The team at Windcraft love to receive feedback from our Hanse owners & thank the following for these comments.  For further stories please visit the Owners Website  www.hansedownunder.com.au.

After over a decade as a power boat owner, I bought a Hanse 430e from Windcraft in Pittwater in November 2009. I listed my game boat for sale, and set about looking for a yacht to re-kindle the family's interest and my desire for us all once again to enjoy time spent on the water. It was a genuine step into the unknown, because I had had no meaningful sailing experience prior to then - my 12 year old daughter had been sailing dinghies for years, but that was it!

Immediately I found that there was a bewildering array of options in the yacht market with prices to match any budget, and with the Aussie dollar rising against the Euro, some production houses were offering very tempting deals.

I came across Windcraft more or less by accident. I'd never heard of Hanse Yachts before meeting Bob Vinks on the marina where I was just out killing time with my youngest daughter, having wandered there from a nearby competitor's office. He convinced me to at least consider Hanse, and showed me a beautiful 430e which I had no idea at the time I would eventually buy.

To cut a long story short, I bought the boat and haven't taken a backward step, but I still had to deal with the fact that in spite of years of boating experience, I had no idea how to sail as such. It was at this point that Mary Bickley from Windcraft introduced me to perhaps their greatest asset - Ric Hawkins. Ric has a lifetime of sailing experience at all levels, and has the unique gifts of being a truly great communicator and a fine sailing instructor. He can tailor his instruction to make the most vexing sailing problem understandable to anyone, irrespective of experience or education, and like all good teachers, he is patient, non-judgemental and always positive - which must be quite a challenge at times!

My wife and I initially had several lessons with Ric (included with our boat purchase), then after making a few mistakes by ourselves, we had another couple of sessions with him that have been invaluable. Whilst neither of us would pretend to be experts, several months later we now have the confidence and ability to safely enjoy ourselves in moderate conditions both in closed and open water, and importantly we are also less of a liability to other boaters! I still ask Ric to help me from time to time with more targeted instruction, most recently MOB procedures and sail trim to optimise performance in very light air.

I have found all members of the team at Windcraft to be unconditionally helpful. The (very few) minor issues that have needed sorting out on my new boat have been dealt with promptly and thoroughly by Allan, without affecting our sailing plans at any time. The Windcraft/Hanse owners rally in March was brilliant, and we've signed on for the Port Stephens trip in September.

I would not hesitate to recommend Windcraft and Hanse. Although my yachting experience is brief it has been extremely positive, and I can report that the family's move into sailing has been all I'd hoped for. I am comfortable with having paid perhaps a little more at the time than some of the knock-down bargains going around after the GFC, but the value to me has been returned with interest in the outstanding support that I have received since day one and continue to enjoy today. Nick Robson "Imagine" Hanse 430

Thanks Nick,
It was good to see you and I appreciate you taking the time to go over the boat with me.
I will call the Sunbrella guy and set something up.
Thanks for sending the service form link - I have bookmarked the link and will use it in future.
Thanks again for all your help and support. Your approach to sorting things out and aftercare has been excellent!
Please also pass on my thanks to Allan and the rest of the team.
Matthew Melhuish "Vitesse" Fjord 40 Open 
    

"I have been sailing on Pittwater and the Harbour for some 25 years. Having owned a number of 38' monohulls and catamarans. I decided to scale down to a boat I can easily handle on my own and can also comfortably take five other bodies. It took some time to find a yacht that met my requirements i.e. a well fitted out boat, with a purpose designed self tacking jib (that feature is fantastic) with other good fittings. The Danish steering system is without a doubt a significant feature. Like most toys in life the product must also look good! I think the new Hanse design now common to most hulls is pleasing on the eye and practical. My sails so far have been in windy conditions and I have been very pleased with performance and ease of a well tested reefing system. Looking forward to summer and good north easterlies!" Roger Burn "Baby Gita" Hanse 320

