For more than 50 years, the name Dufour has been synonymous with fast, fun sailing and elegant lines, but behind the gleaming finish has always been an exceptionally stable and comfortable yacht that prioritizes space and comfort at sea.

Conceived and designed by the shipyard’s design team, in collaboration with Umberto Felci (Felci Yacht Design) and interior designer Lucas Ardizio (Ardizio Design), the Dufour 41 adds another pillar under that ceiling, with a distinct new offering that reaffirms its emphasis on living spaces and entertaining.

It starts in the cockpit, whose volume is well appointed with numerous handrails for added safety and is comparable to that of a larger sailing vessel. From there, attention to space and flow allows effortless movement both on deck and below. The Dufour 41’s interior is said to be a celebration of modernity and natural light. According to Dufour, the 41 offers 60 percent more natural light inside than its competition via “catamaran-style” hull windows.

The yard respects that every yacht owner has different priorities and sailing aspirations, which is why each model in the Dufour range offers a variety of layouts, trim levels and rigging options to suit any taste. The 41 comes with a choice of two atmospheres: Europe and Boston. The 41 also comes in three versions: Adventure, Ocean and Performance—each optimized for different uses of the boat—and with three different options for layouts.

The three-cabin layout version has a large and bright owner’s cabin with plenty of storage space and a private bathroom. Guests get their choice between two spacious cabins, each with a bathroom en suite.

The four-cabin version can accommodate up to ten guests. According to Dufour, it’s the only one on the market currently offering two forward cabins with full-size beds and soundproofing between the two cabins. The four-cabin version has two heads.

In all versions, the Dufour 41 offers loads of storage space and a large streamlined galley, allowing for ease of movement around the boat.

Sailing performance is courtesy of legendary designer Umberto Felci. While the 41 is assuredly a robust build, agility on the ocean is also paramount. The 41 has twin helms and a deep, single rudder (to minimize drag) positioned forward to keep it submerged. The decks are clear, with mainsheet and optional genoa car tracks led aft along the coachroof. A self-tacking jib is standard. Weight savings in the hull were redistributed to the keel, allowing for a taller mast for better performance in light air.

Dufour 41 Specifications

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The Dufour 61 is a 61-foot luxury sailing yacht designed and built in the tradition of the Dufour range. Developed to provide simple instinctive sailing, this new model combines luxury and simplicity.

For more information about the Dufour 61, visit Dufour 61.

For a sea trial of the Dufour 61, visit Flagship Dufour 61 .

About Dufour

For more than 50 years, Dufour yachts have been synonymous with swift, joyful sailing and beautiful lines. But behind the gleaming finish is always an exceptionally stable and comfortable yacht that makes the perfect companion for any cruising programme.

Dufour’s origins in the passion of an amateur racer endure to this day in the boats’ sleek looks. From the early days of Michel Dufour’s first 21-foot Sylph to the new DUFOUR 61 flagship, these yachts have always been fast and responsive to sail.

When you buy a Dufour, you aren’t simply buying a boat. You are joining many thousands of previous owners who understand the importance of instinctive boat handling allied to comfort, safety and an elegant, balanced design.

Every DUFOUR yacht owner has different priorities and sailing aspirations. That’s why each model in the Dufour range offers a variety of layouts, equipment levels and rigging types to suit any cruising programme.

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It’s not every year that the Boat of the Year contest has a dedicated category for Performance Cruisers, but when we do, it’s often the group of boats that put the biggest smiles on the judges’ mugs. After all, they’re all sailors as well as industry experts—and what sailor doesn’t love to take the helm of a boat that’s designed with performance top-of-mind and then fit out with the sails and gear to make it get up and go? 

For 2022, there was a trio of turbocharged yachts in the 45- to 50-foot range that promised to offer exhilarating action under sail. And it was an international class as well, with offerings from France (Dufour), Italy (Grand Soleil) and Slovenia (Elan). Maximized waterlines, twin helms, dedicated bowsprits for flying gennakers and code zeros—these are but a few of the similarities these ocean greyhounds share. And it was nothing but pure joy putting these powerful yachts through their paces.

