Innholdsfortegnelse for New Boat & Gear Guide 2025 i SAIL

Bali Catamarans, known for their ability to accommodate a passel of people in style and comfort, are taking it up another notch with the new Bali 5.8. Launched to celebrate Bali’s 10th anniversary and debuting at the Cannes show in September, this new flagship 58-footer “completes the range from the top down,” the company said in a media release, coming after its launch last year of the opposite end of the range, the 38-foot Catsmart. “Bali Catamarans knows how to be gigantic in all the models in its range, by opening up the boats and offering nearly 20% more space than traditional catamarans of the same size,” the company says. “So when it comes to 18 meters, the art of Bali Catamarans clearly shines through.” That is to say…

Despite already having an award winning cat in this size range, the 50, HH has launched a new model with a new purpose: electrification. With owners increasingly asking for quieter, more sustainable, fume-free, long range cruising, electric options are looking like the future of the industry. The purpose-driven design features a new cabin top to accommodate a solar array and more sail area so that owners can spend more time sailing and less time motoring. Small wings have been added to the keels, which calculations suggest should reduce leeway by up to a degree while sailing upwind, adding back some of the efficiency that cats aren’t known for. This all supports a 48 volt electrical system with a 43.2kWh house bank and EcoDrive Parallel Hybrid Electric/Diesel propulsion system. The…

The new Leopard 46 replaces and builds on the success of its predecessor, the immensely popular Leopard 45 launched in 2017 (380 boats built). While certain aspects of the Leopard DNA are still in evidence in this model—the forward cockpit for entertaining accessed from the salon, the helm position relatively high and to one side with sail controls led here, and a large flybridge lounge next to the helm—new features include an integrated salon and cockpit layout with a sliding door to create a larger indoor/outdoor living and entertainment space. The boat is available with three, four, or five cabins and heads. And, a new electric propulsion option is being offered with the 46, which is set to make its debut at the Annapolis Sailboat Show in October. LOA 45’6”…

The latest from Tartan Yachts is a refreshing step in a smaller direction. As most production builders continue to go broader and bigger, Tartan’s new 335 is 33 feet of traditionally informed elegance and seakeeping ability that makes for a luxurious daysailer or a sensibly sized cruiser for two. This is unmistakably a Tim Jackett design, with sweeping lines, a classic transom, and slight spring in the sheer complementing the well-proportioned deckhouse and elegant line of the cockpit coamings. But it would be a mistake to think this classic vibe means sedate sailing. Thanks to Tartan’s sister company AMP Spars being in house, the 335 comes standard with a carbon spar, meaning massive weight savings aloft (50% lighter than a traditional aluminum rig). Coupled with the boat’s cast lead…

Moody has launched a new installment of their “monomoran” concept—a 48-footer that borrows design ideas to bring the flow and spaciousness of a cat to the performance of a monohull. The boat can be sailed entirely from the twin helms aft or from the optional interior steering position. The twin helms are two steps up from the regular cockpit floor. Even in this raised helm position, on previous models smaller drivers had some visibility issues due to the coach roof, so check out your own sightlines to make sure it’s a good fit. Moody has also re-imagined the job of the typical bow person to something a little more plush, tucking a seating area complete with a removable table at the very front of the boat. At a mooring, it…

I first saw the new Hanse 410 at the Annapolis spring boat show in April. Like her big sister the 510, which I had sailed the previous fall (a SAIL Top 10 Best Boats winner for 2024), she looked sharky even trussed and fendered to the dock. Her reverse, wave-piercing bow, flat sheer, and gradually sloping, lean cabintop combined for a profile that was rakish and speedy. A week or so later, we took her for a spin on a sterling spring day on the Chesapeake Bay with a 12- to 15-knot southerly, and I was happy to find that this boat is even handier and just as quick as her big sister. To my way of thinking, this is a huge positive, because no matter how you slice those…

