Innehållsförteckning för January/February 2024 från Cruising World

With each passing year, it seems that top-end, fully found cruising boats become more powerful and sophisticated. They have ever-advancing construction techniques; major developments in charging systems, energy efficiency and propulsion; and fresh approaches to layouts and interior accommodations. In other words, designing and building big cruising boats is a pursuit that continues to evolve, both technically and creatively. And nowhere was this reality on better display than with the trio of yachts that comprise the Full-Size Cruiser class for 2024. All three represent the state-of-the-art approach of their respective naval architects and manufacturers, and the fascinating results are a collection of all-oceans bluewater sailboats that can take us anywhere in the world we wish to go. JEANNEAU Jeanneau Yachts 55 It’s not every year that the winner of the…

It was perhaps fitting that these two longtime pillars of the production catamaran community came head-to-head for the title of best full-size cruising cat of 2024. Talk about symmetry: Both boats measure in at about 51 feet and share a similar price point of just around $1.6 million. Each is produced by one of the pioneering French multihull builders that’s been at the game for decades. In some ways, this matchup was not unlike a heavyweight boxing bout between Ali and Frazier, or a good old-fashioned feud like the Hatfields and McCoys. It was a duel that the judges relished and dreaded because the competition would undoubtedly be close—but there could be only one champ. FOUNTAINE-PAJOT Fountaine-Pajot Aura 51 During deliberations, judge Mark Pillsbury summarized the overall layout of the…

HH CATAMARANS HH44 In just about every Boat of the Year contest, seemingly out of the blue, a nominee is so unique in its design and execution that the judging panel decides to honor its bold vision and innovation with the Judges’ Special Recognition prize. For 2024, this prize goes to the HH44. ¶ Judge Herb McCormick provided the overview: “We almost didn’t have the opportunity to sail the HH, which was offoaded from a freighter and rigged up near the close of our test days. Our test boat was Hull No. 2, called Titan, owned by a vastly experienced Caribbean sailor who was on board for our trial. He was one of more than three dozen sailors who purchased the boat sight unseen, from renderings, and was clearly thrilled…

“Can you come up here? It’s getting pretty shallow, and I think I’ve lost the channel.” This inauspicious statement from the skipper, coupled with the shrill beeping of the depth sounder, had become familiar the past two days. I finished putting the coffee on to perk, and hauled myself up through Wild Rye’s companionway. Our Wauquiez Centurion 32 was en route to Pedregal, Panama, a small fishing town some 20 miles from the sea via a winding network of estuaries. It’s the country’s westernmost port of entry on the Pacific side. Our depth sounder, circa 1980, had been working overtime ever since we’d cruised up the Estero Boca Chica Channel the morning before. We had already touched bottom twice: Once, we were able to reverse off the sandbar with the…

4.3591° S, 55.8412° E Anse Patates Beach, La Digue, Seychelles Rising from the Indian Ocean approximately 1,000 miles off the eastern coast of Africa, the 115 islands that make up the Republic of Seychelles are among the most secluded in the world. The 72 Outer Islands, largely composed of coral atolls, are a sharp contrast to the Inner Islands—dominated by Mahé, Praslin and La Digue—that feature twisted granite formations, mountains and vibrant tropical forests that provide a habitat for bird species exclusive to this remote part of the planet. Beyond La Digue’s pristine beaches, charterers will find weaving trails perfect for hiking or horseback riding through the lush, undulating terrain. Panoramic views from Belle Vue and the summit of Nid d’Aigle are genuinely breathtaking.…

2024 BOAT of the YEAR Find out which boats took home the hardware in this year’s Boat of the Year competition, beginning on page 36. Then, scan the QR code and join us online for the full scoop on all of this year’s nominees, with bonus sea-trial videos, designer and builder interviews, and more. Bonus Features Boat Review: Tartan 455 After editor-at-large Herb McCormick posted a photo to social media of himself steering a Tartan 455, an old pal quickly hit him back: “Tartan is still building boats?” The answer is an emphatic yes, and pretty darn good ones at that. Recent times may have been tough for American production sailboat builders, but the Tartan 455 is a testament to old-school Midwestern gumption. Scan the QR code for our exclusive…