So, let’s proceed alphabetically. Underscoring the 470’s versatility as well as its performance bona fides, this latest model from Dufour is offered in three different versions. The Easy designation is straightforward, with a simple layout perfect for charter service and casual sailing that includes a self-tacking jib and single-line mainsheet, both of which are led to a pair of winches on the cabin top. The Ocean setup, which was the boat we sailed, is ideal for shorthanded voyaging, with either a self-tacking jib or slightly overlapping headsail. In this configuration, there is a double-ended, German-style mainsheet and a traveler mounted forward of the dodger. Sheets are all led back to winches located at either of the twin helm stations; other sail control lines are led to winches on the cabin top. Lastly, the Performance package is the thoroughbred option. Here, the winch and hardware package has been upgraded for quick maneuvers, and the end-boom doubled-ended mainsheet is anchored to a block on the cockpit sole, on the centerline between the benches and just forward of the helms. Winches and other gear have been located with a racing crew in mind seeking fast tacks and jibes, with elbow room for the trimmers. 

Down below, there are four interior layouts from which to choose, giving owners plenty of choices: three to five cabins, two or three heads and an in-line galley opposite the dining table; or three cabins and two heads, with the galley forward in the saloon, a layout that Dufour has made popular over the past few years.

Set up with a self-tacking jib and traditional main, the judges found that the boat we sailed was easily handled. During deliberations, Judge Gerry Douglas recalled, “the boat seemed to perform adequately well. It felt pretty lively and it did accelerate when we had a puff.”

Next up: The flagship of Elan’s GT (Grand Tourer) line of noteworthy cruiser/racers. With its black performance sails and long, purposeful waterline, the GT6 looks like, well, a wolf in wolf’s clothing. It’s immediately apparent that this boat is ready and willing to sail hard and go fast. 

The hull and sail plan, from Humphreys Yacht Design, features twin rudders that offer superb control. The overall contemporary design and visual effects topsides and below from Studio F.A. Porsche, inspired by the aerodynamics of high-end sports cars, are unique and striking. Down below, the forward galley provides space for a sumptuous, full-beam saloon. Light pours through the generous hull windows and deck-saloon-style ports around the cabin top, and the large forward owner’s suite caps it all off.

The GT6 is available in a couple of different layouts, two cabins and two heads, with a large storage area aft, or three cabin two heads. The boat we sailed had a nifty double-single berth set in one of the aft cabins that would be great for kids or race crew.

There was a good breeze the day we were aboard, and when the gusts came on, off we went. It was a heck of a ride.

But an even better ride was enjoyed on the last boat in the category. It’s safe to say that the Grand Soleil 44 had the judging team from hello. “As we were approaching the boat from the inflatable for our sea trials, the way it looked was just striking,” judge Gerry Douglas said. “I think they got the aesthetics right. Once aboard, it was so easy to get around. And everywhere I looked after that, it seemed to be really well put together. There was some real high-quality detail.” 

The GS 44, designed by Matteo Polli, has a racing pedigree; a sistership optimized for competition won a major European championship regatta this past summer. But the Italian builder also has a solid foothold in the cruising world, with a long line of performance cruisers launched from its yard in Italy. With the 44, they didn’t forget those roots.

The 44 is available in a couple versions, Performance Cruising and Race. We sailed the former in Annapolis. Features included an aluminum mast and standard keel. With the Race version, an owner can opt for a taller carbon-fiber mast, and three keels optimized for various handicapping systems. In either version there’s ample room in the cockpit for crew to lend a hand or kick back and enjoy the ride.

Accommodations below feature two aft cabins, with a shared head in the saloon, and an en suite owner’s cabin forward. The layout out of furniture is simple—dinette to port, settee to starboard, galley at the foot of the companionway—but at the same time elegant. It’s a place to relax on passage and enjoy at anchor.

