dehler 30 sailboat

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Dehler 30 yacht test: This one-design racer has a real double appeal

• Matthew Sheahan
• May 20, 2020

An award-winning offshore blaster, the Dehler 30 is many things to many sailors. But can a short-handed one-design racer-cruiser really tick so many boxes?

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

Talk to those who have switched to short-handed offshore racing and you’ll be hard pressed to find many who want to go back to a weather rail stacked with crew. It’s not that they’ve suddenly realised that they don’t like sharing the experience with others, or that the boat just feels cluttered below, but that it is just more satisfying sailing two-up . Plus, it’s often a lot cheaper. It’s these two factors above all that surely explain the increase in popularity in this kind of sailing.

Yet, unlike the moment when we realised that planing sportsboats were a lot more fun than the tubby lead mines of the day that rolled downwind like metronomes, or the sudden realisation that gybing an asymmetric spinnaker was no harder than tacking a jib, the growth in short-handed offshore sailing has been more gradual. And it is also building from another corner of the sport as the momentum for the new Olympic offshore class in 2024 gathers pace.

As the plans for Paris 2024 are now starting to take shape, where mixed gender entries will be a requirement, there is also a feeling that there will be opportunities for a wider range of age, experience and crew weights. This has triggered a fair bit of interest among a broader group of sailors than normal. It has also drawn the attention of some of the world’s top builders as they look into producing boats that might tap into this new scene.

Perfect for two but with the capability for more, this is a comprehensively kitted out 30-footer that’s easy to handle. Photo: Hanse Yachts AG

Of course some, like Beneteau, have been in this space for a while with their Figaro range of offshore racers. Jeanneau has also been successful most recently with its SunFast 3200 and 3600 models, with the new Sun Fast 3300 starting to make an impression as well. Other builders like JPK, J/Boats and Pogo have also been successful in developing interesting boats in this area. And now one of the latest to step into the ring is Dehler.

Well known for its innovative approach to design along with a racing heritage that stretches back to the 1980s when boats like the DB1 put it on the map, the German production builder has launched a 30ft offshore pocket rocket that appears to be aimed straight at the short-handed world. It is a boat that ignores handicap rules like IRC and focuses instead on creating a strict, high performance, offshore one-design.

But let’s get one thing out into the open from the start: this is a boat with an identity crisis. Look at the pictures and study the detailed deck layout and spec and it is easy to see that this is a well thought out, comprehensively equipped racer. Yet study the interior layout and overall style and the message is that while it’s a modern, quick 30-footer, it’s also designed to be a sprightly family cruiser. So can it really be both?

Article continues below…

Ràn VII: On board the Stealth Bomber of the Fast 40+ class

Some boats are the sum of their parts, but Rán VII is really the sum of the parts that aren’t…

Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 review: The pocket rocket inspired by foiling IMOCAs

Jeanneau’s latest Sun Fast is a whole bundle of fun, as Pip Hare discovered on a full test of the…

When viewed from the outside, the Judel/Vrolijk-designed Dehler looks every bit the racer. The reverse profile bow and the heavily chamfered topsides/gunwale that extend forward from her chainplates give the look of a smaller version of a number of well known racing machines – the Fast 40+ Ran , countless Class 40s , or even the previous Hugo Boss IMOCA 60 spring to mind.

Offshore style

When viewed from dead ahead the rounded, full-sectioned bow and a hard turn of the bilge from slab sided topsides to flat underwater sections are further indications of the modern offshore style. And then there’s the fixed bowsprit off which the Code 0 and A2 and A5 kites are flown. It is removable for cruising, but when it’s in place (as it was for us), it shouts racing.

So too does the carbon mast, the square-topped mainsail and the twin backstays, with tails led forward through rope clutches to the primary winches mounted conveniently for the helmsman and crew. The coarse and fine tune mainsheet systems, along with a mainsheet traveller that runs almost the complete width of the ample beam are also dead giveaways that this boat is set up to race.

It’s clear that a huge amount of thought has gone into the design. In plan, the delta shape sees the maximum beam carried all the way aft to the stern from midships providing the means to generate a high righting moment. The full sections forward where the volume is low down are indications that the distribution of buoyancy is in keeping with modern thinking and contributes to the righting moment using the hull form without creating unnecessary drag through excessive wetted surface area.

It’s likely to be a well-balanced boat when heeled, and the 200kg water ballast tanks on either side add a further boost to righting moment and hence performance. Pump these up using either the gravity or electric feed systems and you have the equivalent of 2-3 people on the rail – people that you don’t have to feed or hot-bunk with.

As it happens, the sporty looks are also in line with the modern cruising style. Beamy sections aft frequently lead to twin rudders, whether you’re racing or cruising. The Dehler 30 is no different, although the linking mechanism between both rudder stocks and the single centreline-mounted tiller is fitted above decks making it very easy to get to. Liferaft stowage is under a lifting section of the aft deck and accessible from the water, whichever way up the boat is: yet another illustration as to how detailed the thinking has been.

Nimble and responsive

Like modern cars that have become bloated with every iteration, today’s boats generally feel bigger than they did a few decades back. Strangely, the Dehler 30 feels smaller. I’m sure half tonners felt bigger than this? The reality is that when compared to other popular brands in this scene such as the Beneteaus, Jeanneaus and JPK’s it is indeed shorter. But the Dehler also feels small in a good way – a boat that feels right for two from the off. It’s a size in which pretty much everything is close to hand without having to let go of the helm.

Short-handed offshore sailors prefer not to depend entirely on their autopilots. Instead, most take the pragmatic view that at some point it will break down and hand steering will become essential. They also believe that at times humans can still sail better than a machine. But aboard the Dehler 30 there is another issue and that is that once you’ve taken the helm, you’re unlikely want to give it back.

Cockpit layout suits single- and double-handed sailing. Photo: Hanse Yachts AG

Light, nimble and responsive, you barely notice that it has twin rudders such is the balance between them. In keeping with modern thinking it’s designed to heel fairly early to a point at which the windward rudder offers minimal drag, which in turn helps to get that single blade feel on the helm.

Manoeuvrability is good under sail, but also under power thanks largely to the fixed three-bladed prop which provides plenty of prop walk… which in turn makes up for the lack of prop wash over the rudders. Overall this is a boat that has been designed to be sailed hands on. Whether you’re steering from the side deck or organising the pit, everything is close to hand, making tacks and gybes as straightforward as they can be.

Our trials started off in a light breeze and in this the Dehler ghosted along nicely before conditions picked up to a modest 10 knots. That was sufficient at least to establish that this is a well-balanced, slippery boat. The modern sailplan gives the first indication of why it performs so well. A high aspect ratio non-overlapping, hanked-on jib that is just 5.5m 2 smaller than the 34.5m 2 square-topped mainsail is the first indication of an ample and sophisticated sailplan.

The furling staysail also makes for a good heavy weather jib for when conditions get punchy upwind. Photo: Hanse Yachts AG

Aside from the provision for a Code 0 and downwind asymmetric kites, the staysail mounted on a detachable inner forestay will be good off the breeze as well as upwind when things have got punchy offshore. The single spreader aft-swept rig is an important part of this with a set of D2s that terminate at the inner forestay mast attachment to give good fore and aft support when you’re hammering upwind under this reduced sail plan.

Less obvious, yet another big contribution to the all round performance, is the 2.20m deep 82kg carbon reinforced fin and 840kg bulb configuration. Aside from generating plenty of righting moment, the deep, parallel-sided fin is efficient when it comes to providing lift, a key reason why it feels like it gets into the groove with ease.

The choice of fin and bulb is interesting as it is unlikely to be treated well under IRC and provides another indication as to how focussed Dehler is on one-design and short-handed sailing. But if it does have a weakness it is the speed with which a snake pit of ropes can build up in the cockpit. And while careful control line management is the answer, the clutter stems largely from an overly sophisticated deck layout and snug cockpit.

The Dehler’s Code 0, with its trendy but practical outrigger, covers a wide range of wind speeds and angles. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Having got used to what this boat is all about on deck and underway, the big surprise comes when you head below decks where, instead of a Spartan racing interior, the layout is far more modern cruiser. This is where the identity crisis lies.

Creature comforts

Had you simply headed below without looking at the layout on deck you’d likely not be surprised. The trademark Dehler offwhite/grey and red trim also has wood laminate saloon bench seating and a table on the centreline and looks just like you’d expect of a contemporary Dehler.

And with a modest galley to starboard that’ll take a portable fridge, an open plan forepeak, enclosable heads to port and a couple of ‘almost double’ berths aft, it looks like a snug modern production cruiser.

Creature comforts and trademark Dehler trim belie the boat’s racing aspirations. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

The giveaway is the lack of floorboards, which help to achieve a decent 1.82m headroom in an otherwise low freeboard boat. That and the internal water ballast tanks.

But for me the oddest of detail was the fabric hull liner. While it looks smart on a new boat, it reminded me of boats from another era that didn’t stand the test of time well, and made me question whether a boat of this type really needs it. On that point, Dehler says the creature comforts account for less than 100kg in total and suggest this is a good use of weight when it comes to broadening the use and the appeal of the boat.

But when the boat will be raced primarily by people who like having the sidedeck to themselves for hours on end as they chase down their rivals offshore, I’m not sure that comfort below decks is at the front of their minds.

This boat grew on me quickly because it was so comfortable and rewarding to sail. It just feels like it fits. It’s is easy to handle short-handed and so taps into this growing scene while also appealing to what sportier types may want when they’re family cruising. But sprightly cruising does come at a price. At a base cost of €108,000 excluding VAT and around €160,000 with a full spec and VAT paid it might seem pretty expensive for a 30ft production built, fast family cruiser. Yet come to it from a racing mindset and this is a boat that wants for nothing. With such a comprehensive and high quality specification along with the promise of good one-design racing, it’s an appealing prospect. So can this be both racer and cruiser? The answer is yes, so long as you regard it in this order.

the new & exciting One design

A NEW ADDITION

The award-winning 30 One Design is the newest development by Dehler and is a progressive racer-cruiser with true Dehler performance genes. The Dehler 30 One Design is an uncompromising double-handed offshore boat designed for maximum performance with the highest possible level of comfort. 

designed by sailors

Time and care has been taken over the design of the Dehler 30 One Design, which has been lovingly done so by sailors with a racing heritage. Karl Dehler the project manager of the 30 OD and the son of Dehler founder Willi Dehler, is passionate about sailing. For Dehler, he has contributed to countless innovations and trend-setting inventions. The successes speak for themselves: under Karl's management, Dehler has already won numerous prestigious awards and has been repeatedly honoured and nominated for the titles Boat of the Year and European Boat of the Year. His expertise, competence and above all his passion are based on years of experience as an active regatta sailor. Together with Torsten Conradi, he won the world championship title in 1984.

brochure reviews request pricing

specification

Technical 

The Dehler 30 One Design is an exciting brand new boat from Dehler and is continuing the heritage... What began in 1977 as a gesture of defiance was decisive for German boatbuilding. It laid the foundation for a decade-long history in serial one-design production, ‘Made in Germany’. Even then, founder Willi Dehler did not accept that race boats should have just one purpose: to sail regattas. He had more in mind. His vision - race boats with creature comforts... It started with the legendary Sprinta Sport. A small cabin cruiser with real regatta ambitions, she was considered the first of a new cruiser-racer class, which became successful in the Quarter Tonne division of the IOR system. Through the use of the latest materials and high-strength components, more common on larger boats, Dehler already positioned itself as a pioneer in production boatbuilding. Some 500 boats were built and sailed intensively. Naturally, Dehler followed up on this success with bigger one designs. The db1 came out in 1980 - a serial Three-Quarter tonner. It was already clear that Dehlers not only sailed very well, but also offered comfortable living. Dehler finally won a world championship title with the db2. After a long interlude, the new Dehler 30 One Design marks a return to the original idea behind her successful predecessors: to create a performance boat that is also suitable for cruising. She embodies an unprecedented combination of function and comfort. Every detail of the boat is geared towards maximum performance, but without sacrificing comfort: from cruiser-racer to racer-cruiser.

