Moody DS48
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; the helm has a camera setup to help you see forward.
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 will be the most romantic seat in the harbor, and assuming it’s designed to not be too wet or in the way of the headsail, it’s a strong contender for a favorite spot underway as well.
Like the other models in this line, high bulwarks and a stainless steel railing encircle the entire deck. This makes for a lot of security, which will give peace of mind to parents with young children, folks who aren’t so surefooted, or really anyone when the wave state is acting up. Tender storage is in a neat garage aft, and the door drops down to be a swim platform with ladder access on one side.
The deck saloon (the DS in DS48) is raised to be on the same level as the recessed cockpit, so that the interior has the light and panoramic windows you’d expect on a cat. The main cabin is forward, and there are several options for the other two cabins including a storage area, one single berth, two single berths, or a double berth. (Moody Yachts)
LOA 50’7” LWL 45’4” Beam 15’11” Draft 7‘1” Air Draft 79’ Displacement 46,650 lbs Ballast NA Sail Area 1,409sq ft (main and jib) Power Yanmar 110hp or 150hp Moody Yachts
Nautor ClubSwan 43
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 call “luxury spaceship.” To convert from cruising to racing mode, Micheletti+Partners has designed the interior so that 80% of the structures and furnishings can be removed for a race and re-installed afterwards.
There is no bulkhead forward of the familiar settee-fold out table arrangement, just a divider frame that visually sections off the next area, which has hanging storage and beyond it a V-berth. Though perhaps this would seem like a big privacy sacrifice to cruisers, when it comes to storing and moving sails through the space during a race, it’s sure to win points for convenience. It’s specced for six “long distance sport sailors,” which includes two aft cabins plus the V-berth.
This boat is all but guaranteed to lure competitive sailors, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see it on the line at any of the major offshore regattas in the coming years. (Nautor Swan)
LOA 47’9” LWL 43’ Beam 14’ Draft 7’9” Air Draft 64’ Displacement 15,542 lbs Ballast NA Sail Area 1,272 sq ft Power Yanmar 3JH40 40 hp Nautor Swan
Meet the Other 2025 Top 10 Best Boats Nominees
SAIL New Boats & Gear 2025 is here and it’s chock-a-block with new boat reviews by SAIL‘s boat review team, info on the latest models hitting the water, and gear SAIL‘s editors have checked out as well. It’s available on newsstands, so head to your nearest West Marine or Barnes & Noble, or catch us at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis in October to say hi and get your issue.
NBGR 2025
