Latitude 46 Tofinou 9.7: Car-maker Peugeot takes a fancy to sailing
Sleek daysailer features an uncluttered cockpit with a cabin wrapped in mahogany and black laquerFrench car-maker Peugeot has helped design a daysailer for solo and shorthanded crews that is optimised for running the boat from the helm.
Penned for luxury French tender and yacht-maker Latitude 46, the 9.75-metre Tofinou 9.7 was created for daily sea trips.
Peugeot was brought on board to “modernise and revitalise” the styling of Latitude 46’s new boats while keeping the spirit of the range.
“The Tofinou’s signature style is perpetuated through elegant, pure, slight and classic lines
emphasised with noble materials: varnish mahogany, stainless steel and chrome,” Peugeot said.
“We entrusted the production of the boat plans to [naval] architect [firm] Michele Molino, who designed a more powerful and wider hull which promises an intense and controlled navigation experience,” Latitude 46 director Christian Iscovici said.
“The new hull made it possible to redesign the bridge. We worked hand in hand with Peugeot Design Lab to lend modernity, with a view to improving ergonomics and life on board.”
Obstacle-free design
Peugeot’s designers drew a balanced, pure and obstacle-free bridge with forms and surfaces that are “simple and elegant”. “The new generation spirit is lended by this structured, sharp and dynamic draw,” Latitude 46 said.
The Tofinou 9.7’s equipment is all integrated into the design to make it easier to sail the boat. The cockpit features two weather-protected touchscreens facing the helm, while all controls, including the winches, are within easy reach.
The shipyard said the design of the Tofinou 9.7’s cabin roof, in black lacquer and inserted in mahogany, was “stylish and modern”, while the rear deck is “largey opened to the sea, thanks to the wider hull”.
The first two sailing boats will be delivered via latitude 46’s home base in La Rochelle, France, in June.
This is not the first time that Peugeot has collaborated on a project that has taken a deliberate turn from the road towards the water.
In 2017, it collaborated with yacht and powerboat maker Beneteau on the Sea Drive Concept, redesigning the traditional helm station for something looking a lot more car-like, while in 2012 it designed a 30-metre powerboat that looked all the world like a modern twist on a cigarette boat.
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