Nominees for 2023 Boat of the Year

Annapolis, MD (October 13, 2022) – The 2023 Boat of the Year nominees for Cruising World and Sailing World magazines have been revealed as the U.S. Sailboat Show gets underway today in Annapolis, MD.

For Cruising World, sixteen boats – 11 monohulls, and 5 multihulls – have been nominated and will be tested by systems expert Ed Sherman of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) along with longtime sailors and marine journalists Mark Pillsbury and Herb McCormick.

“Once again, sailboat builders have raised the bar, putting up a worthy fleet of contenders ranging from comfortable cruisers to wave-piercing performance models,” said Herb McCormick, Cruising World Boat of the Year director. “We have one of the most well-rounded fleets in years, and we can’t wait to get out and put these new boats through their paces.”

Cruising World’s 2023 Boat of the Year nominees include: Balance Catamarans 442, Beneteau First 36, Beneteau Oceanis 34.1, Dufour 37, Elan 50.1, Hallberg-Rassy 400, Hanse 460, J/Boats J/45, Lagoon 55, Lyman Morse LM46, Moody DS41, Nautitech 44 Open, Neel Trimaran 43, Fountaine-Pajot Tanna 47, Tartan 365, and X-Yachts X4.3.

Running parallel to Cruising World’s tests in Annapolis, the Sailing World magazine Boat of the Year program has narrowed its list of nominees to 11 boats, including four dinghies, five offshore-oriented raceboats, two performance cruising multihulls, and four recreational dinghies.

“One exciting element this year is the number of recreational dinghies, which is essential for the continued growth of the sport—boats that are relatively inexpensive and provide easy access to the water,” said said Dave Reed, Sailing World’s editor and Boat of the Year director.

The nominees or Sailing World’s 2023 Boat of the Year Award are: Beneteau First 36, Lyman Morse 46, X-Yachts X4.3, J/45, L30, MiniCat 310, Tiwal 3R, Nacra 500 MKII, SOL, Balance 442, and Neel 43. They will be reviewed by Sailing World’s independent judges—Chuck Allen, Greg Stewart, and David Powlison.