Hanse 😊 I hope the quality is improving. I reckon for every new boat sold the manufacturer should be required to dispose of an end of life boat. Stop them ending up in creeks and the bottom of the ocean.
Interesting that the Lagoon 43 was nominated. Having seen more Lagoon Cat videos than I would like about delamination / bulkhead issues, I'd like to know if build quality on the 2025 Lagoon 43 is up to scratch?? These are very important factors for me when nominating a 'Yacht of the Year'.
So glad to see the Swallow taking home a gong. Just reward for the designer and his company, I do hope they reap the rewards of this acknowledgement of what looks like a great product. I'd love to have a go in one. Thank you Toby and Yachting World for all your coverage.
Toby, it must have been an incredibly challenging job choosing a winner out of the hundreds of yachts manufactured this year. I’m sure it was a very difficult decision deciding that a €2,900,000 63ft yacht is more luxurious than the only other contender….a 42ft yacht with a €483,000 sticker price.
harsh and in defence of the judges...they will have judged each against their separate brief and price point.But given how disparate those benchmarks are it's hard to disagree that it's unfortunate that they were in the same group.
We judged each on its merits not against other boats. So we did not decide on any categories until after the trials - ie it was not the Contest against the Heyman in this case. We selected which individual yachts deserved to be winners. It's just easier for the reader or viewer to see them in a 'category'
finally a water ballasted twenty footer, as the owner of a macgregor19 that just get used and used, glad to see someone bring out something so practical for people who want sailing not a mission
One question? Do you consider building quality and safety when you do this? I mean like if a boat loose its rudder, will it sink? Keel construction etc.
I remember when a boat show would be full of hundreds of small boat builders offering their wares, sadly today the market is dominated by a few mega yards all producing the same dull fibreglass marina caravans.
exhibition space in Düsseldorf is far too expensive for that, even well known ship yards are staying away. compared to last year, Hanse group, Bavaria, Elan, Sunbeam, Arcona and Oyster were all missing. there were noticable empty spots in hall 16, and a massive empty space in hall 15
No question that the Contest is a spectacular choice but curious why the new Halberg Rassy 69 wasn't considered? Or is she in the category above luxury?
It's presented at the Dusseldorf Boatshow but we shortlist the most interesting new boats during 2024 and test them in the autumn before selecting winners
There might be hope yet. I wouldn’t have wanted to sail out of the bay in many past winners, but the Hanse and the J40, at least superficially, looked quite seaworthy
These so-called sailboat of the year "winners" are such in name only. Seems like every manufacture gets a chance to be a "winner" on a rotational basis! A rather pointless "competition" with little to no value to a prospective sailboat owner.
Sorry Alberto, I really have to disagree. Over 20 years of doing these trials and awards - all 12 jury members test all the nominees over 2 weeks in 2 locations. No other marine awards do anything close to that.
It is a relative competition between yachts recently released. The judges have sailed all the boats. Evidence of the winner being on rotation, nope. Could you justify a different decision, unlikely.
Do you have any proof of your statement or are you just throwing one out here? What is your position in the industry? I’m seriously interested! Thanks for maybe enlightening the yachting community!
@@yachtingworld So, of all the "nominees" there has to be a "winner", right?? What does that in essence mean if for argument sake all of the "nominees" just so happen to be subpar sailboats to begin with?? I'll tell you, you end up selecting a "winner" which is essentially, the best of a bad bunch! As far as I'm concerned one cannot place much credence in that accolade then, as it's in name only!
The nominees are shortlisted by the jury, then all are tested by all of us. Sometimes it can be up to 25 nominees, this year we shortlisted 15 but three weren't ready or had technical problems on the way to the trials. More about this year's competition here www.yachtingworld.com/yachts-and-gear/best-yachts-of-2025-european-yacht-of-the-year-2025-winners-156466:
@@Iandhainaut The First 30 is a brand new boat only being presented for the first time this week and has yet to be sailed (we did all the sail trials during the autumn last year). I'm sure the First will have a good chance to make the shortlist this year though as it's got lots going for it
Yes that's right of course - a small Welsh yard, which has never advertised with us, obviously paid all 12 jury members and their magazines significant sums to get this award...! Admittedly there are so many poor award schemes out there, but Yachting World would not have been part of this one for over two decades if we didn't consider it rigorous, scrupulous and balanced
You must be on one hell of a commission to select this lot of Euro rubbish. Pure aesthetics, what about build quality, volumes, weight, polars, or how would YOU ever know. UA-cam revenue spinner ONLY.
Erm, perhaps Peter because I have sailed all the yachts, as have all the jury - and been to the yards and seen the yachts in construction. And we have been doing this for over 20 years. The reviews are in our magazines. But perhaps you have managed to do so too... if so by all means show us for free on YT
@@ianscott3180 A Fountain Pajot Astrea 42 sailing Cruising Catamaran. It has taken 2 years to sort the build issues. French can design and build a good boat but in hindsight I would minimise the factory and after market fit out that was done in La Rochelle and do elsewhere where I could oversee and manage. Just one example = FP installed the Garmin CCU (Course Computer) behind a toilet wall which is removable with effort. You have to be able to monitor the lights on the CCU. And to make matters worse they installed the Prezo Alarm buzzer for it behind the wall as well. If that had ever gone off you’d be tearing the boat apart trying to find it. The CCU was on a 6.1m NMEA 2000 riser which is a BIG NONO. Now reinstalled inboard and accessible as per Garmin Installation Guide. I could go to a Boatshow now and pick faults in all on show.