STEALTH DRIVE

A true racing yacht should have clean, sleek lines. This is often disturbed by the addition of the propellor and shaft, unless you have to lift an outboard onto the transom.

The stealth drive provides 9hp of conventional drive when required, however, it simply folds up into the boat without leaving any underwater seams.

This clever feature won the Systems category in SAIL Magazine's Best Boats 2021 awards.

interior comfort & performance

We don’t believe that comfort and powerful performance in a boat need be mutually exclusive. The Dehler 30 One Design brilliantly combines clear performance features with a feel-good factor. So the open bulkheads create a bright, generous volume while at the same time saving weight. Lightweight technical materials in warm, natural tones create a surprisingly large sense of space for a boat of its size.

Dehler 30 OD

Dehler 38SQ

Dehler 46SQ

Welcome to Inspiration Marine Group Ltd, the sole UK importer of Dehler Yachts since 2008. Let us guide you through the exciting adventure of buying a new yacht.

Get in touch

Copyright Inspiration Marine | terms | cookies | sitemap | Cookie Settings

Powered by webboutiques-corp.co.uk Web design

We use cookies on this website

We use necessary cookies which need to be on, to make sure our website functions properly and securely. By clicking "Accept all", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to assist with our marketing efforts, site navigation and site usage analysis. Please view our cookie policy for further details

Cookie Preferences

Cookies are used on web sites to store or retrieve information within your browser. Cookies may contain information about you, your preferences and/or your device. Without some cookies the site will fail to work correctly. Cookies are not used to directly identify you usually, but can personalise your web site visit. You can choose not to allow some types of cookies by opening the different sections below. Blocking some types of cookies may impair the web site operation or reduce the services we offer. More information

Manage Consent Preferences

These cookies are switched on and are needed for the website to work. For example they would be used to record your privacy preferences, or assist with optimising image display. You can set your browser to stop these cookies, but the site will not then work correctly. These cookies do not store any information that can identify you.

This website uses Google Analytics to count visits and analyse web traffic so we can monitor and improve the web site we present to you. We can work out which pages are liked most and least. The information these cookies collect is anonymous. Blocking these cookies will prevent us from monitoring your visit.

These cookies are used to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. These are usually set by third parties who provide services on this web site, but some may be set by us. Blocking these cookies may prevent these services from working properly.

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Dehler 30 OD: the most fun you can have on the water

• David Harding
• September 30, 2022

Can a one-design offshore racing yacht be suitable for short-handed cruising too? This might actually be the case with the new Dehler 30

Product Overview

Dehler 30 od.

• Very fast by cruising standards
• Surprisingly easy to handle
• Easy access to structure and systems
• Deep draught
• Limited creature comforts

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:.

While we cruised along at a relaxed 10 knots, flying the A5 asymmetric spinnaker with 13-14 knots of wind on the beam, I couldn’t help thinking that this was a very efficient way of getting around the Solent .

It was efficient in terms of both manpower and size of boat, because we weren’t on a 40ft grand-prix racing yacht with 10 crew on the rail.

Neither were we on a multihull. We – and there were just three of us – were on a 30-foot monohull, and only the helmsman and trimmer were doing any work.

Yes, it was a race boat, but as easy to sail as most cruisers and going about twice as fast.

Whichever way you look at it, our speed-to-effort ratio wasn’t bad.

A mainsheet traveller runs almost the full width of the broad stern. The tiller linkage is above the cockpit sole for easy access. Credit: David Harding

The boat in question was the Dehler 30 One Design – an example of a new breed of boat that has been growing in popularity in recent years.

Anyone who keeps even half an eye on the racing scene can’t have helped notice the arrival and success of, among others, Jeanneau’s Sun Fast 3300, the JPKs and the J/99 .

These are light, high-performance racers with a difference.

Unlike some of the other speedy 30-ish-footers – the Mumm 30, Melges 30, Farr 30, Farr 280 and the new kid on the block, the Cape 31, for example – they’re not designed with the emphasis on fully crewed inshore racing around the cans.

To be fair, neither was the Mumm 30 restricted to that, since it was used for the Tour de France à la Voile for 11 years (and, coincidentally, has recorded a peak speed of 28 knots).

Ian Griffiths has bought the first Dehler 30 OD in the UK, and has his sights set on the Fastnet Race in 2023. Credit: David Harding

But the point is that this new evolution of race boat has been conceived with short-handed offshore sailing very much in mind.

Some of the designs were inspired by the proposed double-handed offshore class in the Olympics that was subsequently abandoned, though that loss has been compensated for by the growing interest in two-handed racing following COVID lockdown restrictions.

Dehler 30 OD: Designed to be different

For a boat to be sailed offshore , it has to offer accommodation.

To be sailed by one or two people, it also has to stand up to its rig without a row of bodies stacked on the rail, so stability is of the essence.

It will be designed for ease of handling with a small crew, and performance will tend to be optimised for straight-line speed, often with the emphasis on reaching.

A square-top mainsail precludes a fixed backstay. Twin backstays are fitted, purely for tuning. Credit: David Harding

By contrast, inshore IRC racers will need to perform on relatively short courses, predominantly consisting of windward/leeward legs and with frequent mark-roundings.

Boats designed for one type of racing will rarely excel at the other.

That said, the designers and builders recognise that people who race short-handed offshore will probably want to race around the cans on occasions as well. The Round The Island Race isn’t exactly around the cans, but it’s always interesting to see which boats do well in which conditions.

This year was a brisk one with a lot of reaching, and eight of the top 10 places in IRC Division 1C were taken by Sun Fasts; six of them 3300s (1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th) and the other two by the 3300’s bigger and older sister, the 3600.

The first 3300s finished in under 7 hours, at an average speed for the 50-mile course of over 7 knots – or rather more than 7 knots over the actual distance sailed. I photographed a fair few of them from my RIB as they planed past, and they were shifting.

Inhaulers and outhaulers for the headsail sheets mean that conventional tracks on the deck are not needed. Credit: David Harding

If you’re looking to buy a boat in this size range for short-handed offshore racing, the Sun Fast, the J/99 and the JPKs are among the prime contenders.

They have now been joined by the Farr X2 and the Dehler 30 OD, the latter being what Ian Griffiths chose.

He made his choice after looking at performance figures, VPPs (velocity prediction programs), IRC ratings and more, and his is the first Dehler 30 OD in the UK.

Ian is a relative newcomer to sailing, having sailed two legs of the Clipper Round-the-World race – taking in the Southern Ocean – with his daughter in 2019/2020.

His longer-term plan had been to buy a boat and take the family to the South Pacific, ‘to have a caravan on the water and cruise around’.

A raised sliding hatch gives standing headroom at the foot of the companionway. Credit: David Harding

The Clipper was part of his preparation. ‘If I could survive some of the world’s most notorious oceans,’ he said, ‘I should be able to build up my confidence and know that I would be capable of looking after my family.’

As it turned out, his sailing ended up taking a different course. When it became clear that family cruising wasn’t going to happen, he channeled his competitive instincts – already exercised in other sports including motocross – into sailing.

‘We’re a competitive family,’ Ian explained, ‘so things shifted towards the competitive angle.’

He had been looking into short-handed offshore racing before lockdown restrictions boosted its popularity, thinking that it would be nice if he and his daughter could enter RORC races such as the Fastnet and Caribbean 600.

Valves for the water-ballast tanks are easily reached in the companionway. Credit: David Harding

However, since his daughter’s university course clashed with the Fastnet, plans took yet another turn and he teamed up with Richard Gould, who had been his skipper in the Clipper race.

Ian and Richard started to plan an offshore racing campaign, with the 2023 Fastnet as their first big event.

To do that, of course, they would need a boat – and so began Ian’s quest to find one. Initially he looked at bigger boats too, including the Pogo 40, before ruling them out principally on the basis that a smaller boat would be easier to sail at close to its potential.

A handle and level system on the cockpit sole raises and lowers the Stealth Drive. Credit: David Harding

The Farr X2 was eliminated for reasons of cost, and so the list shortened. In a way the Sun Fast 3300 might have seemed the obvious choice, already having an impressive track record and with a similar IRC rating to the Dehler (typically around 1.033) despite its greater length, but Ian’s analysis pointed to the Dehler 30 OD.

Black Betty – named after the Clipper 70 on which he sailed – arrived this spring.

The go-fast factor

When you look at the features of the Dehler 30 OD and compare them with those of a typical modern cruising yacht, or even many inshore racers, it’s easy to see what sets it apart.

For a start, it weighs in at 2,800kg (just over 6,000lb). That’s not a lot for a boat with a 9m (29ft 5in) waterline.

The hull is vacuum-infused with E-glass and a cored laminate. A carbon mast comes as standard.

With a powerful sail plan, low weight, low-cg keel and easily driven hull, the Dehler 30 OD is an efficient performer to windward as well as downwind. Credit: David Harding

Below the waterline is a GRP fin keel with a 900kg (1,950lb) lead T-bulb on the bottom to keep the ballast as low as possible for minimum weight and maximum righting moment.

Internally the boat is far from stark by racing standards (cruising is mentioned several times in Dehler’s literature), but furnishings are minimal and the lightweight mesh hull-lining is removable.

As well as being light and with a low centre of gravity, the Dehler 30 OD can carry an extra 200kg (440lb) on the high side in the form of water ballast.

Equivalent to three (67kg/10.5-stone) crew on the rail, it’s pumped in and out (or sucked out if the boat’s moving at any speed) through a self-contained system and can quickly be dumped by gravity from the windward to the leeward tank just before a tack.

As you would expect on a boat of this nature, the bow is a semi-scow design.

Below decks, the Dehler 30 OD is comfortably fitted out by race boat standards. Bunk cushions are strapped up out of the way, and a wooden table folds out. Credit: David Harding

It also features reverse rake and the distinctive reverse-flare chines/chamfers seen on boats such as Rán VII to reduce weight and windage forward, stiffen the bow sections and help the air-flow around the foot of the headsail.

The moulded bowsprit can be removed for cruising.

