Best Boat Nominees 2026

SAIL magazine presents ten nominees for its 2026 Best Boats Awards:

We’ll go ahead and say it: It’s going to be a tough competition this year. The class of 2026 is an innovative mix of design ideals with seemingly something for everyone. Gone are the days when the show docks were packed with a homogeneous display of convergent evolution, perfected for that hypothetical “average” owner. The truth is there is no average sailor.

Whether it’s crossing oceans or spending afternoons with grandkids, time on the boat is precious and unique to each sailor—just like each owner’s relationship with their boat. That’s why we’ve been glad to see an investment in a diverse range of designs this year, from nimble LOAs to massive cruising cats, and new one design fleets to strides forward on the energy autonomy front, 2026 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for innovation. – Full report