4 Tbsp. butter6-8 baby potatoes, sliced, or 2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped1 medium onion, chopped¾ cup celery, chopped2 medium carrots, grated2 cups frozen peas3-4 cups seafood or chicken stock½ cup white wine1 cup water1 tsp. salt¼-½ tsp. black pepper1-1¼ lb. fresh, skinned salmon fillet1 cup heavy cream (or to taste)*1 bunch fresh dill, to tasteDash of Worcestershire sauce (optional)Liquid red-pepper seasoning or red pepper flakes (optional)2-3 Tbsp. flour (optional) * at least 35 percent fat or it might separate serves 6 to 8 Melt the butter in a large soup pot. Briefly saute the potatoes and vegetables in the butter. Add stock; bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and let cook until the potatoes and veggies are al dente (8 to 10 minutes). Meanwhile, poach the salmon.…

At first glance, there’s a certain familiarity to the Jeanneau Yachts 55. Once upon a time, 50-plus-foot cruising boats were a rarity in far-flung ports, but they are now quite common. And of all the production builders, Jeanneau has long enjoyed a strong reputation for building boats that sail exceedingly well. What separates Jeanneau’s new 55-footer—and ultimately sealed the deal as our pick for Overall Boat of the Year for 2024—is what happens when you step aboard. The experience brings to mind the title of that old Monty Python film And Now for Something Completely Different. Jeanneau’s design team, collaborating with naval architect Philippe Briand on the hull and interior designer Andrew Winch for the layout and accommodations, took a blank sheet of paper and created something fetching and unique.…

A pair of sleek, fast, beautifully presented yachts from Italy were the nominees for the top Performance Cruiser. After dockside tours whet the collective appetite of the judging panel, we couldn’t wait to hoist sail and evaluate each boat’s sailing prowess. And in both cases, we were in for a treat. “Performance cruiser” can be a somewhat vague concept to define, but it’s instructive to note that our sister publication—the focused yacht-racing magazine, Sailing World—categorizes these boats as “crossovers.” In other words, they can seamlessly serve cross purposes, as inshore or offshore racers, or as dedicated cruising boats. In both instances here, that selective criteria is perfectly addressed. ITALIA YACHTS Italia 14.98 “Whoa,” judge Tim Murphy said. “I’ve never in my life sailed a boat like this. It pointed higher…

For the first time ever in the 25-year history of Boat of the Year, we’re introducing a new class to the proceedings: Performance Trimaran. To make things spicier, the two nominees not only shared the same length overall of 40 feet, but they also came in at the near-identical price point of around $800,000 for the base boat. ¶ Beyond those two parameters, however, the different approaches from these disparate brands were interesting and exciting. Cruising trimarans, though rare, are nothing new; the well-established Neel line of French-built trimarans has enjoyed plenty of success in previous BOTY contests. With that said, the judging panel was champing at the bit to put these fresh three0hull whizzes through their paces. And once under sail, we were definitely not disappointed. DRAGONFLY Dragonfly 40…

Herb McCormick Over the course of his career as a sailor and yachting journalist, Cruising World editor-at-large Herb McCormick has written hundreds of boat reviews and raced and cruised tens of thousands of miles, including the Newport Bermuda Race, the Sydney-Hobart Race, the Pacific Cup and the Transpac. His offshore résumé includes a voyage to Antarctica, a transit of the Northwest Passage, and two roundings of Cape Horn. The author of five nautical books, he’s owned and maintained several sailboats, including his current Pearson 365 and Pearson Ensign. As a Boat of the Year judge, he concentrates on sailing performance, safety and deck layouts. Mark Pillsbury Mark Pillsbury is a die-hard sailor who has owned and maintained a number of sailboats, including a Sabre 34 on which he lived for…

PRACTICAL SOLUTION and TECHNIQUES DIY PROJECTS If a sailboat lies unattended even for a short time, its decks and canvas can quickly become grubby from bird droppings and windblown dust. I have counted 50 of the little darlings perched along the triatic stay on my schooner Britannia, all having a merry chirp while doing other things. I spent a lot of time looking at intricate, expensive devices that are supposed to frighten birds off my boat, but it’s practically impossible to keep them off every part of the deck and rigging, where they sometimes land on vertical wires. I finally concluded that the cheapest, most effective solution is a simple awning. There are multiple benefits to a good awning. I also wanted to protect the center-cockpit canvas Bimini top on…