Again as befits a boat designed with offwind sailing very much in mind, the deck-stepped mast is set well aft and supported by rod rigging with the shroud base taken right outboard to minimise compression.

A square-top mainsail is to be expected too, though one surprise is the single set of spreaders. They’re set well down the mast to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.

A set of intermediates (D2s) joins the mast roughly where the root of the upper spreaders would be.

A simple galley provides all the essentials, including a zip-up door to the stowage. Credit: David Harding

Such is the sweep-back on the spreaders – the boat is not designed to sail deep downwind angles – that twin backstays are fitted purely as tuning tools.

Deck spreaders to widen the sheeting angle for offwind sails can also be fitted. While none of this is radical, the Dehler 30 OD does have one secret weapon: the Stealth Drive.

The prop shaft is encased in a moulding that, together with the propeller, swings up inside the hull to leave a flush bottom.

This even allows the use of a fixed prop, because it retracts into a prop-box inside which are most of the skin fittings including the inlet and outlet for the water-ballast system.

Off-watch crew have generously proportioned berths in the stern. Credit: David Harding

The thrust from the 10hp Nanni diesel does not therefore need to be compromised in any way by folding blades.

What it all means in practice is that, by cruising standards, the Dehler is a real rocket ship.

If you’re used to plodding along at displacement speeds with the occasional surf when conditions get lively, and to broaching all over the ocean as soon as the boat heels more than 25°, you will find the speed and tractability of the Dehler 30 OD to be a revelation.

I’m used to sailing fully crewed race boats and to the grip of twin rudders (they’re deep on the Dehler), but I was impressed by the way the boat hopped on to a semi-plane when the gunwale was almost awash and the foot of the A5 skimming the water as we reached along with the apparent wind well forward of the beam.

A moulded bowsprit projects the tack of the offwind sails but can be removed for cruising. Credit: David Harding

Being able to plane when well heeled at relatively shy angles is all part of the plan with boats like this.

The helm remained finger-light and the boat crisp and responsive to every tweak of the tiller as we weaved our way past cruising boats that seemed dead in the water.

Even without the kite in 15 knots of true wind we maintained over 8.5 knots, and still clocked high 6s when hardened up with the apparent wind well within 30°.

With a wide range of A (asymmetric) sails to choose from, you would be highly unlikely to continue under plain sail with the apparent wind abaft the beam: the A5 or (for closer angles) the Code 0 would be set as soon as the angle and wind-speed allowed. Such is the boat’s ability to carry these sails that there’s little reason not to.

Racing concessions

Of course there are compromises when it comes to cruising with a boat like this, quite apart from the draught.

It wouldn’t perform to its potential if laden down with too much cruising kit – not that there’s a vast amount of external space to stow it.

You have a locker right aft to starboard in the cockpit opposite the liferaft locker to port (which was missing its lid when we sailed).

Cruising sailors might find the boom on the low side, too. If you’re used to sailing a Finn, a Europe or an OK you will feel quite at home.

The carbon mast is stepped further aft than on inshore race boats. Credit: David Harding

Plenty more stowage is down below in the bunks either side of the engine, the casing for the Stealth Drive and the other centrally mounted systems.

Impressive though the boat’s performance was during our sail, we were still only in the Solent in flat water and moderate winds.

I saw Ian and Richard again during the JOG Weymouth Race and later in the Round The Island. Conditions were too light and popply in the former for the Dehler to get into its stride.

It fared better in the Round The Island when its proper laminate sails had arrived (as opposed to the delivery sails in Dacron that we were using).

The fuel system and water ballast pipes are easy to reach between the aft berths each side. Credit: David Harding

Peak speed to date is 16.4 knots and Ian has been keeping a bottle of Champagne on ice ready for when the 20-knot barrier is broken.

As for creature comforts – well, it’s light, bright and minimalist below decks but neatly finished.

You get an encloseable heads, a basic galley and decent berths for four people.

Because of the simple fitout and minimal trim, access to the fittings and systems is excellent. Other builders could learn from this.

Test verdict on the Dehler 30 OD

The most remarkable feature of the Dehler 30 OD is not only its performance, but also how little effort is needed to achieve speeds that one could only have dreamed of a few years ago.

If you want to get the best out of any boat in a racing context, of course that’s a different matter; a lot of work will be needed.

That’s what Ian and Richard are putting in now, and it will take time. In terms of manageability and the pleasure of fast, simple sailing, a boat like this has much to offer.

Code or A sails will usually be carried as soon as the wind comes off the bow. Deck spreaders can be fitted to improve the sheeting angle. Credit: David Harding

Being able to unfurl (or un-sock) a Code or A sail and hop on to the plane at double-figure speeds in only moderate conditions opens up all sorts of opportunities that have never existed before for monohull sailors.

Upwind performance isn’t lacking, either.

Ian and Richard had a tough beat back to Hamble after the Weymouth race, finding that the boat had plenty of power, especially with the water-ballast, and the ability to punch into a steep sea.

Would the Dehler 30 OD suit you and your crew?

Whichever way you look at it, the Dehler 30 is not a cruising boat. That’s not what it was designed for.

Nonetheless, if you like speed and efficiency and don’t need a shallow draught, there’s much to be said for a boat like this.

It narrows the gap between monohulls and multihulls such as the Farriers and Dragonflies.

The wide hull, deep twin rudders and water ballast mean that the boat is much stiffer and has far more grip than most cruising boats. Credit: David Harding

With a monohull you have the draught and with a multihull you have the beam, though with Farriers and Dragonflies it can be reduced for marina berthing.

For dinghy sailors moving up and who don’t want to lose the fun of a flat-out planing reach, I can see the Dehler 30 being a real hit.

It would make a fast, fun weekender and coastal cruiser as well as an offshore racer.

Enjoyed reading Dehler 30 OD: the most fun you can have on the water?

A subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price .

Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals .

YM is packed with information to help you get the most from your time on the water.

• Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our experts
• Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment
• Cruising guides to help you reach those dream destinations

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.

• AROUND THE SAILING WORLD
• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Email Newsletters
• America’s Cup
• St. Petersburg
• Caribbean Championship
• Boating Safety

2022 Boat of the Year: Best Offshore Racer

• By Dave Reed
• December 17, 2021

Sailing World Magazine’s annual Boat of the Year tests are conducted in Annapolis, Maryland, following the US Sailboat Show. With independent judges exhaustively inspecting the boats on land and putting them through their paces on the water, this year’s fleet of new performance-sailing boats spanned from small dinghies to high-tech bluewater catamarans. Here’s the best of the best from our 2022 Boat of the Year nominees »

As interest in doublehanded offshore racing piqued with the expectations it would be an Olympic sailing discipline in 2024, so too did the development and production of several purpose-built 30-footers. Dehler Yachts, Germany’s big production boatbuilder, jumped into the action with its own 30-footer, and as we’d expect of a Judel/Vrolijk and Co.-designed race boat, this one is an all-business shorthanded racing machine jam-packed with cool features found on grand‑prix boats twice its size.

“You can tell they started with a blank slate because the boat is so well-integrated with the design and construction—from bow to stern,” Greg Stewart says. “It hits its design purpose spot on. It’s a complete small offshore one-design, and it’s obvious there was a lot of development required to get things so right.”

Prototypes and mock-ups after mock-ups were required, Dehler says, to efficiently accommodate a lot of boat handling and living in such a compact craft. Virtually every rope on the boat spills into the cockpit, which is the way of life in shorthanded sailing, where everything happens at the back of the boat. Vigilance with line keeping, therefore, is paramount. That and carefully executed and planned maneuvers. In full-tilt conditions, there will be a lot going on in the cockpit, Stewart says, but everything’s easily at hand.

“All the control-line leads are well thought out,” he adds, pointing to the smooth-operating traveler controls and the individual gross and fine-tuned mainsheet flip cleats mounted on the cockpit floor.

Powlison’s first impression at the dock was that the boat would be challenging to manage, but “once we went sailing, it all was logical. Yes, there’s a lot of line management, but once you’re disciplined to do that, the boat is much easier to sail than it looks.”

With the trio of judges and the owner piled on board during the test sail, it was immediately obvious that two is company and three is definitely a crowd. “It’s also not the type of boat where you’ll want to spontaneously invite an inexperienced crew [to go race],” Powlison says. “You will really need to know what you’re doing, but once you do get comfortable with everything, it will be a really easy boat to sail well.”

Ben Corson, the Annapolis-based owner of our test boat, had spent the better part of a year racing with his female partner and tinkering with the boat, and consequently, the boat is meticulously prepared, race-ready and offshore-compliant. There’s no mistaking what’s what and where—labels pasted throughout the boat identify halyards, sail and ballast controls, safety gear and even the electronics manuals.

As a tightly controlled one-design class with ratified rules, owners like Corson can’t do much to the boat as it is, but there’s not much—if anything—an owner would need to change anyway. Everything on the boat, the judges agreed, works as it should. Adjustable backstays, for example, lead forward to clutches mounted on the cockpit wall, which allows the backstays to be kept taut or released without having to worry about loading to a winch during a maneuver. With the turn of a locking nut on the tiller arm, the steering system can be adjusted to change rudder toe-in on either side. The traveler track runs nearly the full width of the wide transom, opening up a wide range of adjustability for the 361-square-foot mainsail, and as a bonus, small removable reaching struts open up headsail sheeting angles. Stainless-steel foot braces are easy to deploy and stow, and allow the skipper to lock into a comfortable position over the angled coaming, with great visibility over the bow.

When the boat is powered up and leaning on the chine, Allen says, the sensation is exceptional: “This delivered the best sailing experience of all of the boats we tested. It was easy to tack and jibe, it tracked great, it’s easy to get to the sail controls, and we had no problems whatsoever with wiping out—and we tried hard a few times.”

With Allen on the tiller and Powlison managing the sheets as they started upwind into a 15-knot breeze, Stewart hit the chamfered rail. “My first impression from the rail was how high I was and how it was charging upwind—like a big boat. I couldn’t feel the chop, I didn’t get wet, it didn’t skid out at all. I was also amazed at how solid it felt; there wasn’t one bit of pounding, creaking or anything.”

Eventually, Stewart came off the rail and they filled the ballast tank instead—to the equivalent of 400-plus pounds of rail meat. Allen says the gravity-fed water-ballast system took about five minutes to top off, roughly 30 seconds to transfer during a tack, and less than a minute to drain.

“Once we added the water ballast, the boat just powered forward,” Powlison says. “You can really feel the difference when the boat sits on the chine and just tracks straight ahead.”

Impressed as they were with the Dehler 30’s upwind pace, when they set the big red A2 spinnaker (1,076 square feet) and took off down the bay, they had no doubts about the boat’s downwind potential. They only used three of the five class-sail inventory on board, which includes an A2, an A5, a spinnaker staysail and a Code Zero, and if they had more time and distance, they would have certainly piled on more sail area.

“I could see going with the A5, the J3 and the staysail, and maybe a reefed main in a big breeze,” Allen says. “That would be fun—and wicked fast.”

