Sailors generally tend to say that boats that look good sail just as well. I wonder if this is true? For many years, the Latitude 46 shipyard in La Rochelle has provided good proof of this bold assertion with its smart programme of particularly attractive daysailers, which can also win the hearts of regatta sailors with their high-performance sailing characteristics. The boats are known and appreciated under the names Tofinou 7, 8 and 9.5, especially along the French west coast, where they are probably represented in almost every harbour and bring impressive fields to the starting line at regatta events.
Tofinou boats are instantly recognisable with their unmistakable look. The hulls are slim with a low freeboard and the lines are timelessly beautiful. In addition, there is plenty of teak on deck, high-gloss varnished mahogany and generally flat superstructures. Typical representatives of the daysailer genre, but equally independent in style and appearance.
Proven look, new shapes
But Tofinou also comes in large sizes. Although the types 12 and 16 adapt the attractive styling of their smaller sisters, they are more of an elegant and luxurious performance cruiser. And with the cosy Tofinou 10c, the French have also created a primarily cruising-oriented ship - a first for the shipyard. A few years ago, however, Latitude 46 seemed to want to focus on its roots again and presented the Tofinou 9.7 as a potential successor to the widely used 9.5, which was initially offered for class preservation reasons. The DNA typical of the brand is also retained in the new ship. Of course, it can also be recognised as a genuine Tofinou from a distance.
The design, on the other hand, has changed significantly. Compared to its predecessor, the new boat has become much wider in general and aft in particular, and the underwater hull is correspondingly flatter. This corresponds to a general trend in yacht design and stands for more dimensional stability and therefore stiffer sailing characteristics. In comparison, the new Tofinou is more than half a metre wider than its predecessor, with an extension of just under three metres, but also around 40 centimetres shorter. Less aspect ratio, therefore, but significantly more volume.
Michele Molino, who - contrary to what his name suggests - runs a studio in La Rochelle, is responsible for the design of the new Tofinou 9.7. He has now taken over the legacy of Michel Joubert (Joubert/Nivelt), who previously designed all Tofinou models, for the Latitude 46 shipyard. Joubert passed away in 2016. For the visual design, Latitude 46 sought fresh approaches in the automotive industry. Peugeot Lab, the French car manufacturer's design agency, developed the styling for Tofinou's new ship, both on and below deck.
The Tofinou 9.7 offers a variety of keel options
The 9.7 is available in three keel versions. As standard, a fixed T-shaped keel with a draught of two metres is fitted to the boat. Alternatively, an electro-hydraulic swivel keel with a draught variation of 0.9 to 2.10 metres is available. As a third solution, a telescopic lifting keel can be installed underneath the ship, which can be raised by 80 centimetres using an integrated, electrically operated spindle. The shipyard's new test vessel, construction number one, is also equipped with a telescopic keel. Unfortunately, the drive was defective during the YACHT test fitting, meaning that the raising and lowering of the fin could not be tested. The shipyard has admitted that the telescopic mechanism needs improvement and will now have to work on it.
Customers can also choose whether they want their boat with one or two rudder blades. Naturally, the double rudder blades are recommended for the keel variants with flexible draughts so that shallow waters can also be navigated. However, the Tofinou 9.7 cannot fall dry in any of the versions, not even with a swivelling keel. Neither the rudder bearings nor the keel suspension are designed for this.
Another focus in the development of the new Tofinou 9.7 is on saving weight. Thanks to the high dimensional stability of the hull, designer Molino has been able to reduce the amount of ballast in the keels to less than 30 per cent. Compared to the 9.5, the fixed keel can be over 200 kilograms lighter. In addition, the deck is now built using a new vacuum infusion process, which further reduces the weight.
Incidentally, the deck is being built at the Wauquiez Boats shipyard. The two brands have merged to form a company group. The hull, on the other hand, is laminated by hand at Latitude 46 in La Rochelle using a sandwich process with a PVC foam core. At 2.3 tonnes, the Tofinou 9.7 weighs about the same as its smaller sister Tofinou 8, which is over a metre shorter.
Strong sailing performance of the Tofinou 9.7
The bay of La Baule in western France provides between 10 and 12 knots of wind for the test of the Tofinou 9.7, plus a very short and steep wave that is not easy to steer out of. The pretty Frenchwoman passes the difficult test with flying colours. Despite the full bow and the flat underwater hull, the Molino design enters the waves gently and hardly pitches. The test boat, equipped with the optionally available carbon fibre mast and good laminate sails, manages a speed of 6.2 knots at an angle of 40 degrees to the true wind direction. According to the polar diagrams, which calculate the theoretical performance potential, the Tofinou should reach 6.0 knots with the standard aluminium rig and in the same conditions.
