The helm station is particularly comfortable, thanks to a large, luxurious seat with refined detailing. Two nearly vertical Garmin displays provide clear, immediate navigation data—giving the sensation of sitting behind the wheel of a supercar. The Four Winns H9 model we’re about to test is powered by a 430 hp Volvo Penta inboard engine.
Sea Trial
The weather today isn’t what you’d typically expect during sea trials in Cannes—this time, it’s not so sunny, and the sea is fairly rough with crossing waves.
We head out from Port Canto at low speed. There are four of us on board, and we’re wondering whether it’s time to put on our foul weather gear, given the sea conditions. We’re limited to 5 knots until we pass abeam of the red light at Vieux Port. I take the helm and adjust the seat, which slides to allow for the perfect driving position. We close the center section of the windshield to shield ourselves from the wind and any spray, and together we decide to head toward Théoule-sur-Mer, where the sea looks a bit calmer. I quickly accelerate to get the boat on plane and lift the hull out of the water. At 3,500 rpm, we hit 16 knots. The waves pick up, but the hull doesn’t slam—thanks to the sharply raked, narrow bow, it cuts through the water with composure. I reach a more sheltered area abeam of the port of La Rague and throttle up to enjoy all the sporty character this Four Winns H9 has to offer. Incredible—5,700 rpm and 39 knots, with a fuel consumption of 124 liters per hour. No jolts, no bounces—it’s smooth on the water yet firm in its handling. I hardly need to correct the course; the boat runs beautifully. Needless to say, at this speed, we could reach Saint-Tropez in under an hour. And if it weren’t for the truly rough sea outside the Bay of Cannes, we might consider a longer run.
Steering this Four Winns H9 is genuinely fun. Despite trying to push the hull to its limits—crossing over our own wake and hitting the waves in all the wrong ways—first of all, the boat stays dry, and second, the steering remains sharp. I accelerate through tight turns, but even with constant course changes, the trim stays spot-on. I’m honestly impressed that a boat just 9 meters long, in such tough sea conditions and treated this roughly, managed to show what it’s truly capable of.
Test Data
| RPM | Speed | Consumption gal/h |
| 600 | 2.6 | 0.42 |
| 1000 | 4.5 | 0.47 |
| 1500 | 6 | 2.24 |
| 2000 | 7.6 | 3.43 |
| 2500 | 8.6 | 6.07 |
| 3000 | 11.2 | 8.45 |
| 3500 | 15.5 | 11.62 |
| 4000 | 23.2 | 14 |
| 4500 | 28 | 16.11 |
| 5700 | 39 | 32.75 |