Saffier Yachts SL 46, offshore cruising in daysailer style

Represented in Italy by the longtime dealer Settemari Yacht of La Spezia, the Dutch shipyard Saffier Yachts strengthens its position in the luxury performance sailing yacht segment with the Saffier SL 46, the new flagship of the range. With an overall length of 14,90 meters (13,75 meters for the hull) and a beam of 4,45 meters, the 46 is the shipyard's first model dedicated to offshore cruising. However, it shares with the daysailers range the ability to be sailed at peak performance even with a single crew member, one of the hallmarks of Saffier production. Easy sailing, extreme quality of construction and every onboard element, and attention to comfort are other features they share.

The hull and deck are made of fiberglass sandwich with a Divinycell core and vacuum infusion, with a galvanized steel spider serving as reinforcement and to absorb the loads of the keel and rigging. The yacht is equipped with a Lewmar VX3 GO 12V 1500W electric winch, a 25kg Delta anchor, a Yanmar 4JH57 engine with SD60 saildrive, Elvstrøm Sails, and a standard Selden aluminum mast. SUPER YACHT 24 spoke with Enrico Podestà of Settemari Yacht, who explains that "the idea to develop this model came from a request from several owners who wanted the same philosophy of the daysailers applied to a larger size." The boat will be presented at the upcoming Cannes Yachting Festival.

Let's talk about the philosophy of the Saffier SL 46.

The 46 boasts several innovative features that go beyond the excellent build quality and finish. Its strength lies in having brought ease of single-handed sailing to a previously unexplored size, along with cockpit ergonomics that allow non-sports or competitive owners to sail the boat effortlessly, safely, and easily. On boats of this size, the concept of easy sailing has probably never been taken so far.

How was this achieved? 

“Thanks to technical solutions such as the captive mainsail winch specifically designed by Harken, a typical element of maxi yachts, and the exaggeration of the concept of placing all the maneuvers directly under the helmsman's control, who can easily manage a significant sail area: the boat has a sail area/displacement ratio typical of a cruiser racer.”

What is the profile of a typical shipowner?

"He's an experienced and demanding sailor. It's a premium product aimed at a select niche of owners. We expect the purchasing process to always focus on the sea trial, as it does for daysailers. The features we're talking about are best appreciated and understood by testing the boat."

How do you see the SL 46 compared to other well-established Mediterranean models?

"I find that many cruiser racers are born with a strong vocation for crewed racing or fast cruising, often with the help of a sailor or other sailors. I see this 46, however, more as a solo boat for an owner who, on a larger size, can use it as a daysailer or cruiser, with a handling that allows performance close to the boat's maximum potential even when sailing solo. It's an almost unique offering on the market."

How do you rate the interior?

"The interiors are uncompromising in terms of quality and choice of materials. Obviously, volume wasn't a priority: the waterlines were designed first and then the available space was optimized. It would be a great challenge to see her used as a bluewater cruiser as well. Although that's not her focus, the 46 has the structure and features to perform well even in long-range sailing programs."

Are there any competitors?

“If I look at the market I don't find any. There are very luxurious and elegant boats like this one, but without the same cockpit protection and the same workload management, which are important.”

Technical data sheet Saffier SL 46 Med

Length ft 14,90 m

Hull length 13,75 m

Larghezza 4,45 m

Draft 2,20/2,60 m

Displacement 10.900 kg

Ballast 3.200 kg

Mainsail 68 m2

Self-tacking jib 50 m2

Code zero 163 m2

Gennaker 179 sq m

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