If there’s one word that describes the boats comprising the class of 2018 in SAIL magazine’s annual Best Boats contest it’s “fun.” From the Boreal 47, a rock-solid aluminum bluewater voyager ready and able to take you to the ends of the earth, or the Reverso, an 11ft dinghy that can be quickly disassembled and stuck in the trunk of your car at the end of the day, it would be hard to imagine a better bunch of boats for getting anyone with a penchant for sailing out onto the waters of the world. Other designs that will undoubtedly max out people’s “smile-o-meters” are the Eagle 54, arguably the most gorgeous new production boat currently afloat; a pair of HH cats capable of blistering speeds in any and all conditions; a smaller Maine-built 38ft cat that does much the same without all the complexity; and the UFO, a fascinating little boat that hopes to do for full-foiling sailing what the Sunfish and Hobie 14 did for sailing in general in years past. See what we mean? Fun! What follows is a list of all the boats that SAIL’s Best Boats judges will be examining in the coming months. As in years past, boats will be judged in 10 different categories, including flagship monohull and multihull; cruising monohulls and multihulls between 31 and 40, and 41 and 50 feet; small cruiser; daysailer; and performance boats. Special awards may also be given out for things like exceptional cockpits or systems.Be sure to check out our December issue to see which ones win.Boats judges will be examining in the coming months. As in years past, boats will be judged in 10 different categories, including flagship monohull and multihull; cruising monohulls and multihulls between 31 and 40, and 41 and 50 feet; small cruiser; daysailer; and performance boats. Special awards may also be given out for things like exceptional cockpits or systems.Be sure to check out our December issue to see which ones win.
Monohulls Cruising
Jeanneau 51
The Jeanneau 51 provides many of the same innovations that proved so successful on the Jeanneau 54 in a smaller, more affordable and easier-to-handle package. Most obvious of these are the cutouts in the aft cabintrunk bulkhead that extend the cockpit benches a foot or so forward of the companionway, thereby offering a pair of cozy nooks to hang out in under the dodger. Other shared features include a magnificently large, articulated drop-down swim platform, well-configured twin helm stations and a lounging area forward. Under sail, the boat is easy to manage, easily driven and refreshingly seakindly underway.
Jeanneau, jeanneau.com
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440
The first of the latest generation of Jeanneau’s storied Sun Odyssey line, the Philippe Briand-designed Sun Odyssey 440 includes a number of truly innovative features: first and foremost among them, inclined sidedecks that slope down around the twin helms to make for as safe and smooth a transition from the cockpit forward as possible. Other highlights include an asymmetrical cockpit with a dedicated L-shaped lounging area to starboard; room for a portable fridge unit in the cockpit table; and a low boom that makes it that much easier to tend to the main. The result is a truly groundbreaking boat that is as seaworthy and good-looking as it is comfortable, whether on the hook or on passage.
Jeanneau, jeanneau.com
Hanse 588
The Judel/Vrolijk-designed Hanse 588 features a long waterline in the interest of speed along with a double-headsail rig that includes a self-tacking inner jib to promote ease of use. A large, semi-balanced spade rudder ensures helm control, even in heavy air, while Hanse’s One-Rope Reef System allows you to reduce sail with a minimum of effort. (In-mast furling is also available.) The boat’s optional T-Top comes with an integrated extendable bimini that allows you to fine-tune the amount of sunlight reaching the cockpit. The T-Top also serves as the base for a windscreen to protect your crew from the elements. Other highlights include courtesy/safety lights set in the boat’s toe rails and a hydraulic swim step that also serves as a launch ramp for a dinghy.
Hanse, yachts.group/hanse
Bavaria Cruiser 34
Over the years, Germany’s Bavaria Yachts has shown a tremendous ability to get a lot of volume into a limited LOA, and the new Farr-designed Bavaria Cruiser 34 is no exception. The first thing you notice when stepping aboard is the large cockpit, roomy enough to accommodate an optional double helm and an expansive swim step. However, the wizardry doesn’t stop there, as the 34 can also be ordered with as many as three separate good-sized cabins belowdecks. Bavaria employs its new proprietary VacuTec vacuum-infusion construction process to ensure the hull is as light and stiff as possible, so that performance, as is the case with all the Farr-designed Bavarias, is very good.
