Who doesn't know them, the cuddly multi-buckling chandler from Waarschip? The Dutch company has built over 4000 smaller and larger sailing yachts in its 50-year history. What they have in common is that the boats have always been built as composite constructions, made of wood and marine plywood, coated and sealed with epoxy resin.
Following economic difficulties, the traditional brand was taken over by Roelof Niezen in 2004. With the Waarschip 700 LD, the shipyard in the Frisian town of Delfzijl on the Ems estuary has now launched a new, third product programme. The boats from the "Race-Line" are primarily intended to appeal to sporty sailors and are equipped with a T-keel and modern rigging plans.
The 700 LD is now followed by the Waarschip 1010 LD, also a crack from Peltzer Design in Rotterdam. But the boat is significantly slimmer than the 700. With an overall length of 10.10 metres, the new "Tien-Tien" is just 2.50 metres wide. With this and a weight of 2.6 tonnes, it is still trailerable. However, the T-keel with an impressive 43 per cent ballast is permanently attached and cannot be raised. The draught remains at 1.95 metres.
The Waarschip 1010 LD offers a very sporty cockpit layout for active sailors with a crew. As an ORC boat, it is sailed on the regatta with a conventional symmetrical spinnaker. However, a gennaker is also possible. A retractable bowsprit as on the smaller sister 700 LD is not provided. After equalisation measurement ORC, the 1010 LD has a GPH racing value of 635.
Despite its regatta-orientated focus, the new boat is also habitable inside with up to six berths, a small pantry block and a toilet in the foredeck. If comfort and touring suitability are more important to you, you can order the boat in a touring version. In this case, the hull is raised a little higher and the cabin superstructure is longer and higher. This means that the 1010 LD will offer a headroom of 1.85 metres inside.
The basic price ex shipyard is 85,805 euros including German VAT. Then there are the sails. For a simple set (main and jib only), just under 4,000 euros must be added. A set of racing sails costs around 6,700 euros, plus another 4,500 euros for a spinnaker or gennaker. And: the shipyard also charges extra for the engine. Another 10,000 euros are due for the built-in 19 hp inboard engine with saildrive.
The world première of the Waarschip 1010 LD is planned for the boot trade fair in Düsseldorf. Shipyard owner Niezen hopes to complete the ship on time.
Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