Hallberg-Rassy builds carry a reputation of solid offshore cruising boats. However, the forecast for my date with the 40C was among the lightest air the Annapolis area could offer. Arriving at the boat, a few more ripples danced across the water than expected, but this vessel was not about to highlight her heavy weather chops. Instead, after an afternoon cruise with not much more than 6 knots of breeze, I walked away impressed with the Germán Frers design’s light air capability. As we pulled away from the dock, hull No. 14 (of 33 built to date) carried a suit of Elvstrøm laminated sails on Seldén furlers; the main on an electric in-mast furler, a 110% jib on a through-deck electric furler, and a code zero on a CX-25 continuous furler.…

When I showed up for the sea trial of the Seawind 1170 right after the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis last fall, I was in for three surprises. One, they already had a passel of potential buyers onboard—a passel meaning 18 other humans in this case—which is hardly a typical sea trial arrangement. I wasn’t at all sure how the catamaran would respond with all the extra ballast. But my worry led to surprise number two: No worries! The heavy load turned out to be a rounding error, and this 39-footer performed remarkably well in the flat water of the South River, slipping along at 6.8 knots in just 10-12 knots of true breeze on a beam reach with a full-hoist mainsail and the screecher on a continuous furler. Surprise…

Let’s be honest: Transducers aren’t as sexy as the cool graphics and touchscreen capabilities of today’s navigation and electronics packages. But the information that those packages deliver, like speed and depth, is only as good as the instrument that’s gathering it—and that’s where the Airmar DST810 Smart Multisensor comes in. The DST810 (DST equals depth, speed, temperature) features a new paddlewheel design that delivers quicker, smoother speed data. An accompanying free app, called CAST, lets you easily calibrate speed, depth, and transducer offset, and most significantly, it enables these calibrations at different angles of heel. The Gen2 paddlewheel, integral to the DST810 Smart Multisensor, senses speed as low as 0.3 knots and becomes linear at 0.6 knots, outperforming other wheels that need more speed to begin delivering data. If you’re…

The off season is the time for boat projects. But doesn’t it just frost your cookies when you’re all set to finish that piece of trim, and you re-open the half-full can of varnish you thought you’d sealed up tight only to find the contents rendered to goop? Experiences like that are what drove sailor and woodworking enthusiast Steve Zawalick to create Bloxygen, a product that saves your leftover paints and finishes from being ruined by exposure to oxygen and moisture. Bloxygen—which stands for “blocks oxygen”—uses ultra pure, inert argon gas to essentially displace oxygen in a container. Spray the stuff in via a narrow tube, and the argon gas, which is 25% heavier than oxygen, falls to the surface of the can’s contents, pushing the oxygen up and out…

RECENT ARRIVALS PEGASUS 50 The Slovenian-built Pegasus 50 has already proven its offshore sailing chops, winning the 2022 OSTAR. Designed by company co-founder Marko Paš, this fleet cruiser is aimed at the couple or small family who wants to sail fast and comfortably across oceans. Hull No. 1 launched in Europe in 2021; this year, No. 9 arrives in the U.S. The overarching sense one gets while learning about this boat is that it was designed by people who have spent a lot of time offshore and simply “get” what a sailor is going to want and need. This is true of ergonomics as well as design and practical details, large and small. Examples include the unfussy, workmanlike helms handling twin rudders, well organized with perfectly placed primary and secondary…

With the new 360, Hanse Yachts continues its design partnership with Berret-Racoupeau, extending the line that began with the 460 and 510 (both SAIL Top 10 Best Boats winners in 2023 and 2024, respectively) and now also the new 410. Remarkably, many of the same features you’ll find on this boat’s big sisters are integrated into this 36-footer. What that means is quick, sporty sailing and accommodations that are rather jaw-dropping for a boat of this size. Keeping in line with the earlier models, the 360 employs a mix of hard and soft chines to bring the beam forward above the waterline but maintain a relatively narrower hull shape below. In profile, the boat’s nearly reverse sheer, plumb bow, and low cabintop give her the same lean, fast look as…

