21 YACHTS WERE TESTED FOR THE 21ST RUNNING OF EUROPEAN YACHT OF THE YEAR. TOBY HODGES, THE BRITISH MEMBER OF THE 12-STRONG JURY, FOUND LOTS TO LIKE
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.
SEE THE VIDEOS Our videos for all these yachts are live on youtube/yachtingworld or being released each week
FAMILY CRUISERS
ALL YACHT PRICES IN THIS FEATURE ARE CURRENT (2024) BASE PRICES EX VAT
NOMINEES: Bavaria C46 // Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 // Dufour 41 // Elan Impression 43 // Hanse 410 // Maxus 35 // RM 1380
A crop of the latest 35-45ft mainstream production yachts, including the ultra spacious Dufour 41 and the smaller sister to the award-winning Hanse 460, plus a couple of less well known yachts, made for a dynamic grouping this year. In this, the most competitive size bracket for volume production yachts, there was plenty to like, but two models stood out: the RM and the Bavaria. The former because it’s different and fills an interesting niche that crosses fast cruising with family sailing, from coastal and shoal draught to bluewater ability; the Bavaria because it masters that mix of deck and interior space, performance and handling in a well finished package.
You could argue the Dufour 41 doe
