Daysailing has experienced a significant upswing in recent times. The fast, uncomplicated sailing pleasure for in-between times continues to enjoy undiminished strong demand. A quick trip to the boat, hoist the sails and go for a spin - this is the growing demand of a modern and diverse sports and leisure society. Quick, short-term sailing fun on demand is more popular than ever before.
Accordingly, the market offers a wide range of possible platforms for this category of nautical desirability. No other type of sailing boat is as broadly positioned as the daysailer. The offerings range from small, open keelboats to large, exclusive luxury sleds. However, the conceptual similarities are clearly defined: simple handling, reduced on-board technology, ultimate single-handed suitability, but only limited use for touring - if at all.
The Tofinou 7.9 is a typical daysailer
However, the relevant representatives are mostly smaller boats in the segment between seven and ten metres hull length. Established brands such as Saffier Yachts from the Netherlands and Tofinou from France have become particularly well known. The two shipyards are often mentioned in the same breath when it comes to typical daysailers. Together with Wauquiez, Tofinou is now part of the Exel Industries group of companies, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the Champagne region of France, which has established another mainstay with yacht building. However, Tofinou boats are still produced in La Rochelle, where the brand also originated with the former Latitude 46 shipyard.
After a long break in development, the Tofinou 9.7 was presented in 2019, a new development in collaboration with designer Michele Molino. The shipyard has now launched the Tofinou 7.9, a two-metre shorter and simpler version. In contrast to its larger sister, which can also pass as a weekender with six berths, the small Tofinou 7.9 does not offer any designated overnight accommodation.
Despite the modern design features with the wide stern and shallow keel, Molino's hull lines remain typical of the brand. In other words: a pronounced deck step with a wide upturned stem and a strikingly low freeboard. There is no cabin superstructure, but rather a circumferential cockpit coaming with integrated companionway. Like its bigger sister, the little Tofinou is a very pretty and pleasing boat - an assessment that is, of course, always down to individual taste.
The equipment of the Tofinou 7.9
As standard ex shipyard, the Tofinou 7.9 is fitted with a fixed T-keel with lead bomb and a draught of just under 1.70 metres. There is also a single rudder with tiller steering. As a popular alternative for boats of this type, the shipyard also offers a version with a swing keel, with a draught variation of 0.80 metres to 1.94 metres. This allows the boat to be driven to the beach or launched and retrieved from the water on the trailer via the ramp. In this case, the deep single rudder of the basic version is replaced by two shorter rudder blades at the stern.
Swivelling hull appendages of this type are particularly popular in France and are often offered as an option to a fixed keel, especially for smaller and trailerable boats. This gives Tofinou an advantage over many competing boats, for example from Holland, where flexible draughts are hardly in demand and are offered less frequently. The test boat is also available with a swivelling keel. The ballast fin is raised via a spindle gear with the winch handle. However, the process is extremely time-consuming and labour-intensive. No less than 160 revolutions are required to raise the keel completely using muscle power. An electric winch handle can help with this. The shipyard is also working on a solution for an electro-hydraulic system with push-button operation.
By the way: falling dry is also not possible with the Tofinou 7.9. Neither the swivelling keel nor the rudder blades are strong enough for this. What a pity.
How the Tofinou 7.9 sails
After the passage of a heavy weather front, there are solid sailing conditions with around twelve knots of wind for a test off La Rochelle. However, there is also an old swell in the bay, with waves a good 1.5 metres high. Not easy conditions for a pure daysailer. But the Tofinou 7.9 passes the test with flying colours. The slender hull with its wide waterline works its way through the waves with ease. Some water does come over, but not as much as you would expect given the low freeboard and the complete lack of a cabin superstructure. Equipped with a sail wardrobe upgrade, the little Frenchwoman marches hard upwind at just under six knots, tacking at an angle of 90 degrees. The performance figures are not bad, but also not surprisingly good for a comparatively light and sporty boat of this size.
While the test boat with a swing keel and two rudder blades sails very well-balanced close-hauled and can be held perfectly on the wind edge, the downwind course with a gennaker is more challenging to steer. The slim bow tends to hang up in the waves and forces the helmsman to make quick course corrections. You generally have to work a lot with the tiller. It also turns out that the steering bar is too short for this, which requires more strength. The standard boat with a fixed keel and only one rudder blade is presumably easier and more sensitive to steer on the downwind courses.