Lightweight and strong is, of course, the holy grail of every race boat, and here too Dehler delivers with what the judges say is an immaculate cored-hull laminate and good detail in the finish work throughout the boat. Dehler was also keen to leave out extraneous weight from the interior to get the boat to weigh in at just over 6,000 pounds. Without any floorboards (there’s thin foam padding glued to the inner hull skin instead), they’re able to get 6 feet of standing headroom at the companionway (which has a sliding hatch hood on rails) and plenty of sitting headroom forward of the mast and into the V-berth.

To achieve a higher level of the camper-sailor experience, comfortable V-berth cushions and removable mesh hull liners are standard, as is a folding centerline table, rounded wooden bench seats, and backrests that double as pipe berths. With storage cubbies scattered about the boat, a marine toilet with a graywater tank, a two-burner stove and two quarter berths, this little race rocket is definitely a legit weekender too. Lithium-ion batteries and a 9.9 diesel with a retractable Stealth Drive shaft that pulls up flush with the hull will get you where you need to go and keep the electronics suite powered up just fine.

The Dehler 30 was a strong contender for Boat of the Year, but the judges couldn’t dismiss the boat’s biggest limitation: It will get hammered by most rating systems, which makes it a one-trick one-design offshore-racing pony. It is, however, an outstanding design for keen shorthanded sailors looking for a race-ready platform for just over $240,000. If—or when—international class racing ever becomes a real thing, the offshore sailing world will be a better place.

• More: Boat of the Year , Boat of the Year 2022 , Dehler , Sailboats
• More Sailboats

Nautor Swan Has A New Pocket Rocket

Pogo Launches its Latest Coastal Rocket

A Deeper Dive Into the Storm 18

2024 Boat of the Year Best Recreational Racer: Z24

How the Hobart Was Won

Into the Dink

Sally Helme, Marine Industry Icon Passes

SailGP’s New Zealanders Win Destructive Event No. 9

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

• McMichael News

Boat Review: Dehler 30

By Adam Cort - Sail Magazine

Originally published July 21,2021

I’ve long believed that while they may not be as much fun, the best sail trials are the ones that take place in drifters since it’s then that a boat’s performance—or lack thereof—really becomes evident. Pretty much any boat is fun to sail in 15 knots of wind. That said, there’s fun, and then there’s fun of the kind I had aboard the Dehler 30 One Design, winner of the 30ft and over performance boat category in  SAIL’s  2021 Best Boats contest.

Design & Construction

One look at the 30 OD and you know this boat means business. The hull is vacuum-infused with a PVC foam core, and a propriety “Dehler carbon cage” is incorporated into its bottom structure to ensure strength and rigidity. The deck is also vacuum-infused with a foam core, and the keel consists of a high-aspect fin and lead bulb. Twin rudders and twin tillers make the boat a gas to helm on all angles of heel, and Flexiteek is used on the cockpit sole and benches to ensure secure footing. A connecting rod ensures the tillers move in unison.

Blunt ends maximize sailing length, and the combination of a full bow and equally full sections forward provide the necessary buoyancy to help get up onto a plane and avoid submarining when power-reaching. The deck-stepped, single-spreader carbon rig is fractional, with an aluminum boom and rod rigging. Dual backstays serve to accommodate the boat’s high-aspect, square-top main.

Water-ballast tanks are located well outboard to either side of the companionway and are operated with the help of an electric pump. They hold approximately 50 gal each, providing over 400lb of weight to windward as necessary. A soft chine running aft from midway between the stem and mast provides a touch more buoyancy when the boat is on its ear. Another chine runs from about two-thirds of the way up the stem all the way aft to the transom to define the boats oh-so-cool tumblehome bow and create a softer hull-deck angle for crews hiking legs-out. Aesthetically, if you like the look of a well-found raceboat, you’re gonna love the look of the Dehler 30 OD. For yours truly, it was love at first sight.

Suffice it to sail, you’ll never become bored for want of strings to pull aboard the Dehler 30 OD. That said, the plethora of lines and overall deck/cockpit layout work well together and make the boat surprisingly easy to sail. Along these same lines, while the boat is clearly configured with shorthanded racing in mind (and is even in the running to become the official “equipment” for the new offshore doublehanded sailing event at the 2024 Olympics), there’s plenty of room for other crew as well.

Aft, the main sheet, complete with fine-tune, runs to a module set in a pronounced kind of “spine” running the length of the cockpit sole. The traveler spans the width of the cockpit aft, where it is slightly elevated to keep clear of the twin tillers. A pair of Lewmar primaries is located within easy reach of the helm. There’s also room between the primaries and helm for a dedicated main trimmer.

Another pair of Lewmars to either side of the companionway handles the plethora of control lines, and a 3D, friction-ring-based headsail lead allows you to tweak the genoa to your heart’s content. A D-ring to either side of the cockpit coaming serves as an anchor point for a pair of outriggers for the boat’s reaching sails. How cool is that? I’m a huge fan of the abundance of clearance between the boom and cockpit sole. The last thing you want to have to worry about when playing with all those lines is getting conked on the head every time you come about.

ACCOMMODATIONS

I’m gonna keep this short. Rest assured, though, that belowdecks there’s everything a sailor, at least, could ever want for keeping comfy offshore. Not kidding here. True, the overall aesthetic is a bit on the sparse side. But the quarterberths and settee berths are all plenty long for the off-watch, and there’s a small but more than adequate galley to starboard and a compact but equally adequate head compartment to port.

The overall finish is workmanlike and very professional. There’s even a small, hinged dining table attached to the compression post. I especially liked the molded-wood settees, which in combination with the dining table lend the saloon a bit of warmth. Granted, it might not be the best space for entertaining clients or your non-sailing friend. But hey, when the fun starts those types are all just going to get in the way anyway!

This brings us (finally!) to what It’s like actually sailing this great little boat. With respect to the platform as a whole, what I liked best about the Dehler 30 OD is the fact it’s one of those designs that feels like a big boat, but isn’t so big you can’t still muscle it back under control in the event things go sideways. With the passage of the years, I find myself becoming less and less tolerant of boats that scare me every time they load up in marginal conditions. Same thing with mains and reaching sails that leave my arms feeling like wet noodles after I’ve been trimming them for a while.

Midway into our test sail, we were reaching along at a steady 14-plus knots under main, A-sail and staysail. But while it was important to pay attention, the reason for doing so was more for the satisfaction of maxing out our boatspeed than simply trying not to crash and burn. This is important, not just because it makes sailing the boat a lot more fun—especially for we mere mortals—but because success in distance racing means keeping your averages up, as opposed to just hitting big numbers during those admittedly exciting moments of adrenaline-fueled madness. Every now and then things would get a little, “focused,” shall we say. But the boat’s twin rudders kept a firm grip throughout, and there was always plenty of time to bear away a bit and keep the boat under control.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how well the 30 OD did sailing hard on the wind. Despite the sharp chop that was running, there was none of the banging I assumed we’d experience; though I suspect you’d feel it if you were to ever launch the boat off any real waves. Bottom line, as I’ve written previously in the pages of this magazine, my test sail aboard the Dehler 30 One Design may have been one of my best test sails ever.

UNDER POWER

Normally with a boat like the Dehler 30 OD, this is the part of the review where I basically say, “Who cares?” Aboard the 30 OD, though, there’s a twist in the form of what Dehler is calling it’s “Stealth Drive” system, in which the entire prop and prop shaft can be retracted up into the hull when not in use. Far from a gimmick, the system, which employs a short, articulated lever that tucks away into the aforementioned spine in the cockpit sole, works well. The fact you can go with a fixed prop means sparkling performance in both forward and reverse.

Not much to say here that hasn’t already been said. A plush cruiser complete with washer and dryer, the Dehler 30 One Design is not. However, if your idea of adventure offshore includes VMGs to burn, you owe it to yourself to give this boat a look.

Specifications

LOA  33ft 10in  LWL  30ft  BEAM  10ft 9in

DRAFT  7ft 3in

DISPLACEMENT  6,173lb

BALLAST  2,072lb (in T-keel)

SAIL AREA  678ft 2  (main and 105% genoa)

FUEL/WATER  (GAL) 6.6/11

ENGINE  10hp diesel

BALLAST RATIO  37

SA/D RATION  32

D/L RATIO  102

DESIGNER  Judel/Vrolijk & CO.

BUILDER Dehler/Hanse Yachts AG, Greifswald, Germany

Brett Lyall A lifelong, passionate boater, Brett brings 26 years of sailing and 18 years of powerboat knowledge to the McMichael team. His background includes Environmental engineering and consulting, along with 7 years of sales and marketing experience in the luxury market. In addition to being an avid fisherman, surfer, and scuba diver, he is a sailing coach and has crewed extensively offshore on a variety of boats from J109, J105, J99 and 112E to a Gunboat 57. His knowledge of all things boating related is second only to his reputation for exceptional customer service and professionalism.

Doug Conner Doug’s life-long love of all things nautical naturally led him to pursue a career in luxury yacht brokerage. His professional background in sales and marketing, combined with his overall experience in and passion for the yachting industry, makes him a valuable asset to his clients for sail and power boats. Doug is committed to providing his clients with honest, professional, knowledgeable, and personal service.

Myles McQuone Myles is a licensed captain from age 18. He is a third Generation Merchant Mariner, operating boats runs deep in his family. Myles has held multiple roles within the marine industry between Marine Towing and Salvage, Marine Technician and Marine Service Manager. Myles’ focus has always had the customers best interest in mind; expect the same attention while consulting with Myles.

Ethan Morawski Ethan grew up in Fairfield CT and has been sailing for 13 years and powerboating for 10 years all over Long Island Sound. He has worked in the marine industry since High School and has an excellent reputation for superb customer service, seamanship, and attention to details. He is a graduate of Bryant University in RI.

Position Title: Boat Yard Crew Member Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Reports to: Service Manager

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be to support the efficient daily operations of the McMichael yacht yard and the satisfaction of our customers.

This will include a variety of functions and tasks including basic property maintenance, launch and recovery of boats, cleaning, crane and forklift operations, blocking boats, and winter storage and other relevant duties as assigned.

Core Skills:

• Ability to clearly understand instructions and complete tasks accordingly
• Mechanically inclined
• Able to lift and reposition equipment, tools, and materials
• Basic boat operations – power and sail (will train)
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written
• Focus on customer satisfaction
• Proactive mindset
• Able to work unsupervised
• Ability to collaboratively work well with other team members

Responsibilities:

• Support of daily operations
• Support clients boating activities, prepping boats, fueling, etc.
• Safe operation of company vehicles, forklifts, and equipment, including trailer handling
• Haul, block and launch boats
• Boat cleaning and detailing
• Bottom paint and waxing boats
• Dock and marina area maintenance
• Shrink wrapping
• Repositioning boats

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience at a previous boat yard or yacht club. Their background will include a familiarity with boats. They will be someone who enjoys the boating lifestyle and enjoys working outdoors. They value working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization an enhancing part of the local community. We encourage you to apply if you do not have the experience but are dedicated to building a career in the marine industry.

