Discovered a vessel capable of traversing the North Sea and sailing through European waterways
In the heart of the British countryside, Beryl Chalmers and Simon Palmer, retired individuals with a passion for cruising, embarked on a journey to find the perfect boat for their cross-North Sea and European adventures. Their search led them to the Delphia 10 LoungeTop, a versatile and comfortable vessel designed for varied cruising conditions.
The Delphia 10 LoungeTop, a 32' 1" (9.78 meters) long boat with a 11' 5" (3.48 meters) beam and a shallow draft of 2' 7" (0.79 meters), was the ideal choice for this intrepid couple. The boat, named Mardi Gras, was the third hull off the production line and was available within a couple of months, in time for the summer season.
Key features of the Delphia 10 LoungeTop include accommodation for 2 guests, with an optional layout for 4 guests, and a maximum of 12 persons on board, offering flexibility for cruising. The boat is equipped with one or two cabins and one guest head, providing sufficient comfort for extended voyages.
The hull and superstructure are constructed from GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic), ensuring strength and durability while maintaining a relatively light dry weight of 13,823 lbs (6,270 kg). Several engine options are available, ranging from 44 HP to 109 HP, allowing for tailored performance according to cruising needs. Fuel capacity is 106 gallons (around 400 liters), with fresh water capacity at 100 gallons (about 380 liters), which supports longer trips without frequent resupply.
Designed and architected by Vripack, known for combining functional design with aesthetic appeal, the Delphia 10 LoungeTop is a testament to balance and comfort for long-distance coastal and offshore cruising.
Mardi Gras, the Delphia 11, also boasts a big aft cockpit, cosy bow lounge, and a wonderful flybridge and outdoor helm for enjoying sunshine when conditions allow. The boat was moored near iconic locations such as Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, and Henley.
Beryl Chalmers and Simon Palmer had initially considered another boat, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 44, but found it too tall to fit under many Dutch waterway bridges and consumed a lot of fuel. Their search led them to the Delphia brand, a Polish yard owned by the French Beneteau group, which offers boats suitable for inland waterways cruising but can also be fitted with conventional diesel engines.
The Delphia 11 is RCD rated as Category B, making it capable of offshore passages under certain conditions. Mardi Gras passed under Tower Bridge, another item checked off Beryl Chalmers and Simon Palmer's bucket list.
In their first season, Mardi Gras added over 200 hours to the engine, used under £1,400 worth of fuel, and averaged 5.3 liters per hour. A broken lock at Chertsey forced the boat to stay at Tingdene Marina near Reading for the winter.
The Delphia 11 offers two good double cabins, two heads, a spacious indoor saloon, galley, dining area, and helm station for comfortable liveaboard cruising. The boat had a successful North Sea crossing with a smooth journey and a cruising speed of 8-9 knots.
After visiting the Duesseldorf boat show in January 2023 to view every 40ft motor cruiser on the market, the couple found the Delphia 11 Fly Lounge to be the most suitable, with an air draft of 2.95m, making it suitable for Dutch waterways. They tried a Greenline 39 Hybrid, but found it slightly tight for four people and difficult to board or disembark.
The dog on Mardi Gras found its own way to get up and down from the flybridge, jumping straight from the foredeck over the windscreen. The Delphia 10 LoungeTop, with its door from the inside helm to the side deck and a side gate, made mooring easy, even when single-handed.
The Delphia 11, with its blend of comfort, performance, and versatility, has proven to be an ideal companion for Beryl Chalmers and Simon Palmer's cross-North Sea and European cruising adventures.
- The Delphia 10 LoungeTop, their chosen boat, offers a spacious flybridge and outdoor helm on Mardi Gras, perfect for enjoying sunshine.
- The hull and superstructure of Mardi Gras, the Delphia 10 LoungeTop, are constructed from GRP, ensuring strength and durability.
- With a maximum speed of 8-9 knots, Mardi Gras, the Delphia 11, had a successful North Sea crossing, proving to be an ideal companion for their cruising adventures.
- Although they initially considered the Beneteau Swift Trawler 44, Beryl Chalmers and Simon Palmer found it too tall for many Dutch waterway bridges and fuel-consumptive.
- Mardi Gras, the Delphia 11, is designed with two good double cabins, two heads, a spacious indoor saloon, galley, dining area, and helm station, making it comfortable for liveaboard cruising during their travels.
