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2023 Motor Boat Awards winners: Best motorboats of the year revealed

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It has taken months of testing, weeks of analysing and days of deliberating amongst our judges but the 2023 Motor Boat Awards winners can now be revealed....

As always, we have chosen a winner in each of our ten categories based on how well the boat performed during our rigorous sea trials but also how well it meets the requirements of its target market in relation to its size, style and price.

In some categories, we have also awarded a Highly Commended, not because it’s the nearest runner-up but because the judges feel it has some exceptional talent or innovation that is worthy of recognition.

Last but not least, we’d like to thank Sleipner for once again partnering with us as the headline sponsor of the 2023 Motor Boat Awards and our category sponsors Garmin and The Moorings .

2023 Motor Boat Awards winners revealed

Customer service award.

Sponsored by Garmin

Approved Boats, Boats.co.uk, Gibbs Quay Boat Sales, Haven Knox-Johnston

Winner – Gibbs Quay Boat Sales

This is the only award that is open to nominations from members of the public. However, the judges base their decision not just on the number of nominations each company gets (as this would always favour bigger companies with more customers) but also on the quality of service provided to these customers.

This year, we had more nominations than ever before, with several previous winners making it through to our shortlist of finalists, proving that good customer service isn’t just a passing phase but permanently ingrained in the culture of the best companies.

This year’s winner also enjoys a long track record of looking after its customers and particularly of helping new buyers take their first tentative steps into boating – a daunting prospect for many. This is what a few of their recent customers had to say about them:

“The after-sales experience has totally matched the pre-sales experience, dealing with minor niggles and providing us with unlimited technical advice.” “They made us feel welcome from day one and had the patience of a saint as we chose our new boat. They are a credit to the marine industry.” “Excellent after-sales service, prompt and professional boat service and good advice given at all times.”

Sportsboats up to 30ft

Aquaspirit 585 ,  Iron Boats 827 ,  Quarken 27 T-Top ,  Ryck 280 ,  X Shore Eelex 8000

Winner – Quarken 27 T-Top

Quarken’s 27 T-Top is an object lesson in practical dayboat design. Proudly built in Finland, it uses a single Yamaha F300 outboard motor for a 43-knot top end and cruising efficiency only a shade over 1.5 litres per nautical mile.

It’s fun to drive, with a novice-friendly hull and an effective helm position with direct access to a ‘skipper’s cleat’ for single-handed work. And it looks cool too, with its sleek stepped hull, flared bow and contrasting tinted panels.

There’s also masses of storage on board and all of it is useable, thanks to sensible proportions, proper linings, dual access points and quick-lift one-handed cushions. But it’s the ease of movement that really hits home.

Even if you reverse the helm seats to integrate with the diners at the aft bench, you can still pass them freely on the starboard side. And when you reach the bow, whether the forward seats are rigged for dining or sunbathing, the step-through forepeak with offset anchor means you can still disembark without obstruction.

There’s no wet bar and the heads is an open-plan affair but if you want a proper open dayboat with a serviceable cuddy at a sensible price, this is a superb debut from Quarken.

Highly commended – Iron Boats 827

Fast, agile and well-priced, with a brilliant Mannerfelt hull and a cool military aesthetic, the Iron Boats 827 is one of the most entertaining boats you will ever drive.

Weekenders over 30ft

Aquila 32 ,  Duchy Sport ,  De Antonio D36 ,  Galeon 325 GTO ,  Jeanneau Cap Camarat 12.5 ,  Rand Escape 30

Winner – De Antonio D36

De Antonio has become well-known for its unique take on the outboard-powered weekender and its new D36 is a fine exponent of that approach. It uses a raised sunbed to cover its motors, with a clever transverse tender slot and a full inboard-style swim platform.

It counteracts that extra aft weight with a pair of hull extensions for extra buoyancy – and when you get the boat under way, that translates into the kind of flat-running 50-knot performance that thoroughly validates De Antonio’s way of doing things.

Further forward, there’s a central dining zone opposite a big transverse galley, with a pull-out cushion-topped coolbox that turns it into a dining station for ten. The bow adds another generous sunpad and yet, when you step down below, the calibre of the cabins is way beyond expectations for an open weekender.

There’s a central lounge, a starboard bathroom, a forward double berth with push-button convertibility and a huge full-beam mid-cabin that can be converted from a saloon to a second double in a matter of seconds.

With masses of user-friendly day space, versatile four-berth accommodation and whippet-like performance, this is a truly brilliant family weekender.

Highly commended – Jeanneau Cap Camarat 12.5

The imposing new 12.5 features a deepset cockpit, an expandable port terrace, twin or triple outboards for 45 knots and convertible sleeping for up to five.

Adventure Boats

Axopar 45 Cross Cabin ,  Viggo C8 ,  Wellcraft 355 ,  XO DFNDR 9

Winner – XO DFNDR 9

Very few boats under 30ft offer anything like as much all-round ability as the XO DFNDR 9. Slender and soft-riding, with raised hull sides and a lofty but deepset pilothouse, there is virtually no cruising ground where its practical but innovative walkaround layout wouldn’t excel.

