Ship & Boat International eNews: May/June 2021
Saffier Yachts is planning a summer launch for its Saffier Se 33 Life model, a compact luxury daysailer with a length of 11m oa and a breadth of 2.85m.
The craft’s deck has been built in vacuum-infused fibreglass with 15mm hard core foam, while the fibreglass around the keel section has been reinforced with roving to produce a thickness of 25mm. “Five ribs are laminated in the keel section, to transfer forces of keel loads,” Saffier Yachts adds. The Saffier Se 33 Life has three keel variations, resulting in: a shallow keel draught of 1.4m (in combination with twin rudders); a standard draught of 1.7m; and a race keel draught of 2.1m.
The cockpit can accommodate up to 10 people, though the vessel has been designed for solo sailings too. Saffier Yachts explains: “All sheets, halyards and trimlines run under the deck and back to the helmsman position, to make single-handed sailing standard for this boat.” There is also an option for an autopilot, fitted beneath the deck, which can be turned on both under sail and when using engine power.
The ropes are stored in compartments inside the benches on each side of the boat, and two removable seats can be added to the cockpit to provide back-rest comfort to the helmsman. The mast, spreaders and booms are manufactured in aluminium and supplied by Selden, though customers can opt for a carbon mast. A sunbathing platform is located aft, and a swimming ladder has been integrated into the stern for easy access to the water. The deck and cockpit are also fitted with Harken winches, and all exterior flooring incorporates anti-slip technology.
Below deck, one finds the saloon, modelled on a five-star hotel room. Natural light enters the saloon via two hull windows, one integrated into each side of the hull, as well as through a flush hatch in the foredeck and a sliding entrée hatch in the middle of the boat. A V-shaped berth in the front measures 2.2m x 1.65m, while the saloon is also furnished with a couple of lounge seats or beds, each occupying approximately 3m x 0.85m and offering additional storage space underneath. The saloon’s galley features a sink, a stove and a fridge on the portside, while a dedicated coffee bar (with the option for an espresso machine) is positioned starboard.
Other than sail power, end users have two key power options: the diesel route, courtesy of a Yanmar 2YM15 engine with sail drive, control dashboard and throttle; or electric propulsion, enabled by a Torqeedo Cruise 10.0 engine, which offers an endurance of about five hours and 10kW of power. Saffier Yachts CEO Dennis Hennevanger tells Ship & Boat International that, when using its sails, the Saffier Se 33 Life will be able to achieve a full planing speed of around 20knots downwind and approximately 7.5knots upwind. When using the diesel engine, “around 7.5-7.6knots is my estimation”, he adds.