Sailboat Review: Dragonfly 40

Over the years, I’ve had rewarding ­opportunities to meet many boatbuilders. The most successful ones—and by “­success,” I mean not only regarding the vessels they ­produce, but also the ­satisfaction they derive from perfecting their craft—all share a ­common trait: passion. 

During this past fall’s 2024 Boat of the Year contest, the most passionate of all the talented designers and builders was quite easily a lean, energetic fellow named Jens Quorning, the current CEO of the long-standing Danish outfit that produces Dragonfly trimarans.

As our judges toured the company’s latest creation, the Dragonfly 40 Performance Cruiser (which ultimately earned the title of Best Performance Trimaran), Quorning said something that rang especially true to me after we sailed the ­three-hulled wonder: “We sell fun. Fun means speed. That’s what we do.” 

Quorning’s father, Børge, launched the company, mainly focused on building wooden powerboats, in 1967. But he was also a sailor, and was smitten when a friend took him for a daysail on an old Arthur Piver-designed trimaran, so much so that he began dabbling in tris too. It wasn’t until Jens joined the family enterprise around 1980 that they dropped the power line entirely to focus on sailboats, starting with a 25-footer. 

“The name Dragonfly came because of the elegance of the insect, its wings, and how easily it flies over the water,” he said. “That’s the image we were looking for.”

The Quornings were (and are) inveterate tinkerers, and there was plenty of ­experimentation in the early years. At first, it was apparent that the rigid, fixed structure of their boats was ­problematic. That discovery led to the development of the Swing Wing system, which quickly and easily folds the amas (or, as Quorning says, the “floats”) and reduces the beam by half (from more than 27 feet to 13 feet). It became the ­signature feature in the entire Dragonfly line, which now encompasses five models from 25 to 40 feet.  

When it comes to speed, with all boats (but especially multihulls), light means might. Saving weight in the rig and laminate translates to power and quickness underway. To that end, there are four versions of the 40, all of which sport trim carbon rigs of varying heights, depending on each owner’s particular need for speed. 

The Touring and Ultimate versions are cruising-oriented and laid up with a foam core, vinylester resin, and biaxial fibers. The C Ultimate and C Performance models are no-holds-barred rockets that employ carbon in the central hull, bulkheads and centerboard trunk. If you’re going to race, you’ll go for the carbon construction. Then hold on to your hat. 

Aesthetically, to me, this is a pretty boat: low, lean and understated. I was surprised to see the twin wheels, but they position the driver outboard of the central hull and ­provide easy access to the open transom. Of course, all the running rig is led aft for quick and simple maneuvers. The reverse, wave-piercing entries on the bows of the floats no doubt are efficient, but they also look cool. The bow on the central hull tapers into a natural bowsprit (a dedicated sprit is an option) for the twin headsails and the ground tackle, and there’s a bow ladder to disembark forward, apparently a common practice in Scandinavian waters. 

I mean this next bit in the best way possible: If you look up the word “obsessed” in a Danish dictionary, you might come across a photo of Quorning. There is nothing, not a single feature, that he hasn’t considered, tested and reconsidered. The various sheet leads, barber haulers, and preventers for the mainsail, jib, and code zero are ­perfection. Below, the furniture and joiner work are executed to a high degree, and the space is beautifully maximized. The centerboard trunk doubles as a long dining table. The forward cabin is accessed through a lovely oval doorway. There’s even a nifty double berth abaft the companionway steps beneath the cockpit.

All that said, the boat’s ­purpose is an exceptional sailing experience. During our dock inspections, Quorning set a high bar when he said: “This is a fast, comfortable, easy-sailing cruising boat where you can make double-­digit speeds most of the time, which means 10-plus knots. In 15 knots, you do 15. That’s where the fun starts. In 20 knots, I can’t guarantee 20, but with 22 knots, I can guarantee 20 knots.”

Alas, our test-sail day dawned with a mere zephyr of breeze, only 5 or 6 knots. Little did I know, the fine sailing would still leave quite an impression.

The Elvstrom EPEX sails (a blend of carbon and Technora fibers) were superb. The full-battened main was a powerhouse, and the twin headsails, set off by a pair of recessed Facnor furlers, allowed quick gear shifts depending on the point of sail. The steering was pinpoint accurate. And lo and behold, in just over 5 knots of breeze, we made better than 6 knots. Yes, faster than the wind. 

I was shocked, but Quorning wasn’t. Like the man said: It’s what they do.

Herb McCormick is a CW editor-at-large and was a 2024 Boat of the Year judge.

Dragonfly 40 Specifications

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PRICE: $800,000
CONTACT: dragonfly.dk