Bavaria Yachts, bavariayachts.com
Beneteau Sense 51
An evolution of Beneteau’s Sense 50, the new Sense 51 boasts a deck layout that works equally on the hook in a Caribbean anchorage or on passage between islands. New features include a double bow roller with a sprit for flying Code O’s or other reaching sails; an optional hardtop with an opening center section for getting in and out of the sun and rain; an aft galley behind the twin helm seats; and a closed-in cockpit configuration that provides greater security underway while still allowing easy access to the drop-down swim platform. The overall look is both very modern and very French, with blunt ends, chines aft and a wedge-shaped cabintrunk—all nicely executed.
Beneteau beneteau.com/us
Beneteau Sense 57
In many ways a larger version of the Sense 51, the Beneteau Sense 57 offers many of the same features—including an optional hardtop with an opening center section, an aft galley behind the boat’s twin helm seats and a double anchor-roller/bowsprit with a tack point for flying reaching sails—along with that much more volume for accommodation space belowdecks. As is the case with the rest of the Sense line, the division between the topsides space and belowdecks is minimal, with just three easy steps leading from the cockpit to the saloon. As is also the case with the Sense 51, chines, a nearly plumb bow and sleek lines make for a boat that is both sharp and “Euro” in appearance.
Beneteau, beneteau.com/us
Beneteau Oceanis 51.1
While the “taut,” angular lines of the deck and cabintrunk on the Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 are what first catch the eye, even more noticeable is the “stepped hull” forward. Specifically, in a nod to what has long been a feature aboard many multihulls, starting at the bow the hulls flare outward immediately above the waterline. This pronounced chine, provides additional accommodation space while retaining a narrow, slippery profile below the waterline. For those in search of extra performance, a “First” version is available with an extra-tall aluminum or carbon mast that adds up to 35 percent more sail area, and a deeper, high-aspect keel with a lead bulb. Much more than a staid cruising boat, this Oceanis promises sparkling performance combined with spacious, well designed accommodations. Once again, Beneteau has found a way to continue to push the limits of monohull design.
Beneteau, beneteau.com/us
Boreal 47
The Boreal 47 is an attractive centerboard cruiser built in aluminum and designed to take care of its crew in any kind of weather. Its unique doghouse/hard-dodger incorporates a deck-level nav station with wraparound views of the outside world and a discrete vent with a baffle system that pumps air into the aft cabins below the cockpit. Collision bulkheads fore and aft, a bulletproof companionway door and tall stand-pipe through-hulls are just a few of the features that make this a tough “go anywhere” yacht. The integral centerboard allows the boat to take the ground with ease, and the concentration of weight amidships, including a deep midship anchor-chain locker, makes for an easy motion in a strong seaway. The unique twin daggerboards aft help ease steering loads, plus there’s a hefty sprit forward for flying light-air sails.
Boreal, boreal-yachts.com
Nautor’s Swan 54
A boat that channels the absolute best of all that Nautor’s Swan has represented over the decades, the Swan 54 is a robust, seakindly bluewater cruiser that is fully capable of taking you just about anyplace in style, safety and comfort. Unlike those boats that slavishly follow the latest trends, the Swan 54 marries tried-and-true principles of marine design (think moderate displacement and a deep V hull form) with the latest in materials and construction techniques to provide a superlative and seaworthy package. Finish work, both belowdecks and topside is outstanding. Bottom line: this Swan is a truly exceptional yacht that sails as good as it looks.
Nautor’s Swan, nautorswan.com
Elan GT5
The latest from Slovenia’s Elan Yachts, which builds a wide range of racers and cruisers, the Elan GT5 represents the first of the company’s planned new “Gran Turismo” series, intended to combine comfort with performance afloat. Aft, in addition to a large swim platform, the boat boasts a cockpit galley featuring a fridge, grill and other amenities common to much larger boats. Forward, the clean deck design makes life easy for the crew, and includes dedicated cushions for sunbathing on the foredeck. Below, the accommodation plan includes an “inverted” saloon arrangement, with the galley forward and 180-degree “skylights” admitting scads of ambient light.
Elan Yachts, elan-yachts.com
Xc 38
One of the most highly regarded boatbuilders of our time, X-Yachts never disappoints, with the Xc 38 serving as the latest example of the company’s excellent “cruiser” line. Boasting rock-solid construction and carefully appointed joinery work belowdecks, the boat is also seakindly in the truest sense of the word with its deep, purposeful forefoot and moderate lines overall. Beyond that, the Xc 38 is carefully laid out so that it can be easily and safely handled by a couple, whether knocking around the harbor on a sunny day or on a passage. To this end, the boat includes twin helms, a large and powerful single rudder and a German-style mainsheet system. Aesthetically, the nearly plumb bow, springy sheer and traditional transom all work together to create a truly striking yacht.
