Boats

Speed meets quality and comfort

Dehler 38 SQ is the newest model from a famous German shipyard Dehler, traditionally known for their quality built yachts. A “true performance cruiser”, says the renowned Sail magazine. That means the boat is fast but has everything needed for comfortable cruising. Another review says Dehler did a great job with this model while “keeping the boat as simple to use and fun”.

We needed only one short sail with our Blue Eye to confirm that all these reviews were accurate. And we’re sure you’ll quickly realise why she’s a perfect yacht for learning sailing. She has performance Quantum sails and a sleek, sharp, sporty line, so she sails well even on light wind.

Two very responsive carbon wheels enhance the manoeuvrability and provide a good feel of the boat’s movement. The good steering feeling is enhanced because of only one deep rudder. The stern is spacious and broad, so there’s enough room for a swimming platform with an integrated ladder.

The cockpit is spacious, with a fixed foldable table and a large bimini top. That enables the crew to enjoy their meals and drinks on the deck under a cooling shade. It also provides enough room for active sailing. Three pairs of winches – a rarity in the class – prove the yacht is made to perform. Teak wood covers the cockpit deck, and the rest has a non-skid finish.

BLUE EYE is our training yacht registered for the RYA courses, so you can be sure she has everything needed for safe sailing. Also, a radar and an active radar reflector – which makes the yacht more visible to big ships – enhance her safety. She has the latest B&G chart plotter and instruments.

She has 38 feet, around 11,4 meters. The interior has three roomy double cabins, a cosy saloon, a foldable dining table, a chart table, and a fully equipped kitchen with a sink, stove and a large fridge. There’s also a bathroom with a toilet and a shower, and all wastewater goes to a holding tank. Large windows in the saloon and cabins allow natural light below the deck. The shipyard used only fine woods – teak, mahogany and oak – for the furniture, which matched perfectly with the bright upholstery.

Additionally, BLUE EYE has a hot air heating system installed to keep the crew comfortably warm after sailing in spring and autumn. She also has substantial autonomy with a freshwater tank of 295 litres, a fuel tank of 160 litres, and service batteries of 160 Ah, so she stays comfortable even on a more extended cruise.

Always First

Beneteau First 35 belongs to a legendary ‘First’ line built by renowned French yacht producer Beneteau. For many decades, a ‘First’ has been a synonym for beautifully designed, well-made, high-speed sailing yachts. Moreover, because famous Bruce Farr designed the First 35. Beneteau’s winning card with ‘Firsts’ is a successful combination of the yacht’s performance and crew comfort. So they are a standard sight in racing as well as lively summer cruisers.

That’s why we fell in love with First 35 as soon as we saw and sailed one. That passion made us start one of Croatia’s first one-design fleet and charter companies with ten identical yachts – Beneteau Firsts 35 – almost a decade ago. We’re sure you’ll instantly feel the same when you sail on one of our ‘Firsts’ in a Sail Faster! course. Or when you charter one after successfully finishing your RYA Day Skipper or RYA Coastal skipper course.

Except for the standard performance full batten main and head sails, you’ll be able to explore the yacht’s possibilities with symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers (gennakers). Because all of our Firsts also have optional carbon bow-sprits and spinnaker poles. The Latest Garmin chart plotters and instruments enhance the yacht’s performance and safety.

One big wheel provides a refined sensitivity for wind changes and yacht motion. It enables fast manoeuvring and good handling in the harbour. The open and spacious cockpit – with strong Harken winches – serves the crew well for ambitious racing or leisure cruising and enjoying at the anchor.

The ‘First 35’s’ 10,7 meters allow for a spacious, stylish and functional interior saloon sized like in her bigger sister – ‘First 40’. It has two large double cabins, a well-sized L-shaped kitchen, a removable table, a chart table and a toilette with a shower.

There is also a holding tank for wastewater. The saloon seats are comfortable and long enough to be good berths. The light-coloured varnished woodwork is warm and modern. Two large opening hatches and several opening ports provide good light and ventilation.

Our Firsts also have heating installed, which helps for sailing in spring and autumn. With freshwater tanks of 200 litres, fuel tanks of 76 litres, and strong service batteries, they have everything needed for comfortable enjoyment in sailing.

Performance with style and luxury

Famous French shipyard Beneteau announced the Oceanis 51.1 as the first in a new generation of cruising yachts – spacious, elegant, cleverly designed, easy to handle, fast and comfortable. And they delivered big, as usual. From its introduction, the model collected appraisals all over the sailing community because of its innovative and bold design.

When Beneteau announced the model in 2018., we realised we wanted one in our fleet and acted fast. So one of the first yachts produced and delivered in Croatia was our Pisces. Since we love performance yachts, we opted for the ‘First’ line model.

Compared to the owner and charter versions, she has a higher mast, more sailarea and an longer performance keel. There are also four electrical winches compared to the usual hand-operated two. She has a fully battened main sail and a large genoa. An additional self tacking storm fock and a Code Zero sail that enhances her performance in light winds.

However, her sailing abilities don’t overshadow all the comfort and luxury the yacht enables her crew. Its clever design makes her interior and cockpit space unparalleled in the class. That is the main reason we chose it for our Mile Building programs.

We’re sure you’ll enjoy both of her sides and quickly realise why she’s the true queen of our fleet. In her almost 15 meters, there’s enough room for four large double-bed cabins with en suite shower and toilette each. Additionally, there is a skipper cabin with a shower too. All wastewater goes to holding tanks.

Her kitchen is worthy of a true chef and a saloon the size of the living room, with a smart TV. Thanks to large windows, the interior is bathing in the sunlight. The cockpit offers many relaxation and sunbathing areas, including a large – remotely controlled – swimming platform and a wide teak cockpit table with an integrated fridge.

However, there are also white carbon steering wheels and performance electrical winches for a complete sailing experience. Three chart plotters – two outside and one inside – and navigation instruments, including three race instruments on the mast bracket, are the latest Garmin models. A radar enhances navigation safety.

With heating installed, a freshwater tank of 770 litres, a fuel tank of 400 litres, and a 110 horsepower engine, she’ll be a pleasant and luxurious home, even on an extended offshore cruise.