At the age of 72, Michel, a former business manager with a Franco-American group, has embraced early retirement to live out his passion for sailing, which has driven him for almost 60 years. Already the owner of a boat on a lake, the Swiss man aspired to live this experience at sea. When distributor Constance Boat presented the Delphia 12 Sedan, he immediately fell in love with the model. Since then, Michel and his wife have moved aboard, summer and winter alike. He shares with us his motivations and his sailing pleasure.
Why did you choose the Delphia 12 Sedan, and what were the key features that determined your choice?
At the outset, I fell in love with it because of its perfectly ergonomic design. The second criterion was construction quality. When I visited the Düsseldorf boat show to make comparisons, the Delphia 12 Sedan clearly stood out in terms of workmanship, featuring adequate polyester thickness and excellent choice of fittings materials. This boat fully met our expectations in terms of durability and maintenance: a little oil from time to time is enough to keep the teak impeccable; nothing showed any sign of ageing! I must emphasize the yacht's remarkable design. Our friends were pleasantly surprised by the finish of the furniture.
The last important point to consider was the air draft. This boat offers the advantage of having been designed for both sea and canals. With its shallow air draft of 2.67 meters, we have no difficulty in passing under bridges. Thanks to this model, we're able to navigate canals when the sea is rough. In fact, we had a gale one day on our way back from Gruissan, with a swell of over 1 metre. When we got to Grau d'Agde, we took the canal, and all ended well, without too much fuss over the dishes!
How does the Delphia 12 Sedan meet your expectations in terms of engine stability and performance?
This isn't a fast boat that's going to get out of control; we take our time sailing, between 7 and 9 knots. Fuel consumption is moderate, between 7 and 9 liters per hour, which is very reasonable compared to other boats. The hull deflects water well, providing appreciable stability on swells and in windy conditions. The freeboard is high enough to provide adequate protection. This boat inspires confidence, even in heavy seas. We've experienced it for ourselves. The hull is well thought-out, and the power of a single engine is more than sufficient. The question of owning two is often raised by fears of reliability, but with today's technological advances, this is no longer a problem. The Delphia 12 Sedan really stands out for its reliable and safe sailing in all respects, which is really nice for family sailing, as we do with our children and grandchildren.
How is the layout of the Delphia 12 particularly suited to your sailing style?
The interior is bright, and particular attention has been paid to ventilation. The Delphia 12 Sedan has a huge cockpit that can be extended thanks to an awning we had specially made to protect us from the elements such as wind and chop. It's a very pleasant, comfortable living space for our family crew. The bathrooms are well-sized, and we have a washing machine on board.
The kitchen is spacious and fully equipped. The oven is a real plus for preparing hot meals! The heating runs on diesel and the rooms are perfectly insulated. So we don't get cold in winter.
It is also possible to place a small table at the front of the boat to enjoy pleasant moments. All in all, life on board is very comfortable.
In terms of energy, the boat is equipped with a continuously operating solar panel, coupled to a 220-volt inverter with 2000 watts of power. This configuration makes it possible to run several on-board appliances simultaneously, ensuring appreciable energy autonomy.
At the crossroads of comfort, aesthetics and performance, the Delphia 12 Sedan was the obvious choice for Michel. Designed for multi-day river or coastal cruising, this model is ideal for escapades with family or friends, combining practicality with optimum comfort.
