The Dufour 470 made its Australian debut at the 2021 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, supplied by Multihull Solutions through the dealership Yacht Sales Co. Since then, six of these cruisers have been imported into Australia and the first 470 is due in New Zealand in April 2023.
After an enjoyable coastal sail on hull #48, I can clearly see the attraction. The La Rochelle-based builder’s nine-boat range goes from 31 foot to the flagship 61-footer. Under founder Michele Dufour, the yard was known for performance cruisers, but now owned by Fountaine Pajot, it specialises in general cruising yachts, designed by Italian Umberto Felci since 2003.
CUSTOMISATION
The Dufour 470 is available in three versions: Ocean, Performance and an Easy. The base price for the Ocean is AUD$724,500.
Our review boat was an Ocean version with traditional sail handling – slab reefing, winches on the coamings and mainsail sheeting near the helm. Alternatively, aspiring regatta participants can opt for the deeper-keeled Performance version with better capabilities to windward, six winches and transom location