You can slide it onto the beach for a party. You can spend the night in the comfy forward cabin. You can open up the aft end of the pilothouse and enjoy a relaxed sunbathe or a six-man lunch – and you can achieve precisely that same feat up in the bow.

Back in the pilothouse, the helm is superb, there’s ample standing headroom and visibility is also first class. But if you slide those vast glass side panels aft, you can also enjoy the DFNDR 9 in much the same way as an authentic open boat.

Having taken it across the Baltic, we can vouch for its performance too. With twin 225s on the transom, it’s fast, frugal and beautifully balanced.

The fact that it’s built like a tank and looks like a film star is just the crowning glory for an all-action adventure boat that proves just how much can be achieved when intelligent design, quality build and rigorous development come together.

Highly commended – Axopar 45 Cross Cabin

With its stepped hull, sliding wet bar, vast sunroofs, two-part side doors and fold-down bulwarks, this is a fast, versatile adventure boat.

Sportscruisers up to 45ft

Bavaria SR36 ,  Dale Classic 37 ,  Jeanneau DB43 ,  Marex 330 Scandinavia

Winner – Marex 330 Scandinavia

The Marex 330 is full of ideas that directly upgrade your life on the water. There’s a fold-down bench at the aft swim platform and hidden fender slots beneath the side decks. There are aft and side doors, plus a mix of sunroofs and sunshades, so you can tweak the conditions to your needs.

In fact, with an aft curtain that wraps around the cockpit, you could easily use this boat as a four-season cruising machine. But it doesn’t stop there. The cockpit is deep and sociable for large dayboating parties and the saloon dinette uses a pop-out stool and reversing co-pilot bench to make best use of the space.

But the fore and aft dining zones also convert into double berths. And that means you can add another two beds to the forward double and the low-slung mid-cabin and sleep up to eight at a time.

Under way, the 330 makes a mockery of its restrained looks with plenty of poke, outstanding poise and pinpoint handling. You can spec it with single or twin V-drives or sterndrives.

And a beautiful helm position with multiple adjustment points, a wide overhead sunroof, a skipper’s side door and the option of joystick control makes single-handed helming an absolute breeze.

Highly commended – Dale Classic 37

Designed by celebrated Dale stalwart, Arthur Mursell, the new four-berth Classic 37 is built like a tank, styled like a work of art and equipped with a delightfully soft-riding semi-displacement hull.

Sportscruisers over 45ft

Fairline Phantom 65 ,  Pardo 60 Endurance ,  Riva 68 Diable ,  Sunseeker Predator 65

Winner – Fairline Phantom 65

This may be Fairline’s first attempt at a sportsfly design but you’d never guess it from the way it looks, performs and feels. With those sleek, flowing lines, it strikes the perfect balance between elegance and sportiness, yet somehow still manages to pack in up to four cabins below deck and masses of sociable living space inside and out.

Even the flybridge itself, while compact by Squadron standards, has plenty of secure seating, sunpads and a proper wet bar, as well as a comprehensive outside helm station.

However, all of this would count for little if the driving experience failed to live up to Fairline’s usual high standards. Thankfully, it’s even better than we had anticipated, delivering effortless acceleration up to a top speed of 38 knots, responsive handling and the kind of refined, long-legged cruising that feels perfectly in keeping with that other legendary Phantom built by Rolls-Royce motor cars.

Last but by no means least, those impressive dynamic characteristics are backed up by sound practical thinking, a beautifully finished interior and reassuringly solid build quality.

As we said in our original test, the Phantom 65 really does feel like it offers the best of both worlds with the looks and driving characteristics of a traditional sportscruiser but also the comfort and practicality of a flybridge.

Flybridges up to 60ft

Absolute 56 ,  Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 ,  Galeon 500 Fly ,  Leopard 46 Powercat ,  Prestige M48

Winner – Galeon 500 Fly

The Galeon 500 Fly is a supremely innovative boat. Up at the helm, push-button windows aid ventilation and a rotating seat integrates the driver with the starboard bench and the rest of the upper saloon guests.

There’s a pleasantly sociable helm on the flybridge too, with forward sunbeds and a wraparound lounge, plus a port wet bar and a huge dining space aft.

And back down on the bow, a big triangular dining area with comfy backrests provides all kinds of convertibility, including incline control for the sunlounger and sliding forward benches for a larger party.

Down below, there’s masses of natural light from oversized windows and skylights. But it’s the aft part of the main deck that really stands out. The port balcony folds down so you can perch on a stool and take advantage of the galley’s inside-outside bar.

On the other side, the saloon opens up, enabling the settee to reverse and face out over its own terrace. And in the aft cockpit, a spinning carousel enables you to face in whichever direction you choose.

In short, with its combination of rotating seats, twin terraces and inside-outside zones, the 500 Fly is more rewarding than any other boat in its sector.

Highly commended – Prestige M48

In addition to three double cabins, each with its own bathroom and staircase, the Prestige M48 provides a stupendous amount of day space and a drive as novice-friendly as any you will see.