This mid-sized cat from Lagoon is designed with adaptability at the forefront, and as successor to the Lagoon 42, the 43 is likely to be just as popular. The rig has been moved forward, which allows for a reimagined sail plan that has more sail area. Aft, the hulls have an unusual cut away in the side, allowing for easy boarding when docked side-to, eliminating the typical scramble up or catty corner step out to a stern platform. It is in a low traffic area, so it doesn’t make any of the active zones on the boat feel less secure, and the design makes so much sense, I’m surprised it’s doesn’t already exist on half the cats in the marina. The helm station is to port on a split level…

Seawind Catamarans have managed to walk a thoughtful line creating serious bluewater cruising cats that deliver solid sailing chops without the complexity and expense of epoxy-carbon builds and daggerboards. With their newly designed 1370, their stated goal is to “lead the way for a new generation of performance cruising catamarans for which Seawind has gained a good reputation for building in their 42 years of business.” This new boat is a collaboration between Seawind and The Yacht Design Collective. At 24,000 pounds displacement and with wave-piercing, reverse bows, the boat remains light and nimble without resorting to more expensive materials, such as carbon, to achieve the same goal of quick sailing. The design has been optimized to enable the boat to carry a heavy cruising payload yet still perform well…

The new flagship in the Xquisite Yachts sailing line is the 60 Solar Sail, a no-luxury-left-behind bluewater cat that that employs hybrid propulsion to maximize energy autonomy. Xquisite partnered with Dixon Yacht Design to create this South African-built cat with an emphasis on lightweight composite construction, carbon reinforced in critical areas. The lines are sleek, with reverse wave-piercing bows and a flat sheer offset by the nicely sloped cabintop. The helm is to starboard and up high, with a neighboring lounge area on the flybridge that can get some quick shade from a retractable awning built into the boom. All sailhandling is led to the helm, with all-electric winches helping manage the boat’s 2,324 square feet of upwind sail area. The cockpit has dedicated storage for dive gear, a garage…

I ’m a racer, and I don’t like the sound of engines,” said Stephane with a laugh as he showed me around Awen, his sleek and recently launched Outremer 52. “We wanted to sail more and motor less, which is why we went with Outremer.” This sentiment is pervasive among Outremer owners who together have logged some 2.3 million miles over the company’s history. As new models are introduced, more adventurers are made, and that’s about to heat up with the launch of the latest design. The Outremer 52 replaces the very popular 51, of which 101 were sold. Those are some big shoes to fill, but the new model has already rung up more sales than any other semi-production performance cruising cat in the same time frame. This latest…

I stepped aboard the NEEL 52 after the Miami Boat Show and met owner Oliver Liddell in the galley as he was making a chardonnay and orange juice cocktail. It had been a long day for both of us. He was ready to relax, and I was ready to beg for one more test ride. I put on my most plaintive expression and he relented, setting aside his drink and pressing the young team from Miami’s Performance Yacht Sales into action. This latest Marc Lombard design replaces the popular NEEL 51 of which around 40 hulls were built, so it has much to live up to. It also comes on the heels of SAIL’s 2023 Top Ten Best Boats winner, the NEEL 43. The 52 is sleeker than her predecessor…

“Have you ever sailed on Lake Erie before?” Fred Hunger asks as he maneuvers his new Tartan 455 deckhouse sloop from the slip at the Cleveland Yacht Club on the Rocky River. It’s maybe a quarter mile from the docks to the river entrance onto the lake’s southwest corner, denoted by a stone jetty geysering with spray. The boisterous northwest breeze on this early August day has the flags even in this protected boat basin snapping. “Nope,” I say. “I’ve always wanted to, though.” “Nice,” Fred says, positively bouncing with anticipation. “Oh ho ho, you’re gonna get a Great Lakes sail today! There’s some nice waves left out there. Last night, this lake was angry.” Fred is excited because it’s only the third time out in hull No. 1 of…

Ever since the government started polluting our fuel with ethanol, I’ve agonized over how best to power the dinghies I use when cruising. I did experiment with an early version electric motor years ago but was not impressed, as the battery sometimes went flat with no warning. Since then I’ve defaulted to hunting out ethanol-free fuel for my small outboards and often end up buying expensive “engineered” fuel in hardware stores. I was pleased, then, to have a chance to run ePropulsion’s current model Spirit 1.0 Plus motor on my 9-foot roll-up inflatable dinghy last summer and fall. I really fell in love with it, and it’s now my go-to tender motor, replacing the Honda 2.5-hp gas-powered mill I’ve put up for sale. Most importantly, I found the Spirit 1.0…

