You can't talk about a daysailer around 32 feet without comparing it to the top dog par excellence, the Saffier Se 33 Life. After all, it is a bestseller and Europe's yacht of the year to boot. If boats were cars, then the Saffier would be an Audi. Technically perfected, pretty to look at, stable in value and fast. Somehow almost too perfect. The Domani, on the other hand, would be an Alfa Romeo. Stylistically a dream, beautiful to look at, undoubtedly fast, but with those Italian moments. These quirks and carelessness that are annoying on the one hand, but which elevate a car and also a boat to a lovable being. More than just the sum of perfectly assembled parts. The Domani S 32 is the further development of the 30, it is simply two feet longer. The lines stretch all the way to a pretty rear end. The fact that it might not always glide off quite as willingly as a wider bum - no problem. That's what you call character. On the other hand, the sideline extends almost obscenely far downwards from a strongly positive deck leap aft. Strong!
The daysailer is a little bitchy on the rudder
During the test on the Oosterschelde, the wind was very gusty between 10 and 20 knots. The Domani is easy to keep on the wind edge high upwind, but also very neutral. Perhaps a little bitchy. The helmsman looks for support on one of the wheels, because the heeling is fierce. You're close to the water here, and in gusts the coaming threatens to dive to leeward. You don't want that. More steam on the backstay would be desirable in gusts, but the gear ratio does not yet allow for this. One more deflection should help. If you drop a little, the daysailer takes off. Even without a gennaker, it reaches almost double figures in gusts at half wind. That's fun. Suddenly the Belgian also becomes very tame, as if she had been soothed with a chocolate. And so we sail comfortably along.
A look below deck reveals elegant pragmatism. Seating and sleeping accommodation, a chemical toilet and a mini-galley. That's it. To be honest, a daysailer doesn't need much more. A mini wet room is available on request. What's missing? A little more attention to detail would have helped. The prototype should be finished on time. According to the shipyard, the unsightly features will have been rectified by the trade fair in Düsseldorf. Of course we'll have a look at it. The hull and deck are built from vinyl ester resin over foam in a vacuum. This is a really fine construction method. Special feature 1: The keel. Its bomb consists of steel plates of different lengths and widths, which are then filled with epoxy resin. There is no lead, but the centre of gravity is low. Special feature 2: The locker covers in the aft deck are hinged and can be locked at different angles. This makes them ideal as backrests for a relaxed sundowner. This is then served from the cool box under the companionway. The fact that there is only an electric drive is almost normal for such a boat. If you are looking for a daysailer and also love something special, you might fall in love with the Domani. And why not? The fun starts at just under 180,000 euros.
Technical data Domani 32
- Total length 9.60 m
- Hull length 9.00 m
- Waterline length 7.96 m
- Width 2.50 m
- Draft fixed keel 1.80 m
- Lifting keel 1.22 to 2.00 m
- Weight 2.0 tonnes
- Ballast 0.75 t
- Aluminium or carbon mast
- Mainsail 240 m²
- Self-tacking jib 15.6 m²
- Gennaker 61.0 m²
- Code Zero 28.6 m²
- Electric motor 4 kW/48 V
- Battery capacity 5 kWh or 10 kWh