What does a typical workday look like? A typical morning could involve arriving and immediately removing covers, prepping several boats to be launched and readied for use by their clients. You could find yourself assisting with changing a large tire on a trailer or rigging and craning a boat onto a truck for transportation. Daily activities will also include basic maintenance of the boatyard facilities which includes painting, building repair, emptying garbage, and cleaning, as well as assisting technicians with boat maintenance.

Salary range: $15 – $30

Email: [email protected]

https://vimeo.com/758079548

Position Title: Fiberglass / GelCoat Technician Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be fiberglass and gel-coat repair work on sailboats and powerboats. The fiberglass work will include everything from small parts repair to structural repair and rebuilds. The gelcoat work will be similarly inclusive and will also involve spaying hull bottoms and topsides with boat bottom paint and gelcoat.

• Working with vinylester, polyester, and epoxy resins
• Experience working with various coring materials
• Knowledge of gelcoat matching and application
• Cutting, grinding and finish sanding
• Visually spot imperfections in all parts
• Use of buffers, DA’s, pencil grinders etc.
• Finish buffing and polishing
• Exceptional paint rolling and spraying finishing
• Proactive mindset and able to work unsupervised
• Complete fiberglass and composite repair work to the highest possible standards
• Spray gelcoat, clear coat, and metal flake consistently and evenly to desired thickness
• Getting the customer back on the water with a safe operating boat
• Ensuring all repair work structurally and visually exceeds expectations
• Lifting heaving objects
• Assisting the entire service teams with various tasks

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience in fiberglass and composites fabrication or repair as well as experience with painting and gelcoat work or similar skill sets. Their background will include a familiarity with boats and enjoy delivering exceptional finish work. They will be someone who appreciates the boating lifestyle and working sail and powerboats. We are looking for a person who values working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization that is a respected part of the local community.

Salary and benefits: $50 – 70k, Medical, 401K

Position Title: Marine Service Mechanic Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred. Certifications Preferred. Equal skills and high motivation also accepted.

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be engine maintenance and repairs for both gas and diesel engine systems as well as service and repair work on a variety of other boat system. A large part of this position will include troubleshooting, engine and drive preventative maintenance, emergency repairs at the yard or at the location of the boat needing service. You will be working on inboard and outboard systems and interacting and communicating with our boaters, so a focus on customer service is an important skill. Certification not initial required but is a plus.

• Effective and knowledgeable mechanic
• Problem solving – engines, drives, control systems and electrical
• Mechanical and electrical troubleshooting
• Engine rebuilds, 12v DC systems, machining work
• Gas and diesel engine/generator operations
• Wiring and soldering
• Performing maintenance and repairs safely and quickly
• Have your own set of tools
• Performing functionality checks on engines and systems
• Basic boat operations

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience as a marine service technician, automotive mechanic, Gen Tech, or similar skill sets. Their background will include a familiarity with boats and enjoy solving mechanical and systems issues. They will be someone who enjoys the boating lifestyle and working outdoors. They value working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization an enhancing part of the local community. We encourage you to apply if you do not have the experience but are dedicated to building a career in the marine service industry.

Salary and benefits: $60 – 80k, Medical, 401K

Position Title: Yacht Sales Consultant Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Reports to: Sales Manager

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside the McMichael Sales Team to consult with our client boaters, guiding them to find and purchase the best yacht for their modern boating needs. You will work with an experienced team that specializes in premium racing and sailing yachts, as well as high-performance inboard and outboard day and cruising power yachts. You will work with existing clients as well as being responsible for identifying, nurturing, and closing new clients. You will cultivate relationships with our clients and their families that demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism for the McMichael brand. You will be supported by the team to help you locate, acquire, and nurture prospective new client boaters. You will be a part of a sales and service team that caters to the all-encompassing boating needs of the McMichael community of boaters.

• Active listening
• Conveying key features and distinguishing selling points of a given boat model
• Ability to close high-value sales from $500k – $3M
• Prospect farming
• Excellent negotiating skills
• Influencing with content through digital and social media tools
• Consulting with and guiding clients effectively
• Proactive mindset that fosters successful unsupervised work
• Ability to work collaboratively with other team members
• Close deals on new yacht sales
• Deliver world class service in the form of professionalism, knowledge, and customer service
• Acquire and develop prospects into leads, then into new boat sales
• Attend boat shows and events to meet with and engage boaters
• Use digital and social media tools to engage with boaters
• Secure used boat listings
• Close used boat sales
• Guide boaters through the research, selection, specification, closing, delivery, and commissioning process
• Work with the Sales Team to constantly increase brand and model knowledge
• Influence your client boaters to choose McMichael Yards for their boat servicing and storage needs

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical/boating lifestyle and has grown up around boats. They will have previous experience selling in the corporate environment, in addition to a strong boating background and several years of selling yachts over 30 feet and over $500K. They will be an excellent communicator who is able to convey information clearly and concisely. They will be motivated to constantly learn more and achieve more regarding new boats and sales goals. They will be a person who can collaborate with all the members of the sales team to find creative solutions to barriers and issues.

Experience Level Experienced as a sail or power boater or similar industry background 2-3 years preferred

Salary and benefits: Base of $50 – $70k, commissions, Medical, 401K

John Glynn John brings to McMichael more than three decades of sailing, boating and sales experience. In addition to his time at BEYC, Glynn’s resume includes years as an Associate Editor (and Contributing Editor) for Sailing World magazine, where he was part of the team that created both the “Boat of the Year” awards and the NOOD Regattas. Over the years he has raced aboard C&C 40s, New York 36s, J/35s, Express 37s and Farr 40s, as well as his own J/30 and Soverel 33 Grey Seal. He boats with his family out of Captain Harbor in Greenwich, CT.

“John brings a wealth of experience as a racer, boat owner and industry professional,” said Michael Beers, McMichael Sales Manager. “He will be a fantastic resource for his clients in buying and selling boats. We’re proud to have him on our team, and his background will help us continue to fulfill our motto, ‘Experience Counts!’”

“I’ve been fortunate enough to spend my career in and around the sailing and boating community, enabling me to love the various jobs I’ve held,” said Glynn. “In joining McMichael Yacht Brokers I’ve found another fresh, new outlet from which to apply my knowledge of and passion for yachting. Moreover, I’m able to do that while working in the company of some of the finest yacht brokers in the business. It is my hope to bring to my brokerage customers a sense of confidence and satisfaction as they make yacht transactions, both from the buyer’s and seller’s sides.”

Cameron Campbell Cameron has been boating his entire life, starting as a toddler on Great South Bay on Long Island. He grew up in Connecticut and spent every summer on Long Island Sound. In college he was a member of the University of Rhode Island Sailing Team and also ran operations at the URI Waterfront Center. After college he was an ASA Sailing Instructor at the New York Sailing School on City Island and then for Olympic Circle Sailing on San Francisco Bay. He participated in many regattas on both coasts in both small and large boats. He owned a Sabre for many years which he cruised from Annapolis to Maine. Cameron also has experience with power boats ranging from center consoles though larger cruisers.

Cameron has been working with clients preparing for Bermuda races, extensive blue water cruising, and many that are new to boating.

Rick Fleig Rick grew up on Long Island spending many years sailing on the Sound in everything from J/22′s to J/105′s, Custom C&C 41′s and many other boats, competing in all the major Northeast events. This experience and passion for sailing led him on a path to sail in the 1987 America’s Cup in Perth, Australia with both the Courageous and USA Syndicates. He has sailed in many major international regattas, including the Swan World Championships in Sardinia, the World 6 Meter Championships in Portofino, Italy, and several Newport Bermuda races.

Rick combines his extensive sailing background with both the marine and sports industry, having worked as a regional sales manager at SunfishLaser and Vanguard Sailboats, and prior to that as a regional sales representative with sporting goods giant Nike. He believes that building relationships and understanding the clients’ needs are essential in helping customers have a great experience with their boats. He works out of the McMichael Yacht Broker’s Newport office at the Newport Shipyard.

Rick resides in Portsmouth, RI, with his family, having fallen in love with the Newport area during his many sailing events there. He recently retired as the director/coach of the Portsmouth High School Sailing Team after many years, and along with his wife, Carline, now enjoys his time proudly following their youngest son, Tyler, who just finished his second year at the US Naval Academy. Tyler is a very accomplished sailor himself, and a member of the nationally ranked USNA dinghy sailing team. Rick is a member of Sail Newport and can be seen racing many weeknights and weekends in all the local events in a variety of boats.

Michael Beers Michael is a licensed captain and active racer who began his sailing career in Boston on the Charles River. As someone who did not grow up sailing, he especially enjoys introducing new boaters to the sport. Michael has a proven track record of working tirelessly for his clients, and enjoys working directly with buyers to identify the best possible “next boat” from the many options available. He is an active racer, recently racing in the J/70 fleet at Quantum Key West Race Week and aboard the J/130 Dragonly in the 2012 Newport Bermuda Race.

Prior to joining McMichael in 2007, he captained the 80′ schooner Adirondack II in Newport, RI and was an instructor at Offshore Sailing. In his free time, he enjoys cruising his Sabre.

Todd Williams Todd started sailing on his family’s cruising boat before his memory serves. His love of racing was cultivated through sailing Blue Jays and Lasers in Pequot Yacht Club’s junior program.  Since then he has actively raced in the J105 fleet, J109 fleet, and helped form the J122 class. He also developed and helped launch the LIS IRC 35 class.  Todd is an experienced distance sailor and was involved with winning the Vineyard race class and IRC overall aboard the J122 Partnership.  

Todd enjoys using his extensive knowledge of boating to find his clients the boat that best suits their needs.  He is dedicated to providing the best possible service to all his customers.  Todd can often be found racing with clients and helping them build their racing programs. Through the years, he has custom built many J/Boats, Alerions, and MJM power boats for clients, many of whom he now considers personal friends.

During the winter season you may spot the Williams family on the slopes at Okemo where they have a ski house.

Andy Kaplan Starting October 4, Andrew (Andy) Kaplan has joined the brokerage team at McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers. The addition increases the McMichael roster to seven full-time yacht brokers serving customers up and down the east coast with a concentration on the Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. He will work primarily out of the McMichael Mamaroneck, NY, office as well as Martha’s Vineyard.

“Andy is bringing to McMichael a lifetime of experience in sail and power boating with a keen focus in the sailboat racing world,” said McMichael President Steve Leicht. “His broad familiarity with offshore and one-design sailboats combined with his powerboating experience makes him an ideal addition to our brokerage team.”

Kaplan spent the majority of his career in finance including helping create the Quattro Global Capital, LLC where he was a principal and head of operation and marketing. “I believe that my financial sales and management experience is a great asset as I transition to yacht brokerage,” noted Kaplan. “While they are different industries, to succeed in either you need similar disciplines when matching buyers with the right product. That’s what creates and maintains long term customer relationships.”

Kaplan grew-up in Mamaroneck and has been a member of the Larchmont Yacht Club for over 30 years where he has been active in the Club’s leadership. He lives in New Rochelle, NY, and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

Dehler 30 OD

Sailboat specifications.

