Design and Construction
At just under 22 feet overall with an 18.7-foot waterline and a 7.2-foot beam, the Victoire 22 carries 2,425 pounds of displacement against 992 pounds of iron ballast, a 40.9 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio that explains its composure in a seaway. The solid fiberglass hull and deck, paired with a fin keel drawing just over three feet and a spade rudder, reflect a no-nonsense construction brief rather than a racing agenda. Koopmans shaped the boat for predictable behavior in coastal chop, and the focus on robust construction, stability, and simplicity rather than high performance places her firmly in the pocket-cruiser camp built to absorb weather rather than skirt it.
Rig and Sail Plan
The masthead sloop rig sits on modest dimensions—a 22.75-foot foretriangle height and 7.87-foot base—yet the sail suite is generous for the length. The working mainsail measures just over 101 square feet, while the standard jib at 115 percent overlap covers 87 square feet. Cruising reach opens up with a 150 percent genoa spanning nearly 135 square feet, and a spinnaker of 275 square feet sits in the inventory for downwind passages. A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.5 keeps her moving in ordinary breeze without demanding athletic crew work, which suits the boat's stated mission of simple, stable cruising.
Accommodations and Intended Use
Victoire Yachts built the 22 for two people undertaking real coastal and inland voyages, not dock-side day sailing. The 21.65-foot hull and 7.2-foot beam yield enough room for a compact cabin arrangement suited to overnight hops along the Dutch coast or through inland waterways. The emphasis on stability and uncomplicated systems means the interior was laid out to be lived in at anchor and underway without fuss, a reflection of Koopmans' brief for North Sea capability in a small package.
Known Issues
The Victoire 22 shows no structural defects, osmotic blistering, rigging failures, or systemic construction faults specific to the design. The solid fiberglass hull and deck avoid the moisture-ingress caveats associated with later cored-deck Victoire models, and chainplates, keel bolts, and deck hardware have no recurring problems on this design.
Refits and Ownership
With approximately 1,100 hulls launched since 1961, the Victoire 22 passed through decades of private ownership with no model-specific refit campaigns or mandated upgrades. The boat's simplicity—solid glass, a single modest rig, and straightforward systems—means ongoing ownership centers on ordinary maintenance rather than design-driven interventions.
The Verdict
The Victoire 22 earns its quiet reputation as a dependable small Dutch cruiser. Koopmans gave it enough ballast and beam to feel steady in North Sea conditions, and Victoire Yachts built it in solid fiberglass that has not generated a paper trail of defects. For a sailor wanting a simple, stable pocket cruiser with a long production history, the 22 is an easy boat to trust.
Pros
- Robust solid fiberglass construction with no systemic faults
- High ballast ratio (40.9%) for a 22-foot pocket cruiser
- Generous sail plan including a 150% genoa and large spinnaker
- Long, successful production run of about 1,100 hulls
Cons
- Deliberately low performance focus, not suited to racing
- Minimal interior space inherent to 21.65-foot length
