One of the most striking boats of the year has emerged from a small Florida yard. Designed by Nick Hake, president of Hake Yachts, the Seaward 46 is an innovative cruiser packed with interesting features.
Back in 1998, when Finnish builder Nautor was acquired by Italian fashion magnate Leonardo Ferragamo, many Swan aficionados worried that the core values of this iconic breed of cruiser-racers would be lost in a blaze of Euro-finery. But the Italians have since done a superb job of injecting their own unique sense of style into the brand while also retaining Nautor’s strong
Jeanneau’s Sun Odyssey 409 replaces the very successful Sun Odyssey 39i in the French builder’s fleet of performance cruising boats. With its angular styling and solid performance, the 409 won accolades as the 2011 European Yacht of the Year in the Family Cruisers category.
The Hunter e36 feels right from the moment you step aboard and is somehow more than the sum of its parts. In both appearance and functionality, it works well and is a pleasure to sail. Construction The hull and deck on the e36 are standard for Hunter, with balsa coring above the waterline and solid fiberglass below. The layup includes a modified
“Substantial” was my first thought when I stepped aboard the Knysna 480 at the Miami International Boat Show. This South African-built catamaran is obviously meant for serious cruising. And so confirmed owners Susan and Tim Mahoney, who chose the Knysna based on the reputation of the builder and their respect for designer Angelo Lavranos.
I’ve often wished I had more time for a boat test, especially aboard a boat I liked. This wasn’t a problem, though, when I got a chance to sail the Swedish-built Arcona 460 Safir III this past summer.
The latest collaboration bet-ween builder Robertson and Caine and designers Morrelli & Melvin has upped the high standards set by the rest of the Leopard fleet. This new 44-footer should be popular with private owners. I suspect it will be equally popular with charterers as the Sunsail 444.
The Swedish builder Arcona has been producing award-winning sloops for over 40 years, though the first Arcona arrived in U.S. waters only a couple of years ago. I suspect it won’t be long before the company is a force to be reckoned with.
The new Hunter 22 is directly derived from its predecessor, the Hunter 216, which was built out of thermoformed Luran-S plastic. The 22 retains the 216’s hull, which features a large cockpit and open transom.
The little sister of the 12ft Topaz, Topper International’s 9ft 8in TAZ weighs just 88 pounds, making it a breeze for junior sailors and their instructors to manhandle.
With The Ocean Race Europe drawing to a close this weekend, we look back on a very different race finish in 2023, where the teams
Innovation and perseverance deserve to be rewarded, especially when it comes to something as important as anchoring. Mantus Marine has continually improved their chain hook
From first glance, you can tell that the Sun Odyssey 415 has the clean, easily recognizable lines of a Jeanneau, and there’s a reason for
An overnight gale stirs up trouble for one trailer sailer.
On this day in 1901, Sir Francis Chichester KBE was born. The British sailor held the record for the fastest circumnavigation at nine months and
This week, The Famous Project has announced the crew roster for their all-female around the world speed record attempt. They hope to set a new
Today we celebrate the birthday of America’s Cup legend Dennis Conner. Though famous for his comeback and three victories in the Auld Mug, Conner is
Paul Meilhat’s french-flagged IMOCA 60 has won Leg 5 of The Ocean Race Europe. They completed the 1,600 mile stretch from Genoa, Italy, to Boka
On September 15, 1835 HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin on board for a five-year voyage as the ship’s naturalist, reaches the Galápagos Islands. During this
The 2026 Best Boats nominees highlight innovation, diversity, and design—offering something for every sailor and every adventure.