"Spending a lot of money in buying a boat is a pretty emotional experience. You try to temper the emotion by being realistic in your assessment of the various options. Lynne & I were looking for a boat which was big enough to be comfortable but small enough to sail short handed. We wanted the convenience of a proper galley, decent head & shower and plenty of room down below but we didn't want a floating caravan. We didn't want a stripped out racing yacht but we did want a yacht which would be competitive around the buoys and which could undertake a passage quickly and safely. We looked at a number of yachts and chose the Hanse 370e as fitting our requirements better than the others. We particularly liked the self tacking headsail, the large cockpit and large head with separate shower. We reckon it looks like a proper yacht and we have been delighted in its performance - it points well and is pretty slippery.  We have also been impressed with the continuing interest & support from you guys. P.S. We had a second over the line & win on handicap yesterday." Fred Murray-Walker   "Muddy Waters" Hanse 370e

"We are really enjoying TRIM. She spent her first 6 months on Pittwater, then 6 months at Newcastle CYC, and is currently residing at Marmong Point on Lake Macquarie. We have found the 370e to be a delight to sail. The performance is good and the selftacking headsail makes life so easy. The cabin layout is very spacious and comfortable. Hope to catch up with all the Hanse crew at Darling Harbour." Peter & Pamela   "Trim"  Hanse 370e

"Hanse 400e - what's not to love? Her name is Bling, she's our 14^th yacht and the first one we've ever had that's not had us thinking about the next one! This boat has exceeded out expectations on many fronts: she's stylish and modern, as all new Hanse's are, but she outperforms all other production boats in Pittwater - a fast, sleek cruiser. Great lines, high quality finish and room to swing a large cat, the experience is enhanced further by great after-sales service by a team committed to their product and clients. The number of new boats in Australia is itself testimony to Hanse - they have got the offering right. We love this boat - what else can we say? ... " Charles & Sylvia   "Bling"  Hanse 400e   

"When I bought the 400e I loaded up on the extras needed for comfortable cruising and the 'long lunch on Sydney Harbour' type of  sailing - the barbie, the dodger and awning etc. She has proved very comfortable for family outings with the five of us. I also wanted to  do twilights and other club racing, and this is where she is  deceptively quick. I invested in a couple of North's sails, and we've  several first places over a range of different courses. The tall rig 
and sail area work well, and the self-tacker is a definite advantage  in breezes over 20 knots. Get yourself an asymmetric - they're so much  fun and also handy when cruising. All in all, a well balanced yacht  that is easy to handle and can be competitively campaigned with a  family or rock-star crew."  Jeff and Yvette Mitchell - "Tiramisu"  Hanse 400e

"For the first time in a sequence of 4 racing boats I have a cruiser that not only goes fast, but which I can sail one or two up and really enjoy myself.  The guys at Windcraft have done an outstanding job on the little details that make two up functionality actually work

• The boom tent zips on to the mainsail cover and can be installed /removed by one person
• The continuous line on the mainsail cover zip means its is child's play to pack the mainsail away
• The bowthruster means one person can park the boat in a pen under the most adverse conditions
• The boat is very stiff and with the 85% jib really comes into its own over 12 kts true.  In fact we have sailed very comfortably hard on the breeze in 25kts without a reef and without burying the rail
• And when it comes to lesser winds, the 105% jib from Norths, coupled with the Windcraft designed barber haul arrangement is a dream." Dennis McDonald  "One Step Ahead" Hanse 430e

"From a woman's point of view our Hanse 53' is more than I could ask for. I love the fact that it is a great entertaining boat with plenty of storage space, and comfortable accommodation.  After all it is for us, as well as our friends and family, to enjoy.  We wanted a boat that would have all the comforts to make life on board a pleasure.  The open feel and light inside the boat is amazing and as soon as we step on board we go into relaxation mode.  I love the fact that she is extremely easy to sail two handed with my husband therefore we do not need to rely on crew for overnight crossings etc.  It is a boat that the two of us can relax on while sailing, even in heavy weather.  We have sailed thousands of miles from Germany across the Mediterranean to Croatia and have loved every minute of it.  For us the Hanse's reliability in all weather conditions is exceptional." Pam Goodall "Savarna"  Hanse 531

"As far as comments go I find it hard to put into words but my feeling is something like this - I bought the boat because I am nearly always single-handed, so I wanted a boat that was easy to sail (and dock), got me where I'm going to quickly in light or heavy air, didn't rely much on the motor and one that had a reasonable degree of comfort down below. The Hanse satifies those criteria better than any other boat I've looked at, particularly if price is considered. Am I completely happy - no - but all boats are a compomise. Would I make the same decision if I could rewind the clock but with the benefit of hindsight - yes I would. My two biggest gripes are the poor anchoring arrangement (cruising boats need two bow rollers, mooring posts and anchor winches that are placed correctly) and the too small winches (they are fine in light winds but I really struggle when the wind gets up - they should be 50's in my opinion)." Tim Preuss  "AnnSea"   Hanse 370e

