Discovered Vessel Capable of Navigating the North Sea and European Waterways
Retired Couple Finds Perfect Boat for Cross-Channel Cruising
Beryl Chalmers and Simon Palmer, a retired couple from the UK, have found the ideal boat for their five-month-long cruising adventures. After extensive research and careful consideration, they settled on the Delphia 11 Fly Lounge, a Polish-made yacht now owned by the French Beneteau group.
The Delphia 11 Fly Lounge comes in three different sizes, ranging from 32ft to 44ft, making it perfect for navigating the North Sea in a reasonable time and comfort. Previously, Beryl and Simon had spent their time pottering slowly through the waterways of Holland on a comfortable Dutch steel cruiser. However, with Brexit restrictions in place, they needed a boat that could also cross the North Sea efficiently.
The Delphia 11 Fly Lounge, with its 150hp Yanmar diesel engine, proved to be the perfect choice. It boasts a big aft cockpit, a cosy bow lounge, a wonderful flybridge and outdoor helm for enjoying the sunshine, and a frugal Yanmar engine for reliable, stress-free motoring. The boat's interior is equally impressive, with two good double cabins, two heads, a spacious indoor saloon, galley, dining area, and helm station, making it ideal for comfortable liveaboard cruising.
The couple's new boat, named Mardi Gras, was the third hull off the production line and was available within a couple of months. After exploring the boat in Friesland, they crossed the Markermeer before heading south to the UK. The North Sea crossing from Vlissingen to the UK took less than 11 hours.
During the first season, Mardi Gras spent just over five months cruising in the UK and EU. The boat's engine was used for approximately 200 hours, and fuel consumption for the season was under £1,400, averaging 5.3 liters per hour.
The couple's journey to finding Mardi Gras was not without its challenges. They initially bought a Beneteau Swift Trawler 44, but its air draft was too high to fit under many bridges spanning the Dutch waterways. They then tried a Greenline 39 Hybrid, but it was slightly tight for four people and not very easy to board or disembark.
In their search for the perfect boat, Beryl and Simon trawled the internet, avidly read every issue of Motor Boat & Yachting, and browsed every motor boat dealer's website. They eventually found their dream boat from a Dutch dealer in Makkum, with 50 hours on the engine.
The Delphia 11 Fly Lounge, which best suited their requirements, could be fitted with a 150hp Yanmar diesel engine and had an air draft of 2.95m, making it perfect for navigating the Dutch waterways. Even their dog found a way to enjoy the boat, jumping straight from the foredeck over the windscreen to get up and down from the flybridge.
Despite their joy in finding Mardi Gras, there is no information available about which yacht Beryl Chalmers and Simon Palmer bought in January 2023. However, one thing is certain - they are now enjoying their retirement, cruising the UK and EU waters in style and comfort on their Delphia 11 Fly Lounge.