Space-sailed with a top gennaker, the daysailer can sometimes log double-digit values in the gusts and with wave support. With a wind angle of around 120 degrees, the average speed remains between 8.0 and 9.0 knots. The test boat, equipped with two rudder blades and an unusually direct steering mechanism, is easy to steer under pressure and reacts quickly and intensively to even the smallest tiller movements, which requires a high level of attention from the helmsman. Even with deliberately forced heeling, the boat remains on course and shows no signs of running out of control.
Tight cockpit, easy operation
Compared to other daysailers of the same size, the cockpit of the Tofinou 9.7 is relatively short and small. With a crew of three, the space available in the cockpit is already exhausted. Two rather strikingly shaped winch platforms for the sheets and halyards also divide the cockpit into two working areas. The helmsman works at the back, where he can operate both the mainsheet with fine adjustment and the sheet of the standard self-tacking jib within easy reach without having to contort himself. In this respect, the Tofinou 9.7 is fully suitable for single-handed sailing, which is almost a prerequisite for a daysailer of this size and orientation.
Additional lines for trimming the sails and for sailing with a gennaker are also led below deck to the stopper batteries on the companionway. Additional winches are absolutely necessary there, but are only offered by the shipyard as an extra for an additional charge. Otherwise, the quality and arrangement of the standard fittings are impressive. Even with multiple deflections for the course below deck, the sheets and lines can still be operated easily and with little effort.
From the shipyard, the Tofinou 9.7 will be fitted with a diesel engine from Volvo-Penta with 15 hp. The alternative is an electric pod drive from Torqeedo with roughly comparable performance but a limited range. The test boat is also equipped with this. For the entire on-board technology, including the engine, a nice, wide shaft is provided from the companionway to the aft peak, which can be accessed from both sides aft. The technical installations and their accessibility are exemplary.
The Tofinou 9.7 is also enough for the weekend
In keeping with its orientation as a typical daysailer, the living space below deck is reduced and is essentially limited to overnight accommodation for weekend cruises. Nevertheless, six adults can sleep quite comfortably in the foredeck, on the side benches in the saloon and in the dog berths aft. The berths are large enough for this. There are storage spaces underneath the cushions, and a chemical toilet can also be installed in the foredeck on request.
The Tofinou 9.7 cost around 130,000 euros when it was launched in 2019 with standard equipment ex shipyard. The current base price (as of May 2023) is 201,100 euros. This is a comparatively high price for a daysailer with a hull length of just under ten metres and a reduced interior. What's more, the list of possible options is quite long and cost-intensive.
The Tofinou 9.7 cannot be pigeonholed. Its independence and exciting look make it something very special, which will attract individualists in particular.
Measured values Tofinou 9.7
Sailing performance, without drift and current
Wind speed: 10 kn (3 Bft.), wave height: swell approx. 1.0 metre
* With gennaker
Potential STZ
The Tofinou 9.7 is lightweight for its size. The performance potential is high
1: Dimensionless number. Calculation: 2√S/3√V. The higher the value, the more sail area (S) the ship has in relation to the displacement (V)
Berth dimensions
YACHT rating Tofinou 9.7
Exciting and under sail very powerful daysailer from France with an excitingly pretty look. High-quality basic equipment on deck. However, the interior is only suitable for touring to a limited extent. Comparatively expensive
Design and concept
- + Uncompromising alignment
- + Good quality, solid construction
- - Falling dry not possible
- - Comparatively small cockpit
Sailing performance and trim
- + High performance potential on the wind
- + Reactive on the rudder
Living and finishing quality
- + Berths for up to six people
- - Only suitable for touring to a limited extent
Equipment and technology
- + Various keel variants
- + Electric motor as an alternative
- - Front winches only as an option
Technical data Tofinou 9.7
- Designer: Michele Molino
- CE design category: C
- Torso length:9,15 m
- Width: 2,99 m
- Draught (fixed keel): 2,00 m
- Draught (telescopic keel):1,22-2,00 m
- Draught (swivelling keel): 0,90-2,10 m
- Weight:2,3 t
- Ballast/proportion (fixed keel): 0,65 t/28 %
- Mainsail: 28,0 m2
- Self-tacking jib:20,0 m2
- machine (Volvo Penta): 10 kW/15 hp
Hull and deck construction
GRP sandwich construction with PVC foam core and vinyl ester resin.
- Hull:Hand laminate
- Deck: Vacuum infusion
Base price (as of April 2023)
- 201,100 €, ex shipyard, gross incl. 19% VAT
Shipyard and distribution
Latitude 46, La Rochelle (FRA), tofinou.com
This test appeared in YACHT issue 21/2019 and was revised by the editorial team in May 2023.
