Design and Construction
The Saphire 27 is less extreme than some of her sportboat rivals. She has a rounder, narrower stern and a slimmer waterline aft, shaped for everyday usability rather than outright race-bred minimalism.
The hull and deck are fiberglass sandwich construction, with a foam core and vinylester resins. They were vacuum-injected to save weight, and the boats were laminated and finished in Poland at Delphia Yachts anchor. Structural engineering was handled by Francesco Pelizza, with interior work by Mauro Sculli and sails by Alessandro Castelli, under project manager Sebastiano Rech Morassutti.
The boat carries a lifting keel with a lead bulb. A lead keel and carbon rig are counted among her finer extras.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The Saphire’s rig is comparatively conventional but has no backstay. It carries a fat-head mainsail and slightly overlapping genoa for 44 square metres of sail. A code zero and gennaker can add more power, while a tamer “family size” mainsail without the flared top is available as an alternative.
Halyards and control lines run aft over the cabin top for straightforward winch handling. The cockpit has only a single pair of winches, however, and the jib must be cleated at the turning block before other lines can be trimmed.
In light air, test sailors found that moving the crew far forward lifts the stern and reduces the wetted surface. The single rudder also gives the boat a maneuvering advantage over twin-rudder rivals: she gets through tacks more quickly and accelerates better afterward.
Upwind in 12 to 15 knots, there was no measurable gap between the Saphire 27 and the Seascape 27 in either speed or pointing. At 15 knots, though, the Saphire reaches her limit under full sail and wants a reef beyond that. Her theoretical ORC handicap of 605.8 suggests that she should be a touch quicker than that comparison across conditions. She is also a capable light-air performer on inland lakes.
Accommodations and Stowage
Below, the layout is completely open, with no forecabin partitions. Instead, substantial stowage structures run along both sides, and there is a small kitchenette.
The two saloon berths are the only places likely to provide a good night’s sleep; the pair of pipe berths forward are cramped. Overall, the concept sits between a sportboat and a daysailer, with limited cruising comfort.
Trailering and Propulsion
The builder claimed that the lifting keel makes the Saphire 27 easy to trailer and ramp-launch, matching the report that she is straightforward to launch and haul. Lifting the keel itself is an elaborate process, however.
Owners can specify gasoline or electric outboard power from Torqeedo. The electric option mounts as a shaft drive beneath the cockpit floor and can be raised flat for sailing. The outboard deployment system is more complicated and energy-intensive than those of some competitors.
The open interior and simple systems suit an owner who trails the boat and upgrades the sails or drive system as needed.
Finish
Interior surfaces on the tested boat were not yet perfect, although the yard said corrections would follow for series production.
The Verdict
The Saphire 27 is a versatile, trailerable sportboat that balances performance with day-cruising practicality. She is easy to keep and quick to rig for racing or lake sailing. She isn’t a dedicated cruiser, but her light weight and lifting keel open waters that bigger boats can’t reach.
Pros
- Light, trailerable, and quick to launch with a lifting keel
- Single rudder aids maneuvering and acceleration
- Conventional, backstay-free rig with useful sail options
- Open interior with good stowage and saloon berths
Cons
- Keel lifting and outboard deployment are elaborate
- Forward pipe berths offer limited comfort
- Needs a reef above 15 knots under full canvas
