An Oldie but a Goodie

When I was a kid, I grew up not too far from a sailboat manufacturing company in Belgium and, on my way to school, would see yachts in the water tanks for waterproofing testing.

They looked like irresistible invitations to go on faraway sailing adventures. They left me daydreaming, but little did I know that one day, I would end up owning one in Florida, and, oh Boy,  did I ever have adventures with her.

The ETAP brand was started near Antwerp in 1970 and ran until 2008 when it was bought by the German Dehler Group who dragged ETAP down in its own bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the brand was never resuscitated.

ETAP manufactured sailboats from 20’ to 46’ and several models were awarded Sailboat of The Year. The sailing characteristics and quality of construction were amazing.

When people ask me what kind of boat I own my standard reply is: “It’s like me. It’s Belgian made and, like me is guaranteed unsinkable”. I can vouch for the fact that she is unsinkable but that is another story for another time.

Storage space in the boat has been sacrificed in favor of positive flotation. In many sailboats, there is a lot of storage space under the V-berth and behind the main salon settees. Not on the ETAP 32S. It is pure foam. So, if safety is your main concern, then this the perfect trade-off.

In 2004, when she was awarded Cruising World Boat Of The Year, one of the judges, Skip Moyer stated “Unsinkability has never been real high on my list. But, then again, to people who sink, it’s a big deal. A life raft is $4,000, and I’d sure as hell rather spend four hours, three days, or a week in that baby with three feet of water in the bilge than I would sitting in a life raft.”

“Promise”, our ETAP 32S sloop is an amazing small bluewater yacht, capable of crossing oceans, she is a perfect training platform, and we use her extensively for our Whitecaps Sailing School is SW Florida.

There is a lot of comfort packed in this small envelope. She has a V-berth, a spacious double cabin aft on the portside, a head with shower aft on the starboard side, a fully equipped galley with fridge, double sink and gimballed stove.

The original Volvo Penta MD2020 has been replaced with a 20HP Beta Marine, basically a marinized Kubota Tractor Diesel engine, with a saildrive. She has air conditioning with reverse heat for sometimes cooler Florida nights.

What really struck me as odd when I first laid eyes on her was her tandem keel. Imagine two keels with a large opening between them and held together by a bulb at the bottom.  The result is a lot of extra lift when tacking. She really turns on a dime.

Our students love this boat, and several have even asked me if I would be willing to sell “Promise” to them. Not likely to happen anytime soon.

So, if you are planning to take a sailing class with us in Florida, prepare to be amazed by “Promise.” She will definitely promise you a great time on the water.

Whether she’s taking students out for their first coastal navigation class or giving more advanced sailors a chance to refine their skills, “Promise” embodies what we value at Med Sailing Adventures and Whitecaps Sailing — safe, well-built boats, hands-on training, and the joy of truly learning to sail. As the American Sailing Certified School of Med Sailing Adventures, Whitecaps Sailing is proud to use a yacht with such pedigree and personality. If you join us on the water, chances are you’ll get to experience “Promise” for yourself — and understand why she has become such a beloved part of our sailing family.

ETAP 32s Specs: LOA 32′ 3″ (9.83 m.)

LWL 27′ 6″ (8.38 m.)Beam 11′ 3″ (3.43 m.)

Draft 4′ 3″ (1.30 m.)

Sail Area (100%) 460 sq. ft. (42 sq. m.)

Displacement 8,575 lb. (3,890 kg.)

Water 45 gal. (170 l.)Fuel 22 gal. (83 l.)

Designer Mortain & Mavrikios