Flybridges over 60ft

Absolute 60 Fly ,  Azimut 68 ,  Numarine 22 XP ,  Sirena 68 ,  Sirena 78

Winner – Sirena 68

It’s hard to believe that Sirena Yachts has only been making motor boats under its own name for a little over five years but with plenty of prior experience building high-quality motor yachts for Azimut, and the talents of world-renowned yacht designers German Frers and Cor D. Rover to assist them, it has gone from zero to hero in record time.

We tested two new models in 2022 alone, both of which made it through to our shortlist. But it’s the 68 which we feel is the more rounded package, offering the perfect balance of size, style, ability and price.

That starts with a modern yet elegant design that manages to pack a high-quality, high-volume interior into a surprisingly sleek exterior.

Then there’s the robust semi-displacement hull with its category A RCD rating that is just as happy batting aside heavy seas at displacement speeds as it is hoovering up the miles at 25 knots.

That low-speed comfort and stability also plays into the current trend for fuel efficient passage-making, giving a safe cruising range of almost 1,000nm at 9 knots. The result is a wonderfully capable all-rounder that is perfectly in tune with today’s needs at a price that belies its quality.

Highly commended – Absolute 60 Fly

With its versatile deck spaces, vast windows, innovative layout and refined IPS performance, Absolute’s latest flybridge is as comfortable as it is stylish.

Custom Yachts

Sponsored by The Moorings

Azimut Grande 26M ,  Grand Banks 85 ,  Pearl 95 ,  Sunseeker 90 Ocean

Winner – Sunseeker 90 Ocean

We don’t mind admitting that this was the hardest of all the categories to pick a winner in. We could make a case for any one of these finalists winning. However, after much debate we decided to give it to the one we felt was most in tune with what today’s buyers are looking for.

The Sunseeker Ocean 90 has it all: acres of versatile deck spaces packed with innovative solutions like the X-TEND seating; an intimate connection with the sea thanks to the vast sea-level beach club, glass transoms and bulwarks; masses of storage space for tenders, water toys and cruising gear; a wonderfully luxurious interior that makes full use of the unusually wide beam; and a hull that feels very nearly as agile and sea-kindly as some of its overtly sportier siblings.

The fact that this all fits comfortably into a craft with an LOA of 89ft is all the more remarkable, enabling it to offer the same space and luxury as much longer boats but without the associated running costs.

However, the biggest achievement of all is that despite its extra beam and volume and a brand-new hull shape, it still manages to look, feel and drive like a true Sunseeker.

Highly commended – Grand Banks 85

With its slippery hull shape, carbon fibre superstructure and IPS drives, the new GB85 is exceptionally fuel efficient but still just as seaworthy, stylish and beautifully built as its much heavier predecessors.

Judges’ Special Award

Sponsored by Sleipner

Winner – Pearl Yachts

From its humble beginnings in 1998, when a former yacht captain teamed up with a local businessman to launch a stylish new range of aft cabin craft, Pearl Yachts has never shied away from doing things differently.

In the face of vastly bigger, better resourced competition, it has consistently managed to defy the odds, building spacious, cleverly packaged craft with the style and quality to match.

While many of its competitors have been bought, sold or even fallen by the wayside over the intervening years, Pearl Yachts’ small but enthusiastic management team, led by its founder and managing director Iain Smallridge with the backing of its owners Tony and Margaret Whittaker, steered Pearl Yachts through the tough times and continued to invest in new product.

The introduction of world-class designers, Bill Dixon and Kelly Hoppen, in 2012 has ensured that its latest range of yachts are as fresh and innovative as ever, while maintaining the quality-to-price ratio for which they are renowned.

Now boasting a thoroughly modern range of stylish flybridge cruisers from 62ft to 95ft, including a brand new 72ft model and an 82ft project currently in development, Pearl Yachts enters its 25th year in business looking stronger and fitter than ever.

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The Largest Top 100 Superyacht Launches of 2023

By Frances Flannagan

This year has seen an exceptional array of superyachts launched, from complex refits to technically advanced new builds. We take a look at six of the largest launches of the year, according to Superyachts.com’s Top 100 list of the largest yachts in the world.

Ranging from 90 to 145 metres in length, the five largest yachts launched in 2023 have certainly set the bar high for future launches. Three of the five largest yachts launched this year are Lürssen builds, as the German yard once again prevails as an esteemed industry leader. Freire Shipyard and Oceanco have also launched two exceptional vessels in 2023. 

145m - LUMINANCE

Builder: Lürssen

LUMINANCE was launched in February 2023: a highly anticipated project marking Lürssen’s eighth largest build. Her exterior design has been penned by Espen Oeino, marking the thirtieth collaboration between the designer and the shipyard. 

Her details have been kept tightly under wraps throughout her build process and following her launch, however she is said to have an internal volume of 9,000 GT and a beam of 20m, whilst bearing a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. 

According to Superyachts.com’s Top 100 list, LUMINANCE ranks as the 12th largest yacht in the world, marginally behind the Egyptian presidential yacht EL MAHROUSA which has an LOA of 145.7m. 

140m+ - Project ALI BABA

Despite an unintentional launch earlier this month due to a technical fault at her dock, Lürssen once again stunned the industry with the unveiling of the 140m+ Project ALI BABA. 

