Winners of the European Yachts of the Year award announced

In mid-January, the prestigious European Yachts of the Year award is traditionally presented. For 2021, a total of 24 boat models in 5 categories were among the standardized, on which 12 journalists from European nautical magazines conducted tests in La Rochelle and Barcelona last fall.

In the Performance Cruiser category, the nominations were: IC 36 Independence, J/45, JPK 39FC, Pogo 44 and Solaris 40. In this one of the most attractive categories, the French JPK 39FC won. It is a sailboat whose interior reflects all the modern elements of a comfortable family cruiser, but the cockpit, hull and sailboats are more inclined to the range of racing sailboats.

In the Luxury Cruiser category, the nominees were: Hallberg-Rassy 50, Jeanneau Yachts 60, Lagoon 55, Swan 58 and X 5.6. The title of the best went to the Swedish Hallberg-Rassy 50. The model is also the first carbon-sailboat with an in-mast roll system, developed by the shipyard in collaboration with Selden.

In the Family Cruiser category, which is most often associated with the charter segment, the following shortlisted boats were: Beneteau Oceanis 34.1, Dufour 470, Hanse 460, Jeanneau SO 380 and trimaran Neel 43, and the victory went to the Hanse 460.

The Bluewater cruiser category had only four nominated vessels because the fifth applicant did not arrive for testing. Thus, in the competition of Allures 51.9, Aries 370, Windel 50 and Outremer 55, the latter celebrated with the reference of a very attractive, fast and comfortable catamaran that has a proven reputation for construction.

The last category of Special Yacht was filled by all very interestingly designed sailboats such as: De Cesari 33, Revolution 24, Sunbeam 32.1, small trimaran Tricat 6.90 and Saffier SE33 Life, and for the second year in a row celebrated the Dutch shipyard Saffier Yachts.