Quantum Sails and the Yacht Market in the Netherlands: Saffier Yachts

Saffier Maritiem BV is an old family business owned by the Hennevanger Brothers. Saffier is Dutch for Sapphire. Richard Hennvanger, the father, originally owned a shipyard in Australia which he then and returned to the Netherlands to build a yacht for himself. With this yacht, the family Hennevanger sailed around the world for eight years. On their return to The Netherlands, Richard found a job in boat construction and for the first few years of his work here, he worked mainly in shipping and fishery. In the late1980’s, Richard Hennevanger shifted his interests increasingly towards the construction of yachts and Saffier Maritiem developed into a fully-fledges and successful shipyard. His sons, Dennis and Dean Hennevanger, took over the company in the mid-90s.

The History of Saffier Maritiem BV
The origins of Saffier Maritiem go back to the mid 1950’s when Richard Hennevanger bought his first boat, the Rainbow, with his father’s help. He was twelve years old.

The Rainbow could barely be called a boat, because the Rainbow looked more or less like a pile of wreckage. Nevertheless, Richard and his father believed in this boat and after a lot of blood, sweat, and tears they turned it into a beautiful boat worthy of the name “Rainbow”! While sailing it in the Ijmuiden estuary one day, they were spotted by a coaster. The captain of the coaster fell in love with the Rainbow and bought the boat on the spot. The Rainbow was hoisted aboard and Richard and his father were paid and brought ashore. The sailing bug had bitten Richard Hennevanger, and he would never be cured.

After his service in 1961, Richard decided to move to Australia with his wife, soon after which he started his own shipyard.
It was a blossoming business and in the mid-60s, Richard had fifteen people working at his shipyard and was producing around forty yachts a year! He produced the sailing yacht called a Santana, a cruiser of 11 metres in length. At the same time, Richard worked with designers on special designs for yachts of over twelve metres in length.

He was particularly inspired by Bob Miller, who would later change his name to Ben Lexcen, and who subsequently built the famous Australia 2 with a winged keel, with which he won the America cup for the first time as a non-American. Together with Bob Miller, Richard Hennevanger designed a new boat with which he wanted to fulfil his next dream: to sail around the world with his family.

In 1972 the Hennevanger family sold everything they owned in Australia and decided to build yachts in the Netherlands. Richard and his wife moved back to their homeland with their sons Dennis and Dean, who were born in Sydney, and were at that stage seven and four years old. By that time Dennis and Dean were both good sailors and Dennis had already competed in his first junior sailing competition in the bay of Sydney. The yacht, a 16 metre ketch named the Spirit of Sydney, was built in the record time of one year. During the following eight years the Hennevanger family sailed around the world on the Spirit of Sydney. Dennis and Dean came into contact with many different cultures, developing an extensive general knowledge. Their mother taught them reading and writing and, while having fun, the boys learnt all aspects of sailing on the Spirit of Sydney. In 1980 the family decided to sell the Spirit of Sydney and to return to Holland. By that time, the boys were accomplished sailors and could sail, moor and navigate the boat blindfolded.

Back in Holland, Richard started his new shipyard. Dennis was being trained as a mate while Dean studied naval engineering. Dennis also completely immersed himself in a new water sport: windsurfing. Between 1980 and 1985 he won the Dutch Championship three times and the European Surfing Championship twice. It was an excellent way of showcasing his talent. After Dean had finished his training, he started working for his father and immediately began to build his first boat, a nine metre-long catamaran named “Hotlegs”. Dean was sailing the waters of the Ijsselmeer one year later when he scared the living daylights out of many a sailor by screaming past at over 20 knots!

When his wind surfing madness had abated, Dennis, who still had not had enough of travelling, worked as captain on various large yachts on the Mediterranean Sea and in 1991, finally also joined his father’s company, which was producing rescue vessels at the time. They also created custom yachts anywhere from 30 to 46 ft for the private market. In the 1990s it was already slowly becoming apparent that the two brothers would eventually take over the company. Both desired to have their own product, and Hennevanger senior started designing yachts. The construction of a seaworthy open sailing vessel of 6.50 metres became a reality in September 1997 and the first boat was completed at the beginning of January the following year and was ready for trails. The first trial voyage was undertaken at 15 degrees below zero in a strong wind of 7 on the Beaufort scale. It was not a pleasant experience but the open sailing boat, which in the meantime had been named ‘Saffier’, withstood the test. It was entered for the HISWA where it received overwhelming attention. At the HISWA several orders were placed for the Saffier and construction was started. Because of the family’s combined experience the Hennevangers kept their cool, and in one year were able to produce and deliver eighteen perfectly finished Saffiers to their clients! The delegation of roles within the family became evident: the more extroverted Dennis assumed responsibility for sales and Dean took care of the technical production.

In 1999 Dennis showed a water sports journalist what the Saffier 6.50 was really capable of. With a south-westerly force 7 wind they crossed over from Ijmuiden to Lowestoft, a distance of 110 miles. The Saffier reached the other shore without any problem, thus proving her seaworthiness.

The Saffier Yacht Range

In 2001 the two brothers decided it was time for a follow-up model to the Saffier 6.50. Naturally their father, Richard, created the new design. A year later the Saffier 8.00 became was launched. The Hennevanger experience can also be recognised in this vessel, and this was picked up by the media and in 2003 the Saffier 8.00 was nominated as Boat of the Year. Only one point behind the winner, the max fun35, she was placed second. Soon afterwards, the Saffier 8.00 was nominated as European Boat of the Year for 2004. Unfortunately the Hennevangers had to pass up this opportunity due to numerous orders, and they clearly chose to put their customers first. At the end of 2004 they started designing a new yacht: the Saffier 32 ft. Saffier was taking orders from the drawings alone, and production commenced.

In 2005, the 100th Saffier 6.50 was launched.

The Saffier was slowly gaining international recognition and the first Saffiers were being delivered all over Europe.
Saffiers were also sold in America and the Caribbean for the first time.

While the building of Saffiers escalated, the shipyard, that in the meantime had been named Saffier Maritiem, remained loyal to one business aspect; they continued to work for KNRM, the pilotage authority and professional shipping in general, and with that strengthened their financial position while at the same time limiting their risks.

In December 2005 the first Saffier 32 was launched, followed by a trial voyage period of six weeks.

Today

Both Hennevanger brothers are active in sailing to this day. Dean likes to sail with his family in a Saffier 8.00, while Dennis is often found in sailing competitions. By remaining actively involved, they are always on the alert for new developments that may possibly be adapted for the Saffier yacht range.
In this way every Saffier is a modern yacht to which the latest innovations have been applied.

Saffier’s Sails

In chosing a partner to make the sails for their extensive range, Saffier yachts has chosen Quantum as preferred supplier for all her yachts as from the 2009 Season.

Previously, Quantum was supplying the sails for the Saffier 26, 6.50 & 800.

The Saffier 26 standard has Dacron sails, and the 26 sport has a full set of Fusion M sails with Technora Black. The new sets will be Fusion Mx.
The Saffier 6.50 and 800 both have Dacron cruising sails.

For more information on Quantum’s yacht sails, contact Tony Strutt  at Quantum Sails in Cape Town on + 27 21 593 1620 or tony@quantumsails.co.za

To find out more about Saffier Yachts, contact:

Saffier Maritiem B.V. - Rondweg 20 - 1976 BW Ijmuiden, The Netherlands
Telephone +31 (0)255 - 51 28 60 - Fax +31 (0)255 - 53 77 69
For more information: info@saffierjachten.com