An Impressive Boat of the Year Ensemble Sets Sail
We must be getting lucky. The denizens of Annapolis, Maryland, have dubbed their city "the sailing capital of the United States" for many reasons: the abundance of yachts; myriad nearby rivers, creeks and backwaters on which to explore and cruise; the abundance of marinas and shipyards; the frenetic local racing scene; and the annual in-water Annapolis Sailboat Show, the country's biggest and best. While we largely agree with the moniker, after decades of testing sailboats for our annual Boat of the Year (BOTY) contest in the days following that Annapolis show, we also know that this is true: Chesapeake Bay can be a light-air crapshoot and a fickle test bed in early autumn.
Which is where our luck came in. For the third straight year, our on-the-water assessments-following our BOTY dockside inspections during the show-were blessed with several days of near-ideal sailing conditions. It wasn't perfect, and we did have a couple of drifters, but for the most part, all 19 nominees in the competition got to strut their stuff in wind and weather that helped them shine.
The marine industry is continuing to shake off the effects of the pandemic, when supply chains were mightily disrupted and builders put the usual R&D for new models on hold while scrambling to address suddenly overflowing order books for their existing models. But this year, longtime major production builders such as Jeanneau were back with a vengeance. HallbergRassy, a major BOTY player seemingly every year, had not one but two intriguing nominees to judge. Newcomers such as the Rapido 40 tri added spice to the endeavor.
This story is from the January - February 2024 edition of Cruising World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January - February 2024 edition of Cruising World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Off Watch
A1A is not only my favorite Jimmy Buffett album, but it's one of my favorite records ever. If I were marooned on an island and could bring only five CDs with me, this would be one of them
PREPARING A VESSEL FOR SURVEY
Trying to hide a boat's problems never ends well for the seller. Follow these tips to have a successful day
THE WESTERN WAY
Instead of buying a pricey custom canvas awning for my schooner, I made my own \"covered wagon.\"
HIDDEN GEM
BUT ALL AROUND IS A PARADISE FOR SAILORS WHO LOVE TO LINGER AND EXPLORE
Last Man Standing
During the past four decades, the once-thriving business of American production sailboat manufacturing has nearly vanished, and dozens of companies and builders have fallen by the wayside. And then there's Tartan Yachts of northeast Ohio, which, in some aspects, is as vibrant as ever. Longtime Tartan stalwart Tim Jackett, a marine-industry lion in winter still making a stand, might be the central reason why
Boat of the Year 2024
With sweet, early autumn sailing conditions on Chesapeake Bay, a strong fleet of 19 contenders competed for top honors in our annual Boat of the Year competition. Once the spray had settled and the votes were tallied, the judges awarded prizes in seven categories for monohulls and multihulls. The overall winner? The surprising, innovative Jeanneau Yachts 55.
On Watch
Sometimes, a seamanship or safety issue requires sailors to give up and turn around. But other times, it's just fear taking control of a situation that can be handled
Sailor & Galley
This rich, steaming stew from the Pacific Northwest warms chilled sailors' bones and brings back a lifetime of memories.
Seamanship
George Eldridge first published the Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book in 75. Its new edition, published by the sixth generation of his family, is an impressive feat of continuity
Island Time
It's impossible to rank these favorite destinations by beauty. Instead, sailors should set a waypoint based on what they want to experience