It’s been a long time since I’ve thought much about my eyewear onboard, but Vallon changed all that this summer when I tested a pair of the Swedish company’s new Malizia sunglasses. The first time I hit the water wearing them, I was stunned at the clarity and depth the V52 polarized lenses provided. I think I actually see better with them on than off. At 14% VLT (visible light transmission), they offer category 3 level eye protection, with anti-scratch and hydro- and -oleophobic coatings (which means they’re specially treated to repel water and oils). Weighing just over an ounce, they somehow established a perfect feel and fit right out of the box. Even more cool, the impact resistant black matte frames are made of 85% recycled fishing nets. Vallon…

The latest from Dufour continues the French builder’s move toward refining its performance cruising chops under the guidance of naval architect Umberto Felci, “integrating elements from the Dufour 470 and Dufour 530, emphasizing fluid communication in the cockpit, facilitating easy passage to the deck, and optimizing the overall length of the boat.” The big sister to the Dufour 41, a SAIL Top 10 Best Boats winner for 2024, this boat adopts the same design philosophy of bringing the beam far forward for maximum interior space yet keeping the hull relatively narrow below the waterline for improved performance. Sailing the 41 last year, we were impressed with how it would heel to a certain angle—in this case, about 18 degrees—and park there, a sweet spot for brisk upwind work in 20-plus…

The HopYacht 30, an all-electric 30-foot catamaran from South Africa, speaks to the concept of “hopping aboard” and taking off with a thoughtful simplicity in its approach. HopYacht collaborated with Du Toit Yacht Design—the naval architects who drew the Balance 442, 482, and 526—to create this boat that’s intended for primarily protected waters. The design takes a fresh perspective in several areas, notably its propulsion, both sail and power. The boat is 100% electric with twin ePro-pulsion Evo 6.0 pod drives that provide a 40-mile range at 4.5 knots over 10 hours, or a 16-mile range at 7 knots over about two and a half hours. Sixteen-hundred watts of solar on the coachroof feed two Balancell 14.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate batteries. Range extends when you embrace your inner motorsailer…

The new flagship from Hallberg-Rassy is the largest yacht produced to date by the Swedish builder that is known for its stout, thoughtful bluewater cruising boats. Designed by Germán Frers, the new 69 incorporates all of the seaworthy qualities found in smaller H-Rs, as well as the details of construction, and takes them to a powerful new level. With Seldén in-mast furling on a 102-foot, three-spreader carbon spar, sailhandling is push-button hydraulic, all to achieve the goal of moving this big boat with a family or, if one prefers, professional crew, from the safety and security of the center cockpit. The completely flush deck from the mast forward helps give the boat a lean, fast profile—even with the hardtop on hull No. 1 incorporating the traditional H-R windscreen and adding…

Designed by Lombard Yacht Design and Piaton Yacht Design, the Sun Odyssey 350 is a successor to 2013’s Sun Odyssey 349. The design brief aims to bring the line’s notable performance elements to a more cruiser-friendly model. The redesigned hull features chines and an inverted bow for sporty sailing, while twin rudders offer stability to balance it out. Walkaround side decks make movement from the companionway to the transom and up to the bow all possible without a step up, and handrails on the cabintop make moving forward more secure—a simple touch, but one that will pay dividends once you cast off. The rig has a square-topped main and no backstay, which accommodates new seating options for the helmsperson at either of the twin helms. Depending on the kind of…

Designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian, the ClubSwan 43 is slick racer-cruiser, with a heavy emphasis on the racer part. The boat’s standard version is in full sport-mode optimized to race in the Swan One Design Circuit or an ORC fleet, but more comfortable cruising features are also available. The rig and boom are high modulus carbon fiber, and the hull and deck are a vinylester infusion with carbon reinforcements. The structure of the hull is a single component that’s made by infusion to optimize weight and ensure structural strength. Further performance features include a eight winches, a rudder inspired by America’s Cup innovations, and a deep keel recess, allowing for better load absorption. The styling belowdecks is an unusual but handsome mix of modern and classic that we want to…

