RUTHLESS - The Dehler 33 designed by Judd & Vrolich as a fast but comfortable cruiser/racer. She will sleep 6/8 comfortably with adequate stowage. She is beautifully finished in limed cherry wood giving a light and airy feeling down below. A large saloon area provides a space to sit and discuss the days' success, she is fitted with a double cabin in the aft port quarter a further double cabin in the bow and will sleep 2 in the saloon. She also provides an extra berth in the starboard aft quarter, which can sleep one adult or 2 children or be used as a storage and hanging area.

The galley and navigation station are situated either side of the companionway and both are easy to work. The galley provides a 4-ring gas cooker with oven and an integral cool box. Fresh water is pumped to the galley and heads.

The outboard facing navigation station is particularly good, with a dedicated seat on a hinging arm.

Under sail she slips along with remarkable ease. Reaching under main and jib at 7.9 knots in a 13-knot breeze is good going for any 33-footer. Upwind she gets into the groove easily, with typical speeds of 6 knots albeit in flat water conditions. Under spinnaker she has been known to touch 20 knots! up to 14 knots she is very stable.

Ruthless is fitted with a Yanmar saildrive installation for very quiet motoring with minimum vibration. The Dehler 33 is delightfully nimble under power, turning about her keel even at slow speeds. Unlike most boats that run out of steam at high revs, the clean underwater shape and her long waterline length mean that this boat shows a respectable increase in speed throughout the rev range.

All in all she is a delightfully simple boat to sail and there is ample cockpit room for 4. Her small headsail makes tacking easy for the crew, who can stand within the security of the companionway throughout the manoeuvre. Her single line reefing system means you can shorten sail quickly from here too.

Easy and rewarding to sail she might be, but she is typical of many of the new breed of cruisers and heels quickly to the breeze owing to her narrow waterline beam. Once heeled, she stays there and her deck layout design means that you always feel secure.