Eyachts adds Saffier luxury daysailers to its line-up

The new range, which includes two classically lined and three modern-look plumb-bowed hulls, caters for owners who enjoy everything from weeknight twilight racing to weekends on the water with friends.

Eyachts managing director Peter Hrones said after watching the development of the brand for the last five years, he was surprised that no other Australian distributor had yet signed up to represent Saffier in Australia.

“We believe that the day boat sailing rage hasn’t [yet] started in Australia," Hrones said. “It has in the US and it has in Europe, but it is still very slow in Australia.” 

However, Eyachts plans for Australia to soon warm to daysailers similar to how they have overseas.

Part of the appeal of the Saffier Yachts brand is the fact that in the 1970s and ’80s the family-owned brand built Santana 22 and 28 yachts here in Australia, eventually going into partnership with Americas Cup yacht designer Ben Lexcen.

Brothers Dean and Dennis Hennevanger, the sons of Saffier founder Richard Hennevanger, were born in Australia.

Saffier Yachts was established in the 1990s. 

According to Hrones, Eyachts will look at the 27-, 33- and 37-foot models that it believes are “right for the Australian market”.

"These boats include a large cockpit and are easy to sail single-handed, fast and easy to handle.

“It’s [also] got to be a little bit affordable,” Hrones said. “A lot of the day boats today, we found out in our research and we have represented some brands from France and one from Holland, more classic styling I guess.

“They only build 10 or 15 boats a year, so they’re really only a very small niche company and they’re probably not going to import more than one, maybe two a year, whereas Saffier is now the biggest day boat manufacturer in the world producing over 150 boats.

“In a couple of months’ time it’s expanding its factory … so it can produce closer to 230 to 240 units per year, and the range will slowly expound up from the 37-footer.”

Hrones said the first two Saffier Yachts coming into Australia were already pre-sold – one will be his – with the new larger model due in at the end of this year while the factory works through a backlog of overseas orders.

A third boat is also on order.