the right balance."
The couple bought a new Sun Odyssey 36i, naming her "Seb." In 2012 they sold the boat to fund a family property project, but by 2023 the pull of sailing returned. Alberto again turned to Jeanneau, this time choosing a Sun Odyssey 410, also named Seb.
Both boats have been woven into family life. "Our son, Thomas, learned to walk aboard Sun Odyssey 36i. He grabbed onto everything to help him move forward," Alberto recalled.
Each year the family spends close to a month cruising Corsica and Sardinia aboard the 410, alongside day sails and extended weekends with friends. Thomas, now 14, brings his wing foiling gear on every trip, and the family's labrador regularly joins the summer cruises.
"Leaving on vacation with family aboard the Sun Odyssey became obvious," Alberto said. "The Sun Odyssey 410 which we sail aboard today enables us to bring everything that each of us needs aboard to fully enjoy cruising."
Among the design features Alberto rates most highly are the recessed sidedecks. "When manoeuvring or simply moving about the boat, this configuration gives you a real feeling of security, which is considerable," he said. The swim platform on the 410 is another family favourite at anchor.
Despite encountering a range of conditions over 15 years of ownership, Alberto said the family has never felt unsafe aboard either boat. "Sun Odyssey sailboats have not been designed for racing, but they are very solid, reassuring, and energetic under sail," he said. "They deliver great sensations under sail. So, of course, I can only recommend the line to other sailing families like ours."
