2017 Boat of the Year Nominees Announced

Annapolis, MD (October 10, 2016) – Cruising World and Sailing World magazines have announced nominees for the highly anticipated 2017 Boat of the Year awards at the U.S. Sailboat Show. The annual awards, elected by independent judging teams for each of the publications, recognize the best of the year’s new sailboat models being introduced in North America.

The nominated boats move on to the judging round, where they will be inspected and sailed by the judges from each magazine. Cruising World judges focus on production boats laid out and equipped for coastal and offshore sailing and voyaging, while the Sailing World panel concentrates on boats designed and built with racing in mind.

“The two dozen nominees in this year’s Boat of the Year contest represent an intriguing blend of sporty racer/cruisers, flat-out long-range voyagers, state-of-the art catamarans and versatile coastal cruisers,” said Herb McCormick, Cruising World Boat of the Year director. “Our independent panel of judges will have a challenging time deciding which boats for model year 2017 ascend to the winner’s circle.”

Sailing World editor Dave Reed is pleased to see the wide range in this year’s nominees. “We have an incredible diversity of boats for our judges to experience this year. From the 14-foot foiling Waspz dinghy to the Italian-built Solaria 50, which is a thing of beauty, we have the sport covered.”

The 2017 Boat of the Year winners will be announced in the January issue of Cruising World and the January/February issue of Sailing World, both available in late December.

2017 Cruising World Boat of the Year Nominees:

Full-Size Cruiser Under 50 Feet
Hallberg-Rassy 40 MkII
Catalina 42
Elan Impression 45
X-Yachts X4
Dufour 460 Grand Large

Full-Size Cruiser Over 50 Feet
Jeanneau 58
Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 62
Solaris 50

Performance Cruisers
Alerion 30 Sport
Elan E4
J/112E
Dehler 34

Cruising Catamarans Over 50 Feet
St. Francis 50 Mk II
Balance 526
Royal Cape Catamarans Majestic 530
Xquisite X5

Cruising Catamarans Under 50 Feet
Lagoon 42
Lagoon 450 S
Fountaine-Pajot Lucia 40
Seawind 1190

Charter Catamarans
Gemini Freestyle
Bali 4.0 Lounge
Bavaria Nautitech Fly 46
Leopard 45

2017 Sailing World Boat of the Year Nominees:

J/112E
Corsair Pulse 600
Diam 24
Fareast 24
X-Yachts X4
Elan E4
Topaz Cat 16
Alerion Sport 30
Seascape 24
VX Evo
Dehler 34
Solaris 50
Waspz

Source: Evily Giannopoulos, Bonnier Corporation