Best Boats

Best Boats 2012 Winner: The Passport Vista 545 CC (Flagship: Monohull)

by Peter Nielsen, Posted November 17, 2011

Passport has been creating strong, beautifully detailed cruising boats at its yard in Xiamen, China, for 20 years and each new model evolves slightly from the previous one. Looking at the new Passport Vista 545 CC at Annapolis made us wonder if the factory locks a man inside the boat each night and gives him breakfast only after he has come up with some small improvement.

Best Boats 2012: Farr 400 One Design (Performance 30ft and Over)

by David Schmidt, Posted November 17, 2011

The Farr 400’s all-carbon construction, powerful sailplan and excellent deck and cockpit layout make it a convincing successor to the aging Farr 40. The 400’s lifting keel and two-part carbon mast (supported by EC6 standing rigging) also allow for cost-effective shipping in a 40-foot container, facilitating international competition.

Best Boats 2012 Winner: The Southerly 49 (Systems)

by Nigel Calder, Posted November 17, 2011

Britain’s Southerly Yachts has been building shoal-draft cruisers for decades, so the 49 has a serious pedigree. Designer Rob Humphreys also works for Oyster, so there is a generous splash of luxury in the 49’s detailing and accommodations.

Best Boats 2012 Winner: Outremer 49

by Charles J. Doane, Posted November 17, 2011

This quick cruiser from France was entered in last year’s Best Boats but never made it to the shows. It’s a handsome cat with twin wheels and a number of layout options to suit everyone from charter operators to world cruisers.

Best Boats 2012 Winner: The Bavaria Cruiser 45 (Cruising Monohull Under 50ft)

by Charles J. Doane, Posted November 17, 2011

The twin rudders on this beamy cruiser ensure excellent helm control even when hard on the wind at an aggressive angle of heel. The wide transom incorporates an enormous flip-down swim platform that is raised and lowered with an electric motor and will undoubtedly make you the envy of the anchorage.

Best Boats 2012 Winner: The Leopard 44 (Cruising Multihull Under 50ft)

by Peter Nielsen, Posted November 17, 2011

South African builder Robertson and Caine consistently hits the mark with its cruising/charter cats, designed by American firm Morrelli & Melvin. The new 44 combines practicality, volume and decent performance in a capable-looking package.

Best Boats 2012 Winner: The BayRaider 20

by Adam Cort, Posted November 17, 2011

The BayRaider 20 may look traditional with her ketch rig and saucy sheer, but she is very much a modern boat, with features like a self-draining cockpit and a water ballast system to help tailor performance to your particular sailing needs.

Best Boats 2012 Winner: The VX One Design (Performance 30ft and Under)

by David Schmidt, Posted November 17, 2011

From the same design team that brought the world the Viper 640 comes a new sport boat configured for two- and three-person racing. The boat is designed to be both affordable and accommodate a wide range of experience levels.

Corsair Sprint 750 MK II

by Peter Nielsen, Posted September 14, 2011

This fast folding-wing trimaran is in its second incarnation, with a revised deck plan and rig and larger amas to improve sailing satisfaction and performance. Not changed: the adrenaline rush that comes with double-digit sailing speeds! corsairmarine.comSPECSLOA: 24ft 4inLWL: 23ft 1inBeam (folded)

Bavaria Cruiser 45

by Charles J. Doane, Posted September 13, 2011

It wasn’t so long ago that German builder Bavaria Yachts was giving other mass-production sailboat builders a serious run for their money here in the United States.