"I have owned a Hanse 531 for over 4 years now and I must say having ordered it initially off a set of drawings, I could not be happier with my yacht. Having sailed for over 50 years I had several requirements for my perfect yacht and the 531 ticked all the boxes.   I sail it single handed, race 2 handed with my wife in club racing and cruise offshore up and down the coast.  The boat is brilliant. I must add Peter Hrones and Windcraft has at all times backed the brand and been exceptional in his desire to maintain the quality and name of Hanse.I could not have dealt with a more honest, helping and sincere person. The combination of a great product and approachable backup is what modern boat ownership is about." John Ball    "Ballistic" Hanse 531

"We have been extremely happy with our Hanse 470 , we own her in a Syndicate, and everyone enjoys the yacht from Twilight sailing as a group in summers to single handed sailing. She is so easy to sail that husband and wife can easily manage her in all types of conditions . She is very beamy at 14 feet so there is plenty of room to stretch out and entertain or relax in style."
John Montgomery  "Silhouette" Hanse 470e 

"Although having had nothing break and having not had to bother the dealer in the year of ownership, we were extremely surprised and delighted to see the thoroughness and attention give to us and the boat when we booked it in for an annual maintenance check. We received superb after- sales support ...what a revelation!" Warwick    "Gaia Retreat"   Hanse 342    

"The Hanse 430e known as "Lady Fay" left Pittwater in beautiful conditions heading for Airlie Beach. The further we went the worse the conditions got until, off Terrigal, the sea was like a giant washing machine with a 30 knot northerly blowing.  Despite only being two up, the boat was terrific and shipped no green water and never dipped a gunwale. This was when we discovered that Hanse 430's have the worlds best head.  The normal practice of using the push pit was abandoned for the comfort of the head where you can brace yourself with no fear of being tossed into the galley (embarrassing). Arriving off Newcastle at 11pm we were called in by the coast guard because of worsening conditions. Our next destination was Coffs Harbour and then to Southport and again there was only two of us.  Now to cut a long story short, from leaving Pittwater and arriving at Southport we averaged twelve knots with sustained bursts of 16 knots.  Even on watch alone there was no problem letting the auto pilot steer while you went down to make a coffee.  We ate hot meals all the way and had dry beds.  The boat was "bloody" awesome with absolutely no vices.  We stopped in Manly (Qld) for a few days and had some fun blowing away the Wednesday afternoon race (WAGS).  The rest of the sail was very boring as we did Manly to Airlie Beach in fourteen hours at Rosslyn Bay.  Again this was done two up using only standard working sails.  GO THE 430's!" John Moore  " Lady Fay"  Hanse 430e

  "After a lengthy career competing in both Olympic classes and offshore races, when it came time to purchase a cruising yacht I wanted to ensure I got a boat that above all else sailed well. After a lot of research I made the decision to buy a Hanse 370e for its sailing performance, interior layout, quality of build and aesthetics. Our boat has more than met my expectations. With its great systems, I can easily sail it single handed with the family onboard and the interior layout is very practical and user friendly. All in all, a great yacht for those that want performance with their cruising." Glen Sowry "Hanseoff" Hanse 370­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

"As a single woman buying my first boat, making the right choice was a big issue for me.  It had to be easy to handle.   I had to build my own confidence in handling and skippering the boat.  I had done a lot of cruising and some racing, but skippering was a whole new ball game.  I had to find a boat that was going to be kind to me and forgiving if I got it wrong.  I also knew that the boat I chose would be mine for a lot of years to come, so I wanted to buy something that could grow in its performance as I grew in my ability.   I needed to be able to go out with non-sailing girl friends without scaring them.    I wanted a sail boat with a traditional feel.  I also wanted all the modern luxuries that were available.  I had to be confident that I would get a lot of after sale back up.  I new I would need more assistance than the average purchaser!  I chose the Hanse  37 and I have never regretted my choice.  She has been the source of so much pleasure and the proudest thing I have ever done!  She is so simple to handle and I have learned so much with her.  Now I am looking forward to racing her this winter!  The back up and support I have received from Tony and Kay has been fantastic.  Way beyond what I ever might have hoped for.  They could not be more helpful and are still just as much there for me three seasons later. I love my Hanse and would not hesitate to make the same decision again." Sandy "Audrey Marlene" Hanse 370­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­   