The equipment of the Tofinou 7.9
The jib sheet, halyards and all trim lines are led from the mast foot inside the coaming to two winches, which are positioned in the centre of the cockpit on platforms moulded into the sides. This allows both the helmsman and the crew sailing with him to work easily and efficiently at all times. The design essentially corresponds to a layout that is widely used and often tried and tested in daysailers. The helmsman preferably sits quite comfortably on the rear thwarts and grips the tiller directly. However, he can also sit more sportily on the port side with the tiller arm in his hand.
The simple, backstayless aluminium rig with a pair of spreaders from the manufacturer AG+ corresponds to the standard specification for the boat. A carbon fibre mast of the same height but significantly lighter is available as an option, but at an additional cost of just under 20,000 euros, it hits the budget hard. In addition to better sailing performance, the carbon fibre version has the advantage that the mast standing on deck can also be raised and lowered by hand via a hinge, for example when the boat is launched and retrieved via the ramp. The non-tapered aluminium mast is too heavy for this, say the shipyard representatives.
The price for the daysailer
Anyone opting for a Tofinou 7.9 must choose whether to have the boat equipped with an electric pod motor from the manufacturer Temo with an output of 3 kW or with the smallest two-cylinder built-in diesel from Nanni with an output of 10 hp and Saildrive drive. However, both variants are only available for a corresponding surcharge: €14,200 for the electric variant and €20,900 for the diesel. The low-cost variant is the outboard motor with a corresponding bracket at the rear. In addition, the Tofinou 7.9 is delivered from the shipyard without the sails. This also incurs additional costs, depending on the quality and scope of the wardrobe.
This also explains the base price of 98,055 euros gross, which is quite favourable compared to the competition. If you add the additional costs for sails and engine, the expenses for the ready-to-sail boat quickly add up to 120,000 euros or more, which is more in line with the competition.
Aesthetes and individualists may find fulfilment with the Tofinou 7.9. The concept is well-rounded and the look is just right.
The YACHT rating
Attractive and trailerable daysailer from France with a wide range of possible uses. The sailing characteristics are good, the equipment is high quality and the price is competitive
Design and concept
- + Uncompromising alignment
- + Good quality, solid construction
- + Light road transport
- - Catching up the keel is difficult
- - Not dry-fall capable
Sailing performance and trim
- + Good one-handed suitability
- + Simple handling
- + Sails stiff and balanced
- - Downwind a little bitchy
Equipment and technology
- + optional swivelling keel
- + Diesel or electric motor
- - Tiller too short
- - Motor only at extra cost
The technical data
Technical data
- CE design category A
- Hull length 7.16 m
- Total length 7.95 m
- Waterline length 6.40 m
- Width 2.30 m
- Draft fixed keel 1.69 m
- Draught Swivel keel 0.80-1.94 m
- Mast height above WL 11.10 m
- Theoretical hull speed 6.1 knots
- Weight 1.2 tonnes
- Ballast/proportion 0.49 t/43 %
- Mainsail (Std.) 18.0 m²
- Self-tacking jib 10.0 m²
- Gennaker 52.0 m²
- Machine (Temo Pod) 3 kW
- Engine (Nanni Diesel) 10 hp
Hull and deck construction
GRP sandwich with PVC foam core and polyester resin, constructed with vacuum infusion. Outer layer laminated with vinyl ester resin (osmosis barrier). Floor assembly integrated in the laminate structure (one shot)
Rig and sail
An aluminium mast from the manufacturer AG+ is standard ex shipyard. A lighter but equally high carbon fibre mast is available as an option (surcharge: 19,680 euros). The price for the single set of Dacron sails (main and self-tacking jib) is 4,115 euros
Motorisation
No motorisation is included in the basic equipment for the Tofinou 7.9. The electric pod motor from the manufacturer Temo costs an additional €14,200 (incl. battery), while the built-in diesel from Nanni is available as an option for €20,900
Equipment and prices
- Base price ex shipyard € 98,055
- Price ready to sail € 122,845
- Warranty/against osmosis 5/10 years
As of 6/2024, how the prices shown are defined can be found here!
Shipyard and distribution
Tofinou/Exel Yachting; F-1700 La Rochelle; www.tofinou.com
