2012

Best Boats 2012 Winner: The Bavaria Cruiser 45 (Cruising Monohull Under 50ft)

by Charles J. Doane, Posted November 17, 2011

The twin rudders on this beamy cruiser ensure excellent helm control even when hard on the wind at an aggressive angle of heel. The wide transom incorporates an enormous flip-down swim platform that is raised and lowered with an electric motor and will undoubtedly make you the envy of the anchorage.

Best Boats 2012: Farr 400 One Design (Performance 30ft and Over)

by David Schmidt, Posted November 17, 2011

The Farr 400’s all-carbon construction, powerful sailplan and excellent deck and cockpit layout make it a convincing successor to the aging Farr 40. The 400’s lifting keel and two-part carbon mast (supported by EC6 standing rigging) also allow for cost-effective shipping in a 40-foot container, facilitating international competition.

2012 Best Boats Winners

by Sail Staff, Posted November 21, 2011

Among this year’s 2012 Best Boats Award winners are a cat with two cockpits, another cat with two tillers, a variable-displacement daysailer and a pair of red-hot raceboats. Clearly it takes more than a little bad economic news to keep the boatbuilding industry down!

Best Boats 2012: Topaz 14 CX

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 26, 2011

Small beach cats are always good for some fun sailing, and this new 14-footer promises to combine thrills with user-friendliness. Designed by top European multihull sailors Rob White and Yves Loday, the Topaz 14 CX comes with a choice of rigs that take it from perky singlehander to red-hot twin-trapeze racer.

Best Boats 2012: RS Venture

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 26, 2011

The latest from the UK-based dinghy and performance-skiff manufacturer RS Sailing, the new 16-foot Venture dinghy serves equally well as a daysailer, trainer or club racer. The boat’s huge cockpit can fit a half-dozen people and includes storage space in a rear locker for an outboard engine. An internal ballast option provides additional stability, making the boat nearly self-righting should it

Best Boats 2012: Marblehead 22

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 26, 2011

Built in wood/epoxy by Samoset Boatworks in Maine, this little beauty is designed by Doug Zurn. Its big square-topped mainsail is set on a freestanding carbon spar and wishbone boom, which really sets it apart from the crowd. samosetboatworks.comSPECSLOA: 22ft, 9in LWL: 18ft, 8in Beam: 6ft, 10in Draft: 3ft,

Best Boats 2012: J/70

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 26, 2011

The latest J/Boats design updates the venerable J/22 and offers something new as the company’s first ramp-launchable keelboat. This latest entry into the sport-boat market features a vertically lifting bulb keel, a carbon fiber single-spreader rig that flies a masthead A-sail and a large open-transom cockpit with dedicated stowage for an outboard motor.

Best Boats 2012: Harbor 30

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 29, 2011

Here is a sweet-looking daydailer-cum-weekender that combines traditional good looks with the fine build quality that W. D. Schock boats are known for. The Harbor 30 has cozy accommodations for four, with an enclosed head/shower and a tidy galley. A fractional rig with self-tacking jib promises easy handling.

Best Boats 2012: Bavaria 32

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 29, 2011

The smallest member of Bavaria’s new Farr-designed Cruiser series, the Bavaria 32 has a wide beam carried well forward and a full 6ft of headroom in the saloon. Careful styling, though, has produced a cruiser that looks good under sail, belying all that interior volume. The boat’s large, sturdy flip-down swim platform will serve up plenty of fun at anchor.

Best Boats 2012: Hunter E33

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 29, 2011

After bringing a half-dozen new designs to market in 2011, Hunter Marine continues to upgrade its line of cruisers and daysailers with the new e33. The boat is vintage Hunter, with a stainless steel cockpit traveler arch, spacious accommodations belowdecks, a well thought-out cockpit and a B&R rig. The e33 also features the longer saloon windows and hull windows that have become a hallmark of the