28 Mar
With a raft of options for maximising either cruising or racing experiences this Dehler 42 is proving its versatility for its appreciative Owners.
Yachting Monthly nicely summed-up the Dehler 42 as suiting “a couple of cruising friends or families who like to travel swiftly with style.” And, as Rik Arendsen and his wife Arhontoula have discovered their Dehler 42 Santorini does just that – and a whole lot more.
Highly regarded in the sailing community, Dehlers are recognised as truly able to transition between comfortable cruising and competitive racing; the epitome of the performance cruiser design.
“In cruising mode it’s lovely to spend time on because it’s well stocked with all the things we need for cruising. I definitely wouldn’t want to go any bigger, Rik laughs.
When we are out and about going somewhere by sail we’re getting there much quicker than the average cruising boat. That’s what I love,” he confides.
In cruising mode Santorini with its wide cockpit and large swim fold-down platform provides Rik and Ahrontoula the perfect tool to explore the stunning beaches and anchorages within an easy run of their home at Cronulla, south of Sydney.
Port Hacking is sometimes referred to as Sydney’s forgotten waterway, and the locals seem to like it that way but they also boast of its clean water, sheltered bays, and because it’s smaller there’s a sense of camaraderie, that everybody knows each other.
“When we’re cruising it’s great because it’s where my wife wants to be. She loves being on the boat,“ Rik explains. “On weekends we used to go to the beach and the boat has become in a sense our beach. We get on and usually just motor to somewhere, then chuck out an anchor, go for a swim then lie out on the deck and then the next week there’s seven blokes on board and we’re all focused on how fast we can make this thing go and let’s beat some people,” he says with a grin.
Since being handed over in August 2023 Rik and Santorini have being doing just that – stringing together some impressive results in club racing including three bullets from four starts in the Cronulla Sailing Club’s Summer Keelboat Series.
The irony of the change going from somewhere near the back of the fleet in his previous cruising boat, to regular podium appearances isn’t lost on the skipper. “It’s been quite amusing,” Rik recounts. “The typical passing comment usually at the bar is ‘jeez that boat’s quick. How did you get past us so quickly?’ It is a lovely feeling to now be one of the quicker boats in the fleet. And now I’ve got a tough handicap I’ve got to live up to,” he says resignedly.
No doubt Rik’s decision to go with a Axxon carbon mast (an option), Quantum TP6 main and jib with competition gennaker and competition rudder (also options) has contributed to Santorini’s success. The lightweight carbon rig with a half-metre taller mast translates to a larger overall sail area of 99.5m² compared to the standard 93m² – more horsepower where you need it on the race track.
Stepping-up to a faster, more powerful boat though has also meant some changes in crew dynamics and input.
“We’ve picked up some experienced racing sailors and they’ve been crawling all over the boat as we do races and say ‘right we need to do this, let’s just tweak this a little’, and that’s the bit that’s lifted us up a little,” Rik acknowledges. “It’s really showed me more what the boat’s capable of. Probably the biggest thing is me understanding there is a groove for the boat, and it’s really quite a tight groove and I’ve got to concentrate because the sails are quite flat,” he divulges.
The concept of being ‘in the groove’ refers to finding the angle to the wind that gives the best forward progress. Go too high and you are slow (pinching) but go too low and you cover more distance than needed. In practice, according to North Sails, the groove covers a range of a few degrees angle to the wind in which you are able to steer consistently at a steady speed. For more on the groove US Sailing has this handy explainer:
Of course, the benefits of knowing and finding the groove applies to any cruising you do, and Rik and Ahrontoula are planning to expand their cruising horizons beyond Port Hacking. “I want to explore more of the South Coast (of NSW) and at the very least I’d like to make my way up to Port Stephens and Newcastle. Longer term the whole East Coast is on the bucket list,” he reveals.
That’s when Santorini’s layout of a large master cabin forward and two guest aft cabins will mean a comfortable and relaxing time at anchor or tucked away out of the weather at a marina for a few days.
Either way, cruising or racing the Dehler 42 will accomplish any of their sailing ambitions and adventures in easy, assured style.
For more information: windcraftyachts.com/sailing-yachts/dehler-42