X-Yachts, x-yachts.com
Hallberg-Rassy 412
After impressing sailors in Europe for a while now, the first Swedish-built Hallberg-Rassy 412 has finally arrived in the United States, where this high-quality boat will undoubtedly attract plenty of attention. Configured with an aft cockpit, the HR 412 is designed to carry a small crew safely and comfortably either across the bay or across an ocean. To this end the standard rig flies a slightly overlapping headsail for easy handling (a self-tacking jib is also available), while a trademark Hallberg-Rassy windscreen helps protect the crew in a blow. Forward, a belowdeck headsail furler and no fewer than seven flush hatches serve to reinforce the boat’s clean lines. A gen set, washing machine, and bow and stern thrusters are all available as options.
Hallberg-Rassy, hallberg-rassy.com
Moody DS54
The Bill Dixon-designed Moody DS54 combines the romance of passagemaking with the comfort and amenities of a powerboat, making it a compelling crossover design for those sailors contemplating switching to power—because now they don’t have to. Like the successful Moody DS45, the DS54, which missed out on last year’s East Coast boat shows, places the saloon and cockpit on the same level, with elevated helm stations aft, and staterooms and other accommodations a few steps down forward. It’s a novel and effective layout for a sailboat that makes a lot of sense and works even better.
Moody, moodyboats.com
Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48
The French-built Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 provides a panoramic view of the outside world from belowdecks thanks not only to the boat’s carefully sculpted, eye-catching deck saloon, but the fact that the entire saloon is constructed on the same level. Beyond that, this bluewater cruiser features the same quality for which Wauquiez has long been renowned. Nice touches include room for a dinghy garage aft, a robust seakindly hull and a powerful rig.
Wauquiez, wauquiez.com
Gunfleet 43
Designed to combine performance with exceptional comfort belowdecks, the newly arrived UK-built Gunfleet 43 features a high-aspect headsail, a well-laid-out cockpit and the company’s proprietary “Flightdeck” steering pedestal (which clusters all necessary gauges and nav instruments close at hand for ease of use). The result is an excellent choice for shorthanded sailors and cruising couples. The boat is available with two different types of fixed keels or a centerboard. A flush aft deck behind the cockpit makes for a great place to relax at the hook or in mild weather.
Gunfleet Marine, gunfleetmarine.com
Southerly 540
With its long waterline, fine entry, powerful double-headsail rig and variable-draft keel, the Southerly 540 is not only capable of crossing oceans, but exploring those thin-water cruising grounds denied to other deeper-draft vessels its size. Hull windows and a raised saloon admit scads of light to the boat’s living areas belowdecks, while the boat’s self-tacking inner headsail makes coming about a piece of cake for shorthanded sailors and cruising couples.
Southerly Yachts, southerlyyachts.com
Discovery 58
The Ron Holland-designed Discovery 58 features a twin-headsail rig with a self-tacking inner jib; electric winches standard; a contemporary coachroof design and the choice of an inboard twin-wheel or single-wheel cockpit design—all with an eye toward making the boat easy to sail for a cruising couple. Refreshingly cruiser-friendly overhangs fore and aft mean you don’t need to worry about a slapping transom walking you up in the middle of the night, and you can raise and lower the hook without having to forever worry about dinging the boat’s stem. Workmanship is outstanding throughout.
Discovery Yachts, discoveryyachts.com
Tartan 395
An evolution of the long line of 37- and 38-footers built by Tartan over the years, the Tartan 395 features the same top-quality Tartan construction for which the company has long been known; however, it does so at an especially competitive price point by allowing owners to choose only those options/features they truly need. The hull is infused with a closed-cell foam core and local reinforcing in high-load areas. The keel is fabricated in antimonial hardened lead, which is then faired and epoxy-coated. The boat’s overall lines offer a pleasing combination of the traditional and the contemporary, with moderate overhangs fore and aft ensure the 395 will be as sea kindly as it is good looking.
Tartan Yachts, tartanyachts.com
Monohulls Performance
J/121
Over the years, the folks at J/Boats have shown that they don’t just create great boats, but are also very astute observers of the sailing world in general—case in point, the phenomenally successful J/70. Along these same lines the 40ft J/121 is designed to provide exhilarating racing with a crew of just five, as opposed to the eight or more required to race many conventional keelboats. J/Boats is even promoting something called “open course” racing—a kind of distance/buoy-racing hybrid that provides all the fun of both with a minimum of hassle. As for the boat itself, it’s vintage J/Boats with an infused hull, deep keel, wonderfully laid out cockpit and foredeck arrangement (with twin helms) and of course, the requisite prodder.
