Faurby 335e review

See the October 2015 issue of Yachting Monthly for the full test

What’s she like to sail?

The 335e is delightful to sail, she was quick and responded to each movement of the tiller with eagerness. Sitting level with the tiller (on the coaming), it was a little narrow to be comfortable, but if you sit a bit further forward between genoa and optional spinnaker winches – where the coaming widens – the cockpit fits the helmsman well. Sit in the cockpit at this point and it positively envelops you like a glove. All control lines – traveller, mainsheet, primary winches and headsail car adjusters – are to hand. On the wind she was quick, but bear away a little and she positively flew along – the optional Sport rig, Elvstrøm EPEX sails and 1.9m draught from her £4,000 keel all do their part.

Her helm is light and she accelerated in every gust – she was very rewarding to sail. Her cockpit is plenty big enough for the two people she’s designed for. Leg space could be at a premium if you sail with four people in the cockpit, but it would be OK with two sitting on the coaming and two in the cockpit.

What’s she like in port and at anchor?

Reminiscent of a 1970s yacht below decks, she was designed to sail, not to accommodate. By modern standards she’s small and in some areas cramped, but dwelling on this would be like complaining about the lack of back seats or luggage space in a Ferrari. Priority is given to the areas that get the most use: saloon, forecabin and galley, in that order. The saloon-cum-dinette with parallel athwartships seats facing each other is sociable for relaxing or dining and the end cushions make it possible to lounge comfortably with legs up. The saloon table drops down to make a double berth if required. The forward cabin is a good size, considering her length and beam, and the galley works well. The heads is small, but how long do you intend spending in there? The aft ‘cabin’ is really an oversized pilot berth that could be converted to stowage should you wish.

A bow roller and anchor windlass are optional, as is a neat – if expensive – way of routing the anchor chain around the through-deck furling gear. She manoeuvres well under power, although the weight on the helm increases when motoring. She’s also has keel options from 1.4m-1.9m (4ft 7in-6ft 3in)

Would she suit you and your crew?

If you sail as a couple and put quality and performance at the top of your wish list, I can think of few boats of this size that offer so much of both. Her price is frankly scary for a boat that’s barely 10 metres long, but within the physical constraints of the hull, your budget and the bulkhead positions, anything really is possible – another frankly scary thought.

She isn’t spacious below decks, the heads is small, and you can buy longer, faster boats for a lot less, but as plate by the companionway states, this Faurby was ‘handbuilt in Denmark for Corinna and Kay’, not mass-produced and assembled. As Thomas explained: ‘we like to recognise every owner, because without them she would never have been born’. Buying a Faurby is more than ticking boxes. Faurby owners don’t buy a boat, they choose their baby from the Faurby family and in doing so are adopted into the family themselves.

Facts and figures
Price £162,908 inc VAT
LOA 9.98m (32ft 9in)
LWL 8.27m (27ft 2in)
Beam 2.84m (9ft 4in)
Draught 1.9m (6ft 3in)
Displacement 4,200kg (9,259 lb)
Ballast 1,400kg (3086 lb)
Ballast ratio 33.3%
Sail area 52 sq m (560 sq ft)
SA/D ratio 20.3
Diesel 51 litres (11 gal)
Water 95 litres (21 gal)
Engine 18hp
Transmission saildrive
RCD category A
Designer Niels Peter Faurby and Steen Olsen
Builder Faurby Yachts
Agent Faurby Yachts
Tel +45 7556 4522
Website www.faurby.dk