"We have been sailing our Hanse 411 two handed for two years cruising the coast between the Bay of Islands and Tauranga. This is a true sailor's yacht which is perfectly balanced on all points of sailing, with a very light helm. Even going to windward in a big swell and a chop for 5 hours on a coastal passage is no big deal; she just gets in a groove and powers away effortlessly. It also sails well in as little as 7 knots of breeze! Our yacht is also very strong, with a highly polished wood interior and is beautifully engineered. We have had no failures or things we'd change. During this period we have sailed our boat for 211 days because we love being out on her. Our children and grandchildren also get excited about going away with us.  For discerning buyers this is the ultimate sailing machine, designed by Vrolijk who designs for Alinghi." Murray and Jean "First Landing" Hanse 411

"When we asked for the comments from our Owners we thought we might 5 or 10 comments back given how busy everyone’s lives are – but no, they pretty well all have sent us a comment and that just reinforces our opinion that we have the nicest group of owners anyone could wish to have. Thank you everyone." Kay and Tony “Bon Chanse” Hanse 370

 Why do love our Hanse 400e?  'It just looks good, inside and out, and is a real sailing boat!'   'We love the amazing internal volume and the clean modern minimalist styling'.  The self tacking headsail is just wonderful for cruising but is equally effective for racing.  But best of all we love how well she sails and handles in all sorts of conditions." Derek & Jill Redman "Tirohia" Hanse 400e

"A very easy, quick and beautiful boat to sail."  John and Merrill Cliffe "Enhanse" Hanse 370e­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

"Hanse Off has pleased us beyond our expectation in fact it is hard to fault the boat cruising or club racing. Fast, comfortable, easy to sail, strongly built and equipped. An eye catching boat that draws interest and admiration." Don Watkins "Hanse Off" Hanse 370e

"We are in our third year of cruising and a little racing with our Hanse 371 and have enjoyed every moment. We enjoy the fast and easy sailing, and all the cruising comforts. Our association with Tony Newmarch Marine Brokers has been excellent. Their knowledge, helpfulness and enthusiasm are great and we really appreciate it." Arthur and Caroline Elworthy "Hanse Free"  Hanse 371

"I enjoy the odd race, but did not want a straight out racing boat. When I first saw the Hanse I admired the simplicity of sailing with a self tacking jib, the epoxy hull, and the 2900kg of ballast that the 400e has. There is no need for a large crew, and it is capable of good speed upwind, 7.3knots is easily achieved, and with a bit of fiddling it can get close to 8knots. I am very proud of my Hanse 400e and my Wife and I have found that cruising with the interior layout we have chosen is really great." Don Woolerton "Ocean Lure"  Hanse 400

"Exceeded our expectations - a great boat to sail and a great boat to be on." Chris & Kevin   " Madame Joy"  Hanse 400

 "It looked right, felt right and exceeded all expectations on the water...just magic!" Or  "Slicker'n greased owlshit." Peter and Pauline Vause  "Blown Away" Hanse 370

HIS COMMENTS

• Enthusiastic, reliable and totally straight up and down sales agent. Everything is done properly and promptly. After sales service is fantastic.
• Extremely strong, hi-tech construction gives peace of mind. Epoxy hull eliminates osmosis risk. Massive keel fastenings and backing plates. All bulkheads completely glassed in. Plus a Lloyds Ocean a certificate is standard. No other yacht I looked at offered this combination.
• Ease of sailing short- handed with self tacking headsail with all trimming being possible from the helm.
• Very fast, stiff and beautifully balanced hull greatly increases cruising range - especially day sailing or overnighting.
• The variety of layouts and interior finishes allowed us to customise to our tastes which was not possible on most yachts I looked at
• Although it was not the cheapest, I thought the Hanse 370e was the best overall value out of the wide range of cruising yachts that I looked at. I still do.

