sail magazine best boats

The Best Boats Class of 2017 might appear staid to some given the many radical innovations the boatbuilding industry has introduced of late, a kind

The Xquisite X5 catamaran is this year’s systems winner in recognition of its beautifully engineered digital switching system and numerous other thoughtful touches, such as

Best Small Cruiser This was a decision that provoked some debate among our judges, as the Seascape 24, which boasts a long retractable carbon-fiber bowsprit

Best Daysailer This is an exceptionally versatile and fun little boat from Austria that took our judges entirely by surprise. Weighing just 120lb all-up, this

Best Monohull Cruising Boat 30 to 40ft A product of the same veteran Slovenian company renowned for its skis, the Elan E4 is one of

Best Performance Boat under 30ft When it comes to downwind sailing, it’s an asymmetric world, especially at the upper levels of the sport, like at

Best Large Multihull 50ft and above This dedicated cruising catamaran from South Africa boasts an amazing list of standard features—including all sails, electric winches, a

Best Large Monohull 50ft and above Solaris has been building trendsetting yachts in Italy for some 40 years, so we were pleased to find one

Best Multihull Cruising Boat 40 to 50ft The curvaceous Lagoon 42 replaces the iconic 420/421 and fills in the gap between the French builder’s 400