Bottom line: Even in cruising mode, this is a boat that will get you there quickly, with all the amenities for gracious living once the hook is down. In other words: It’s a winner.

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So what, exactly, constitutes a “luxury cruiser”? It’s certainly up for debate and open for interpretation. However, for the purposes of this discussion directly related to the 2022 Boat of the Year contest, let’s go down a checklist: price tag in the seven figures? Check. Over 60 feet? Check. Provisions for a “crew cabin” so the boat can accommodate a professional skipper and/or mate? Check. Not every one of the boats in this category will require the latter (the CNB 66 we tested was owned and operated by a very experienced cruising couple, who had voyaged extensively aboard her), but you get the idea. These are big, rangy, systems-rich, well-executed cruisers with the ability to take you anywhere on the planet (another criteria). State-of-the-art? Check. And a big challenge for the BOTY judges to test and analyze? Check, mate.

The Contest 67 CS was the first up on the docket, which the BOTY team examined and then sailed on a windy Chesapeake Bay afternoon on the concluding afternoon of 2022’s U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland. 

Judge Tim Murphy said: “The Contest comes from a Dutch boatyard, and while this is the most expensive boat in this year’s competition, they do really fine work, and this yacht certainly reflected that. It’s built to Lloyd’s specifications, so there’s a high level of inspection in the quality of construction, the systems and so on. It’s more on the boutique side of the equation as far as production boats are concerned. And man, she really sailed well.” Gerry Douglas said: “It was presented as a blue-water performance cruiser, and it certainly met those qualifications. Vacuum-infused construction with a foam core: pretty high-tech for a traditional-looking boat.” Frankly, the BOTY crew was blown away by the sophistication and presentation of the Contest, which was run by the young couple of pro sailors who are entrusted to her care and management. 

Next up was the Dufour 61, the company’s flagship vessel, which is somewhat of a departure from previous models from the well-established French builder. Having tested many a Dufour in previous BOTY contests, Tim Murphy was well-acquainted with the brand. “Dufour has done well here over the years,” he said. “They generally have a few common denominators: They come in at a fair price point within their given category, and they usually have a strong mix of good accommodations and performance, though I’d say they typically lean more toward the performance end of the equation.” Now under new management, the company is taking a different tack: While Dufours used to share a common aesthetic, the 470 (the smaller of two Dufour yachts entered in the 2022 BOTY contest) and the 61 are clearly different craft. A new Dufour age is upon us—an interesting one.

Of course, Jeanneau is another French brand that has enjoyed entering many a winning vessel in previous BOTY contests. A collaboration between renowned French naval architect Philippe Briand and British interior designer and stylist Andrew Winch, the Jeanneau Yachts 60 is part of the company’s high end Yachts collection, which also includes a 51, 54 and 65. The profile is striking, with a long waterline, sleek coach roof, a cockpit arch that anchors the mainsheet and provides the foundation for an opening Bimini and enclosed cockpit dodger, and an integrated bowsprit from which to launch both the ground tackle and a code zero reacher or asymmetric kite. A dedicated dinghy garage houses a RIB, and there are multiple interior -layouts from which to choose. Like several recent Jeanneaus, the Yachts 60 incorporates the walk-around deck layout that is the signature feature of BOTY category winners over the last few years. 

But it was the final French entry in the Luxury class, making its US debut at the Annapolis show, that exceeded the efforts of all the others. The BOTY judges actually inspected a pair of CNB 66s, a semicustom yacht with countless available options. The dockside model was brand new; the one we sailed had been cruised by a husband and wife for two years (underscoring the company’s claim that it could indeed be handled by a savvy sailing couple). Judge Gerry Douglas found much to like: “The build quality was just impeccable. The layout [of the older CNB] was terrific; they didn’t try to cram things in but had three really nice cabins with en suite heads and a nice desk/office area, plus the chart table. Aesthetically, it’s a really pretty boat. The owner understood how to sail it well, and he had a system where he could handle it solo. He proved that you could operate a big, sophisticated boat alone.”