• Last update: 15th March 2020

Dehler 30 OD's main features

Dehler 30 od's main dimensions, dehler 30 od's rig and sails, dehler 30 od's performances, dehler 30 od's auxiliary engine, dehler 30 od's accommodations and layout.

Similar sailboats that may interest you:

#Youth development offshore

#funding for offshore 

FROM KALLE WITH LOVE

Ben Corson and Marta Hansen US Offshore

Inshore Sail racing in Hungary

Dehler 30 one design Regatta Fleet

Sail training in Britanny

double handed Sailing in Denmark

Offshore Team Germany plays harder

double handed racing in Sweden

World Champianship Team Lithuania

Offshore Sailing in Netherlands

Sail Racing at International German Open

double handed Regatta in Greece

Sail Racing Championship in France

World champions racing in Italy

short handed Racers in Spain

Keelboat racing in Kiel

Upcoming Event: Baltic 500

When: 08/05/2024 - 13/05/2024

Where: Strande

For details go to the baltic500 web side: https://www.baltic500.com/

Eight Dehler 30 OD have registered - they will race against each other in the Dehler 30 OD class without any additional rating.

Report from the Baltic 500 in 2023

After last year had too much wind, this year we had very, very little wind for the first half of the regatta. For someone from Lake Constance, of course, this was familiar territory, but still exhausting.

Right from the start, many boats struggled to cross the start line within the time limit (10 minutes). One can easily imagine the problem, and so it went, on and off, for two days and two nights. Fortunately, the race committee had already shortened the course by 70 miles before the start, as it was foreseeable that it would take a while to return to Kiel. Thus, the course went around the island of Anholt instead of Læsø.

Despite the little wind, my sailing partner, Luca Leidholdt, and I were mostly doing quite well compared to the rest of the field up to Anholt.

We constantly battled with various boats, by day and by night, and it was always exciting to wake up for the shift change to see if the other had done something well or lost ground.

Up to Anholt, there weren't many notable incidents. Along the way, we once replaced a broken mainsheet block and crossed a huge wind farm, but that was all the action there was.

On the third morning, just before the Øresund, things got exciting. The rear part of the field, which had previously split off far, caught up with wind from behind, and where we were, there was so little wind that some boats anchored for 1 - 2 hours to avoid being pushed backwards by the current.

Fortunately, we always managed to keep moving, even if sometimes not in the optimal direction. Up to Copenhagen, we made some costly mistakes and lost a lot of boats, until we finally left Copenhagen behind and sailed into the night under spinnaker. When the sun rose, we had reached Møns Klint, south of Copenhagen. There, a huge chalk cliff stretches up, 6 km long and 128 m high. Naturally, there is no wind at the cliffs with onshore wind, as it gets blocked quite far in front of the cliffs.

We both Lucas, green as we were, of course went straight into the doldrums and were stuck in the waves for a while. Not only did we lose precious minutes at this point, but it was also the moment when one would reconsider their breakfast.

After Møns Klint, we raised the spinnaker and sailed past Gedser and Fehmarn in one go until Langeland. Top speed here was 14 knots. Towards the end, in the last hours, the wind died down significantly again and it became really strenuous once more. Therefore, we were all the more happy when we crossed the finish line.

Overall, we needed 83 hours and finished as the 4th Dehler30od. Our goal before the regatta was to finish, so this can be considered a good result. In addition to the 4th place, we were also awarded the Pampers Award as the youngest participating team! All in all, it was a great regatta, we learned a lot and already know what we want to do differently next time!

Results can be found here .

Dehler 30od: A Racer - Also for crusing

In the latest report by Yacht magazine, the focus is on the versatility of the Dehler30od. If you've been wondering what this one-design class has to offer, you've come to the right place. As the title suggests, the 30od offers not only sailing fun and exciting regatta experiences, but relaxed cruising is also possible. For the review , click on the red-highlighted link.

Go4Speed Greifswald 2023

The well-known Go4Speed sailing event took place in Greifswald over the last weekend of April, marking the start of the 2023 sailing season. For many crews, it was their first sailing event of the year, so they had to get acquainted with their boats again, check and test the boat's trim and technology. Originally, five Dehler30od boats were registered, but due to time constraints, only three boats appeared at the event.

The first day of sailing within the event took place on Saturday, April 29th. The race committee set up an up-and-down course in the bay of Greifswald in the Greifswalder Bodden, with each leg being approximately 1 nautical mile long, providing a challenge for the crews. The start of the race was greeted with fantastic weather conditions, with bright sunshine and a steady wind of 10-15 knots. The race consisted of starting, beating, hoisting spinnakers, and then returning to the finish line. Training was a key focus of this event, aiming to familiarize the crews even better with their boats. A variety of coaches accompanied the fleet on motorboats, providing tips and tricks to the participants, following the motto "Practice makes perfect."

Training continued on Sunday as well, and fortunately, the following Monday was a holiday, which made the logistics of returning the boats much more relaxed for the teams.

After the eventful day of sailing, the sailors returned to the harbor, where they could exchange their experiences and stories of the day. Food and refreshments were provided on land, and many participants stayed until late evening. There were also interesting presentations on various sailing topics, ranging from regatta tactics, trim, and analysis of the day's recordings to boat maintenance.

The event has become dear to many sailors' hearts, as it combines a laid-back atmosphere with ambition and determination. The interaction among participants and the learning process on their own boats, which the event provides, is highly valued by the crews. Therefore, the Dehler30od sailors have decided to make this event a permanent fixture in their season planning for the future.

Drone footage from the finish line YouTube

Boat show Dusseldorf 2023

Dear Sailors, Friends and anyone interested of the Dehler30od. After two years we are happy to be on the Dusseldorf boat show again. This year one of our Dehler30od's will be displayed on the exhibition in hall 15 stand G21. Form  21.01. - 29.01. the exhibiton will open from 10am till 6pm. We are looking forward to see you on site and hope for a great boat show in 2023. If you have any further questions about the exhibition feel free to contact us via [email protected] or visit the officail website of the boat show.

See you then, really looking forward to see you! 

For all lovers of double handed sailing, offshore regattas and single handed sail sailing

The aim of the class association is to promote recreational and competitive sail racing with the Dehler 30 one design yachts under the management of the class association . Under the direction of the Executive Committee , the association sets course for national and international regatta events . For the 2021 season, participation in the double-handed regatta Baltic 500, the long-distance race Rund Bornholm and as well as an exciting International German Championship in Olpenitz are planned. The Dehler 30 one design is to establish itself just as quickly at international offshore regattas.

High performance sailing meets offshore sail racing

360° view from inside the dehler 30 one design offshore racing boat.

from Dehler with love

"It gives me great pleasure to finally be able to implement such an exciting one-design project in Germany again!" Said Karl Dehler, the driving force behind the development of the Dehler 30 one design: As the son of the Dehler company founder Willi Dehler, he is passionate about sailing in the blood. For Dehler, it is a significant component of numerous innovations and trend-setting inventions. And the successes speak for themselves: Under Karl's project management, Dehler has already won numerous prestigious awards and has been repeatedly honored and nominated for the titles Boat of the Year and European Boat of the Year. His expertise, competence and above all passion are based above all on years of experience as a still active regatta sailor . In 1984 he won together with Torsten Conradi the world championship title on the db2 positron.

Gallery of offshore sailors with theire Dehler 30od

Offshore legend Knut Frostad on the Dehler 30 one design

Interview with Kunt Frostad on Dehler 30 one design

Hello my name is Knut Frostered I'm the CEO of Navi Co who also owns the brand B&G which is present on this boat behind me. I have a long history in ocean racing in addition to working in the sailboat industry, so I used to be the CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race for eight years and before that I was also participating in the Volvo Ocean Race. Four times around the world twice as a skipper and then some Olympic Games before that, so I have a long history in sailing and am quite passionate about ocean racing.  

What Is your overall impression of the boat?

My overall impression of this boat is it's very good I think it's it smells quality there's a lot of really good quality equipment and I think the design is very much in line with the current sort of our thinking and of ocean racing, so it's the first sort of 30 foot boat I've seen that's really looking like it's a 2020 boat.  It's so a very good impression of the equipment very good to play impression of the layout I think it looks like the people involved in this project have been spending a lot of time thinking about the details and putting some experience into it.

Which details do you like most?

I think what I like most with this boat I think it gives a feeling it's quite solid and for me racing offshore you know you really have to trust equipment. I like the sail plan a lot it has quite an advanced sail plan, it's very accessible. I like the retractable driveshaft of the propeller. In a small boat like this to the get rid of the sail Drive and the propeller shaft under the water has a big impact on the drag, so it makes the boat a lot faster. I think the general cockpit layout is simple but very functional. It is a functional boat, and it looks easy to sail fast with it.

Why is a one design class useful?

Well I'm a huge fan of one design boats. Those who know me and racing know that that's where I really believe you sailing needs to go. In racing with boats, the alternative to one design is a game where whoever spends the most money has the best chance of winning, and I think that's why one design is what everyone in the end loves. Typically, when you ask racing sailors if they have different boats they all think they have the best boat when they start and when they finish they all want the boat that won. So in the end they all want the same boat. That's why one design is such a fantastic concept and I think this boat to me is the future. It's what sailing needs to be, and it's what sailors like to do. The fact that you race under equal terms means the best sailors are winning and that the sailors are becoming better sailors because they are challenging each other and learning from each other knowing that they have the same boat.

Why is the Dehler 30 one design best suited for Olympia / offshore races?

Well I know there's a few boats that are trying to be to become the Olympic offshore class for world sailing. I think this is a good candidate. To be an Olympic boat you have to be able to function in a lot of conditions. The sailing venues around the world that would be relevant are very, very different. I think the key is that the boat has to be extremely tight on the one design side, and it has to be a quality boat because the boats will be used a lot. In any Olympic participation people are going to train a lot and spend a lot of hours compared to any other racing. There's almost no scene where people are training more than in the Olympic scene.

To me, it looks like the boat is very accurate, and it looks like the finish and the details are very exact. I know they have spent some effort into that and that's important to become an Olympic class. I think that mixed-offshore is a very interesting part of Olympics. I've done both offshore and Olympics, so I know the differences and I think that for me the offshore sailing is the most interesting part of sailing. It's the same intensity as you have with round boat racing, but it's much longer much more an endurance sport, and I've been a big promoter of bringing women into the sport in the Volvo Ocean Race we brought women in and now that's part of the race and I think it's extremely interesting to have that combination in sailing and to be promoter of gender equality. It just makes it a lot more interesting for more countries and more people to follow the sport so that's good.

What do you think of short-handed sailing?

I've done a bit of offshore single-handed sailing not really around the world or anything like that. I think the interesting thing with short-handed sailing is that you have to become a very good sailor in every discipline. You have to be good at trimming, driving, navigating doing the weather, making decisions, and know how to fix the boat. Short-handed sailors in general are in my view the best sailors in the world today because they are really all-round sailors. They are very good at everything on the boat, and they are on a very high level today. It's probably the discipline in sailing that has accelerated the most the last ten years and the absolute best short-handed sailors we have today in François Gabart and Thomas Coville, these guys are in my opinion the best sailors in the world.

