Saffier Se 37 Lounge
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facts Test editor Toby hodges tested: Where we tested: IJmuiden, The Netherlands. Wind: 6-18 knots offshore breeze. Model: number one, with laminate SE 37 sails and self-tacking jib, carbon Saffier mast and bowsprit. HOW dOEs tHe bOld cOckpit laYOut Of tHis DAZzling neW ‘Lounge’ dAYSailer design woRK? Photos by Bertel Kolthof ooking for a pair of trainers for daysailing market with its attractive, fashion, road and cross-country easy-to-handle and well-built small L running? They don’t exist. yachts, perfectly fit for their purpose. or a bilge keeler that will take to the This new SE 37 Lounge, a ground, sleep eight and go to windward veritable supercar of the sea, is an like a witch? No chance. We have to uncompromising luxury daysailer. by make compromises when buying new that I mean it is not pretending to do products. If we expect them to do all all things for all sailors. There are no things we end up with something only cabins and there is no accommodation partially fit for our needs. abaft the companionway. It is purely Fully appreciating how you spend and simply a daysailer, and it offers your time afloat is crucial in determining space, comfort and performance in an the type of boat that will best suit innovative design that remains easy your needs. saffier has cornered the for one person to sail fast. 64 65 ON TEST: SAFFIER SE 37 LOUNGE feel on the helm is akin to that of a compact sports yacht despite forward position 4 1 5 2 the optional 1m fixed bowsprit the powder-coated black 1 with textile dolphin striker sports 3 stainless steel stanchions and a gennaker furler. there is also an Dyneema lifelines combine form option for an anchor roller that and function. 3 rotates out of the anchor locker. 4 the backstay is on a cascade 2 two reversible winches manage system and led neatly under deck. all sailing functions, including the traveller is mounted across the German mainsheet, which is 5 the aft deck, controlled via cam led under deck aft from the boom cleats at the helm (although along with the running rigging. sunbed cushions need to be removed for this). When the hennevanger brothers just behind it also gives the saffier an classy and A quick blast best suits the main and jib sheets. It hennevanger had doused the jib and began to branch out their father’s exciting, sporty roadster look. uncluttered – hennevanger is an action man, Mr takes a bit of getting used to, but would launched the kite solo. I soon understood IJmuiden-based boatbuilding business The SE 37 has much more of a saffier sE 37 is energetic. he had cast off and started soon become second nature. how he had already beaten a fully crewed to include pretty little dayboats in the performance shape than past saffier great fun to sail in hoisting the main in the marina before sailing from amidships on this size First 40 team during Wednesday evening 1990s, little could they have imagined models, with a particularly flat run to a breeze I’d had a chance to finish stowing my bag of boat is unusual. The only other racing while sailing the SE 37 solo (which that, by 2018, they would be the world’s its aft sections. The beam is carried all below. It was the start of a commanding boats steered from this far forward are must feel pretty cool)! biggest daysailer brand and that they’d the way aft to help generate enormous demonstration of how quick and easy it is keelboats with tiller extensions, centre- Manoeuvres rarely called for anything be launching a 37ft luxury model. cockpit space. It’s called a ‘Lounge’ to take these boats out for a short spin. cockpit cruisers and multihulls. yet this other than a line to be clutched-off and despite its rise in popularity, saffier because a ‘cockpit’ is not the right word our haste to get into open water was wheel-driven performance yacht cannot another to be set around a winch. one still only expected to sell a couple of SE for an area this large and free of lines, rewarded with ideal sailing conditions be compared to any of those. despite the downside of the helm position is that you 37s a year – yet six have already been says dennis hennevanger. to suit this type of boat, with flat water length of steering connection needed, can’t see the main properly when sitting sold since its January show debut. hennevanger’s confidence in his boats and 8-16 knots of offshore breeze for it still provides fingertip response. The to leeward. I also think the tail locker For a real appreciation of the SE 37 you is infectious. he is always ready and our morning sail. And there was even sensation on the helm is more akin to openings should be larger, or a second need to see how it is built, the processes, willing to go sailing and will take his boats some swell around the harbour entrance, sailing a compact sports yacht, with only locker be made each side so the tail ends investment and fresh mentality the yard out in anything, especially in the high enough to feel the boat’s motion going 20ft or so of boat in view ahead. I was can be divided neatly. on a boat of this has put in place to ensure quality control. winds and waves typically found around into the waves, and to help us surf into quickly hooked. aesthetic calibre, there is no place for an above: under- More on that later – first, I was itching to the entrance to IJmuiden. double figures. during our first fetch towards the long untidy mess. deck sheets exit find out if the performance matched the In 2014, during european yacht of saffiers have always been easy to sail stretch of beach south of IJmuiden, we directly in front flashy, novel design. the year trials in Italy, the SE 33 was solo, but would that still be the case at clocked 8.5-9 knots in 10 knots true using Addictive helming of clutches and the only boat to leave the harbour in big this size, I wondered? the Code 0 furling gennaker. When the The SE 37 really is a fun boat to sail in winch What’s a Lounge? breeze and swell, despite being among Four discreet buttons on the coamings breeze picked up another few knots, this both directions. Left: adjustable have you spotted the design irregularity? a fleet of much larger cruising yachts. control the two reversible harken increased to a very respectable 9.5 knots. We averaged 7 knots upwind at around helm foot brace The central position of the twin wheels The gennaker still went up and although winches. Together with a bank of six The ease with which sails can be 35°, half a knot more when freed off a little hinges up from the is a first at this size and suggests this is we had a lively time trying to clock top clutches each side, this makes it simple changed encourages you to do so. As we in the puffs. The self-tacking jib made cockpit sole a boat that is all about the enjoyment on speeds, it was yet another demonstration to control the boat single-handedly from sailed up and down past the lines of sand short-tacking back into harbour a delight. the helm. To my eye, using a combination of the robust build quality and ease of the helm – once you have figured out dunes, we frequently swapped gennaker sailing against the tide, we ‘slam of a fixed windscreen with the wheels sailing a saffier. which button does what and which winch for jib and vice versa. In just 30 seconds, dunked’ it through the tacks to ensure 66 67 ON TEST: SAFFIER SE 37 LOUNGE Right: it’s all about entertaining – a large folding table and the 40lt cockpit fridge the mainsail’s roach crossed the backstay. it’s a technique hennevanger swears is above left: optional fridge drawer and grill below the than Tofinou – for the same quality access to a compact engine space and The wind switched to a sea breeze in just as easy to carry out in 20+ knots. retractable shower benches. The side decks have hidden declares hennevanger. there is washboard stowage to one side. the sE 37 sails the afternoon, which allowed for some The SE 37 is a boat that makes you concealed under magnetic strips incorporated, which “I’m not saying we’re cheap, but I do A proper heads is a critical feature for beautifully and is memorable gennaker rides going with a reluctant to stop sailing. I happily hogged transom flap. allow backrests to stay in place and be think it’s fair pricing for what we give.” a daysailer of this type to allow all aboard very well balanced slight swell. the helm, sailing right into the tight above: clean, slid forward or aft to suit seated guests. to enjoy full days afloat in comfort. The It was notable how much difference the marina, before dropping the main and uncluttered twin The shallow aft lockers give access Business class lounge SE 37 has that, albeit without standing movement of our weight made. We had reversing 150m into the finger berth. My helm positions to the steering gear, a Jefa system that The extra-wide companionway helps headroom, and also includes practical been sitting at 9.5 knots, but when the first day aboard and I’d gained absolute uses a mix of rod, chain and wire.