In fact, that demonstration played a big role when the time came to deliberate the pros and cons of this big-boat class. “The sail plan really worked for the (heavy) displacement of the boat,” said Murphy. “It was a real pleasure to sail. You know, when we started to see boats getting this big marketed to couples, maybe 10 years ago, we were all extremely skeptical about whether it would really work. You know, can they actually handle it when things get real? And it was lovely, actually, to spend time with the people who have been doing it for more than a year and have some real ocean miles under their belt at this point. And I’m a believer that they can. So that was good, I thought. It was a big, big boat, but it looked like it worked. And we sailed it today in very light air, and she moved well. So, I came away with a stronger impression after being aboard with the owners under sail.”

In such a competitive class, even in light winds, the sail trial swayed the votes in favor of the CNB 66, so much so that it was the runaway winner of the Best Luxury Cruiser category for 2022.

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Every builder of every new boat has a target clientele in mind. Some seek long-term liveaboards; others want a dual-purpose boat aboard which they can race or cruise. With their latest offering, the Dufour 460 Grand Large, the decision-makers at the venerable French firm zeroed in with laser focus at precisely the type of sailor and owner they were searching for, and their aim — at first glance anyway — seems surprising. What Dufour wants is an experienced sailor who will use their boat primarily for coastal cruising — though the company added the tankage and strength for an occasional offshore passage — but with features and a layout that really heighten the social side of sailing. In other words, the sailing side of the equation is definitely important, but when the hook’s down and the day is done, you’d best be ready to party.

Only after spending a bit of time on the boat do you realize this makes perfect sense.

Dufour has done a couple of interesting things with the layout to facilitate the fun. First, in the main cabin, they have positioned the beam-width galley all the way forward, basically installing it as part of the athwartships bulkhead that delineates the saloon from the forward master stateroom. It really opens up the space for entertaining. Then, because who wouldn’t want a second, outdoor kitchen, they’ve added another pop-up galley in the aft end of the cockpit and incorporated into a helmsman’s seat, the “floor” of which is the drop-down transom. It’s complete with grill, sink and plenty of counter space for whipping up snacks and meals. Yes, this sounds kind of odd. In practice and execution, it’s the bee’s knees.

Having the necessary volume to achieve all this is vitally important, and the 460 has it in spades. Thanks to the hard chine that contributes to the boat’s impressive 14-foot-9-inch beam (which is carried well aft), and to its tall freeboard, the yacht seems even bigger than its 46 feet of overall length. Yet with its fixed standard sprit, long waterline and plumb bow, low-profile coach roof and the judicious addition of three horizontal windows in the hull, the 460 exudes contemporary good looks and appears proportionately sound. It’s almost like a magic trick.

Down below, the forward owner’s cabin features a whopping queen berth with side entries and a “split” head, with a large, dedicated shower stall to port and the toilet to starboard in its own compartment. In the saloon, aft of the unusually placed galley, to port there’s a small settee behind which is a wine rack or the space for a flat-screen TV. To starboard sits the dining table with seating on three sides. A convertible navigation station on a sliding track is situated aft of the outboard settee, and can be configured so the navigator sits facing forward or aft, depending on preference. It can also be raised or lowered to rest ­perpendicular if the boat is heeling underway. A second head is to port, and the floor plan is finished off with a pair of double cabins aft.

On deck, as with most ­modern yachts in this size range, there’s a set of twin wheels with instrumentation in the pedestals and a Raymarine chart plotter in clear view on the aft end of the central cockpit table. Life-raft stowage is under a step abaft the starboard wheel, and there are adjustable foot braces behind each helm so the driver has level footing when the boat is heeled. A double-ended German-­style mainsheet is led to Lewmar winches to port and starboard of the helms; the traveler is forward of the dodger and controlled by winches on the coach roof, as are the halyards and reefing lines, which are led aft under on-deck panels.