Whilst details of her build, design and specifications remain tightly under wraps, Project ALI BABA showcases a sleek, low grey profile, an elongated stretching bow, and two helipads. The industry had long awaited more news of ALI BABA’s build, as she was last seen in May 2022 during transport to begin her assembly. Following this unexpected launch and disruption, she is still on track to be delivered to her owner in 2024, recently moved to Lürssen’s Hamburg facilities for completion. 

With her official length still yet to be confirmed, Project ALI BABA will likely sit 16th in the Superyachts.com Top 100 largest yachts in the world, just behind Lloyd Werft's SOLARIS. 

In August, Lürssen launched its highly anticipated 122m JAG. She features an exterior design by Nuvolari Leanard: a sleek and sophisticated profile, with monochromatic black and white tones accented with splashes of red. Reymond Langton penned her interiors, and whilst they have not been revealed, we can only assume that they are just as eye-catching as her exterior design.

She can accommodate up to 20 guests across 11 staterooms with a crew of 40. She boasts exceptional space onboard, with a beam of 17.8m, making her a highly comfortable vessel. 

JAG ranks as the 32nd largest yacht in the world according to the Superyachts.com Top 100 list. 

114m - Project COSMOS

Project Cosmos was technically launched in March, known otherwise as Project 13759. Her first sighting was a highly exciting moment for the industry as, like LUMINANCE, little information has been revealed about the vessel. 

She has an interior volume of around 6300 GT, a beam of 18m, and a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. Notably, she is the first Lürssen superyacht to feature new fuel cell technology that significantly reduces emissions by avoiding greenhouse gases, contributing to a more sustainable superyacht future. 

Her technical launch revealed that Project Cosmos features a large aft deck and swimming pool, alongside a cut-out that we can presume will house a tender. 

According to Superyachts.com’s Top 100 listings, Project Cosmos ranks as the 45th largest yacht in the world. 

112m - RENAISSANCE

Builder: Freire Shipyard

RENAISSANCE was launched this year as Freire Shipyard’s new flagship motor yacht and the largest yacht ever to be built in Spain. Bannenberg & Rowell oversaw her exterior and interior design, of which her interiors boast neutral colours, tactile furnishings and highly usable spaces. 

She has six decks and can accommodate 36 passengers in 19 luxurious cabins. RENAISSANCE features a double-height dining saloon, a beach club and al fresco dining opportunities on four of the decks. She promises the ultimate relaxation retreat, with stunning views and a range of treatment rooms and salons, as well as an expansive beach club showcasing the latest water toys. 

Currently, she is the most expensive yacht on the charter market, with a starting price of three million euros a week in low season with Burgess. RENAISSANCE sits just behind Project Cosmos on the Top 100 list, ranking as the 47th largest yacht in the world.

105m - 1050H 

Builder: Oceanco

Superyacht standards were set very early on in 2023 with the launch of Oceanco’s 1050H on the 10th of January. She was one of the industry’s most closely-guarded secrets: neither a newbuild, refit, or conversion, representing a fundamental rebuild of unprecedented scale. 

1050H is a heritage superyacht that has been completely transformed: the first vessel that has been recreated to such an extent that no single element remains the same. She has a modern exterior aesthetic, with an entirely new superstructure, and with interiors penned by Reymond Langton Design. 

The Dutch yard commented: ‘At a time when yachting is increasingly mindful of the impact on the planet, bringing an existing superyacht up to date with contemporary standards can have as much, if not more, of a positive effect as a sustainable new build.’ This highlights the importance placed on sustainability, showing 1050H to be an exceptional vessel beyond aesthetics and performance. 

1050H ranks at 63rd on the Superyachts.com Top 100 list. 

2023 has been a remarkable year for superyacht launches, in particular with the emphasis placed on sustainability and future-proof design. These five vessels set the benchmark not only for 2024 launches, but for future yachts in general, as they all exude not only exceptional aesthetics and amenities but highly complex and innovative technical features. 

"At a time when yachting is increasingly mindful of impact on the planet, bringing an existing superyacht up to date with contemporary standards can have as much, if not more, of a positive effect as a sustainable new build." Oceanco Shipyard

"At a time when yachting is increasingly mindful of impact on the planet, bringing an existing superyacht up to date with contemporary standards can have as much, if not more, of a positive effect as a sustainable new build."

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This New All-Electric Boat Could Change Day Cruising as We Know It

The r30, with a 45-mph top speed, 100-mile range and 8-hour run time, could be the electric cruiser the world has been waiting for., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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A new 30-foot cruiser could jolt the fledgling electric boat segment into a new chapter. Blue Innovations Group officially launched its R30 this weekend at its manufacturing facility near Saint Petersburg, Florida.

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“This is different from others because you can actually stay on it,” John Vo, formerly the head of global manufacturing for Tesla and an executive at other automotive and aerospace firms, told Robb Report at the event. Vo founded Blue Innovations about a year ago, after completing a stint at Lordtown Motors as head of propulsion.