What equipment on the Dehler 30od catches your eye?

The equipment dealer have used in this boat this is really high quality and that's really important because when you have one design you should never try to compromise. That's because this is going to be used a lot, and it looks functional to me. They have obviously taken the best instruments that you can get with the plotters and the whole sail set of racing set up from B&G simple but very visible and very accessible. I obviously like a lot to have the multifunction display in the cockpit then you have it accessible at all times. I think it's a functional boat with very good equipment, I'm really impressed with it. The Stealth Drive with the propeller is a cool feature I think. We had that in the Volvo Ocean Race as well with the Volvo 70s.

I think Dehler has found a really good solution to it because it's quite complex to get the propeller up in the hull and make that tight and make it smooth and make it accessible. I just went through with them how they retract and extend the shaft, and it's very quick it seems to work really well. It obviously is a feature that takes away a lot of the drag on the boat, so it's a really strong performance feature, and it's going to make the boat quite a lot faster. Which is absolutely a nice feature and in general the boat feels solid. The cockpit this is large, and it has very accessible trimming functions, so I like it.

Would I sail this boat with my family?

I would absolutely do that, I think that this is a fun boat to sail. I think it's quite easy to sail, the layout this is safe and really very accessible, so it's not a complex boat to bring children or bring your family. I have sailed a lot with my kids and my wife so for them this would be a very fun boat to sail with, and I think it has all the room inside it has a really big space inside. Nice bunks both fore and aft and plenty of space really, so this is a use useful boat. A lot of the things you see inside boats today are not used so much but in this boat you have the space where you need it and plenty of storage so no I think this would be a fun boat to bring the family out with.

World wide awards and honors for the Dehler 30 offshore yacht

Dehler 30 od : A racer - also for cruising; the test

 ·  03.07.2023

YACHT took part in the first test run off Cannes/France in 2019 and had the opportunity to sail the boat on all courses in 16 to 18 knots of wind, in a sea between wave and swell, i.e. ideal conditions. We were also on board again a few weeks later in very light winds as part of the European Yacht of the Year trials off Barcelona/Spain. This gave the boat the opportunity to showcase itself in a wide wind range.

Other interesting performance cruisers:

• JPK 10.30: Only performance counts
• Sun Fast 3300: The radical performance boat from Jeanneau
• Pogo 30: The boat of superlatives

With the Dehler 30 od, Hanseyachts AG in Greifswald is harking back to the glorious regatta days when the Sprinta Sport and DB1 standardised classes enjoyed great popularity. The new 30 od is also designed as a standardised class. Crews should win silver medals with the Dehler 30 od in the rapidly growing so-called short-handed regattas. These are events such as the Silverrudder or Vegvisir Race, where crews race against each other alone or in pairs without pay.

In 2020, the Dehler 30 od was voted European Yacht of the Year.

The concept was largely a success. Although there was no initial boom in sales, Dehler 30 ods were steadily built and delivered. The class association brings up to ten boats to the line at the annual class regatta. In terms of size, it is the only newer boat in the Baltic Sea region in particular in which direct standardised class comparisons are possible. There was also success on the regatta courses. At the Silverrudder 2022, for example, three of the six timed Dehler 30 ods finished in the top three places in the Keelboat small group, in 2021 they were first and second, and in the previous year it was third place. So the Dehler 30 od is hard to beat there. A few highlights were also achieved in regattas according to ORCi measurement.

Most read articles

Special propeller on the Dehler 30 od

Dehler was the first production boatyard ever to use the so-called stealth drive. The boat is equipped with a shaft system that can be completely retracted into the hull. The system was developed by the American George Bieker and can also be found in the hull of the ClubSwan 36. The aim of this mechanism is to minimise drag under sail. Although this is penalised within a handicap system such as ORCi, the designers were not concerned with this. Above all, the boat should be fast without having to compromise on its racing value.

Being able to minimise the resistance of the propeller and shaft or a saildrive directly adds a few tenths of a knot of speed. The shaft bracket is mounted inside a kind of centreboard box and can be retracted or extended from the cockpit. The mechanism for this, a stainless steel linkage with a grid and threaded locking mechanism, seems a little awkward the first time you use it. After two or three attempts, however, the principle is clear and the operation can be mastered without much effort or thought.

The shaft is powered by a 10 hp Nanni diesel engine. In calm conditions, this brought the 2.8 tonne boat up to a maximum of 6.3 knots at 2,700 revolutions, 5.0 knots at 2,100 revolutions, just enough to push the Dehler over longer distances at an acceptable speed in calm conditions.

No behavioural abnormalities were noticeable in the drivetrain either when starting up quickly from idle speed to maximum speed or when stopping abruptly. However, the diesel with its two cylinders rattles like a tractor, but that's not Dehler's fault, it's the design. The manufacturer was chosen because of the weight - it is currently the lightest engine with this power.

However, the crew should only be below deck when the engine is running if there is no other option. This is because, again for weight reasons, no sound insulation has been fitted, which is noticeable in the aft berths, with the ear directly on the engine, at a roaring 92 decibels. In the saloon it is still 80, in the forward berth 78 decibels, both values far beyond pleasant.

The Dehler 30 od is a space miracle below deck

Part of the concept is that the Dehler 30 od should not only sail fast, but also offer the necessary comfort to be able to live on her during a regatta and even during a holiday cruise lasting several days. The lead designer Matthias Bröker allowed his design team from Judel/Vrolijk and Co to add less than 100 kilograms of weight for fittings. Internal shells were therefore completely dispensed with. The same applies to floorboards; the crew stands directly on the hull.

An immediately noticeable advantage of this reduction is an immense feeling of space. In view of the aggressive lines, which make the boat appear quite slim and low, at least when viewed from the front, a surprisingly large space opens up below deck. On the one hand, this is due to the largely absent fittings; the clear dimensions extend directly from hull shell to hull shell.

The openwork bulkheads, more for reasons of weight than appearance, and the unobstructed view right into the bow also contribute to this. And this impression is no deception. There is 1.83 metres of headroom in the companionway area and 1.74 metres at the sides, in front of the galley and the aft berths. Although tall people have to stand at least slightly bent over everywhere, these are surprisingly comfortable dimensions for a boat with a hull length of just over nine metres, and a racer at that, where any kind of superstructure is at the expense of weight and therefore speed.

The Dehler 30 od offers up to six berths

Up to six people can sleep on the Dehler 30 od, in the double berth forward, on the two saloon benches and in the two double berths aft. At just under two metres in length, 1.55 metres wide at shoulder height and still 60 centimetres in the footwell, the forward berth is suitable for two people without compromises; some much larger cruising yachts with often tapered berths in the footwell offer significantly less comfort.

There is also around 90 centimetres of headroom above the berth. However, there is no forward hatch; the only opening is the hatch at the front of the saloon in the cabin superstructure. Ventilation of the boat is only possible via this hatch and the companionway. However, as there is no sprayhood, the sliding hatch, designed as a mini-dodger, has to be closed in rainy weather. Then the only way to get fresh air into the boat is through the opening of the plug-in bulkhead and the slightly raised deck hatch. With several people below deck and perhaps still damp sails or clothes, it could quickly become humid under these conditions.

The forward berth is very easy to board because of the large opening in the bulkhead, but be careful! All openings in the bulkheads are fitted with flanges. These are not primarily intended to give the boat its somewhat spaceship-like ambience below deck, but to stiffen the bulkhead openings. However, their edges are very sharp. If you kneel on the cushion of the forward berth to crawl into it, for example, the cushion gives way and your shin scrapes painfully over this edge. The same thing happens aft.

At 1.92 metres long and only 56 centimetres wide, the two saloon berths are not suitable for comfortable sleeping. However, the moulded wooden covers could be retrofitted with bunks. This would create two ideal, cane berth-like resting places, especially for racing. Aft, each berth is 2.02 metres long and 1.08 metres wide at shoulder height and 0.83 metres in the footwell. This means that these berths are not suitable as double berths, but each is a very comfortable single berth. Owners should consider covering the large openings in the vertical stiffeners to the engine compartment with some kind of canvas or something similar - otherwise you will feel like you are sleeping in the engine room. All in all, there is plenty of sleeping space for four people, or even six if necessary.

The Dehler 30 od offers only camping comfort

Cooking on the Dehler 30 od is spartan with a single burner gas hob and a small sink. Although this can be converted into a multifunctional work surface using a shelf, it would be overstating the case to call it a galley. Especially as the kitchen utensils, such as pots and pans and food, are stored in a rather disorganised manner in the storage space underneath, which can be closed with a fabric cover and zip. From a cruising sailor's perspective, the galley block can only be described as rudimentary or as a hot water heater, whereas regatta sailors might find it too lavish.

Another compromise is the wet room. The pump toilet with faeces tank is a concession to comfort. However, the toilet is only separated from the saloon by a folding door and the entire bulkhead is open at the bottom for visual and weight reasons. Although this ensures a certain degree of privacy, any odours can spread quite freely.

From a comfort point of view, the lack of a washbasin in the WC area is a pity. The block for storage space there would have been predestined for this. However, pipes from the flexible water tank on the starboard side would have had to be laid to port. This would have meant additional weight and structural concessions such as openings in the load-bearing floor structures.

Despite these compromises and restrictions, the result is a surprisingly cosy boat with a modern ambience that is not reminiscent of a racing machine. The extensive mesh panelling also contributes to this. Whether they are also necessary on the cabin ceiling, as in the prototype, is something that each buyer must decide for themselves. After all, the remarkably clean laminate finish is certainly something to be proud of.

The Dehler 30 od is also used by some owners as a holiday yacht.

The Dehler 30 od is a real fun machine

Why some compromises were necessary below deck becomes clear under sail. The Dehler 30 od behaves like a large dinghy, lively on the water, easy to manoeuvre, sensitive and aggressive. The fittings are where they should be, the cockpit is designed for sailing, everything is within reach and there is sufficient support at all times. A small disadvantage of this layout: There is hardly any seating in the harbour that is comfortable to lean on at the same time. The most you could do is lay two beanbags on the cockpit floor or sit on the almost horizontal footrests.

Upwind with a full main and genoa, the Dehler sails in a very balanced manner and can handle a lot of position without getting out of control thanks to the double-blade system. Although there are quite strong longitudinal movements when slowing down in a wave and then accelerating, which result in the crew's upper body swaying, this is normal for lightweights.

The Dehler 30 od is equipped with ballast tanks as standard. Around 200 kilograms can be added to the crew's trim weight in the form of water. However, it took almost six minutes to fill the tanks using an electric pump. This is fine for long distances, especially as the water runs from windward to leeward in just 30 seconds before tacking. On short up-and-down courses, however, faster filling would be desirable, as the water is normally drained on the downwind leg and pumped back in for the upwind leg. The additional righting moment was hardly noticeable as a gain in speed when sailing off Cannes, also due to the long period of filling. There was a hint of the impression that the wind had dropped a little because the boat was sailing a little more upright, but there was no noticeable difference on the log.