The double-spreader fractional rig employs a self-­­tacking jib on its own track just forward of the deck-stepped mast (the compression post for the spar is in the forward owner’s cabin so it doesn’t hinder the open spaces in the saloon). An overlapping 135 percent genoa, the tracks for which are already installed, is an option. The shrouds are positioned well outboard for easy egress forward.

On the bow, the ­roller-­furling unit is mounted in the ­center of the bowsprit, which has a robust pad eye all the way ­forward for tacking asymmetric kites or a Code Zero-type reaching sail. A Lewmar windlass is aft of the sprit and just forward of the good-size sail locker, which also provides easy access to the deep chain locker.

Construction is straightforward, with a hand-laid, solid-fiberglass hull and a one-piece deck that’s injection-­molded. The price of the base boat is around $300,000, but our test boat — fully equipped with electric winches, a generator, air conditioning and ­electronics — topped off at a little over $400,000. Still, it’s a lot of boat for the bucks.

The 460 was designed by Umberto Felci, Dufour’s go-to naval architect, who has built his reputation on yachts that sail very well. We tested the boat in light airs of only 3 to 4 knots on a mellow ­Chesapeake Bay. Yet the performance was still impressive: The boat had little trouble sailing as fast as the wind on a closehauled course, making 3.5 knots in the lulls and 4.5 knots with slightly more pressure. The boat comes with a traditional mainsail and headsail, both from Elvstrom Sails. As the Dufour ­representative pointed out, it would’ve been a perfect day for a Code Zero headsail, which he ­recommended to augment the yacht’s working sails.

All in all, the rather innovative Dufour 460 impressed me. No, it’s not for everyone, especially if your plans include long-range liveaboard ­cruising. However, there’s no question that if what you’re after is a pleasurable ride for coastal jaunts and vacation sailing, and if having a blast once the day is done is a high priority, you’ll find much to like in this versatile 46-footer.

Specifications

Dufour Yachts
352-871-0362
www.dufour-yachts.com

Herb McCormick is CW’s ­executive editor.

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For more information, visit www.dufour-yachts.com

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The 460 will be offered in several cabin configurations including 3 cabins with one head, 3 cabins with 2 heads and 4 cabins with 4 heads.

The boat will be officially debuted at the Cannes Yachting Festival starting on September 13, 2015.

For more information, visit the Dufour Yachts website.

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We’ll begin with the smallest boat in the class, the Hanse 505. “This is a company we’ve been following for several years now and they’ve become quite an empire,” said Tim Murphy. “They’re built in a facility in the former East Germany on the Baltic coast, with six different brands, including Moody and Dehler. They do a good job with the Hanses. One thing about the freeboard on both the models we tested: by raising the profile of the entire boat, they’ve eliminated a choppy coach roof that can be difficult to maneuver around, so the decks are clean and flat. These may be large vessels, but they’re much easier to negotiate.”

“They were shooting for a fast cruising boat that’s easy to sail, with good performance, a lot of room down below, something that was open and inviting,” said Mark Schrader, whose comments would also cover many of the attributes of Hanse’s sister ship in the competition, the Hanse 575. “And I think they struck all those notes. The look is modern and angular, lines are led aft under coamings, there are lots of recessed hatches. It’s a really clean design; frankly, I like it. Sitting in the cockpit looking across that wide deck, I felt relaxed and refreshed; it was just uncluttered. And one thing about that freeboard, at anchor you’d board the boat from the wide swim platform that drops down from the transom, and is very well done.”

“One example of Hanse’s craftsmanship and workmanship came when we were looking at some of the labeling on the electrical system,” said Murphy. “It was in alphanumeric codes, so we asked about an owner’s manual, and the company rep showed us this incredible manual which included every single code. You flip the pages and there are maps of the entire boat showing all the different circuits and where they’re run to, and it also includes manuals for all the gear installed on the boat. I think this is something owners will really appreciate when addressing maintenance issues down the road. They deserve kudos for that.”