Knowing very little about boats when he launched the company, Vo is using the Tesla model, at least partially, to get his fledgling brand going. The plan is to build 10 to 15 boats next year, and eventually increase that to 300 to 500 units with a mega-factory—producing one R30 every 30 minutes, mixing robotics with human labor. The R30 will be priced at $300,000, similar to its foiling competitors Navier and Candela. Following the Tesla model, interested buyers can reserve a production slot for $5,000, which is refundable.

The R30 is an interesting design, with an almost New England styling, given its navy-blue hull and beefy hardtop. But it’s also clearly a day boat with a large sunpad on the foredeck, sunbed in the rear cockpit, and platforms at the stern that fold out on three sides, adding six feet to its 10-foot beam. The boat also has a weekender cabin with a dining table that drops down to form a double berth, galley with fridge, sink and cooktop, as well as an enclosed head.  

Solar panels on the hardtop will slow-charge the vessel to about 50 percent of peak power when the boat is not running. The batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LFP), says Vo, which are safer with have a longer life cycle than batteries used in most electric cars.

The beauty of electric boats is the relative lack of noise, exhaust fumes, along with instant torque and responsive acceleration. Vo said that the company went with an inboard configuration rather than an outboard because it didn’t clutter up the stern of the boat. “The draft is still only 24 inches,” he says.

This 30-footer is also unique among electric boats because it doesn’t have a rudder. Instead, a computer controls the propellers to turn the vessel, or move it forward or backwards. “It can turn tightly in its own axis,” says Vo.

The helm functions and electronics were also developed in-house with the goal of delivering an automotive experience that is more intuitive than other boating helm stations.

“We’re trying to recreate what you have in a car where you’re getting all key data in one central place,” says Vo. “We wanted to make things less overwhelming for boaters who might be less experienced.” The helm is much simpler than a conventional helm station on most boats, with push buttons that reveal different functions and data. The R30 incorporates a chartplotter, sonar, safety cameras and satellite-based radar as well as a Wi-Fi router. The company is considering Starlink satellite receivers for more advanced Wi-Fi. All systems will be linked to its headquarters for troubleshooting and maintenance.

The first R30s should be completed and delivered next year.

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The most exciting new yachts at the Monaco Yacht Show 2023

The countdown to the Monaco Yacht Show has well and truly begun as shipyards ready their latest launches for the highlight of the superyachting show season. If you're heading to Port Hercule in September, be sure to look out for these fresh-out-of-the-yard yachts making their grand debut...

Builder: Bilgin Length: 80m

With a scarlet hull and “sleek and sexy profile,” according to CEO and founder of Unique Yacht Design Emrecan Özgün, Leona is colloquially referred to as “the Red Bullet”. Her extravagant beach club pool is worth checking out, flanked by Greek statues sitting on water outlets and rigged with overhead fibre optic lights to give the appearance of the night sky. Her sistership is Tatiana , who made her Monaco Yacht Show debut in 2021.

Builder: Golden Yachts Length: 77.7m

With a vertical bow and trapezium-shaped windows, O'Rea carves quite the contemporary profile compared to predecessors O’Pari and O’Ptasia . More than 250 finishes are claimed to have been used throughout her interior, which is the result of a collaboration between Massari and Vafiadis , including polished marble and precious stones. The yacht will also be home to a collection of contemporary artworks, curated by Vasilis Dragnis in collaboration with Anna Chatzinassiou.

Builder: Rossinavi Length: 65.7m

Developed entirely over Zoom, Alchemy features a signature Vitruvius hull designed by French-born, London-based Philippe Briand . The tri-deck superyacht was built to fulfil an owner's brief for large al fresco areas and a strong focus on wellness. The result is over 330 square metres of outdoor space and plenty of amenities, including a jacuzzi and numerous sunpads.

Builder: Amels Length: 60m

Entourage is the second in the series of Amels Limited Edition 60 models designed in collaboration with Espen Øino . While the first hull in the series, Come Together , features distinctive geometric windows, the design team customised Entourage with long strips of glazing that allow additional light into the interior. Another noteworthy design choice is the extended bridge deck and sun deck which, first requested by the owner, will now be implemented in all future builds.

Builder: Sanlorenzo Length: 56.7m

This Monaco debutante is the second hull in the shipyard’s 57Steel series, delivering double the volume of its smaller sibling the 52Steel. She offers 1,000GT across her five decks and her showpiece is a 110-square-metre beach area, created by opening hatches on three sides that, when unfolded, become small beaches on the water’s edge.

Builder: Admiral Length: 55m

Silverstar marks the second hull in Admiral 's S-Force Series, and boasts a unique interior designed by Giorgio Armani and his team – reflected in the refined ivory onyx, cornflower blue marble, and Venetian printed silk. Sharing the same values on al fresco living as its sistership 55-metre Geco , she’s equipped with an open beach club at the stern, a sundeck with a Jacuzzi, and a touch-and-go helipad on the upper deck forward.

