SAIL magazine announces Top 10 Sailboats

By IBI Magazine

SAIL Magazine's 4th annual Top 10 Sailboat Awards, sponsored by Interlux Yacht Paints for 2003, were announced at the sailing industry awards reception held in Atlantic City during Atlantic Sail Expo on January 9. Winners were chosen from a field of 37 new boats, introduced into the American marketplace in 2002, by five judges in combination with over 4,000 SAIL magazine reader votes. SAIL Top 10 for 2003 are (in alphabetical order) the Bavaria 32, the Beneteau 423, the Hallberg-Rassy 43, the Island Spirit 40, the J/109, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35, the Malö 41, the Najad 460, the Sabre 426, and the Ultimate 24.

In addition to the Top 10 selections, this year the judges included a "Best of the Rest" group in order to recognise a specific feature, design or construction technique that was particularly innovative and/or well-executed. These boats/features included the Island Packet 485's nav station, the ETAP 32 vertical steering system, the PDQ 42 Antares' electrical system, the Hunter Xcite's construction, the Catalina 350's smart and well-executed accommodation plan, and the Swan 45's efficient and elegant deck plan.

According to the judges, the Bavaria 32 is a "comfortable, attractive, smooth-handling coastal cruiser with a reasonable price tag". The Beneteau 423 was described by the judges as a "spacious 42-footer that sails well, has comfortable accommodations, sufficient systems, and is equipped with a long list of standard features (many of which are options on other boats) at a price that makes it an excellent value."

One of three new Swedish boats, the Hallberg-Rassy 43, is designed by German Frers. Described by the manufacturer as a "fast, bluewater cruising boat," judges said it has, "a favourable exchange rate, sturdy construction and quality craftsmanship (that) make the Hallberg-Rassy a very attractive offshore cruiser."

The Island Spirit 40 is designed and built in South Africa. The judges said, "this is a straightforward offshore boat that is as suited to cross oceans as it is to island-hop in the Caribbean… it is fun and easy to sail, comfortable down below and achieves its purpose beautifully," which according to the manufacturer is, "to combine sailing performance and live-aboard comfort in a boat that can be easily managed by one or two people."

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35, "the latest addition to its long-lived Sun Odyssey line, drawn by Marc Lombard and Eric Levet, demonstrates clearly that Jeanneau has not lost its identity since being acquired by ex-rival Beneteau," according to judges.

The Swedish-built Malö 41 is "an easily driven yacht with a practical and pleasing interior" according to the manufacturer, and SAIL's judges say it has a "strong, no-nonsense construction combined with lush interior mahogany joinery work as well as a few unique twists. For example, the distinctive traveller arch over the cockpit, long a Malö trademark works very well and its height can be specified by the owner."

The Najad 460 is another Swedish-built Judel Vrolijk boat designed to be a "seakindly bluewater cruiser that combines relaxed cruising with top-notch performance." Judges were impressed with high quality hull and deck construction along with gorgeous interior joinery work, and they loved the feel of the helm.

The Ultimate 24 designed by Jim Antrim is positioned as "a high-quality sportboat that's both fast and easy to sail," and the judges found this to be true. They said it "has innovative, well-executed features, achieves the difficult task of combining ease of handling and stability with sportboat performance."

(16 January 2003)