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 and self-tacking , carbon Saffier and . 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 fast. 

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Feel on the helm is akin to that of a compact sports yacht despite forward position

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The optional 1m fixed bowsprit The powder-coated black 1 with textile dolphin striker sports 3 stainless steel stanchions and a 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 is on a cascade 2 Two reversible 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 cleats at the helm (although along with the running . 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 . 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 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 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 

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Right: it’s all about entertaining – a large folding table and the 40lt cockpit fridge

the ’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 -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. My connect inside and out, with little height stowage and a wet hanging area aft. 6ft 2in Hennevanger moved from the aft confidence in the boat and its handling. worry was that the length of gear needed difference between the two. The use The rest of the interior is largely given sunbed to the rail, speed rose regularly might lead to the type of disconnection in of carbon reinforcement in the deck over to yet more lounge space. The over 10 knots, with surfs up to 10.9 knots Lounge design sensation typical of centre-cockpit boats. also allows Saffier to do away with a leather-style stitching to the upholstery in around 12 knots true. The space and comfort of the cockpit Thankfully, this was not the case with central bulkhead, resulting in one long – the same waterproof material as in the Throughout all the manoeuvres the cannot be overstated – there is room the SE 37. open cabin space, or yet more ‘lounge’, cockpit – is an example of the detailing. Saffier felt sporty and stiff. Following enough for ten people at a time. The A ten-year old Saffier 26 in the berth forward of the companionway. The indirect lighting running behind early sea trials, Hennevanger modified aft deck is a proper relaxation zone, next to us was a testament to why all The tidy ‘galley’ is in keeping with the the seating accentuates the length of the keel, reducing the ballast and rudder a cushioned terrace on the water, Saffier owners, or over 300 in the last luxury daysailer approach, particularly the boat, while the light oak veneer profile because he felt the boat was too completely clear of sailing systems. It’s a decade, choose the optional Esthec the coffee area complete with slide-out complements the walnut soles and table. stiff. It can still carry a serious amount of real selling point for those looking to take composite decking – it still looked espresso machine and individual pod It is seated headroom only in the canvas however, including a gennaker up family or friends out to enjoy the simple immaculate. A €25,000 upgrade on the holders. A double electric hob, drawer- saloon, but again this area is designed to 115m2 (our Code 0 was 90m 2). pleasure of being afloat. SE 37 it does, however, get a little hot fridge and shallow composite sink in a way that is bang-on trend for the I gybed the boat single-handed using The forward helm position means under bare feet. complete an area suitable for rustling up purpose of the boat. This means that only the reversible winches – taking it there is little need for walkthrough There were around €100,000 of extras light lunches at anchor. you could certainly spend a night or slowly through the gybe, while unwinding cockpit access while under sail, hence in total fitted on the test boat, including A small switchboard is mounted two aboard in pleasant weather. And an one and pulling in on the new working a fixed table is a sensible solution that electric winches, carbon mast and further outboard and I like the way you owner might just do that if they wanted to . Together with one hand on the provides a central brace for those seated laminate sails, which pushed the price up can perch on the top companionway avoid heading back to their berth for the wheel and some close monitoring it really on the benches. There are also relatively to a hefty €330,000. step to access this or use the tap. The night. But the main purpose is much is a simple two-fingered operation – and deep cockpit bench lockers, plus an That said, pricing is still 20-30% less companionway steps can be removed for more likely to be a chill-out area, with 

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DATA SAFFIER SE 37 LOUNGE

Light oak finishes and indirect lighting create an airy feel

a big vee-berth sofa area and TV on the forward bulkhead, for some downtime or a siesta while at anchor. SPECIFICATIONS Roots of quality LOA 11.00m 36ft 1in Saffier is owned and run by brothers LWL 10.00m 32ft 10in Dennis and Dean Hennevanger. Their Beam (max) 3.45m 11ft 4in father Richard, who previously owned a Draught 2.10m 6ft 11in yard in Australia in the 1960s, started the Our verdict table. But for time-poor folk seeking a Displacement (lightship) 4,800kg 10,582lb firm in IJmuiden to build fishing boats. short blast of premium-quality sailing, Ballast 2,050kg 4,519lb The Saffier name was adopted in the The SE 37 is a real sports car of the or for couples or larger parties looking Engine 21hp Yanmar saildrive mid-1990s after the launch of its first sea, with the top-end looks and quality, to maximise pure sailing pleasure in Fuel 80lt 18gal 6.5m daysailer. and the luxury detailing you’d expect stylish comfort, this design is hard Water 120lt 26gal With its projections of building 58 to find on a Bugatti or an Aston Martin. to beat. It’s a reassuringly expensive Sail area (100% foretriangle) 67.6m 2 728ft2 yachts this year, Saffier can now justly It’s a properly modern daysailer that toy that celebrates easy, delightful Sail Area to displacement ratio 24.2 claim to be the world’s largest daysailer will offer a similar reward to the driver. daysailing. Displacement to LWL ratio 134 brand. A hull delivery once a week calls It may be ‘just’ Since then the yard has trebled in size The pre-fab hall contains rows and More than that, it’s a yacht that is A playful, responsive yacht, the for an efficient build process and Saffier’s a daysailer, but and become an impressively systematic rows of shelving with everything ready ideal for its purpose. Don’t expect to SE 37 quickly fills you with confidence. Price ex VAT €209,500 is one of the very best I have seen. SE 37 includes a set-up. It is a particularly clean, tidy and to go for each boat, down to all metal go cruising for a week or eat meals The more you sail it, the more you get Designer Dean Hennevanger/Satellite Yacht Design It stems from the Hennevangers’ galley, plenty of efficient workspace. A proper assembly and woodwork and even wiring looms with your family around the saloon it and the more you love it. www.saffieryachts.com unwavering desire to do things properly. storage space and line has been introduced, which also pre-measured and cut. The result is, When he wanted to learn how to do a separate heads makes it intelligible for any potential logically, a much more consistent quality. Rivals quality vacuum infusion builds in 2011, owner who wants to see the processes One person is used as a runner to fetch Dennis Hennevanger built his own 36ft involved in putting the boat together. everything that is not to hand and any Tofinou T12 Eagle 37 Wallynano IRC race boat, Nitro. He employed a Kiwi All lamination is now done at another parts can be ordered from the pre-fab The go-to brand in Utterly timeless new This MkII version marries expert to teach his key builders. site an hour inland. “We try to pre-fab as hall using a tablet on the wall. daysailers for the past luxury Dutch daysailer sexy Italian styling with Hennevanger, a former Commodores’ much as possible so there are not boats Even the psychology of the workers two decades, the T12 is that looks like a mini Dutch workmanship to Cup skipper, has regularly and sitting around,” Hennevanger explains. is considered, with staff cleaning their elegant to look at and sail. J Class yacht. extraordinary effect. successfully competed in Nitro at Preparing all the electrics/interiors areas first thing in the morning rather Price ex VAT: €285,000. Price ex VAT: €167,500. Price ex VAT: €285,000. IRC events and the vacuum infusion before the hull arrives at the IJmuiden fit- than last thing in the afternoon. “It’s a www.luxury-marine.com www.leonardoyachts.com www.wally.com knowledge gained is employed on the out yard saves money and the quality is different mentality, aimed at starting the larger Saffier models (SE 33 and SE 37). better and more consistent, he maintains. day fresh,” Hennevanger explains.

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