Gilles Vaton 78 Sloop (1983)

This 23.8m VATON 78 SLOOP for sale is a cruiser / racer sailing yacht designed by Gilles Vaton and extremely well built in aluminium by the French shipyard Pouvreau under the supervision of the famous French navigator Éric Tabarly. This sailboat is robust and very seaworthy. Flush-deck sloop with elegant and timeless lines, she is very high-performance vessel and used exclusively for private purposes. She has crossed the Atlantic several times with a crew but is regularly used by 2 because she is easy to manoeuvre.

The VATON 78 SLOOP yacht’s performance is not only due to her magnificent hull, but also to her high-tech equipment: Axxon carbon mast, Rod rigging and Kevlar backstays, Harken furlers, thirteen Harken and Lewmar electric winches, and a beautiful North Sails wardrobe (130 m² full-batten mainsail, 170 m² genoa, 120 m² solent, 40 m² staysail, 200 m² gennaker, and three asymmetrical spinnakers of 290 m², 400 m², and 450 m²).

Her aft cockpit is dedicated to manoeuvring with its huge white steering wheel, electronic repeaters, and winches. It has direct access to the crew quarters via a staircase protected by folding sprayhood, and is separated from the central cockpit by a deck area where a sunbed can be installed while anchored. The central cockpit is dedicated to relaxation with two benches and a teak table. It has access to the interior saloon via a staircase, also protected by folding sprayhood. It is also shaded by a bimini.

The interior layout is classic and functional, with a U-shaped galley to port, a chart table to starboard, a U-shaped main saloon/dining room around a large table to starboard and a secondary dining room to port.

This VATON 78 SLOOP sailing yacht can comfortably accommodate 6 guests in 3 cabins and 4 crew members in 2 cabins. The two double guest cabins are forward. The Owner’s cabin is located amidships, below the cockpit. Each of these three cabins has its own en-suite bathroom. The two crew cabins are on the aft section of the vessel.

In addition, she’s equipped with: 7 kW Onan generator, 600W Watt & Sea hydro-generator, 2 Eberspacher heaters, 120 l/h Aquaset watermaker, complete navigation electronics and Standard C satellite communications, Iridum telephone, 3.4 m Highfield tender, etc…

This legendary GILLES VATON 78 SLOOP sailing yacht has belonged to the same Owner for over 30 years. She was refitted in 2009, 2014 & 2019 and is always meticulously maintained. She is in excellent condition and is seeking an experienced sailor to take her on new long-distance adventures.

KEY FEATURES

• Very prestigious aluminium sailboat, having won races and belonged to celebrities
• Only for connoisseurs in search of pedigree and performance
• Private sailing yacht, never chartered and remarkably maintained
• Performance sailing yacht, perfect for long-range or family holidays
• Exceptional hull and deck plan
• Very fast yacht but very easy to manoeuvre, even with 2

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

• Builder: Chantier Naval Pouvreau (France)
• Model: Vaton 78 Sloop
• Design: Gilles Vaton Design
• Type: Sailing Yacht / Sloop
• Construction: Aluminium
• Year Built: 1983
• Refit(s): 2009, 2014 & 2019
• LOA: 23.80 m (78’ 1”)
• Beam: 6.00 m (19’ 8”)
• Draft: 2.90 m (9’ 6”)
• Displacement (light load): 32,000 kg (70,548 lb)
• Displacement: (full load): 35,000 kg (77,162 lb)
• Upwind Sail Area: 300 m² (3,229 sq ft)
• Downwind Sail Area: 580 m² (6,243 sq ft)
• Engine: 200 Hp VOLVO TAM
• Location: Lorient, FRANCE

RIG

• AXXON mast in carbon fiber
• SPARCRAFT boom in aluminium
• Spinnaker pole in carbon fiber
• NAVTEC hydraulic boom wang
• Rod standing rigging
• Kevlar backstays
• SPECTRA running rigging
• HARKEN genoa electric furler
• FACNOR gennaker electric furler

SAILS

• Sails by NORTH SAILS
• Hydranet Full Batten Mainsail: 130 m² with lazy bag & lazy jack
• Dacron Gennaker: 200 m² (2,152.8 sq ft)
• Spectra Genoa: 170 m² (1,829.9 sq ft)
• Hydranet Solent: 120 m² (1,291.7 sq ft)
• Spectra Staysail: 40 m² (430.6 sq ft)
• Spinnaker 1: 450 m² symmetric (4,843.8 sq ft)
• Spinnaker 2: 400 m² symmetric (4,305.6 sq ft)
• Spinnaker 3: 290 m² asymmetric (3,121.5 sq ft)