J/Boats Inc., jboats.com
ClubSwan 50
The newest of Nautor’s Swan’s celebrated series of one-designs, the Juan Kouyoumdjian-designed ClubSwan 50 is far and away the most dramatic in terms of both aesthetics and performance. Not that these aesthetics are for looks only: the boat’s dramatic reverse sheer, for example, not only looks good, but helps reduce windage when the boat is sailing at the higher angles of heel at which the boat is designed to sail. Other go-fast features include a high-aspect steel fin with a lead bulb; a lightweight tumblehome bow and sprit to help keep weight out of the ends; twin rudders; all-carbon construction for the spars and hull; and a hull that is optimized for a combination of stability and planing performance. Think TP52-style sailing without all the logistical problems and expense. Oh, and teak decks come standard because, well, it’s a Swan.
Nautor’s Swan, clubswan50.com
Eagle 54
Designed to serve as a daysailer, like the smaller Eagle 44 and Eagle 34, but with accommodation space for more extended stays aboard, the Eagle 54 is the kind of drop-dead gorgeous boat that will turn heads in any anchorage. This product of Holland’s Leonardo Yachts (marketed in the U.S. by Rodgers Yacht Sales) is about more than just good looks. The hull is built in epoxy with a foam core and carbon fiber in the frames for lightweight strength and stiffness; a high-aspect fin keel with bulb provides plenty of lift and sail-carrying ability for sailing to windward, in particular; and all halyards and sheets are led aft beneath the boat’s teak decks directly to the helm for shorthanded sailing. Oh, and did we mention the boat is drop-dead gorgeous?
Leonardo Yachts B.V., leonardoyachts.nl/en
Smaller Boats
Fareast 19R
A smaller version of the slippery and powerful Fareast 28R, which won a SAIL Best Boat’s award back in 2016, the Fareast 19R offers the same combination of performance and quality construction at an affordable price point. Highlights include a vacuum-infused hull, lifting T-keel with a carbon fin and lead bulb, carbon rudder, tiller and tiller extension and a retractable aluminum sprit. The backstayless rig makes it possible to fly a powerful square-top main, and hardware is by Harken. In contrast to many other other Asian boatbuilders, Fareast is not just an outsourcing outfit, but an indigenous operation that first cut its teeth building top-quality foils in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics. The resulting build quality of its boats is therefore second to none.
Fareast/Sturgis Boat Works, fareastboatsusa.com
Reverso AIR
Imagine it: a performance dinghy that breaks down into four separate segments small enough to be fit into the back (as opposed to on top) of a mid-sized SUV, and which can be easily assembled without using any tools in mere minutes. The 11ft Reverso is a clever little dinghy from France that can not only be singlehanded, but can accommodate either two adults or an adult and a couple of kids. And make no mistake, this is not just a toy, but a serious sailboat, with a performance square-top main, hiking straps, super-chic tumblehome bow and flared hiking winglets for getting your weight outboard in a breeze. The four sections when “nested” take up a space measuring just 3ft by 4ft 9in by 2ft 5in. All-up weight is a mere 165lb.
Reverso/Red Beard Sailing, redbeardsailing.com
UFO Foiler
Ever since full-foiling became part and parcel of Moth racing, the builders and designers of the world have striven to find a way to bring that same performance to the masses, and now the Rhode Island-based father and son team of Steve and Dave Clark may have finally cracked the code with the UFO foiler. Nominally a catamaran (since the hulls ideally spend little actual time in the water) the boat employs a Moth-style T-keel in which a wand controls a set of trim tabs to regulate lift and height when airborne. Thanks to the aforementioned twin hulls, getting out to where you can actually start foiling is no longer a hair-raising balancing act, and the cost is less than $8,000, putting it well within the range of ordinary sailors.
Fulcrum Speed Works, fulcrumspeedworks.com
Malbec 18
Big boats are impressive, but there is a joy to small boats that can’t be beat. The brainchild of Argentinian naval designer Heraldo Norbert Ruesch, the Malbec 18 pocket cruiser has a 6ft-long cockpit, while below, there’s room for a Porta-Potti and sleeping accommodations for a family of four, as well an optional slide-out galley with sink. A high-aspect rig and centerboard work together to provide the necessary performance for the boat to also serve as a nifty little club racer. Aesthetically, we love the way the Malbec 18’s chines, springy sheer and carefully modelled cabintrunk all work together to create a look that is both sporty and purposeful.
