Fleet Action: Best Boats 2010
Check out the nominees for the 2010 awards!
Never mind the economy -- it’s business as usual in the boating game. Well, not quite. Everyone in the marine trade is feeling the financial pinch these days, so it’s even more impressive that so many new boats have been developed and readied in time for the fall boat show season. What this year’s line-up of new models—everything from dinghies to multi-million-dollar world cruisers—tells me is that the sailboat trade is extremely resilient and, like all of us, looking forward to a better 2010.
SAIL will be at the Newport and Annapolis boat shows in force, evaluating this latest crop of boats for our Best Boats awards. Our highly experienced team of sailors and editors will pore over each boat, looking for those creative and innovative touches that set it apart from the rest of a highly competitive field.
Download our web-only full table comparing all statistics and specifications of our Best Boats 2010 nominees.
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Rustler 24
The Rustler 24 is a daysailer that is elegant and tough. More
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Morris M29
Morris Yachts' M29 daysailer comes with clever little touches that reveal themselves upon closer inspection. More
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Grand Soleil 54
The Grand Soleil is a fast, handsome yacht that will also be a satisfying race ride. More
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Catalina 445
The Catalina 445, designed by Gerry Douglas, is a fine, all-around sailing boat with a layout suited for offshore and coastal cruisers. More
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J/95
The versatile J/95 is a shoal-draft boat with both twin rudders and a centerboard. More
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J/97
The J/97 rates well under IRC and will give bigger J/Boats a run for their money. More
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Island Packet Estero
The Island Packet Estero is medium-sized and aims for liveability. More
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Hunter 39
This new cruiser marks a styling departure for Hunter Marine. More
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Hanse 630
One of SAIL Magazine's nominees for the 2010 Best Boats, the Hanse 630 is quick and easily-handled thanks to its big, fully-battened mainsail and self-tacking jib More
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Dufour 405
The Dufour 405 offers a choice of layouts to suit long-distance and coastal cruisers alike. More
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Lipari 41
Fountaine-Pajot's new model is available in three- or four-cabin layouts. More
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Morris M52
The Morris M52 is a daysailer by name but is capable of long offshore passages. More
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Jeanneau 33i
The Jeanneau 33i is a simple boat, perfect for a young family. More
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Jeanneau 57
The Jeanneau 57 is an express cruiser with nice detail touches and a capacious interior. More
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Beneteau First 40
Beneteau's First 40, part of its First racer-cruiser series, offers a family-friendly interior and a sleek profile. More
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Lagoon 400
The Lagoon 400 is a mid-range catamaran whose design emphasizes practicality. More
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Moody 45 DS
The Moody 45 DS's unusual layout sets it apart from the crowd. More
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EKO 6.5
By Peter Nielsen
Mini 6.5 is one of the nominees for SAIL Magazine's 2010 Best Boats of the year awards More
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Oyster 655
The Oyster 655 is a boat that combines luxurious amenities with first-class performance. More
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Passport Vista 615
The Passport Vista 615 offers an interior custom-built to each owner's requirements. More
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Prout 45S
Classy woodwork and solid quality mark the return of Prout to the American market. More
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Sensei 9M
The Sensei 9m is a Turkish import with an Italian style and a hull that rewards good helming. More
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Shannon 53 HPS
Shannon 53 HPS is a motorsailer with a difference. More
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Summit 35
The Summit 35 is a handsome racer-cruiser with sizzling performance and family-friendly accommodations. More
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Sunsail 384
The Sunsail 384 is a catamaran with plenty of lounging space and a two-hull design for privacy. More
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Topaz
The Topaz is an English import that can be a gentle daysailer or a full-on trapeze boat. More
