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Sailboats

MC38 One Design

Best Grand-Prix One-Design Photos by Walter Cooper The MC38 One Design is a complete, modern grand-prix package, swimming in carbon and composites, and designed to do nothing else but tear around the cans at high-speed. As an excellent build out of McConaghy’s Chinese operation, the MC38, is presented as the upgrade for Farr 40 owners seeking a more contemporary design, and as a more substantial boat for Melges 32 owners that don’t have the athleticism for such a boat. Onboard, the MC38

Sailing World

2013 Boat of the Year: J/70

J/Boats’ new one-design sensation is lighting the sportboat scene ablaze. Quick, stiff, ramp-launchable, and priced right, the J/70 checked all the BOTY boxes as it sailed its way to the top of the judges’ lists. Behold our 2013 Boat of the Year.

Ker 40: Best Handicap Racer

Jason Ker, master of IRC-winning designs, teams up with McConaghy Boats to deliver a no-excuses, semi-custom raceboat that’s dialed in for offshore sprints and buoy racing triumphs.

Sailing World

Dufour 36 Performance: Best Crossover

When Dufour Yachts said they were going to revamp their line of performance cruisers, they weren’t kidding. With the Dufour 36 Performance they deliver on their promise: It’s a fast, fun, and impeccably built crossover—for less than $250K. Race it. Cruise it. Enjoy the ride.

RS Venture: Best Recreational Dinghy

For casual racing, club sailing, and messing about with the family, RS Sailboats delivers the goods with its Venture, a versatile and nimble dinghy for the sailing masses.

Sailing World

Boat of the Year 2013

From 15 new designs, Sailing World‘s Boat of the Year judges distinguish six boats ready to take on the racecourse in 2013.

X-Yachts Xp 38

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper Travel around Europe, and X-Yachts are a staple of all the major handicap races. There’s no denying that X-Yachts make fast, great sailing boats, and the Xp 38 continues the tradition, only better. Their updated crossovers now have robust carbon keel grids (instead of metal), and the hull shape of the Xp 38, said Greg Stewart, was very stiff, quick, and easily driven. From off the boat, it’s racy looking, with a low-profile cabin top, angu

Tofinou 8m

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper Imported from France, the Tofinou 8M, was a looker at the dock, thanks to the sharpness of its metallic paint and teak deck, but on the water, the judges quickly dismissed it because excessive friction in every control line, and a combative helm took the fun out of sailing it. “The thing was a workout,” said Tom Rich, explaining that the practice of hiding ropes by leading them under deck from the mast to the jammer banks in the cockpit i

Tartan Fantail

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper After inspecting the Tartan Fantail at the dock, and being impressed with its construction quality, the judges had high expectations. And when winds kicked into the high-teens, just in time for its test sail, they were especially eager to see what this radical-looking daysailer could do. As is often the case, however, strong winds quickly reveal a boat’s weakest points. “The rudder had a ton of helm,” said judge Greg Stewart, “and most of

Sparkman & Stephens 30

Best Daysailer Photos by Walter Cooper The ultimate daysailing experience is different for everyone. For some of us, it might just be an afternoon spin around the bay, or a twilight sail with the family or significant other. For the BOTY judges, however, the ultimate daysailing experience should include the ability to just keep going—to let a day turn into two or more. The Sparkman & Stephens 30 is just the boat for that. Olin Stephens never drew a bad boat, and this remake of his 1930s

MC38 One Design

Best Grand-Prix One-Design Photos by Walter Cooper The MC38 One Design is a complete, modern grand-prix package, swimming in carbon and composites, and designed to do nothing else but tear around the cans at high-speed. As an excellent build out of McConaghy’s Chinese operation, the MC38, is presented as the upgrade for Farr 40 owners seeking a more contemporary design, and as a more substantial boat for Melges 32 owners that don’t have the athleticism for such a boat. Onboard, the MC38

Sailing World

2013 Boat of the Year: J/70

J/Boats’ new one-design sensation is lighting the sportboat scene ablaze. Quick, stiff, ramp-launchable, and priced right, the J/70 checked all the BOTY boxes as it sailed its way to the top of the judges’ lists. Behold our 2013 Boat of the Year.

Ker 40: Best Handicap Racer

Jason Ker, master of IRC-winning designs, teams up with McConaghy Boats to deliver a no-excuses, semi-custom raceboat that’s dialed in for offshore sprints and buoy racing triumphs.

Sailing World

Dufour 36 Performance: Best Crossover

When Dufour Yachts said they were going to revamp their line of performance cruisers, they weren’t kidding. With the Dufour 36 Performance they deliver on their promise: It’s a fast, fun, and impeccably built crossover—for less than $250K. Race it. Cruise it. Enjoy the ride.

RS Venture: Best Recreational Dinghy

For casual racing, club sailing, and messing about with the family, RS Sailboats delivers the goods with its Venture, a versatile and nimble dinghy for the sailing masses.

Sailing World

Boat of the Year 2013

From 15 new designs, Sailing World‘s Boat of the Year judges distinguish six boats ready to take on the racecourse in 2013.

X-Yachts Xp 38

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper Travel around Europe, and X-Yachts are a staple of all the major handicap races. There’s no denying that X-Yachts make fast, great sailing boats, and the Xp 38 continues the tradition, only better. Their updated crossovers now have robust carbon keel grids (instead of metal), and the hull shape of the Xp 38, said Greg Stewart, was very stiff, quick, and easily driven. From off the boat, it’s racy looking, with a low-profile cabin top, angu

Tofinou 8m

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper Imported from France, the Tofinou 8M, was a looker at the dock, thanks to the sharpness of its metallic paint and teak deck, but on the water, the judges quickly dismissed it because excessive friction in every control line, and a combative helm took the fun out of sailing it. “The thing was a workout,” said Tom Rich, explaining that the practice of hiding ropes by leading them under deck from the mast to the jammer banks in the cockpit i

Tartan Fantail

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper After inspecting the Tartan Fantail at the dock, and being impressed with its construction quality, the judges had high expectations. And when winds kicked into the high-teens, just in time for its test sail, they were especially eager to see what this radical-looking daysailer could do. As is often the case, however, strong winds quickly reveal a boat’s weakest points. “The rudder had a ton of helm,” said judge Greg Stewart, “and most of

Sparkman & Stephens 30

Best Daysailer Photos by Walter Cooper The ultimate daysailing experience is different for everyone. For some of us, it might just be an afternoon spin around the bay, or a twilight sail with the family or significant other. For the BOTY judges, however, the ultimate daysailing experience should include the ability to just keep going—to let a day turn into two or more. The Sparkman & Stephens 30 is just the boat for that. Olin Stephens never drew a bad boat, and this remake of his 1930s

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