Interestingly, in terms of the design time line, the 575 preceded the 505; usually, for most builders, it’s often the other way around. “The steering system is very nice,” said Schrader, after steering the 575. “You can see they purchase all the right component parts and install them correctly. This is a very smooth boat to drive.” Yet, after comparing the two boats, in terms of the overall package, the consensus among the judges was that the 505 was the more successful and better executed new Hanse.

That left the Dufour 560 GL, which the judges sailed in sporty weather. The previous day’s sail trials had also been conducted in challenging conditions. “And we came off the water then feeling pretty cranky about how hard it was to move around on some of those boats,” said Murphy. “But this Dufour was a real pleasure, both sailing it and moving around to inspect it. The breeze backed down into the 12 to 15 knot range and we were making a very effortless 8 knots of boat speed. The helm was really nice. It was very pleasurable driving this boat.”

“It got high marks on all points of sail,” agreed Schrader. “There were good handholds; the deck had solid non-skid; the hardware was nice; and everything was arranged functionally and efficiently. On all points of sail, I gave the boat very high marks. I thought it seemed like a very high-end boat to me. I liked it.”

For Ed Sherman, it was the little things that mattered. “One of the things that annoys the heck out of me is when builders use standard, terrestrial-grade cabinet hinges, and you step on a pretty new boat and they’re already rusting. The Dufour utilizes stainless hinges on their cabinets, which is somewhat unique among boats in this general build level. Hats off to Dufour for taking that into account. I commend them for that.”

In a class where all three boats scored highly, it came down to the intangibles when the final votes were tallied, with the Dufour 560 GL eking out a close victory. For some judges, the ultimate call can even hinge on the hinges.

Dufour 56 GL Sailboat

Hanse 505 Sailboat

Hanse 575 Sailboat

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Dufour 500 Grand Large

To determine the top boats in each category, the BOTY judging panel pays close attention to the design brief submitted by each builder for their respective nominee. When determining winners, the panel decides how well the entry meets its specified goals. The summary for the new Dufour 500 reads as follows:

“The Dufour 500 was designed for customers who primarily cruise in coastal regions, but take an occasional extended offshore passage. While the primary design and construction considerations provide the stability, strength and capacities required for an offshore environment, many comfort amenities were conceived for the convenience of coastal cruising and onboard entertaining.”

It’s an honest evaluation, perhaps best underscored by an interesting and innovative central saloon, with a uniquely positioned galley forward that promotes a useful and comfortable space for lounging and entertaining. The judges felt it was definitely in keeping with the stated design brief, which is just one of the reasons they named the Dufour 500 Grand Large the Best Full-Size Production Cruiser for 2014.

“It’s definitely a performance cruiser, and while we didn’t have a lot of wind for our test sail, it sailed well and felt good,” said Ed Sherman. “It also performed well under power, and the sound levels were good. In our slow-speed test we were able to make 7.5 knots and in the high-speed mode we registered 8.6 knots, and the sound levels below were in the low- to mid-80s decibel-level range.”

Tim Murphy said the boat’s “performance chops” also extended to the yacht when under sail. “We’ve seen a lot of double-ended mainsheets in this year’s fleet, but several of them offer no real control of the shape of the mainsail,” he said. “But this one really does. It’s got a very good, long mid-boom traveler that extends the full width of the cabintop. Combine that with a very good suit of Elvstrom sails, including a full-batten main with lazy jacks, and you have a powerful sail plan that you can really trim and tweak. This is going to be a really fun boat to sail.”

Murphy noted that not all the interesting features, like the galley arrangement, were situated belowdecks.

“There are a lot of nice touches on this boat,” he continued. “In the cockpit they have a settee that can be expanded to what amounts to a double berth for lounging, but which also folds up so you have a lee board when you’re heeling. That’s a neat little trick.”

“The deck layout was very clean and the fold-down transom entry is just spectacular,” added Mark Schrader. “There’s an enormous hinging cockpit locker. You could almost drive a car in there. And the lazarette access is also tremendous.

“They pegged their mark as a comfortable cruiser with a performance edge,” he concluded, “and I think they hit it.”

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