AIATA Sunfinder 38 Heads to Olympic Yacht Show with Octana Yachts

AIATA heads to Lavrio with the Sunfinder 38

AIATA and its Greek distributor Octana Yachts have confirmed that the Sunfinder 38 will be on display at the sixth Olympic Yacht Show at Olympic Marine in Lavrio from 15 to 18 October 2026. The builder’s announcement, issued on 12 October, identifies Booth 25 as the place to see its 11.6-metre open cruiser and meet the local dealer’s team. The occasion is a fresh opportunity for Greek owners to examine the boat in person, not a claim that the model has only just been invented.

The forthcoming presentation has a particularly Mediterranean focus. Lavrio sits near some of the region’s popular island cruising grounds, and a versatile dayboat here has to work as a social platform, a practical means of reaching anchorages and a vessel that can be manoeuvred confidently in busy ports. Those requirements explain why the Sunfinder combines a relatively compact overall length with a layout intended to make outdoor time comfortable rather than forcing every activity into one cockpit.

Designed by Finnish designer Jarkko Jämsén, the Sunfinder 38 is part of AIATA’s self-described SUV of the Seas approach. The company pitches the boat as a high-performance cruiser with space arrangements often associated with larger models. Buyers should nevertheless distinguish between the yard’s published design intention and the equipment fitted to the particular showboat, because optional items and local specifications can vary.

Two social cockpits and the significance of the bow lounge

A distinctive element of the Sunfinder 38 is a usable lounge in the bow, which AIATA describes as a second social cockpit. Rather than dedicate the entire forward deck solely to access and sunbathing, the designer has made it part of the boat’s principal outdoor accommodation. That provides families and groups with two places to gather and can help separate activities while at anchor.

The arrangement is attractive for Mediterranean use, where guests might move between sheltered seating, an open foredeck and the water throughout the day. When assessing a boat of this type, however, owners should pay attention to how safely passengers can move forward, the protection offered by coamings and handholds, and how the seating is secured during passage. A bow lounge that looks excellent alongside needs to be practical whenever wind and seas increase.

The aft cockpit retains its own role as a boarding and dining area, depending on the configuration. The ability to carry out ordinary tasks—handling lines, storing fenders, accessing the swim platform and preparing for an evening in harbour—matters as much as the number of cushions. At the Olympic Yacht Show, prospective purchasers will have the opportunity to look at these practical details rather than judge the design from overhead layout drawings alone.

Claimed speed and the limits of brochure performance

AIATA states that the Sunfinder 38 can reach speeds of up to 53 knots, a striking figure for an 11.6-metre leisure cruiser. That is a manufacturer’s quoted maximum for a particular configuration and conditions, rather than an independently verified result for every hull. It should be read as an indication of the model’s sporting character, not as a sensible target speed in crowded waters or rough weather.

Owners considering a high-performance boat should ask the dealer about engine installation, load, weather conditions, fuel consumption and a realistic cruising speed. Maximum speed on its own says little about the range available when carrying a full complement of guests, fuel, equipment and supplies. The relationship between acceleration, trim, visibility and steering response is especially relevant when moving up from slower coastal craft.

Sea conditions around Greek islands can change rapidly, so comfort and predictability should guide the way the boat is used. The combination of a performance-oriented hull and generous gathering spaces is appealing, but clear briefings and secure seating remain essential for everyone aboard. A sea trial with the intended propulsion package is a more useful final buying step than any speed quoted in a press announcement.

A dealer presence and what visitors can check

Octana Yachts is AIATA’s official dealer in Greece and will host the Sunfinder 38 at Booth 25 during the four-day show. That local representation has a practical value: customers can question the same business about ordering, documentation, commissioning and service after the exhibition. Access to an effective dealer and maintenance network is an important part of owning a recreational boat that may spend much of the season moving between marinas and island moorings.

Visitors should also ask which items are standard and which cost extra, particularly navigation electronics, deck shades, refrigeration, safety gear and berth fittings. The apparent simplicity of an open boat can conceal a substantial amount of installed equipment, and choices made at the order stage determine how well the boat serves its owner over time. A straightforward discussion about storage and winterisation may be as valuable as a demonstration of the social seating.

The Olympic Yacht Show dates fall just ahead of the quieter winter maintenance period for much of the Mediterranean market. Whether someone intends to buy immediately or plans for the following boating season, a properly supported show visit can clarify operating requirements and help avoid surprises. The announced Sunfinder 38 display therefore has relevance beyond a single set of exhibition photographs.

The original 12 October announcement is a participation notice rather than a sea-trial report, and no independent fuel figures or test results were supplied in it. Leisure Boat Guide has kept those distinctions clear while using imagery associated with the actual Sunfinder model; readers looking for a precise build specification should request the latest official schedule directly from AIATA or Octana Yachts.