PROPULSION

• Type / Fuel: Single Diesel
• Main Engine: 200 Hp VOLVO Tam D41 (rebuilt 2019)
• Engine Hours: 650 h (April 2026) since major overhaul
• Transmission: Direct stainless-steel shaft
• Propeller: 3-Blade MAX PROP 2 X folding propeller
• Maximum Speed: 10 knots
• Cruising Speed: 8 knots

TANKAGE

• Fuel Capacity: 2 x 400 l = 800 l (211 US Gallons)
• Fresh Water Capacity: 4 x 450 l = 1,800 l (475.5 US Gallons)
• Grey Water Tank: 70 l (18.5 US Gallons)
• Black Water Tanks: 2 x 40 l = 80 l (21.1 US Gallons)

ACCOMMODATION

• Classic interior
• 6 Guests in 3 en-suite cabins
• Guest Cabin Configuration :
  • Amidships Owner’s cabin (double) with sofa, closet and en-suite bathroom
  • 2 x Forward Guest cabins each with closets and en-suite bathrooms
• Crew Accommodation:
  • 2 x Crew cabins (4 berths)
  • 1 x Shared bathroom

LAYOUT

• Exterior:
  • Flush deck
  • Aft double cockpit
• Interior:
  • Starboard saloon
  • Port dining room
  • Chart table
  • Galley
  • Workshop
  • Laundry

MAIN INTERIOR EQUIPMENT

• 25 Amp deck socket
• 7 kW ONAN generator (1200 h in April 2026)
• 600W WATT & SEA hydro generator removable
• Service Batteries: 6 x 110 Ah = 660 Ah in 12V
• Starting Batteries: 2 x 110 Ah = 220 Ah in 12V
• Generator Battery: 1 x 110 Ah in 12V
• 100 Amp MASTERVOLT battery charger
• 3000W VICTRON inverter 12V/220V
• 300W CRISTEC inverter 12V/220V
• 2 x EBERSPACHER heaters with water circuit
• 100 l/h AQUASET  watermaker
• 150 l hot water boiler
• 3 x LAVAC manual toilets
• 1 x LAVAC electric toilet

NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

• VOLVO electronic engine displays
• VOLVO electronic engine controls
• 2 x DANFORTH magnetic compasses
• B&G Hydra 2000 navigation pack (Loch / Speedometer / Wind vane / Anemometer / Depth sounder / Etc.)
• NKE navigation pack
• NKE autopilot
• 2 x FURUNO GPS / Plotter / Radar (24 NM)
• MAC computer

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

• 2 x ICOM VHF radios
• Portable VHF
• ICOM Pactor 4 SSB radio
• IRIDIUM Open Port satellite phone

ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT

• 24” SAMSUNG TV in the saloon

MAIN DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT

• Fully equipped galley
• GN Espace 4-burner gas stove
• GN Espace gas oven
• SAMSUNG microwave
• 3 x Fridges (250 l + 150 l + 120 l)
• 1 x Freezer (350 l)
• SEAGULL IV water purifier
• SAMSUNG washing & drying machine in laundry

MAIN EXTERIOR EQUIPMENT

• 2000W LOFRANS windlass
• 55 kg SPADE anchor with 90 m chain
• 35 kg CQR anchor with 100 m rope
• 2 x NAVTEC hydraulic pumps
• LEWMAR mainsheet and tracks
• 2 x HARKEN STE110 electric winches
• 2 x LEWMAR ST70 manual winches
• 3 x LEWMAR ST65 manual winches
• 2 x LEWMAR ST48 manual winches
• 2 x ANDERSEN STE72 electric winches
• 2 x ANDERSEN STE65 electric winches
• Helm with large wheel and instrument’s console
• Teak bathing platform
• Folding swimming ladder
• Folding spray hood
• Folding bimini
• Sun awning
• Cockpit cushions
• Sunbathing

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

• CO² sea fire-fighting system in engine room
• 5 x Portable extinguishers
• Automatic bilge pump and manual bilge pump
• 8 x Life jackets
• 8 x Safety harnesses
• BOMBARD 8-man life raft
• OCEAN SIGNAL EPIRB satellite beacon (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)

TENDER

• 3.40 m (11’ 2”) HIGHFIELD Hypalon tender with aluminium hull, YAMAHA 15 Hp engine (2023)

2009, 2014 & 2019 REFIT DETAILS

On request.