Toby, you have one of the best jobs in the world. You do it well too.
~Thank you! T
I knew that Swallow would get a nod after your review. What’s fantastic little boat!
Thanks Toby for the recap of some of the Yachts I’ve seen on Yachting World. Good stuff
Nice ! Looking forward to those tours. I remember 'Boot' Dusseldorf when I visited in the 90s. Amazing show ... 🇬🇧
Always enjoy the awards. Good stuff Toby.
Thanks Toby and all. The Hanse 360 has amazing space for its length. The French interior of the J/40 is much fresher than its American cousins.
Great review, video and summary as always, Toby!
Hanse 😊 I hope the quality is improving. I reckon for every new boat sold the manufacturer should be required to dispose of an end of life boat. Stop them ending up in creeks and the bottom of the ocean.
Thanks Toby, looking forward to another year of your work 👍🏼
Interesting that the Lagoon 43 was nominated. Having seen more Lagoon Cat videos than I would like about delamination / bulkhead issues, I'd like to know if build quality on the 2025 Lagoon 43 is up to scratch?? These are very important factors for me when nominating a 'Yacht of the Year'.
Dufour also had one of their models nominated, and you can check yourself how little they care about build quality
Go J40! I grew up with the J24. Nice to see they are still making masterpieces.
So glad to see the Swallow taking home a gong. Just reward for the designer and his company, I do hope they reap the rewards of this acknowledgement of what looks like a great product. I'd love to have a go in one.
Thank you Toby and Yachting World for all your coverage.
You're welcome, and thank you Thomas
Congrats Nautitech. I want one.
# truly like that Hanse 360. ⛵🤙
Looking forward to that Dragonfly 36 tour, Toby!
Me too!
visited it on Tuesday, quite impressed with it
3 winches accessible from each helm
and more suitable inside for tall people than their 40
Congrats to Swallow Yachts for the award!
Well deserved!
Please show us the Tricat 8.50 and the new Astus if it’s there.
Toby, it must have been an incredibly challenging job choosing a winner out of the hundreds of yachts manufactured this year. I’m sure it was a very difficult decision deciding that a €2,900,000 63ft yacht is more luxurious than the only other contender….a 42ft yacht with a €483,000 sticker price.
harsh and in defence of the judges...they will have judged each against their separate brief and price point.But given how disparate those benchmarks are it's hard to disagree that it's unfortunate that they were in the same group.
We judged each on its merits not against other boats. So we did not decide on any categories until after the trials - ie it was not the Contest against the Heyman in this case. We selected which individual yachts deserved to be winners. It's just easier for the reader or viewer to see them in a 'category'
finally a water ballasted twenty footer, as the owner of a macgregor19 that just get used and used, glad to see someone bring out something so practical for people who want sailing not a mission
One question? Do you consider building quality and safety when you do this? I mean like if a boat loose its rudder, will it sink? Keel construction etc.
Yes, absolutely
Wheres the utilitarian cheap sailing vessels that are affordable and blue water safe?
Why bavaria and hanse did not show up in dusseldorf bootshow ?
müssen sparen
I remember when a boat show would be full of hundreds of small boat builders offering their wares, sadly today the market is dominated by a few mega yards all producing the same dull fibreglass marina caravans.
exhibition space in Düsseldorf is far too expensive for that, even well known ship yards are staying away.
compared to last year, Hanse group, Bavaria, Elan, Sunbeam, Arcona and Oyster were all missing.
there were noticable empty spots in hall 16, and a massive empty space in hall 15
@@illdeletethismusic I didn't realise that, thanks. I have a 45 year old 41 footer, great value for money compared to today's boats.
No question that the Contest is a spectacular choice but curious why the new Halberg Rassy 69 wasn't considered? Or is she in the category above luxury?
Too big to be considered a production yacht. The accepted cutoff is 63ft for monohulls - after that they become too custom
Will you do a walkthrough on the new Xr 41?
Yes - when I can get on it... it's been a busy start to the show for X-Yachts. Good looking new yacht
The new Leonardo Yachts model is the Eagle 46, not the44. Looking forward to hearing your opinion on it?
Well spotted! I was annoyed at myself when I spotted that too but twas too late to do it again! I will try to get a look aboard though
@@yachtingworld Thank you.
Appreciate you bringing this! Dose Spirit Yachts have an offering this year? Eagerly await more from this expo.
They have a stand but not a yacht here
Forget the haters Toby . I think you’re doing the lords work with this competition. The Hanse is definitely worth the money.