The wave roared up behind us, trying to push the big boat around, but she wasn’t having it. Instead, we surfed, speeding ahead and touching 14.4 knots, inspiring an enthusiastic “whoop whoop” from the crew. We had just hoisted the gennaker on the new Nautitech 48 Open in 20 knots of breeze outside of Government Cut off Miami Beach. Alex Sastre of Performance Yacht Sales, who had sold one of these just that morning and who doesn’t shy away from calamitous conditions, is always fun on a sea trial. “I think we really have something in this boat,” he shouted over the wind. “They got it right!” I inspected the boat from the dock before departure, and at first glance she looked like the Nautitech 44 Open (a SAIL Top…

A 20- to 30-knot northerly wind and temps hovering around 39°F on the edge of the Baltic Sea in November are not generally considered prime sailing conditions. But bundled underneath my four layers and winter hat, I couldn’t stop smiling. We’d left the slip in Haderslev, Denmark, in hull No. 1 of X-Yachts’ Xc 47, and already—after spending a few days at the X-Yachts factory and talking with the people who’d designed and built this boat—I was excited to sail her. Billed as “the ultimate cruiser,” the Xc 47 is phenomenal—innovative, comfortable, elegant, and fast on and off the wind, pointing like a race boat. She is built to be sailed around the world but still delivers on an afternoon cruise; I’d even be concerned to have her as a…

You never quite know what’s going to happen on a test sail; often, these boats are fresh off the presses, so to speak, still being set up when we’re invited along. So, it wasn’t overly surprising when our plan to unfurl the genoa on the new Hanse 510 came to an abrupt halt when we saw that the clew had been tied off around the furled sail—too far up to free it from the deck. Solving this little problem was instructive. Once our test boat’s rep rigged a quick bosun’s chair and attached it to the gennaker halyard, it was a simple matter for me, steering off the wind under the main in about 12 knots true, to hoist him gently via the electric winch by the helm. He made…

Yacht design is an evolutionary process, built on the successes and failures of previous designs. Those that plied the trade before us provided guidance through formulas and reference charts, and these have held true as the fluids we design against have remained unchanged. Advances are generally incremental. However, on occasion, a giant leap forward takes place. In modern cruising yacht design, monohulls have followed one path and multihulls another, each aiming to satisfy a set of performance and comfort desires. Yet, today’s sailors do not necessarily fall into just one camp. Is it too ambitious to want the deck space of a catamaran yet the upwind performance of a monohull? The Jeanneau team believed it was time to change the status quo with a new look at monohull design. This…

The new Xquisite 30 Sportcat looked like a drag racer, tugging at her dock lines at the Annapolis sailboat show. At 30 feet, she was by far one of the smallest boats in the water, but this carbon speedster looked like she’d give the big boats a run for their money. She was, in a word, enticing. With a rotating carbon mast, carbon deck beams, displacement of just 1,872 pounds, an interior whose greatest luxury is a mattress, and a construction methodology that lets it be dismantled and fit onto a trailer and inside a 40-foot shipping container, this little rocket is just begging to be sailed fast and fun—and that is precisely its purpose, according to Tamas Hamor, Xquisite’s founder and CEO. A cruising sailor himself, Hamor launched Xquisite…

I love quick and clear access to data when I’m racing. Even when I’m cruising, I enjoy running numbers through my head. In both cases, it keeps me entertained and drives me to push the boat harder and to sail better. Raymarine’s new Alpha series offers a streamlined way to deliver all the numbers I can handle on deck. The 7- or 9-inch displays function as a flexible sailing instrument, delivering any data on the network in a wide range of formats (portrait or landscape mode). From pre-defined pages to templates, and even the option to easily design custom pages, the screens can be set up exactly how I want them. This dials down as far as being able to select separate colors for each piece of information, like boat…