Furia 44 Information, Review, Specs

The Furia 44’s production spanned from 1987, the same year Drassanes Esportives S.A. formally rebranded to Furia Yacht S.A., through to 1993, coinciding with the company's eventual closure amidst a broader crisis in the Spanish marine industry. During this era, Furia Yachts had cultivated a strong reputation for crafting safe, comfortable, and reliable cruising sailboats. Their collaboration with renowned designers like Joubert-Nivelt underscored a commitment to producing vessels that offered dependable performance and ample living spaces, characteristic of their "fast cruising sailboats" ethos.

The Furia 44 exhibits a considerable design resemblance to the highly regarded Nautor Swan 44, suggesting an aspiration towards a similar blend of performance and luxury. Notably, the model was offered with versatility in mind, providing buyers a choice between two interior layouts and two keel configurations. This included a deep fin keel, drawing 7.67 feet for optimal upwind performance, and a shallower winged keel version with a draft of 5.25 feet, offering increased access to shallower anchorages and marinas.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Furia 44's design ratios suggest a vessel capable of spirited performance while maintaining stability and comfort offshore. With a sail area to displacement ratio (SA/Disp) of approximately 18.9, the Furia 44 indicates good light-air performance, making her responsive in lighter breezes. Her ballast to displacement ratio (Bal/Disp) of around 0.417 is relatively high, signifying a stiff and stable boat that can stand up well to a considerable amount of wind, contributing to a comfortable motion in a seaway.

Her displacement to length ratio (Disp/LWL) of roughly 204.6 places her in the medium-displacement category. This suggests a balanced design, nimble enough for enjoyable sailing while possessing the inherent solidity expected of a capable offshore cruiser. Anecdotal descriptions characterize the Furia 44 as a very high-quality fast offshore cruiser. The choice between a deep fin keel and a winged keel would further tailor performance characteristics, with the deeper fin typically offering better windward ability, while the winged keel provides a shallower draft, albeit with potential differences in upwind efficiency. The deck layout itself is designed for serious offshore cruising, emphasizing practical functionality and safety.

Accommodations and Layout

The interior of the Furia 44 was designed with versatility and comfort in mind, reflecting its cruising aspirations. Buyers had the option of two distinct interior layouts, one of which was configured as a more luxurious "owners' version" with fewer berths, emphasizing spaciousness and comfort over maximum sleeping capacity. The joinery work predominantly features teak, a common and durable choice in high-quality sailboat interiors of its era, known for its aesthetic appeal and longevity.

While specific detailed diagrams are less common, the general arrangement typically included a forecabin, a forward pullman cabin (suggesting a bunk berth arrangement in some configurations), a main saloon, and either a single or twin aft cabins. This variety aimed to cater to different cruising needs, from family voyaging to more private owner-centric layouts. The emphasis was on creating ample living spaces, contributing to the boat's reputation for comfort.