Psaros 33, the five-legged sheep

Class

With a fourteenth unit launched in March, the Psaros 33, launched in 2012, continues to appeal to the most demanding regatta sailors. Here’s a look at a boat that’s almost ideal, but that doesn’t feel the weight of time.

“It’s the best boat on the lake,” boasts Jean Psarofaghis, exclusive builder of the Psaros 33. And he continues: “Before it, there was the Toucan. Today, the Psaros 33 has taken its place! The shipyard owner is full of praise for his baby, and intends to build more over the next few years. “I could do three a year, but if we can do two, that’s good enough. I’m in discussions with several potential new owners.” The launch this spring of the fourteenth unit demonstrates just how visionary the designers of this 10-meter high-tech cruiser were. And while the price remains high (between CHF 300 and 350,000), it corresponds to a market that, while niche, is very real around Lake Geneva.

Designed around a table

The story goes that a few Toucan owners got together around a table some fifteen years ago to draw up the first specifications for what was to become the darling of Lake Geneva. Jean Psarofaghis, who was logically part of the group, called on Sebschmidt to put ideas on paper, make sketches and draw up plans for the first boat. “The aim was to eliminate the shortcomings of the Psaros 40, which was too big and, above all, too crew-intensive, while retaining its qualities,” explains Damien Cardenoso, who was working with the firm at the time. Ideas flowed and the architects worked closely with Jean, without setting themselves too many barriers, apart from the price, which had to remain “affordable”. They took on a number of challenges, including the development of an electric, retractable canting keel for access to all ports. A fiberglass rather than carbon hull was chosen to keep costs down. Today, the price of composite materials has come down, and I would choose carbon,” confides Jean. But the point of the Psaros 33 is that it’s a one-design, and we don’t want to jeopardize the class, which is working well. Even with its glass hull, it’s the fastest one-design on Lake Geneva. She made the podium in real time at the Bol d’Or and holds the top five places in the Translémanique solo race. It’s a well-built boat that can perform well for a long time to come without any modifications.

Reliable and healthy

In addition to its outstanding performance, the boat’s reputation for reliability is another of its strengths. “It’s an extremely solid, well-built yacht,” notes Pierre Girod, an early adopter and former president of the owner’s association. “She’s demanding without being dangerous, and perfectly suited to single-handed sailing.” Jean-Olivier Kerr, now on his second boat, is very active in the series. He confirms: “Despite its ‘gas factory’ feel, it’s well thought out and relatively easy to handle. It never behaves unhealthily, and can be recovered even if it starts to luff. The dynamics and good understanding that prevail within the owner’s association are further factors contributing to the success of Psaros 33: “We haven’t published any class rules for years,” continues Jean-Olivier Kerr. No one has tried to make improvements on their own. One-design has always been respected without being written down. We’ve operated on a kind of ‘gentleman’s agreement’, which is very pleasant. For some years now, however, the rules have been put down on paper, to prevent the units sailing outside Lake Geneva from being modified (two boats sail on Lake Constance, and another on Lake Maggiore). “There are a number of possible developments, and we have some ideas about the incidence of the daggerboards or the longitudinal angle of the keel. But if we change anything, it will only happen if all the owners are on board.”

A tempting program

Perfectly suited to the major races on Lake Geneva, such as the Bol d’Or, the Genève-Rolle-Genève and the Translémanique solo, the Psaros 33 has a regatta program that meets owners’ expectations. “We set up a Lake Geneva championship a few years ago. It includes three criteriums, one in spring and two in autumn, in addition to the main races.

A regatta at sea was organized in 2018 in Porquerolles, and the yacht proved to be particularly seaworthy, despite its typically lakeside design. In view of the positive experience, it could be repeated next year in Barcelona. For the moment, I’m preparing the organization and budgets,” says Jean-Olivier Kerr. There’s a dynamic club, excellent infrastructures and a water surface of proven quality. At this stage, it’s a project, but I’m fairly confident that it will come to fruition.”

The latest addition, commissioned by watchmaker Tudor, will join the fleet as a company boat in the same way as MSC’s 8888. The latter allows the group’s employees to sail, with appropriate supervision. Although demanding, the yacht is well-suited to learning to race, as long as a seasoned professional skipper leads the crew. Such a concept could well find new enthusiasts among local companies. If followed, the Psaros 33’s golden years lie ahead.

Technical data

Length: 10 m
Overall length: 10 m 70
Width: 2 m 93
Draft: 2 m 70, can be raised to 1 m 60.
45° canting keel
Weight : 1’950 kg
Main sail area: 52 m2
Jib area: 33 m2
Reacher surface area: 62 m2
Small spinnaker area: 124 m2
Large spinnaker area: 163 m2