Builder: Turquoise Yachts Length: 53m

Miami-based studio DeBasto Design created this yacht’s distinctive sky-blue exterior, marking a first-time collaboration with the Turkish shipyard. “With Jewels’ enormous [720GT] volume, my objective was to make the exterior less bulky and give a feeling of a forward dynamic movement, rather than a static feel,” said designer Luiz DeBasto. The yacht is crowned by a generous sundeck with a spa pool, sunpads, TV, day head, bar and “acres of space”, according to Turquoise.

Baglietto T52

Builder: Baglietto Length: 52m

The flagship of Baglietto's sporty T-Line series, the Italian yard is set to debut its first hybrid T52 model at this year's show, designed by Francesco Paszkowski . She has an impressive range of 7,600 nautical miles and can remain at anchor for up to 10 hours relying on battery power alone. The new yacht reinterprets the classic Baglietto design with a restyled stern and open beach club, spanning two decks and featuring a pool with a changeable-depth floor.

Builder: Columbus Yachts Length: 50m

While Anjelif ’s brassy exteriors are sure to draw the crowd this year, her colouring is far from her only stand-out feature. She also boasts several technical innovations, such as an onboard sanitisation system that incorporates cold plasma for the elimination of airborne viruses and bacteria. An impressive recreational highlight is the touch-and-go helipad on the bow, which can convert to an open-air cinema when not in use.

Eternal Spark

Builder: Bilgin Length: 50m

With entertainment at the core of her design, Eternal Spark can host more than 100 guests quayside across her four decks, with five separate bars and seven distinct social areas. Her Hot Lab interiors feature pinkish quartz and a “light, fresh and sunny” atmosphere – “comparable to a villa on the Côte d’Azur”. The yacht's sunken-level beach club is bound to impress with a sauna, ice fountain, day head and lounge with a wet bar.

Builder: Tankoa Yachts Length: 50m

Retaining the same classic Paszkowski profile as sisterships Kinda and Olokun , Grey sports an appropriately “whisper grey” hull alongside a “jet black” superstructure. She is best known for her larger-than-usual, glass-sided swimming pool which comes alongside a high-definition cinema screen as per the owner’s request. Flanked by sofa seating, the screen also features integrated speakers and a surround-sound system courtesy of British-French brand Focal & Naim.

Builder: Benetti Length: 49.9m

Formerly FB606 and now christened Alunya, the 49.9-metre steel and aluminium yacht is the sixth unit in Benetti ’s B.Now 50M series. She launched less than two months after her sistership Lady I and is fitted with Benetti’s signature ‘Oasis deck’ – where the outdoor living area offers 270-degree views from the stern of the vessel. Large sunpads and a glass-walled infinity pool complete the space.

Builder: ISA Yachts Length: 45m

This semi-custom model stands out with her strong, sporty profile designed by Enrico Gobbi – Team for Design and turquoise and gold Luca Dini interiors. Designed to entertain large parties, UV II is fitted with an extra wide beach club, a custom bar on the sundeck and a €1,000,000 state-of-the-art sound system integrated by Videoworks.

Builder: Conrad Shipyard Length: 44.3m

Poland’s largest superyacht, Ace ’s distinctive “rolling wave” superstructure is a signature of British designer Reymond Langton . Her centrepiece is the 25-metre-long sundeck, made complete with a 2.5-metre cinema screen and recessed infinity pool (so as not to block the view). Fun fact: the pool’s micro-mosaic is courtesy of Nero Sicilia, made with glass recycled from old television and computer screens.

Builder: Sanlorenzo Length: 44m

The X-Space 's “extra private” design was first revealed in 2021, with one of her five decks dedicated entirely to the owner. Featuring an apartment, study, living room and large master cabin, the cabin leads directly onto a private terrace at the bow flanked by a 30-square-metre sunbed area and swimming pool. Another special feature – the yacht is “almost entirely made of glass”, with glass panes and large windows featured throughout and most portholes in cabins replaced with “glass walls”.

Builder: Tecnomar Length: 43.5m

This highly secretive project is expected to make its grand reveal at the Monaco Yacht Show this year. Little is known about it so far.

Builder: Bilgin Yachts Length: 42m

Kaşif, which translates to "explorer" in Turkish, is the first vessel to emerge from its Turkish shipyard's new Antalya facility and was built for a repeat client of the shipyard. She is the ninth collaboration between Bilgin and Unique Yacht Design with interiors by Hot Lab. Preliminary imagery of her fully custom interiors shows curvy architectural lines, a soft-coral colour scheme and 70s-style, curved sofa seating.

White Island

Builder: Aegean Yacht Length: 39.2m

This 261GT, steel and aluminium ketch was developed entirely by the Bodrum-based yard, including the concept, layout, naval architecture, marine engineering, and both the exterior and interior design. White Island' s wide saloon windows allow for airy, bright interiors rarely seen in others of her category.

Builder: Pershing Length: 35.2m

The first hull in the Pershing's sporty GTX116 series was commissioned by a US-based owner who said he had spent “years” looking for the perfect yacht for cruising in Miami. Characterised by a streamlined profile that reflects the GTX116’s sporty capacities, the yacht borrows design cues from the Gran Turismo automotive imagery. Her 39-square-metre beach club is worth calling attention to – connected to the swim platform by an electro-hydraulic taffrail, it creates a waterfront lounge area.