Ventura Sport Boats, venturasportboats.com
Hobie Getaway
Hobie Cat has been upgrading a number of its most successful beach cats to incorporate the latest in multihull design, and the most recent model to receive this treatment is the 17ft Getaway: a sporty little workhorse of a boat that can carry up to six sailors. Upgrades include wave-piercing bows and an extra 6in of LOA in the interest of increasing boatspeed and carrying capacity. Features carried over from the original include a roller-furling jib, EZ Loc rudders for beaching and launching, and a fully-battened boomless main. The hulls are also still rotomolded, meaning they are more than up to the challenge of regular beachings and/or anything the kids can and inevitably will throw at it.
Hobie Cat, hobie.com
Zim Hartley 15
The latest design from Britain’s Hartley Boats, the robust 15ft 5in Zim Hartley rotomolded dinghy is one of those great-looking little boats that manages to combine plenty of zip with safe, predictable performance under sail. The wide beam creates an extremely stable platform, while the high boom, “gnav” over-boom strut vang and internal bench seating make life pleasant for both passengers and budding future Olympians. Other features include a center-mounted hoop that raises the mainsheet out of the cockpit at the same time it provides a sturdy handhold, self-bailing cockpit and a simple asymmetrical spinnaker.
Zim Sailing, zimsailing.com
RS Neo
The RS Neo’s easily driven hull allows it to accelerate rapidly, while a wide waterline beam provide security, thereby allowing sailors to a step up in performance without the intimidating characteristics of a more radical design. Carbon composite spars are light and responsive, making the boat easy to rig and giving it a more dynamic feel under sail. The boat’s radial-cut, square-top sail, with powerful and conveniently sited controls can be instantly adjusted to suit both your size and the conditions.
Constructed using the company’s proprietary RS Comptec PE3 sandwich technology, the RS Neo is tough and requires almost no maintenance.
RS Sailing, rssailing.com
RS Zest
The compact Zest has a large enough cockpit to accommodate two sailors, but can also be easily singlehanded, making for a boat that will work especially at sailing schools. The mast is hinged for easy rigging, the rudder kicks up to prevent it being damaged in a grounding situation, and the boat’s roller furling main can be easily reefed. Built-in tow points and a high boom complete the package. The hull is also extremely durable in the interest of minimizing maintenance costs.
RS Sailing, rssailing.com
Multihulls Cruising
Privilege Serie 6
In recent years, the luxury catamaran market has found itself trending toward the performance side of the equation, which is all well and good. However, not every sailor defines “luxury” as what is essentially a raceboat with a massively powerful rig and stark, albeit well-appointed accommodations. Enter the Privilege Serie 6, a French-built cat that is hardly a slouch under sail, but still takes a sharp turn back toward the “luxury” end of the scale, with style and comfort to spare. Although this is a boat that exudes posh quality from the moment you step aboard, the pièce de résistance is surely the owner’s stateroom, which is both customizable and spans the boat’s entire 30ft beam.
Privilege Marine, privilege-marine.com
Fountaine Pajot Saona 47
Described by Fountaine Pajot as “the quintessential catamaran for extended cruising or circumnavigations, offering remarkable space, safety, comfort and powerful performance in all conditions,” the Saona 47 makes a bold bid to do just that, with its dramatic lines and expansive accommodations. In keeping with the current trend in cruising catamarans, the Soana 47 also provides acres of socializing and lounging space in the form of an open-plan cockpit, a forward “sun lounger” space and a dedicated “lounge deck” alongside the raised helm. The boat’s innovative tender lift even doubles as a swim platform.
Fountaine Pajot, catamarans-fountaine-pajot.com
HH55
Designed by the West Coast multihull mavens at Morrelli & Melvin, the HH55 performance cat is configured to provide an “exquisite amalgam of style, speed and manageability” in a fast, bluewater yacht that will be sure to turn heads everywhere it goes. Highlights include all-carbon construction, a cutting-edge Southern Spars carbon mast and a carbon V-boom. The boat is specifically laid out for shorthanded passagemaking and can be handled by just two people. It’s available with either three or four cabins and a pair of conventional outboard helm stations aft, or a single helm station forward near the base of the mast. A powerful square-top main and curved “C-style” daggerboards complete this impressive package.
