Design and Construction
The 525 sits at the top of Dufour's Grand Large fleet, a series positioned explicitly as fast, capable cruisers rather than racers with cruising compromises. Felci's hull carries a nearly vertical stem and high freeboard, giving the yacht a purposeful, modern silhouette without resorting to the exaggerated twin-rudder configuration common among competitors. At the factory in Perigny, hulls are laid up by hand in two halves so that the deck joint can be released cleanly from the mold — a construction approach that gives the builder more control over laminate quality than a single-piece process allows. The interior begins as a rigid floor framework and inner-liner molding bonded to the hull, into which bulkheads and furniture slot to create what the builder describes as a monocoque structure. Foam stringers bonded inside the hull add stiffness and impact resistance, and plywood inserts are used under all deck hardware to spread load through the balsa-cored sandwich deck. The hull-to-deck joint is bonded with Sikaflex adhesive, fastened with large-diameter screws, and covered by a solid teak toerail — a conventional but proven assembly.
Rig and Sail Plan
The 525 carries a 9/10 fractional rig with double spreaders swept at 20 degrees. All shrouds — cap, intermediate, and lower — terminate at a single deck chainplate, keeping the shroud base narrow and maximizing the sheeting angle for the genoa. A removable inner forestay accommodates a storm jib, and the split backstay accepts an optional adjuster. The standard headsail is a 140 percent genoa on a double-groove Facnor furler, complemented by a full-batten mainsail with lazyjacks as standard equipment. A retractable bowsprit is fitted to handle an asymmetric cruising chute when conditions allow. Deck hardware throughout is by Harken, with 60.2STA primary winches at each helm and dedicated halyard winches mounted on the coachroof.
Handling Under Sail
On the water, the 525 demonstrates a handsome, powerful, stable, and stiff character that inspires confidence in passage-making conditions. In 15-to-20-knot southwesterlies, a reefed main and full 140 percent genoa produced close-hauled speeds approaching 7 knots at a true-wind angle of 32 degrees — creditable performance for a 31,000-pound cruising yacht. Off the wind, easing sheets onto a broad reach pushed the boat to just under 8 knots, and bearing away further rewarded the crew with speeds approaching 10 knots. Tacking in a lively sea, the yacht carried momentum well through the eye of the wind, emerging onto the new tack with as much as 4 knots of headway — an attribute that reduces the dead-water phase and helps boatspeed recover quickly. Helm balance with a reefed main and full genoa in 30 knots was manageable, though a slight loading up in higher gusts was noted. The deep-V'd bow produces a comfortable motion in a seaway, a quality that distinguishes this design from shallower-entry cruisers that hobby-horse in offshore conditions.
Deck Layout and Cockpit
The deck is planned for short-handed sailing. Wide side decks run uninterrupted from bow to stern, connecting a clean foredeck — anchored by a 55-pound Delta on a twin bow roller with an electric windlass tucked below — to a broad aft platform. Twin helm stations provide all-around visibility and create a clear corridor through the cockpit to the transom. That transom is motor-operated, rising to minimize marina length and lowering to form a swim platform. The lazaret behind it is sized to take a liferaft, a small inflatable, and dive gear simultaneously. A large fixed teak table in the cockpit seats eight to ten in port and doubles as a handhold and footrest underway; an optional version incorporates a chartplotter display.
Accommodations
Eight layout variants were offered, ranging from three to four cabins and three to four heads, with choices between a linear and an L-shaped galley. All options include two aft cabins with 6.5-foot headroom and 5-foot-wide berths. The forward owner's version features a queen-size berth on centerline, a separate shower stall, a dresser, and a gas-strut-assisted mattress for under-berth stowage — detail work that reflects genuine passagemaking intent. Saloon headroom reaches 6 feet 5 inches despite the low coachroof, sustained by the high freeboard rather than a towering cabin house. The galley runs to a three-burner propane stove with oven and grill, a microwave, top- and side-opening refrigerators, and Corian countertops with teak fiddles; space is reserved for a watermaker, dishwasher, and washing machine. The navigation station at the foot of the companionway carries a full-size chart table, a forward-facing seat, and a comprehensive electrical console with circuit breakers and tank gauges.
Known Issues
One specific failure was documented during sea trials: something broke in the headsail's furling drum when attempting to partially roll the genoa in 30 knots of wind, leaving the crew sailing with a full headsail in building conditions. While a single incident is not grounds for a broad indictment of the furling gear, it is a reminder that the double-groove Facnor system on early production boats warrants close inspection — particularly the drum bearings and foil joints — before any offshore passage. The low coachroof that gives the deck its uncluttered superyacht appearance may require taller sailors to duck for the handrails rather than simply gripping them from an upright position, a minor ergonomic trade-off that is consistent across the cabin configuration.
The Verdict
The Dufour 525 Grand Large is a serious cruising yacht wearing contemporary clothes. Felci's hull is genuinely capable offshore, the construction is methodical and well-documented, and the interior layout flexibility makes the boat viable for everything from liveaboard couples to charter groups. The cockpit and deck are thoughtfully arranged for short-handed sailing. Where the yacht asks for scrutiny is in its hardware details — particularly the furling drum — and in the practical implications of a low coachroof for tall crews. As a flagship passagemaker from an established French builder, it delivers on its brief.
Pros
- Deep-V hull entry produces a comfortable, settled motion in open-water conditions
- Eight distinct layout configurations accommodate a broad range of crew requirements
- Fractional rig with removable inner forestay gives offshore versatility in heavy air
- Electric transom, retractable bowsprit, and comprehensive anchor system are standard or near-standard
- Monocoque inner-liner construction is stiff, well-braced, and suited to long passages
Cons
- Low coachroof requires ducking to reach handrails — an ergonomic issue for taller sailors
- Furling drum failure documented in sea-trial conditions warrants pre-passage inspection
- No cockpit seat lockers; stowage is distributed between foredeck locker and lazaret only
- Slight helm loading in stronger gusts with a press of sail
