Boating NZ

UNDERSEA

T ne exploratio­n vessel Alucia – used in the recent BBC documentar­y series Blue Planet II – has been listed on the Airbnb holiday rental site and is now available for hire by underwater adventurer­s. The vessel – operated by Ocean X – is based in the Baham

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If the use of the word ‘new’ in my introducti­on has confused you, let me explain.

Yes, Dehler has had a 34 for many years. The vessel was introduced in the mid-80s and became an instant hit. Around 1,500 were built and, in fact, the model is widely credited with having forged the German manufactur­er’s reputation for high-performanc­e cruisers.

But this is the ‘new’ 34 – and she’s a radically different animal. She joins a growing list of restyled Dehler models manufactur­ed after Hanse’s takeover of the company a few years ago. Among other changes, the switch introduced the legendary Judel/ Vrolijk design team to the revamped Dehler line-up.

While the two boats share roughly the same LOA, the new 34 is a major departure from its ancestor. Decades of boatbuildi­ng innovation and advances are obvious – not only in terms of design, materials and constructi­on, but also in the tricky matter of successful­ly marrying performanc­e with cruising comfort.

Looking for clues of the original design in the new 34’s interior space and layout is a futile exercise – they may as well be different boats. The early 34s had narrow hulls and living areas that could be described as cramped, basic – even utilitaria­n.

The younger sibling enjoys far more volume thanks to a slightly wider beam – and crucially, a beam that’s carried a long way aft. And the designers have used that volume well. She’s supremely comfortabl­e, even luxurious, and for a 34-footer, the sense of space is pretty damn impressive.

At the other end of the equation, the boat’s go-fast attributes are everywhere. A low profile and the clean lines are accentuate­d by numerous drag-minimising features. Pop-up cleats, sheets running under the coach-roof, flush hatches, a below-deck windlass – and a streamline­d bowsprit for the gennaker.

In addition, the new hull’s equipped with a plumb bow – it adds around 1.3m to the original 34’s waterline length. It’s now 9.6m, about a metre shy of the yacht’s overall 10.7m length. And consider the yacht’s underwater appendages.

Thanks to Hanse’s production line efficiency and flexibilit­y, Dehler buyers are offered a smorgasbor­d of performanc­e-boosting options. Standard 34s come with a 1.95m keel – or a 1.55m shoal draught version if you like anchoring closer to shore. But there’s also a third option – fitted to this boat – a 2.1m keel with a T-bulb. She’s also equipped with a deeper rudder to handle the extra horsepower.

If the standard Selden alloy rig’s too tame for you, there’s a taller version that boosts the working sail area from 65m2 to 71m2. I didn’t meet the owner of

between a racing-crew in hot chilli mode – and a chill-out area for friends and family.

Sail controls are easy thanks to the cockpit being surrounded by six Lewmar 45 winches – two primaries right at the helms, two secondarie­s a little further forward, and two more on the coachroof, either side of the companionw­ay hatch. In tandem with a battery of Spinlock clutches, these service the multitude of halyards and reefing lines running from the mast’s base.

So for sailors who like to tweak, this Dehler is a feast. With the double-ended German mainsheet system, the sail can be adjusted from either helm. There’s a full- width traveler built into the cockpit floor, just forward of the helms – and again, the horse’s control lines terminate right at the helms.

Jib sheets run through turning blocks well aft and can be fed to either the primaries or secondarie­s. In family mode, when you may have a disengaged crew, I’d leave the mainsheet

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