With the new Dufour 39, Dufour Yachts is filling a gap at the lower end of its range. The new 11-metre cruiser sits between the Dufour 37 – which remains in the range – and the larger Dufour 41. The first vessel is now on public display for the first time at the Cannes Yachting Festival. YACHT was on board for the world premiere. You can see the photos from our tour in the gallery above.
In terms of both design and appearance, the Dufour 39 blends seamlessly into the current model range from the French mass-production shipyard. The lines are once again the work of Umberto Felci’s studio in Italy, with designer Luca Ardizio responsible for the styling. Particularly striking are the voluminous hull shapes, the wide bow and the volume extending far aft. Measuring 4.10 metres in width and just 11 metres in hull length, the design is exceptionally voluminous. The continuous, stepped chines, situated just above the waterline, are also intended to ensure a high degree of structural stability.
Despite its wide stern, Dufour remains true to the brand’s signature single-rudder design. This sets the Dufour 39 apart from many current designs in this size class, which are fitted with two rudders. The hull is manufactured entirely using the vacuum infusion process, whilst the deck is produced using the injection moulding process.
Three versions to suit different needs
As with its larger sister ships, Dufour also offers the new 39 in three versions: Easy, Ocean and Performance. The Easy version is designed for ease of use and comes with a self-tacking jib and two winches on the cabin roof. The Ocean version adds an overlapping genoa. Additional winches are also fitted on the coamings. The Performance version adopts this layout but features, amongst other things, higher-quality laminate sails, more sail area, a backstay tensioner, and Dyneema halyards and sheets. This enables the shipyard to appeal to both comfort-oriented cruising sailors and sportily ambitious owners.
Plenty of choice below deck
The interior layout offers a particularly wide range of options. The standard layout comprises two cabins and a wet room. The owner’s cabin, featuring a freestanding island bed, is situated in the foredeck. This area can be supplemented with either a second wet room, a small office or a walk-in storage space or wardrobe.
There are also several options to choose from in the stern. On the port side, a large storage locker, accessible from the cockpit, is fitted as standard. Alternatively, a second aft cabin can be fitted there, turning the Dufour 39 into a three-cabin yacht. In the saloon, the large seating area is particularly striking, whilst the galley is arranged as a long row along the bulkhead to save space. The layouts can also be viewed in the gallery above.
New competitors in the penalty shoot-out category
The Dufour 39 adds another interesting contender to the highly competitive class of 11-metre cruising yachts. One of its main rivals in future is likely to be the yacht also announced in Cannes, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 385 belong to. Whilst Jeanneau is purposefully refining the tried-and-tested design of the Sun Odyssey 380, Dufour is launching a completely new model, featuring particularly voluminous hull shapes and an unusually versatile interior layout.
For the market launch, Dufour has set a price of 210,000 euros net, including sails and the fitted engine. Including 19 per cent VAT, the gross price for buyers in Germany is 249,900 euros.
Technical Specifications: Dufour 39
- Designer: Felci Yacht Design
- Graphic design: Luca Ardizio
- Fuselage length: 11.27 m
- Overall length: 12.00 m
- Length at the waterline: 10.50 m
- Width: 4.10 m
- Draught: 1.95 m
- Weight: 8.6 t
- Ballast/percentage: 2.4 t / 28 per cent
- Mast height above the waterline: 14.80 m
- Mainsail: 40.0 m²
- Self-tacking jib: 34.0 m²
- Engine: 29 PS inboard diesel with Saildrive
- Optional engine: 45 PS in-line diesel
- Fuel capacity: 160 litres
- Fresh water capacity: 160 litres
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Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology