Super, smashing, great
Yachts & Yachting|June 2020
How do you stand out in one of the most competitive sectors of boat building? Sam Jefferson steps aboard the Dufour 390 to find out
Sam Jefferson
Super, smashing, great

I’m going to get political here and say that Dufour Yachts has always reminded me slightly of the Liberal Democrats. Nothing to do with wanting to leave or remain, it’s just that they are somehow polite, inoffensive... but at the same time striving to be a little bit different from what are perceived as ‘bigger’ rivals, such as Hanse, Bavaria, Beneteau and Jeanneau. This is no bad thing, as mainstream production cruising yachts can get a bit unremitting and repetitive, so it’s good to do something to make your product stand out from the crowd. To this end, Dufour has committed the ultimate no-no as a French designer and perversely worked with an Italian designer, Umberto Felci. This, again, is no bad thing, as Felci knows how to draw up a nice yacht – but it’s still a bit odd. Secondly, Dufour insists on calling half of its range Grand Large, which either means ‘big, big’ or, if you are from Yorkshire, ‘very good, big’. Sort of a bit like ‘super, smashing, great’. Did the late, great Jim Bowen help with the marketing? I’ve always wondered if there is an alternative line, the Petit Small, but have found no evidence.

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FLERE HISTORIER FRA YACHTS & YACHTINGSe alt
Super, smashing, great
Yachts & Yachting

Super, smashing, great

How do you stand out in one of the most competitive sectors of boat building? Sam Jefferson steps aboard the Dufour 390 to find out

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2020
ST PETER PORT - GUERNSEY 49°27.19'N, 002°32.00'W
Yachts & Yachting

ST PETER PORT - GUERNSEY 49°27.19'N, 002°32.00'W

This haven on Guernsey is the ideal starting point to explore the beauty of the Channel Islands, as Emma Bamford discovers

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7 mins  |
June 2020
Round the Island Q&A
Yachts & Yachting

Round the Island Q&A

Dave Atkinson, director of the Round the Island Race, now postponed until the autumn, explains some decisions and breaks down misconceptions about the race in a revealing chat with Rupert Holmes.

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10+ mins  |
June 2020
The rest is Istria
Yachts & Yachting

The rest is Istria

Nicola Beykirch headed to Venice in search of a cheap winter berth and endured the hardship of sailing the length of the Croatian coast en route

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10 mins  |
June 2020
Grinding to a halt
Yachts & Yachting

Grinding to a halt

Sent home from warm-weather training in Sardinia amid Covid-19 restrictions, grinder Freddie Carr updates us on what is now for INEOS TEAM UK and the America’s Cup

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8 mins  |
June 2020
From a distance
Yachts & Yachting

From a distance

Rob Peake looks at what ‘sailing’ we can do via distance learning courses and online regattas

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9 mins  |
June 2020
Flying the flag
Yachts & Yachting

Flying the flag

Her rise through the ranks has been meteoric and her helm Charlotte Dobson calls her ‘an absolute weapon’. Rob Peake meets 49erFX crew Sakia Tidey

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4 mins  |
June 2020
Eire on a shoestring
Yachts & Yachting

Eire on a shoestring

The Irish sea deserves respect, but the rewards of a summer cruise can be great, as Don Smith notes

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7 mins  |
June 2020
Ace Your Club Race
Yachts & Yachting

Ace Your Club Race

Quirky courses and mixed fleets - Mark Rushall talks tactics and sorts strategy for club race situations

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7 mins  |
May 2020
WIZARDS IN OZ
Yachts & Yachting

WIZARDS IN OZ

After Ainslie’s spectacular series debut, ROB KOTHE speaks to SailGP skippers on the lessons learned in Sydney, and finds out what’s next from Russell Coutts

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9 mins  |
May 2020