The Best Boats Class of 2017 might appear staid to some given the many radical innovations the boatbuilding industry has introduced of late, a kind of Thermidorian reaction, a la the French Revolution, following a period of red-hot experimentation. What’s that, you say? You mean ...read more
The Xquisite X5 catamaran is this year’s systems winner in recognition of its beautifully engineered digital switching system and numerous other thoughtful touches, such as universal wall outlets (which will accept European and American-style plugs), USB ports in every cabin, ...read more
Best Small CruiserThis was a decision that provoked some debate among our judges, as the Seascape 24, which boasts a long retractable carbon-fiber bowsprit and a modern go-fast hull form, is obviously designed primarily as a performance boat. However, it is also a simple and ...read more
Best DaysailerThis is an exceptionally versatile and fun little boat from Austria that took our judges entirely by surprise. Weighing just 120lb all-up, this car-toppable beach-cat-cum-rowing-shell can be assembled in less than 10 minutes with no tools required. The largest ...read more
Best Monohull Cruising Boat 30 to 40ftA product of the same veteran Slovenian company renowned for its skis, the Elan E4 is one of those rare boats that really can do it all—a performance-cruiser that sails like a witch and yet is truly comfortable belowdecks for when you want to ...read more
Best Performance Boat under 30ftWhen it comes to downwind sailing, it’s an asymmetric world, especially at the upper levels of the sport, like at the Olympics. The problem is becoming adept at handling an A-sail and/or becoming comfortable enough with one that every gybe and take ...read more
Best Large Multihull 50ft and aboveThis dedicated cruising catamaran from South Africa boasts an amazing list of standard features—including all sails, electric winches, a genset, a watermaker, air conditioning, a huge 900-watt solar array and a washing machine, to name just a ...read more
Best Large Monohull 50ft and aboveSolaris has been building trendsetting yachts in Italy for some 40 years, so we were pleased to find one of its boats on offer here in the United States. The Solaris 50, designed by Argentinian Javier Soto Acebal, certainly has stunning looks. ...read more
Best Multihull Cruising Boat 40 to 50ftThe curvaceous Lagoon 42 replaces the iconic 420/421 and fills in the gap between the French builder’s 400 and 450 models. It’s not only a great addition to the product line in terms of length and price, it represents a fresh take on ...read more
Best Monohull Cruising Boat 40 to 50ftWhat becomes a legend most? A re-do, at least when it’s well done. With this in mind, Gerry Douglas, Catalina Yachts’ most prolific designer, set himself a monumental task when he set out to design a successor to the renowned Catalina 42, ...read more
If you’ve never heard of Sirena Marine, look to the luxury motoryacht world, where the Turkish company is something of a powerhouse, having built more than 220 boats for Azimut Yachts. Now, with its partnership with Azimut scaling down and a world-class manufacturing facility at ...read more
One of the joys of living in the Pacific Northwest is that you can sail year-round—provided, of course, that you’ve got the right boat. As I approached the Hanse 575 Crescent Wave at Port Sidney Marina in Sidney, British Columbia, I noticed three things: her impressive freeboard; ...read more
Salona aims its boats squarely at the performance cruising market, which was then dominated by X-Yachts and Beneteau’s First line in Europe, and J/Boats in the States.
Bavaria’s Cruiser 36 received mixed reviews when it was launched a few years back—not because of its sailing abilities, but because of its love-it-or-hate-it styling. Those pillbox-themed portlights and the concave curve to the cabintop sides were not stylists BMW Group Designworks’s most inspired treatments, although that didn’t prevent more than 350 examples from being built.