Space sheets really get going

The Dehler is really fun to sail with the 95 square metre gennaker. Unlike on cruising yachts, this is not a light wind sail that adds another knot or a knot and a half to the speed. Due to its low weight, the boat releases from its wave system at around 16 knots of wind and switches from displacement mode to planing mode. At the very least, you can then bring it onto the back of larger waves or surf along in a motorboat wave. A little more wind is needed for permanent planing. The Dehler remains surprisingly tame on the rudder and is very stiff on the water. She even copes with heeling up with a lot of heel without any tendency to sunshake.

She remains very agile and manoeuvrable, which is particularly welcome in single-handed mode or with two people below deck. The large bladder can no longer be manoeuvred out of the hand, and the gennaker can sometimes not be trimmed fast enough with one hand using the winch. However, if its luff drops too much, the helmsman can react by dropping it, and the boat will respond spontaneously.

For real sailing enthusiasts

The basic price ex shipyard of around 180,000 euros seems high. However, this already includes the carbon mast, water ballast, lithium battery and much more. Comparably equipped, a Pogo 30 or Sun Fast 3300 come into these regions and above. Generally speaking, it is difficult to compare the prices of these types of boats, as they are all very customised, unlike series-produced cruising yachts, for example.

What owners get is a real regatta boat that you can also live on - not the other way round. A boat that you can and must get to grips with in order to find the right sail combinations and get the manoeuvres right. Because these two criteria are decisive for success in a regatta. So if you want to go out on the water with your sailing partner at the weekend to get to grips with your boat, explore its nature, try things out, get better, and then sail two or three long-distance regattas a year and spend some unhurried days on holiday in between, the Dehler 30 od is a German-made boat that makes all this possible.

This article first appeared in YACHT 24/2019 and has been revised for this online version

NORDIC TUGS

NORTHERN MARINE

BULLFROG BOATS

MY YACHT WORTH?

• USED YACHTS

FEATURED LISTINGS

YACHTS BY BUILDER

YACHTS BY LOCATION

YACHTS BY TYPE

WHY LIST WITH US

• BUYING A TRAWLER YACHT
• TRAWLER BOAT BUYER'S GUIDE

FT LAUDERDALE

MARINA DEL REY

SAN FRANCISCO BAY

ST AUGUSTINE

VICTORIA B.C.

• SERVICE - PNW

FLOTILLA EVENTS

SEATTLE SAILING ACADEMY

• JOIN OUR TEAM

Dehler 30 One Design

Dehler 30 One Design Details

The Dehler 30 One Design is the newest model from Dehler and the excitement abounds. Described as a master of both worlds, easily switch from regatta mode to cruising mode in a few simple steps. Go from competing in the Baltic 500 to having a short, fun cruise with friends in this incredibly versatile racing cruiser. This is indeed a new trend that sets a remarkably high bar in this class of sailboats. From the Dehler Carbon Cage, the carbon mast, bowsprit and twin rudders, to the Dehler Stealth Drive, the 30 One Design is bursting with performance. Born to compete, yet built for comfort, this high-performance yacht strikes the perfect balance between speed, handling, and comfort.

Nominated for the 2019 British Yachting Award in the Racing Yacht/Sportboat category, this nomination recognizes the performance, attention to detail, and innovative product that Dehler once again achieves thanks to decades of experience. Seattle Yachts is proud to offer Dehler Yachts and the 30 One Design to all customers on the west coast of the U.S. Contact one of our locations for details in Seattle , Anacortes , and San Diego .

A thoughtfully designed package on the Dehler 30 OD leaves nothing to be desired with maximum speed, handling and the unmistakable Dehler performance. The high-composite build that uses on the very best materials allows the Dehler 30 One Design to be extremely durable without the weight of traditional sailboats. Regatta-ready, there is nothing stopping this boat from competing in races that are open only to category A yachts. The easy-to-trim monolithic carbon rig and its aluminium boom extend tothe maximum length allowed. And with its deck-stepped mast, there is no possibility of water leaking below. 

Dehler Stealth Drive is a concept that only comes forward when needed. With the Stealth Drive, Dehler pairs a small diesel engine with a retractable shaft that is controlled by a lever in the cockpit.  When folded, the shaft and prop tuck up inside the hull, hermetically sealed behind a cover. No water resistance and no chance that nets, seaweed, or other foreign objects could tangle the prop and slow you down. Since no stern gear is being hauled through the water when sailing, we can even spec a fixed propeller with higher efficiency than a folding prop. This is a true innovation that results in an amazing impact for the private owner.The Dehler 30 One Design might be best known for its speed and light weight, but it also has some exceptional exterior features. Here are a few of the notable ones:

• Twin rudder and lead keel, a lateral plan that doesn't compromise
• Cockpit stowage
• Warm anti-slip in the cockpit 
• External helm system for optimal control
• Adjustable footrests
• Sliding dodger with 3D window
• Integrated bulkhead instruments
• Bowsprit with bobstay

A 30' sailboat that aims to be a racing cruiser isn't going to have the amenities and comfort in below deck, right? Wrong! The Dehler 30 OD has exceptional living quarters for its class. Dehler engineers have maximized space so well that you will not believe the room you have to move around. Enjoy these features in the salon:

• Fashionable mesh fabric lining the inner hull that's durable, stretchy, and comfortable.
• GRP-glass bulkheads help with the generous volume by being light weight, yet strong.
• The galley is versatile and well-equipped. There is also plenty of storage space.
• A lightweight fabric screen folds out on flexible hinges to separate the heads from the saloon and create some privacy. Preserve your dignity even with a larger crew on long passages. The manual toilet is equipped with a blackwater tank and deck pump-out. Simple and clean.

As far as accommodations, the DEhler 30 One Design uses its space extremely well. Across the 30'+ hull there are 6 berths including a double berth for the crew in the forepeak and twin berths placed aft. The two benches in the salon can also be converted to sleeping bunks. There is also a separable head. A lightweight fabric screen folds out on flexible hinges to separate the heads from the salon and create some privacy. Preserve your dignity even with a larger crew on long passages. The manual toilet is equipped with a blackwater tank and deck pump-out. 

Northwest 52 Details

More from dehler.

VIEW DETAILS

• Dehler 38SQ

Seattle Yacht Sales

• Boats For Sale Marina Del Rey
• Yacht Services Seattle
• Yachts For Sale Fort Lauderdale
• Yacht Brokers Near Me
• Used Yacht For Sale
• Yachts For Sale San Francisco
• Boats For Sale Annapolis
• Boat For Sale San Diego

New Boats & Yachts

• Dehler 29 For Sale
• Nimbus Yachts
• Dehler 34 Sailboat
• Bullfrog Boats For Sale
• Excess Catamarans
• Excess 15 Catamaran Price
• Hanse 348 Review

Used Boats & Yachts

• Horizon Yacht
• Expedition Yacht
• Palm Beach Boats For Sale
• Downeast Boats For Sale
• Nordhavn Sale
• Selene Yacht
• Express Cruiser Boat
• Boats For Sale Los Angeles
• Power Catamarans For Sale
• Ocean Alexander Yachts

High performance sailing yachts

Proceed with speed. Dehler has been developing and building fast sailboats by this philosophy since 1963. The brand is the world market leader in the racer cruiser  segment, enjoying a global market share of 10%. And 13% of all sailing boats on seas, lakes, and waterways in Germany bear the brand name Dehler. Customers can currently choose from five different models ranging in size from 33 to 46 feet (ca. 14 m). The Dehler 30 one design has won three awards. The new Dehler 46 SQ is a dynamic evolution of the successful Dehler 46 model. Dehler has been part of HanseYachts AG since 2009.

• World market leader in the cruiser/racer segment
• Five models from 33 to 46 feet

More than 25,000 sailing yachts sold since 1963

World market leader in the racer cruiser segment.

Dehler is the world market leader in the racer cruiser  segment, where it enjoys a global market share of 10%. For Dehler, sailing performance is the most important virtue of any yacht. Dehler yachts regularly leave the field behind at international regatta events. Just a few modifications are all it takes to transform a comfortable performance cruiser into a thoroughbred racing yacht . For small and large crews, for all-day races with friends or the people on the neighboring landing stage, for regattas with an international field. Or simply just to fulfil your own sporting ambitions.

Dehler yachts are speedy, safe, and elegant. Their equipment and features leave nothing to be desired. The design combines function with aesthetics, and the workmanship is flawless right down to the very last detail. The internationally renowned yacht-builders judel/vrolijk & co have been designing these timeless yachts with their dynamic and elegant lines since the mid-1990s.

Every single Dehler product is the fruit of almost 60 years of German yacht-building experience. And more than 25,000 sailing boats sold and almost 900 innovations since the company’s founding in 1963 are impressive testament to this fact. The brand enjoys an extremely strong market position in its home nation, with 13% of all sailing yachts on seas, lakes, and waterways in Germany bearing the brand name Dehler. In the global sailing boat-building industry, the brand stands for the thoroughness and precision that have always been the hallmark of the ‘Made in Germany’ seal of quality.

The range currently comprises five  fast sailing boats ranging in size from 33 to 46 feet (ca. 14 m). Launched 30 years ago, the Dehler 34 heralded the era of the performance cruiser. The current model featuring double-wheel steering is the direct successor of this yacht, which enjoys cult status in sailing circles. The Dehler 38 is a highly agile yacht that is perfect for families. At Dehler, SQ traditionally stands for Speed & Quality. The  Dehler 38 SQ features a new color and lighting concept, a more diverse variance in interior layout, and powerful improvements in rigging and cockpit. Its big sister, the Dehler 42 , is the most versatile yacht made by this brand. It offers flexible cabin layouts and is the proud winner of the iNOVO award. As the top model, the new Dehler 46 SQ offers optimized sail areas, a sports bowsprit and an optional carbon rig for maximum sailing performance. High-tech elements such as fold-out footrests, an electric bathing platform and more light below deck guarantee first-class comfort.

The Dehler 30 One Design , which was launched in 2019, strikes a new and uncompromising course. The model combines outstanding performance and easy handling with a basic level of living comfort. ‘We wanted to develop a fast, lightweight boat that can win regattas but does not compromise on living comfort for holiday excursions,’ says designer Matthias Bröker of judel/vrolijk & co. Its sporty format is perfect for circuits in coastal areas, but there’s nothing stopping more adventurous sailors taking part in transatlantic regattas. The 30-foot hull length means that it can participate at the upper end of a group in the Silverrudder Challenge around the Danish island of Funen. Being a one-design boat, the Dehler 30 One Design comes with the full kit: a carbon mast, twin rudders, a keel with aluminum fins and a 900-kg lead bomb, two 200-liter water ballast tanks, a Dehler stealth drive , a removable bowsprit and a comfortable-yet-sporty interior design.

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

Dehler 31 is a 30 ′ 10 ″ / 9.4 m monohull sailboat designed by E. G. Van de Stadt and built by Dehler Yachts between 1984 and 1994.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

VDS #392. Also called DEHLER 32, DUETTA 94. Shallow draft: 3.6’/1.1m

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.