Builder: Nautor Swan Length: 35m

The first Swan 108, named Fancy , is one of a handful of sailing yachts making their worldwide debut at the Monaco Yacht Show this year. Built with a carbon hull and a deck made from epoxy Sprint technology, the model is hailed as the first in a new generation of Maxi Swans and plugs the gap between the Swan 98 and the Swan 120 flagship.

Builder: Cantiere delle Marche Length: 35m

Nuri’ s smaller sister Stellamar may have an aesthetic well-suited to Mediterranean cruising, but under the hood she is a souped-up, world-girdling explorer with an “invisible crane” for toys and tenders and an impressive 5,500-nautical-mile range. She is owned by an architect who helped shape the yacht’s nature-inspired, Francesco Paszkowski interiors – and no doubt advocated for the master cabin’s sauna and hammam.

Builder: Gulf Craft Length: 34.1m

The first unit in the UAE-based shipyard's Majesty 111 series, Sandbank , is set to make her European debut at the Monaco Yacht Show after she was presented to the world in Dubai earlier this year. With exterior and interior by Phathom – marking the studio's first on-the-water project – a highlight of the yacht’s design is its focus on natural light. Gulf Craft claims the Majesty 111 has up to 40 per cent more glazing than yachts of comparable size. This is particularly evident in the owner’s cabin, which sits below a glass-floored dip pool that sends cascades of light into the cabin below. The new model slots between the existing Majesty 100 and Majesty 120 models.

Builder: Arcadia Yachts Length: 29.3m

The first Arcadia A96 is fitted with “environmentally friendly” Waveless Stab40 stabiliser fins and solar panels that allow her to cruise between eight to nine hours in silent mode. Interiors are by Igor Lobanov , with a focus on eco-friendly, natural furnishings and a “multi-flexible” layout that makes full use of its 8.7-metre beam and 400 square metres of usable space.

Builder: Mazu Yachts Length: 28.5m

The Mazu 92DS marks the Turkish shipyard's first foray into steel construction and is the first in a new semi-displacement series which will soon be followed by a 112 DS and 132 DS model. “I think we’ve created something amazing,” said Mazu founder and designer Halit Yukay. “The interior volumes and full-height windows make you feel like you’re on a yacht that is at least 10 metres longer.” Exterior and interior styling are by Red Yacht Design .

Builder: Bolide Yachts Length: 24.9m

Described as a “hyper muscle yacht”, Bolide 8 0 is one of the fastest superyachts in the world – reported to make blistering speeds of around 73 knots during sea trials in mid-April. She’ll mark the first iteration in the Bolide project, made up of a limited fleet of nine models. Hull one is defined by her juxtaposing black and punchy orange palette, reflective of its sporty nature in both aesthetics and aerodynamic performance

Sunreef 80 Eco

Builder:   Sunreef Yachts Length: 23.8m

Custom-built for an experienced family of environmentally-minded yacht owners, Sunreef 80 Eco hails from Polish catamaran specialist Sunreef Yachts . She is the first in a new generation of eco-catamarans, and has been dubbed the “world’s most advanced electric motor yacht” – equipped with batteries that, according to the yard, are 30 per cent lighter than the average batteries used.

Builder: Bluegame Length: 22.7m

Solar-powered multihull BGM75 is the first of a new series of ‘BGM’ multihull yachts from Bluegame. While she may have the appearance of a monohull, she delivers on the benefits of a catamaran – increased stability, large volumes, and reduced fuel consumption. The futuristic yacht is also capable of generating 5kW of green energy thanks to 56 solar panels that can be installed on the deckhouse.

Builder: Length:

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Best yacht 2023: European yacht of the year winners

• Toby Hodges
• January 21, 2023

The European Yacht of the Year 2023 winners have been announced and comprise the best yacht winners in five categories including a special mention award. Toby Hodges was one of the 12 jury members who test sailed each of the 21 shortlisted yachts before deciding on the winners.

The European Yacht of the Year programme is a highlight of my year as it gives us  jury members the opportunity to assemble our shortlist of the best nominees, seatrial each and every one of them and discuss what works and what doesn’t at sea and in port, in order to choose the best yacht of 2023 in a variety of categories. Our trials were held in La Rochelle and Port Ginesta, Barcelona over the autumn of 2022.

This is the 20th anniversary of the European Yacht of the Year awards, which were presented at a gala event on the opening evening of the Boot Düsseldorf Boat Show on 21 January 2023.

Together we comprise 12 magazines across Europe, each the leading voice on boat testing in their respective countries. The result is indisputably the most thorough, impartial and respected awards programme for new production yachts worldwide.

Best yacht 2023

Best performance yacht.

Nominees: Elan E6 ; Beneteau First 36 ; Grand Soleil 40 ; Italia Y 12.98; Solaris 50

Three Italian pure performance cruisers and two very different yachts built in Slovenia made for a varied and exciting Performance category. Where once we could assume a cruiser-racer was a fairly standard format design, over the last decade it’s been much more the sexy fast cruisers the Italian yards specialise in. But as French yards like Pogo and JPK have proven, we salute lightweight planing yachts – and the Beneteau First 36 is the first real production yacht in that spirit.