ALLURA 2003 Hallberg-Rassy 46 The Hallberg-Rassy 46 is far and away one of the nicest blue water cruising boats available. Comfort, performance, storage, and excellent construction details on this proven design are just a few of the reasons why the 46 is a sought after world cruiser. Allura is hull #191 of 202 built and has received a high level of care over her lifetime. She is “push button,” featuring Selden hydraulic genoa and mainsail furling, and electric winches. Fully equipped with a hard dodger, diesel heater, air conditioning, generator, 120/220v electrical systems, bow thruster, complete safety gear, Highfield aluminum-hulled RIB with Yamaha outboard, recent Elvstrom EMS/EPEX mainsail and genoa, and Furuno and Raymarine electronics, this is a cruising boat that is truly ready for new horizons. Lying Portland, Maine.…

“We make two things here: boats and dust,” says Tartan Yachts chief designer Tim Jackett, from the assembly floor of the renowned sailboat manufacturer’s Painesville, Ohio-based headquarters. From left to right are a Tartan 395 and Tartan 365 that are currently in production, and a 37C and 4400 undergoing major refits, a significant part of the company’s business. Recent times may have been tough for American production sailboat builders, but Tartan Yachts, in many aspects, is as vibrant as ever, a true testament to old-school Midwestern gumption. Story on page 60…

The first of two four-boat classes in this year’s competition, the Midsize Cruiser division was stacked (as always) with entries from a quartet of longtime marine-industry veterans, all of whom have been dependably delivering yachts in this size range for eons. For many cruisers, especially cruising couples, the roughly 40-foot length overall is their sweet spot: a yacht voluminous enough for comfy accommodations; long enough to sport enough heft and features for inshore and offshore adventures; yet not so grand that it becomes daunting to sail, moor or maintain. These Midsize nominees represent the bread-and-butter offerings of their respective brands, which means they need to be smart and well-executed. All four nominees achieved that goal. HALLBERG-RASSY Hallberg-Rassy 40C About the 40C, judge Tim Murphy got straight to the point: “Arguably,…

While strolling the docks of the Annapolis Sailboat Show each fall for the past decade, one thing has become abundantly clear: Between the rows of charter catamarans lining the docks in the section known as Vacation Basin and the ubiquitous lineup of cats (and trimarans) on display on the Spa Creek Marina piers, the twin-hull phenomenon continues to resonate, and it easily remains the fastest-growing segment of the sailboat universe. That anecdotal observation was backed up by hard numbers in the 2024 Boat of the Year fleet, with more than half of the contestants being multihulls. ¶ Fittingly, then, the most competitive category in this year’s contest was this class of four cruising cats. Amazingly, in features and layouts, each nominee was decidedly different from the others, a true benefit…

It’s not every year that the Boat of the Year judging panel has an opportunity to review cool little boats that totally accentuate the pure joy of sailing, and that get a bonus point if they offer simple but functional camper-cruising accommodations. For manufacturers, the all-too-frequent dearth of these boats is a result of Economics 101: Building boats is a tough business, it’s not always easy to make a buck, and the greater profits to be had make a strong case for building larger vessels. ¶ But, at their very core, the BOTY judges are, first and foremost, sailors. So, when not one but a pair of nifty multihulls received nominations for the 2024 awards, it was a happy occasion indeed. Better yet, once under sail on the Chesapeake, these…

I Home Boy THERE’S AN ALARM CLOCK ON THE NIGHTSTAND beside Tim Jackett’s bed in his home in Erie, Pennsylvania, but he doesn’t need it. Every weekday morning, at the otherwise sleepy hour of 5 a.m., he’s already wide awake, up and at it, ready to go. The drive to Painesville, Ohio, the current home of Tartan Yachts, is a 75-mile straight shot down I-90 that he can generally knock off in a bit over an hour (though he once got stranded on the highway for 11 long hours in a lake-effect blizzard). Jackett started working for Tartan as a summer job in college almost 50 years ago. Though he hasn’t toiled there continuously since then, the work has been the central thread woven through his long, eventful career as…

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE Unless you are moving on to something better, few owners look forward to the day that a buyer surveys their boat. It’s the day they hand the lines of their beloved vessel to a new caretaker. Regardless of whether the sale is cause for jubilation, reflection or melancholy, it’s in one’s best interest to ensure that the day goes as smoothly as possible. Having attended scores of surveys, I’ve been witness to how and why things can go awry, and I’m convinced that most of the worst scenarios can be avoided. On many occasions, I’ve muttered to myself, often while hunkered down in a bilge or engine compartment, How could this owner believe this vessel was ready for a survey? Every problem that is identified becomes an…