Two years ago, the Dutch company Saffier Yachts launched the SE 33 Life onto the market. The detailed test was published in YACHT 24/2021 and the attractive weekender was awarded the title of European Yacht of the Year 2022 in the special boat category for its well-rounded, well thought-out and harmonious concept. The excellent sailing characteristics also contributed to this.
Now the shipyard bosses at Saffier Yachts, Dennis and Dean Hennevanger, have converted the concept of the touring weekender into a pure racing yacht for inshore and offshore racing for their own purposes. The hull, the T-shaped keel and the rudder remain unchanged for this version, which was initially conceived as a special version under the name Saffier SE 33 GP (Grand Prix). However, the Dutch have completely redeveloped the deck with an uncompromisingly regatta-orientated layout for a sporty crew of six sailors. The GP version has tiller steering instead of double steering wheels, and the cockpit is open at the rear so that the crew can move around more flexibly to optimise weight trim.
Powerful sheet winches are available on deck and within easy reach for trimming the overlapping genoa, which is sheeted via three-dimensionally adjustable hoisting points. The mainsheet is run directly as a tackle over the traveller on the aft deck. Hennevanger's extensive experience in racing is reflected in a deck layout that is completely geared towards team performance as well as efficient and uncompromisingly good equipment. The GP boat is equipped with a carbon fibre mast that is slightly higher than the standard rig of the Weekender SE 33 Life. What's more, the mast is no longer on deck, but has been pushed through. Below deck, however, the 33 GP remains largely empty. For use in offshore regattas, only two tubular berths are attached to the side. Accordingly, the 33 GP, with a measured total weight of 2.88 tonnes, is considerably lighter than the SE 33 Life weekender, which is fully equipped for touring.
The Saffier SE 33 is a real rocket in light winds
The Saffier SE 33 GP is still a one-off boat for personal use. The boat is currently in the test phase. However, the first successes have already been achieved. At the North Sea Regatta in Scheveningen on the North Sea, the boat got off to a promising start with a good 10th place in the strong competition of 20 boats (ORC 2 Inshore) and even won one race. Skipper Dennis Hennevanger is particularly impressed by the excellent light wind characteristics of his new boat. "In light winds, the boat is a real rocket!"
Saffier Yachts would also be able to offer the 33 GP to other interested parties in a small series. The moulds for this are available. However, the shipyard has not yet set a price for this. For the shipyard bosses at Saffier Yacht, brothers Dennis and Dean Hennevanger, the new Saffier SE 33 GP is also a replacement for the legendary Saffier "Nitro", which the Dutch built completely in-house in 2011 and sailed very successfully in many regattas. The eleven metre long racer was also built by the shipyard exclusively for regatta purposes, but also served as a test carrier for the developers at Saffier for testing various keel and rudder profiles, for example. The "Nitro" was sold to Romania by the Dutch in 2019.
Technical data Saffier SE 33 GP
- Hull length: 9.75 m
- Length waterline: 8.87 m
- Width: 2.85 m
- Draught: 2.36 m
- Weight: 2.88 tonnes (according to ORC measurement certificate)
- Ballast/proportion: 1.05 tonnes / 34%
- Optimum team weight: 510 kg
- Mainsail: 32,44 m²
- Genoa (106 %): 26.07 m²
- Gennaker: 83,54 m²
- ORC rating: 610.9 GPH
- Motorisation: Built-in diesel Yanmar 2YM15 (15 hp) with Saildrive
