This is a massive new flagship for Hanse’s Greifswald yard, one which completes its new range of Berret Racoupeau designs. It is larger in all respects to the Hanse 575/588,…
monohull
Heyman 42PPH: Handsome new decksaloon cruiser packed with ideas and space
Think about it relative to houses, and it makes more sense. After all, who would choose to put their kitchens and living rooms in the cellar or basement? Especially if…
Beneteau’s new planing First 30: A step change for the French giant
The First 30 was Beneteau’s first sailing yacht when it launched in 1977 and it has since built nearly 3,000 in its various guises. So this is a special model…
Solaris 74RS first look: Alluring style with some substance below decks
I was taken with the layout and interior design of the Solaris 74RS, with its stylish, performance-cruising raised coachroof design. The first three examples have owner cabins forward with galley…
Extraordinary boats: The Cayman 28 ‘a gentleman’s skiff’
Zipping through the herd of mainly production family cruisers enjoying the sunshine on a picture postcard Sound of Mull at Scotland’s ever popular West Highland Week, the Cayman 28 Rooster…
YYachts Y8 Calabash review: Sailing this semi-custom, designer cruiser
This new generation YYachts Y8 is the Griefswald yard’s third version of this 80ft size. The original, which helped launch the brand in 2015, was a Lorenzo Argento and David…
Grand Soleil 52P first look: The ‘P’ is for Performance
Matteo Polli continues to collaborate beautifully with his fellow Italian style masters at Nauta Design to create a standout Grand Soleil lineup. This Grand Soleil 52P is positioned between the…
Swan 88 review: At the very top of this semi-custom yacht scene
Swan’s CEO Giovanni Pomatti describes this as ‘an extraordinary year’, which sees the revered yard launch three new models including this Swan 88. As a clue to the scale of…
Quant GT33 first look: latest DSS foil equipped speedster
The latest foil-assisted Hugh Welbourn design for Quant Boats is a 33ft weekender with DSS foils, water ballast, and a flexible sail plan designed to cope with the rapidly changing…
Extraordinary boats: Cape Cod 767 is 25ft of fresh thinking
Granted, it’s a novel-looking shape, but why all the fuss I wondered as a crowd formed around the transom of the Cape Cod 767 in La Rochelle? And then as…
RM 1380 review: an enticing alternative to the mainstream
I’ve admired the innovative range of fast yet comfortable cruisers from RM Yachts for many years – their combination of spacious, attractive and brightly lit interiors, planing performance and well…
Hutting 46 first look: stands out from the crowd
This long distance aluminium cruising yacht is intended to stand out from the crowd. This Dutch yard, founded in 1975 by Tjerk Hutting, has a strong reputation for its 40-50ft…
Saffier SL 46 first look: larger yacht from new larger yard
Saffier Yachts has grown to become the established name in luxury daysailers, particularly over the last decade or so. The family-owned Dutch yard has secured this market sector with its…
Shogun 43 review: High velocity cruising
How many crewmembers of high tech racing yachts have wondered whether the boat could be tweaked and tamed to create a super-fast cruising machine that’s enormous fun to sail? I…
Wauquiez 55 first look: brimming with clever ideas
While the graphical representations of many new designs may look impressive, rarely do we see a production yacht unveiled with so many new or reimagined clever ideas all packed into…
Exclusive 2 day sail on the largest Hallberg-Rassy ever built: Hallberg-Rassy 69 review
It was proper cold. An honest cold that cuts straight through us soft southerners, unused as we are to minus double digit temperatures. The docks were covered with gnarled ice,…
The best specialist yachts: new and interesting designs
What do you do when you have yachts that are as diverse as innovative daysailers, a lake sportsboat, a recyclable one-design and an elite high-end carbon weapon? Well at the…
Best luxury yacht: 7 ultimate luxury cruisers you can buy
The definition of the best luxury yacht will differ according to personal opinion and from boat to boat. This year’s nominees in the luxury yacht category of the European Yacht…
Jeanneau Yachts 55 review: Thinking outside the box
Boatbuilders rarely have the courage to launch a model that represents a radically different way of thinking. Instead, most new yachts are simply variations on established themes with incremental improvements…
XC47 review: is this the best bluewater cruiser ever?
We’re close-hauled in 7-10 knots of true wind, making 6-6.5 knots of boat speed, with the helm beautifully balanced and only a degree or two of weather helm. A gentle…