Written by Scott Alle
13 August 2020
Advertisement
When I heard a couple of years ago that Dehler was working on a concept for a 30-foot performance one-design boat, my interest was immediately piqued.
The highly respected German brand is well-known for its solid racing pedigree and turning out highly engaging designs for people who enjoy the essence of sailing, and who also understand and like getting the best out of their boats.
Fast forward to August 2020 and as I walked toward the slipway at Windcraft Yachts located at Pittwater, north of Sydney, there was no mistaking the Dehler 30’s powerful, purposeful lines.
The chamfered bow, a feature reminiscent of the top FAST40s such as Rán VII is more pronounced than in 2D, as is the aft chine that assists with an efficient upwind heeling angle and downwind control when flying the hefty 95-square-metre A2 downwind off the intimidating carbon bowsprit.
Advertisement
This Dehler 30 OD is hull #26, an indication of the pocket rocket’s popularity, which in turn reflects an appreciation of its versatility and sheer sailing appeal.
Take, for example, a recent gathering of Dehler 30 crews in Rostock on the German Baltic coast. On the first weekend in July, no fewer than seven Dehler 30 ODs assembled for an offshore foray with the Danish island of Zealand providing the rounding mark of a 300-nautical-mile trip – the equivalent of a hit-out from Sydney to Coffs Harbour.
A gusty south-westerly dialled up the pressure, and there were apparently some hooting rides in the 36-hour one-design derby. For the record, Powerplay (GER 002) was first home in what was a fast, wet and highly enjoyable experience.
There is some discussion of an international circuit for the Dehler 30s – with the tantalising possibility of an event here in Australia – once the scourge of COVID-19 has receded.
Meanwhile Dehler Brand Manager at Windcraft Ric Hawkins is overseeing several custom additions to the Australian Dehler 30 debutante destined for a Sydney owner. They include the distinctive hexagonal hull wrap that was featured on the first two units fresh from the factory. He is keen to see how the compact but powerful configuration will perform out on the water.
“The Dehler 30 was specifically designed to offer superior performance for its size – and we have been extremely impressed by a number of features including the stealth drive, a retractable drive train that folds away inside the hull courtesy of a hermetic seal,” acknowledges Hawkins.
The 30 will be out finetuning its North Sails wardrobe in the days leading up to Windcraft’s private Sydney Boat Show to be held at Bayview Anchorage Marina on Pittwater on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August.
The exciting new one-design will be making its Australian premiere at the boutique COVID-safe show, which will also include a selection of the popular Hanse range, several models from the Moody line, and an enticing example of svelte Italian design, the Solaris 47.
Five Hanse models will be available for viewing: a 315, 348, 388, 418 and a 458. I have tested both the 315 and the 418 and found them to be eminently capable bluewater cruisers; stiff, nicely balanced boats with superior sailing mechanics and accommodations.
The Moodys come into their own as a deck saloon design with a large sheltered cockpit and living areas arranged around a single level monomaran-style concept. A Moody 41 AC (aft cockpit) and a larger, voluminous 45 Deck Saloon will be representing this premium cruising brand.
The Solaris is simply a joy to sail. I spent three days at the 2019 Hamilton Island Race Week on a Solaris 42 and its all-round pedigree saw us secure third in Hamilton Island Green Division against a diverse and experienced competition. The Solaris’ attention to detail and quality was evident throughout the boat.
The concept of a smaller, more local boat show experience has benefits beyond the obvious prevention measures against the spread of COVID-19 – it enables potential buyers to spend more time on their vessel of interest and to glean more of the kind of information that dealers are good to mine when they aren’t in a big show environment.
Expect more of these kinds of events and the increasingly creative and sophisticated video clips to whet our appetites for a new crop of models on their way from European and US manufacturers.
Windcraft’s Boat Show has attracted a strong sign-up, but you can register your interest at events@windcraftyachts.com.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement