The European Yacht of the Year continues to be the focal point of our testing programme and brings much to many. For readers, sailors and yacht buyers, it helps show what to look for and why, current trends, what works and what doesn’t. To the 12-strong jury, all leading critics in our individual countries, it’s the ideal opportunity to comparatively test multiple yachts and weigh up our varying appraisals – whether those views are stemming from Med-, Atlantic- or Baltic-based backgrounds.
And I believe it has helped and continues to benefit the yards too, encouraging the production of more refined, better built and value yachts, with fewer flaws, for which they should be recognised. In the last 21 years we have sailed 450 yachts over 35,000 miles!
All jury members sea trial each yacht – over two weeks in La Rochelle, France, and Barcelona’s Port Ginesta – before we vote to decide the best yachts of the year. The result is the most impartial and coveted awards for new production yachts available.
Yes, this celebrates the winners and shows why they won, but – as I always say to the yards which didn’t clinch the overall prize – all 21 nominated yachts are shortlisted for good reason and it should be remembered that some will miss out on an overall award by a fraction. That doesn’t make them any less interesting.
So on the following pages, as well as detailing the winners, we showcase all the nominees and highlight their practical features, some of which may be applicable to your search for a yacht for sailing right now, or in time to come.
FAMILY CRUISERS
NOMINEES: Bavaria C46 // Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 // Dufour 41 // Elan Impression 43 // Hanse 410 // Maxus 35 // RM 1380
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wallywind 110 launches
The first example of Wally Yacht's new wallywind performance cruising range launched this summer, during the iconic Italian brand's 30th anniversary year - and in time for its debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
Irish skipper wins Figaro
Irish solo skipper Tom Dolan took a historic victory in this year's La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, winning the solo multistage offshore race overall only the third non-French competitor ever to do so.
Youth AC puts on a show
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's team won the UniCredit Youth America's Cup after a highly absorbing series comprising 12 international teams racing the one-design AC40s off Barcelona.
ATLANTIC BEYOND
SAILING THE SECOND EXPLORATION 60 ON A WEST-TO-EAST ATLANTIC CROSSING WAS IDEAL FOR A RIGOROUS TEST OF GARCIA'S NEW NOWHERE YOU CAN'T GO FLAGSHIP
UNCONTROLLED
HELPLESSLY APPROACHING AN UNINHABITED ISLAND IN THE GALAPAGOS WITHOUT ENGINE OR ELECTRONICS, JON VAN TAMELEN FEARED BEING IMMINENTLY SHIPWRECKED
SECRET ISLAND
BEYOND THE FORBIDDING ENTRY RULES OF TAIWAN IS A CULTURE RICH IN SEAFARING HISTORY AND STUNNING LANDSCAPES, FINDS CAMERON DUECK
LAND OF THE BIRDS
SKIP NOVAK DESCRIBES THE PERILS, CHALLENGES AND JOYS OF A CRITICAL EXPEDITION VOAYGE TO SURVEY SOUTH GEORGIA'S ENDANGERED WANDERING ALBATROSS
FIRST STEPS TO BLUEWATER
YOU CAN GET INTO WORLD CRUISING FROM A STANDING START AND EXPERIENCE THINGS NO OTHER TRAVELLERS DO. CATHERINE LAWSON AND DAVID BRISTOW TALK TO FOUR COUPLES WHO PROVE IT
HARD CHOICES
IN AN EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT FROM HER NEW BOOK, PIP HARE REVEALS WHAT DROVE HER ON WHILE RACING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN OCEAN IN THE 2020 VENDÃE GLOBE.
INTO BATTLE
COULD THIS BE THE MOST COMPETITIVE VENDÃE GLOBE EVER? HELEN FRETTER FINDS OUT WHAT THE SKIPPERS WILL BE FACING.