HER COMMENTS

• The self tacker is great when I would rather read my book than help - which is most of the time.
• Brilliant bathroom and shower.
• A proper sized galley with lots of storage that people can still get past when I am working in it.
• Light, airy and spacious, but with good privacy too.
• Good motoring performance - encourages him to use it when necessary! John and Helen Hawkins "Sublime" Hanse 370e

Extract from why I bought a Hanse ..................by Hugh Fulton
I ended up at the boat show on the viaduct basin and was wandering around looking at all the available boats.  I met an owner on a Hanse, the make of which I had never looked at previously.  The owner, an engineer, pointed out 4 main features on which he had made his decision.  These made an impact on me.

• Judel Vrolik Designer of Alinghi winner of the America's Cup
• Heavier construction than other imports.
• Stronger material Epoxy instead of polyester. No osmosis!
• Best resale value of the imports with 25 sold in NZ.

This prompted me to then do an Engineering comparison of all the boats I was considering.  This helped me focus on what I liked or disliked on other boats.  I now had additional features which became important.

• Stiffness,
• Motion Comfort ratio for sailing.
• Sail area to displacement ratios,
• Waterline length. etc.
• Ease of cruising with a self Tacking headsail for Kids, Wife, Being lazy etc.

Having then made up my mind that Hanse offered these features best suited I chose the 43 foot version with twin wheels.  As this was a new model at the time I had a long wait and could have cancelled at any time.  It was worth the wait. Hugh Fulton Perchanse Hanse 430 " They sail fast and well, even without Tony!"  Hugh

"Our Hanse 40 arrived in New Zealand in February 2006. We have done 3000 miles in her cruising and racing including single handed racing. The self tacker makes it so easy to handle short handed and we are very pleased with the performance. We love the boat and would recommend it to anyone." John & Jocelyn Allemann  "Glory Days Hanse 400

"Between Christmas and the end of February 2008 we have spent five weeks cruising on our new Hanse 400e. We have found the boat fast and easy to handle. The available space and cabin size makes for easy living aboard and great for entertaining! These yachts are capable, perform well, and in our opinion 'stand out' in any anchorage.  The support from Tony Newmarch Marine Brokers throughout the purchase process, launching and post launch has been first class." Paul and Jane Wylie.  "Gabrielle" Hanse 400

"The Hanse 411 was most definitely the right choice of yachts for me.  The key decision points were its ease of handling and stability combined with a very comfortable and smartly designed interior layout all delivered at an excellent price.  Equally as important, however, was the personalised help and service Tony and Kay provided both during the sales and delivery process along with the ongoing support still being received." J. Harris "Southern Belle Hanse 411

"We too love our Hanse 400e. We wish we could  have used it more .Faye's illness has  precluded  us from much of this summer .and sadly Golden Pond  has not had the cruising we had so  hoped for and anticipated in this wonderful  summer." Rob Green "Golden Pond" Hanse 400

"Why do we love Hanse yachts? Well it's very simple - with a Hanse you get a yacht that can actually sail to windward efficiently; has clean uncluttered decks; doesn't look like a floating caravan; has superb hull integrity because of epoxy construction; and with a self-tacking headsail it is easy to sail shorthanded." Mike and Debbie  "Gitana" Hanse 400

"Love the ease of sailing, the ambience & uniqueness of the interior & the structural integrity of the vessel, particularly the keel bolts." John and Christine Cowan "Zeta"  Hanse 400

"After many years of dreaming, owning our own boat has become a reality thanks to the advice and support of many friends. We are now very pleased to consider Tony Newmarch among those friends. Tony came very highly recommended from a number of quarters and his manner and capability were evident within minutes of meeting. After meeting Kay in NZ and Peter and team from Windcraft Australia, we had complete confidence in the purchasing process. Subsequently, with the boat arriving, being fitted out and undergoing sea trials, Tony has helped us gain confidence in the boat's ability (and our own). The Hanse 350 is a perfect size to be managed be two, with the ability to take 2-4 guests. With a background of cruising / chartering, with only recent exposure to racing, this boat has acted perfectly for us as less experienced sailors, with a straight-forward rig and stability that will see us venturing out on longer trips. The equipment and space on board is first class. Additionally, the engine is quiet, the domestic layout is excellent, and she feels larger in the main cabin than you would expect. Yet, she still receives positive attention from nearby racing crews. David Davies-Payne and Marianne Scott "Wandering Hanse" Hanse 350