Design and Construction
The Saphire 27 is less extreme than some of her sportboat rivals, with a rounder and narrower stern and a slimmer waterline aft that the designers shaped for everyday usability rather than outright race-bred minimalism anchor. Hull and deck are fiberglass sandwich with a foam core and vinylester resins, laid up by vacuum-injection to save weight, and the boats are laminated and finished in Poland at Delphia Yachts anchor. The structural engineering was handled by Francesco Pelizza, with interior work by Mauro Sculli and sails by Alessandro Castelli, under project manager Sebastiano Rech Morassutti. A lead keel and carbon rig are counted among her finer extras.
Rig and Handling
Her rig is comparatively conventional, without a backstay, and carries a fat-head mainsail with a slightly overlapping genoa for 44 square metres of canvas; a code zero and gennaker can add still more power, and a tamer "family size" main without the flared top is offered as an alternative anchor. Halyards and control lines run aft over the cabin top for easy winch handling, though the cockpit makes do with a single pair of winches and the jib must be cleated at the turning block before other lines can be trimmed anchor. In light air, test sailors found that moving the crew far forward lifts the stern and trims the wetted surface, while the single rudder gives a maneuvering edge over twin-rudder rivals, getting through tacks quicker and accelerating better afterwards anchor. Upwind in 12 to 15 knots there is no measurable gap to the Seascape 27 in speed or pointing, but at 15 knots the Saphire hits her limit under full sail and wants a reef beyond that. Her theoretical ORC handicap of 605.8 suggests she should be a touch quicker than that comparison across conditions, and she is a capable light-air performer on inland lakes.
Accommodations
Below, the layout is completely open with no forecabin partitions; instead there are substantial stowage structures to both sides and a small kitchenette anchor. A good night's sleep is really only had on the two saloon berths, while the pair of pipe berths forward are cramped. The concept sits between sportboat and daysailer with limited cruising comfort, and the builder claimed the lifting keel makes her easy to trailer and ramp-launch, which matches the report that she is straightforward to launch and haul anchor.
Known Issues
Lifting the keel is an elaborate process, and the outboard deployment system is more complicated and energy-intensive than some competitors' anchor. On the tested boat, interior surfaces were not yet perfect, though the yard said corrections would follow for series production.
Refits and Ownership
Owners can specify gasoline or electric outboard power; the electric option from Torqeedo mounts as a shaft drive under the cockpit floor and can be raised flat for sailing anchor. The open interior and simple systems suit an owner who trails the boat and upgrades canvas or drive as needed.
The Verdict
The Saphire 27 is a versatile trailerable sportboat that balances performance with day-cruising practicality, easy to keep and quick to rig for either racing or lake sailing. She is not a dedicated cruiser, but her light weight and lifting keel open waters 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
- Forecabin pipe berths offer limited comfort
- Needs a reef above 15 knots under full canvas
