Having tested 15 yachts shortlisted for the European Yacht of the Year 2020 awards, Toby Hodges reveals the winners and why they won Since its inception in 2004, Yachting World has been a jury member for the European Yacht of the Year awards. This involves shortlisting the best annual prospects into categories before testing them all to elect the winners.
\nThe awards have grown to include 12 judges from across Europe, each leading voices on boat testing in their respective countries. Each judge sails every boat before we discuss the competition at length. The result is the largest, most influential and widely respected boatbuilding prize worldwide.
\nIn October we were able to gather the 15 shortlisted yachts together in one location for the first time \u2013 Port Ginesta, Barcelona \u2013 for six days of testing.
\nThe five European Yacht of the Year 2020 winners were announced on the opening evening of the Dusseldorf Boatshow, on 18 January. Look out for our March 2020 issue, which features the winners and nominees in more detail.
\nPerformance Cruisers
\nNominees: Beneteau First 53, Italia Yachts 11.98, RM 1180, X 4.0
\nWinner: X4.0
\nX Yachts took already excellent boats in the X 4.3 and X 4.6 and refined and refined them to produce this, arguably the benchmark for today\u2019s 40ft performance cruiser.
\nEuropean yacht of the year 2020 winner X 4.0
\nThe X 4.0 is a sailor\u2019s yacht with plenty of modern styling and proved a lot of fun to helm in comfort. Although the focus is on cruising, the ergonomic cockpit set up can still suit racing.<\/p>\n
The proportion of space is also superb throughout, from the cockpit to the accommodation. It\u2019s a design that\u2019s hard to fault. Price ex VAT: \u20ac257,500
\nLuxury Cruiser
\nNominees: Amel 60, Grand Soleil 42LC, Oyster 565
\nWinner: Amel 60
\nAnother beautifully built and finished boat by Amel, this is a similar, refined and extended version of the award-winning Amel 50
\nIt features tried and tested traditional Amel concepts including the central enclosed cockpit (which might not suit an active helmsman\u00ad), huge watertight engine room and solid guardrails but in a modern looking package.
\nEuropean yacht of the year 2020 winner Amel 60
\nThe 60 boasts enormous volume and stowage, has a truly luxurious feel to the interior, and comes with an impressively high standard spec including a carbon mast for \u20ac1,650,000.<\/p>\n
See our VIP tour of the boat here: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gp9GI1miuxw&t=31s
\nRace Yachts
\nNominees: ClubSwan 36, Dehler 30 OD, J\/99, Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300, JPK 1080
\nWinner Race: Dehler 30 OD
\nThis is a very well executed concept, one with up to date looks in an appealing, versatile design. It can be sailed short-handed or crewed, and has a proper little interior \u2013\u00a0a mini offshore racer that you can sleep on.
\nEuropean yacht of the year 2020 winner Dehler 30 OD
\nDehler has packed in the features, which include a carbon mast and carbon-reinforced hull structure, water ballast, a retractable propeller, and serious sail area including a square top main, which is balanced by a deep keel and twin rudders.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s as fun to sail as it looks. A stiff, responsive, current and fun sportsboat at a respectable price. Price ex VAT \u20ac108,900 ex VAT
\nWinner \u2013 Innovation prize: ClubSwan 36
\nTo my mind, this is the coolest looking production yacht afloat and the most fun to sail \u2013 in both directions! Why would an owner-driver even consider a TP52 or Fast 40 when you could have a sportscar like this for so much less?
\nEuropean yacht of the year 2020 winner ClubSwan 36
\nEven without the C-foil (which, counteracts leeway upwind but still needs some fine tuning to get the best out of it), this is the most exciting boat \u2013 bravo Swan for doing something radically different, once again.<\/p>\n
We featured a full test on this missile in the February 2020 issue.\u00a0 Price ex VAT: \u20ac385,000
\nFamily Cruisers
\nNominees: Beneteau Oceanis 30.1, Elan Impression 45.1, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410
\nWinner: Beneteau Oceanis 30.1
\nEuropean yacht of the year 2020 winner Beneteau Oceanis 30.1
\nCredit to Beneteau for addressing the entry-level market with a modern, easy-to-handle, spacious and affordable 30ft cruiser. Polish build helps keep the price low, a clever hull shape buys volume, the cockpit and rig design help make it easy to sail, while an options list that includes four different keels provides versatility and will attract sea and lake sailors alike.<\/p>\n
Tall headroom, saloon berths long enough to sleep on and an L-shape galley is all somehow fitted in below decks. This is an appealing, small family yacht on which to enjoy simple sailing and overnighting.
\nPrice ex VAT: \u20ac69,400
\nMultihulls
\nNominees: Excess 15, Lagoon 46, Neel 47
\nNo winner announced
\nDespite the recent explosion of cruising multihulls, this was a disappointing category this year. The Lagoon wasn\u2019t able to make the trials and we had concerns over steering problems with the Excess and the finish quality of the Neel 47.
\nThe post And the winners of the European Yachts of the Year 2020 are\u2026 appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Having tested 15 yachts shortlisted for the European Yacht of the Year 2020 awards, Toby Hodges reveals the winners and why they won Since its inception in 2004, Yachting World has been a jury member for the European Yacht of … <\/p>\n