Thank you Paul! 🙌
Yacht builders can buy these “awards”!!
No they can't - many winners over the years don't even advertise!
How does Hanse, not represented at the actual Dusseldorf Boat Show - be a winner in the European Yacht of the Year category?
It's presented at the Dusseldorf Boatshow but we shortlist the most interesting new boats during 2024 and test them in the autumn before selecting winners
You may want to check out the Pure Yacht 42, made in Kiel/ Schleswig Holstein. Aluminum, lifting keel, deck saloon, performance rig…just saying…
Yes it looks like a really interesting design - they don't have the boat at the show but some scaled down models. Fast explorer yacht, very cool
There might be hope yet. I wouldn’t have wanted to sail out of the bay in many past winners, but the Hanse and the J40, at least superficially, looked quite seaworthy
Kraken Island packet Hallberg rassy etc.etc.
Kraken was nominated this year but couldn't make the trials as they were moving shipyard from Turkey to Poland
Where my LibTrds 😭 😭 😂
These so-called sailboat of the year "winners" are such in name only. Seems like every manufacture gets a chance to be a "winner" on a rotational basis! A rather pointless "competition" with little to no value to a prospective sailboat owner.
Sorry Alberto, I really have to disagree. Over 20 years of doing these trials and awards - all 12 jury members test all the nominees over 2 weeks in 2 locations. No other marine awards do anything close to that.
Fully agree, having sailed on many of those famed 'winners'
It is a relative competition between yachts recently released. The judges have sailed all the boats. Evidence of the winner being on rotation, nope. Could you justify a different decision, unlikely.
Do you have any proof of your statement or are you just throwing one out here? What is your position in the industry?
I’m seriously interested! Thanks for maybe enlightening the yachting community!
@@yachtingworld So, of all the "nominees" there has to be a "winner", right?? What does that in essence mean if for argument sake all of the "nominees" just so happen to be subpar sailboats to begin with?? I'll tell you, you end up selecting a "winner" which is essentially, the best of a bad bunch! As far as I'm concerned one cannot place much credence in that accolade then, as it's in name only!
that spin around does no one any good like what am i supposed to look at while in a tornado?
Ni glömde Hallbergrassy. 😢
Which one?
You give 5 awards among 12 boats? That's not really a competition, is it?
The nominees are shortlisted by the jury, then all are tested by all of us. Sometimes it can be up to 25 nominees, this year we shortlisted 15 but three weren't ready or had technical problems on the way to the trials. More about this year's competition here www.yachtingworld.com/yachts-and-gear/best-yachts-of-2025-european-yacht-of-the-year-2025-winners-156466:
@@yachtingworld Is that why the First 30 is not among the nominees?
@@Iandhainaut The First 30 is a brand new boat only being presented for the first time this week and has yet to be sailed (we did all the sail trials during the autumn last year). I'm sure the First will have a good chance to make the shortlist this year though as it's got lots going for it
No Danish winner… naahh its a retake…
Disagree with the Hanse decision,
Let's all see who has paid to win these this year. 😂
Yes that's right of course - a small Welsh yard, which has never advertised with us, obviously paid all 12 jury members and their magazines significant sums to get this award...!
Admittedly there are so many poor award schemes out there, but Yachting World would not have been part of this one for over two decades if we didn't consider it rigorous, scrupulous and balanced
@@yachtingworld Fair enough, I retract.
I was basing it on every industry awards I've ever come across, maybe this is the exception.
Go with anyone of these plastic bowls into the southern ocean and you will feel , what it means to own a bathtub-cruiser.
Ok boomer
How many sailors go to the southern oceans? I am in my seventies, have sailed since I was a boy and I never have.
You must be on one hell of a commission to select this lot of Euro rubbish. Pure aesthetics, what about build quality, volumes, weight, polars, or how would YOU ever know. UA-cam revenue spinner ONLY.
Erm, perhaps Peter because I have sailed all the yachts, as have all the jury - and been to the yards and seen the yachts in construction. And we have been doing this for over 20 years. The reviews are in our magazines. But perhaps you have managed to do so too... if so by all means show us for free on YT
What do you sail?
@@ianscott3180 A Fountain Pajot Astrea 42 sailing Cruising Catamaran. It has taken 2 years to sort the build issues. French can design and build a good boat but in hindsight I would minimise the factory and after market fit out that was done in La Rochelle and do elsewhere where I could oversee and manage. Just one example = FP installed the Garmin CCU (Course Computer) behind a toilet wall which is removable with effort. You have to be able to monitor the lights on the CCU. And to make matters worse they installed the Prezo Alarm buzzer for it behind the wall as well. If that had ever gone off you’d be tearing the boat apart trying to find it. The CCU was on a 6.1m NMEA 2000 riser which is a BIG NONO. Now reinstalled inboard and accessible as per Garmin Installation Guide. I could go to a Boatshow now and pick faults in all on show.
Sailboats?...whatever.
Back to wake board vids for you 🤡
Just smells like money !..lots of it !
If these are the best boats of the year , imagine the bad ones ... Is to cry 🥲