Hudson Yacht Group, hhcatamarans.com
HH66
A magnificent performance cruiser by any measure, the Morrelli & Melvin-designed HH66 employs scads of carbon-fiber in concert with cutting-edge design to provide sparkling performance on passage with comfortably appointed accommodations. Notable features include a pair of wave-piercing tumblehome bows, high-aspect daggerboards equipped with push-button control, a towering carbon rig and a bridle mainsheet with Cariboni hydraulic “Magic Trim” rams for a clean, safe cockpit and optimum control. The HH66 is available with either a single, central helm or a pair of more conventional outboard helms aft. The overall look is lean, purposeful to the point of being almost predatory and just plain gorgeous—a spectacular example of modern boatbuilding at its best.
Hudson Yacht Group, hhcatamarans.com
Maine Cat 38
Bucking the trend in production cruising catamarans, the Maine Cat 38 strikes a fine balance between performance and accommodation in order to provide a combination of both comfort and exhilaration under sail without breaking the bank. Central to the boat’s success is its infused construction, with the laminate built around a thermo-formed Core-Cell core, which allows a tighter and more accurate fit thereby creating as light, stiff and strong hull(s) as possible. These weight savings, in turn, allowed designer Dick Vermeulen to spec a smaller rig for easier shorthanded sailing and create an impressively svelt waterline beam-to-length ratio of 12:1, making the boat both slippery and seakindly in a seaway. The boat is now also available in an even lighter LS version, which strips out yet more weight by simplifying the boat’s joinerywork.
Maine Cat, mecat.com
Wave 58
Built in the heart of Poland’s historic shipbuilding district, the Wave 58 catamaran offers a very different take from what many contemporary sailors may be used to when it comes to cruising cats. Among the more distinct features aboard the boat are its distinctly curvaceous styling—including dramatic tumblehome in the hulls—and a central fly bridge surrounded by passenger seating, with a pair of winches and batteries of stoppers at its base. Not surprisingly, this is a boat with plenty of space for stretching out, with five private staterooms and four heads with showers.
Wave Catamarans, wavecatamarans.com
Lagoon Seventy 7
Wow! Even in a world of increasingly expansive production sailboats, the Lagoon Seventy 7 literally towers head and shoulders above the competition. Needless to say, this is a boat with magnificent accommodations and lounging space throughout: from the expansive forward lounging cockpit to the truly massive flybridge to an optional hull door in the owner’s suit that affords direct access to a personalized drop-down swim platform Lagoon refers to as a “private beach.” Aboard any other production boat, such a concept might be laughable, but aboard the Lagoon Seventy 7 it works. For those who don’t like Lagoon’s ideas on how the accommodations should be arranged, the boat is also highly customizable. Set foot aboard this incredible boat and be amazed.
Lagoon, cata-lagoon.com
Multihulls Performance
Corsair 760
An evolution of the popular Corsair 24, the new Corsair 760 pocket cruiser offers a combination of wave-piercing bows and some additional volume/buoyancy in the amas to provide that much more speed and stability underway. Like the rest of the Corsair trimaran line, the amas easily fold in for trailering, and the boat offers a surprising amount of accommodation space belowdecks for its size. For those in search of even more speed in 24ft of LOA, a “sport” version is also available, which includes a carbon mast and boom, carbon bowsprit and a special lightweight interior for pegging the speedo no matter what the conditions.
Corsair Marine, corsairmarine.com
Corsair 970 Sport/Carbon
The popular Corsair 970 Cruze trimaran has received a makeover with more than a little pepper thrown in to create a pair of distinctly new iterations: the Sport and Carbon. The new Sport variant carries a taller 44ft aluminum mast, and the main is trimmed via an aft traveler arrangement that in combination with the taller stick affords about 10 percent more power. A carbon rig is also available. As for the Carbon version of the boat, it features not only the carbon mast, but full carbon construction with an eye toward creating an especially light, stiff and more powerful platform. Both boats include the same folding amas for which Corsair is known, making the boats easily trailerable, either to distant regattas or cruising grounds.
Corsair Marine, corsairmarine.com
Stiletto X and Xf
Over four decades and 500 hulls after it first splashed in the mid-1970s, the dramatically styled trailerable Stiletto 27 is back in an “X” version that has been redesigned for the the twenty-first century with cutting-edge materials and modern features, such as wave-piercing bows and improved appendages. Better still, there is also an all-carbon Xf version capable of full-foiling in the works. If what we’ve seen so far is any indication, look for the latest iteration of this classic, which is now built in Columbia, North Carolina, to make just as big of an impression as its forebears.
Stiletto Manufacturing Inc., sailstiletto.com
September 2017
