Dufour Yachts now available to SailTime investors and members through new Australian partnership
by The Yacht Sales Co. 7 May 06:17 BST
Dufour 54 © Dufour Yachts
The Yacht Sales Co and SailTime Australia are pleased to announce a new partnership that will see selected Dufour Yachts progressively introduced into SailTime Australia's professionally managed fleet.
The highly acclaimed French-built Dufour range, renowned for its blend of performance, comfort and cruising capability, will now be available to both SailTime Owner Investors and SailTime Members through SailTime's innovative membership-based sailing programme.
The partnership creates a practical new pathway for people who want to enjoy premium yacht ownership or regular yacht access, without taking on the full cost, complexity and time commitment of traditional ownership.
For SailTime Owner Investors, purchasing a Dufour yacht through the SailTime Owner Investor Program offers a compelling ownership model. Owners enjoy regular personal access to their yacht in their chosen location, while member income helps offset the ongoing costs of ownership, including berthing, insurance, maintenance and servicing.
For many prospective yacht owners, this represents a more financially sensible and professionally supported way to own a quality cruising yacht.
For SailTime Members, the partnership will provide access to brand new Dufour yachts for a monthly membership fee that is typically less than the cost of a marina berth. Members enjoy more than 36 days of sailing each year on a professionally managed yacht at one of SailTime's participating base locations in Australia or 30 locations throughout USA and Hawaii.
The fully managed "walk-on, walk-off" format allows members to focus on enjoying time on the water, without the maintenance, servicing, berthing and ownership responsibilities that come with owning a boat outright.
For those considering buying a pre-owned yacht, SailTime membership also provides an appealing alternative: access to a new, highly specified vessel without the upkeep challenges older boats can bring. It also offers prospective new Dufour buyers the opportunity to experience their preferred model for a time and ensure it suits their family and lifestyle before committing to ownership.
The new partnership reflects The Yacht Sales Co's continued commitment, as the Australian importer of Dufour Yachts, to expanding access to premium sailing experiences while supporting innovative ownership and membership models.
Through the collaboration, selected Dufour models ranging from 37 to 44 feet will be progressively added to the SailTime Australia fleet across Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, Pittwater and Port Stephens, with new bases planned for late 2026 and early 2027 potentially in South East Queensland, Melbourne and Perth.
Graham Raspass, Founder of SailTime Australia, will be co-exhibiting with The Yacht Sales Co on the Dufour stand at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. The stand, located on D Arm, will showcase the impressive new Dufour 41, which is available to both investors and members and is planned to be added to SailTime's Middle Harbour fleet.
The flagship and recently launched Dufour 54 will also be on display for buyers to view on D arm and the Dufour 48 is available for viewing at Boatworks.
"As SailTime Australia looks to expand its fleet, the versatile Dufour range, particularly in the 37 to 44 foot category, is an ideal addition," said Graham Raspass, Founder of SailTime Australia.
"These yachts offer our members quality, comfort and performance, while also being designed for ease of handling. This collaboration further strengthens our ability to deliver modern, SailTime-specific luxury yachts, supported by an experienced vessel management team."
"Dufour yachts strike an exceptional balance between performance, craftsmanship and onboard comfort," said Steve Hobbs, General Manager: Dufour Yachts at The Yacht Sales Co.
"In today's market, partnering with SailTime allows us to offer buyers a flexible and professionally managed investment option. The yachts within the SailTime fleet are owned by individual investors, with SailTime providing a fully managed solution designed to help protect and maximise the value of those assets."
Dufour continues to enjoy strong international success across Europe and the United States, recognised for structural integrity, innovative layouts and refined sailing performance. Their ease of handling, contemporary design and cruising comfort make them ideally suited to shared-use programmes, without compromising the performance today's sailors expect.