45 Dufour Performance

Source: Dave Reed, Yachting Magazine

Dufour doesn’t get much respect in the crossover crowd here in the States, but in Europe, the French-built Dufour 45 Performance commands its share of attention at IRC events. At 24,000 pounds, it’s built for cruising, but the boat can be had in different configurations: we’d favor the “Fastnet” version, which has a taller rig and deeper keel than the standard model, as well as composite rigging. The first boats off the production line were campaigned at European regattas this summer, and the best performance to date was a respectable 31st in the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race’s 59-boat IRC Zero division, sailing with a 1.127 IRC rating.

Boat Specification: 45 Dufour Performance

LENGTH: 45’8”

BEAM: 14’10”

DRAFT: 9’1”

STANDARD POWER: 55

DISPLACEMENT LBS: 23964

LENGTH OF WATERLINE: 39’9”

SAIL AREA/DISPLACEMENT: 1217 FT.2