The recipe for growing sailing in China

His name is Sam Li, he is less than 40 years old, and he has been working in China for about 10 to develop and grow the nautical market and the passion for sailing in the East. A visionary who understood early on that the Chinese market can be a great catchment area for sailing but that it cannot be “raped” and must be accompanied, steadily growing the passion.

Sam Li we met in Dusseldorf during the Boote just as he was about to sign an agreement with Dufour Yachts to the purchase of 40 Drakkar 24 the day sailer from the Dufour shipyard that was officially presented at the Genoa Boat Show last October. Sam, who does not speak a word of English, tells me through an interpreter that China needs a sea culture in order to grow a new market.

Within a few years, dozens of ports and accommodation facilities will be ready for Asian yachting but of course you have to get the Chinese to understand how to go to sea and how to choose the right boat. Sam currently heads a network of sailing schools for licenses and boat charters from which the pool of potential boat owners arises. “We Chinese need to learn that boating is fun and safe but we need to learn early on that it consists of a series of maneuvers that need to be adjusted. It sounds like a simple concept but it is not so for how we are used to it. I wanted to invest in the Drakkar 24,” says Sam, “because it is an easy-to-manage boat that allows my guests to go out boating with extreme confidence and learn sailing skills with ease. I am convinced that this is the right way to open doors for sailing in Asia. We have major events such as the China Cup that brings together hundreds of sailors but many of them are foreigners, and if we organize a regatta with over 100 boats out of nowhere, we have a lot of room for growth.”

THE DRAKKAR 24
The Drakkar 24 is an “affordable” boat that looks to the future but incorporates the experience of the open boat tradition of the past, following the canons of simplicity, safety, fun and affordability. Basically, a fast and stable “day sailer” that appeals to cabin cruiser owners who want a simple and undemanding boat for day trips, young people who want to have fun or learn, families and friends who want to sail together, sailing schools and enthusiasts who want to compare themselves with boats that are all the same.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Great form stability and ballasted drift to make the Drakkar 24 an easy, safe and “anti-skimming” boat. Rigging is simple and easy, but not at the expense of performance. The habitability is incredible with a very large cockpit for 6 to 8 people. Construction is the same for all boats with monolithic vinylester resin process and airex sandwich deck, opening cockpit benches. The drift is movable with bulb disappearing into its watertight case. Removable and rotating external bayonet rudder, efficient even with shovel immersed a few centimeters. Available in a new and attractive range of colors.

THE DRAKKAR 24 IN NUMERI
Dufour Yachts Shipyard
Promoter Guido Colnaghi
Designer Felci Yacht Design
Overall length 7.00 mt.
Length. at waterline 6.55 mt.
Maximum beam width 2.54 mt.
Immersion 0.20-1.50 mt.
Displacement 870 kg
Fin ballast 300 kg
Mainsail 15 m²
Jib 11.70 m²
Gennaker 40 m²
Ex-works price: 22,950 euros + VAT complete with everything, ready to sail.

The Drakkar 24 can be transported with a simple road cart and is CE Class C approved for 6 people and 8 in Class D.