Winner: Beneteau First 36

Here’s a yacht that puts the focus firmly back into sailing. The First 36 has been kept inviting and approachable – unlike many yachts that can plane, the look is modest, not aggressive. It’s uncomplicated, unfussy and the result is a pleasure for all to sail. It’s more about what you can’t see, the design and engineering, which should ensure longterm demand.

The small, fiddly heads compartment and lack of tiller options are perhaps the only real detraction from an otherwise brilliant collaboration by Seascape and Beneteau, from concept to build quality.

It was their goal to keep this area of the market relevant and prove a mainstream brand can do it, rather than only niche specialist yards. To create a mass produced yacht at this weight and to this foam-cored quality and one that can bring so much fun is a feather in the cap of the First brand.

Price: (ex VAT) €238,813

Jury comments:

“The complete universal cruiser-racer.” Pasi Nuutinen, Fin.

“The truly modern fast cruiser that dares to be different and that not enough yards dare to build.” Jochen Rieker, Germany.

“Fast but easy going, precise but not nervous, and lightweight, yet comfortable.” Marinus van Sijdenborgh de Jong, Netherlands.

Best Luxury Yacht

Nominees: Oceanis Yachts 60 ; Oyster 495 ; Ice 62 Targa

A spacious production yacht, a premium bluewater cruiser and a highly customised Italian performance cruiser shows the variety on offer in the 50-60ft+ market, while giving the jury some tricky comparisons to make.

Winner: Oyster 495

It is hard to imagine that the decor of a yacht can change its look and feel quite this much, yet the layout of this second 495, Eddie Jordan’s dramatic looking Tuga , is in fact identical to the first boat that I spent several days aboard last summer. At its heart is a wonderfully (Humphreys) designed and engineered luxury bluewater cruiser conceived from the ground up, built in a new dedicated facility to a repeatable quality very few yards are capable of.

The 495 offers consistent passage making speeds in real voluminous comfort – whether enjoyed from the deep cockpit or the best-in-class aft cabin. Deck stowage and mechanical space is also superb. Then factor in the family appeal of Oyster’s after sales and world rally programme and you start to appreciate the premium world this sub 50-footer gives access to.

Price: (ex VAT) £1.35m

Jury comments

“So reassuringly strong, so surprisingly quick in straight line speed, so great to helm, so easy to handle and so, so comfortable if you want to retreat to her living quarters!” Jochen Rieker, Germany

“A true blue water cruiser that makes no compromise in terms of comfort, safety or sailing abilities.” Loic Madeline, France

“The entry level of the Oyster range brings with it the build quality and customisation typical of the yard’s largest models… perfect for a couple’s globetrotting dreams.” Alberto Mariotti, Italy

Best Family Yacht

Nominees: Bente 28; Dufour 37 ; Linjett 39

Typically this category brims with midsize cruising yachts from mainstream manufacturers. And while the Dufour flies that flag, when you put these three nominees together you have a diverse selection of interesting new cruising yachts from 30-40ft to suit significantly different budgets.

Winner: Linjett 39

If you haven’t heard of Linjett before, prepare to be impressed. The 39 offers easy fast family cruising and occasional racing in luxurious comfort and proves that classic needn’t be old fashioned.

Linjett exudes Scandi heritage: a third generation 50-year old brand, it’s run by three brothers and has built 900 yachts from its 19th Century Rosättra yard in Sweden. Sturdy and stable the 39 instils instant confidence and proved a delight to sail. The Linjett is set up to easily shorthand it too, with two winches and a bank of clutches each side positioned aft in reach of the helm.

The interior is offered with two or three cabins and the latter we saw had an excellent layout, including separate shower/wet hanging compartment aft. The joiner work is first class, with traditional mahogany used as standard, or the more contemporary European Oak on the test boat.

This is a premium yacht, but you get what you pay for. It will surprise most and ensure everyone steps ashore smiling.

Price: (ex VAT) SEK 4,208,000 (approx €400,000)

“Practically flawless yacht for offshore, coastal and archipelago cruising, peppered with a big spoonful of performance and a strong flavour of luxury,” Pasi Nuutinen, Finland

“Aesthetically immortal because it is impeccably designed and built with modern construction techniques.” Alberto Mariotti, Italy

“A fast luxury yacht that is also the best family yacht… timeless.” Axel Nissen-Lie, Norway

Best Catamaran

Nominees: Balance 482 ; Catana OC ; C-Cat 48 ; Excess 14; Fountaine Pajot Aura 51 ; Lagoon 51; Nautitech 44 Open

What started out as two separate multihull categories – Family and Performance – merged into one once the jury appreciated the boundaries are quite blurred and that some of these catamarans belong in both camps.

All seven of these 40-50-footers merit close scrutiny for anyone after space and cruising comfort. The decision lies with how much you tweak the performance:comfort ratio.

Winner: Nautitech Open 44

We saw a good, interesting battle of the aft helm cruising cats this year in the Excess 14 and the Nautitech. For those who cite a lack of visibility and protection as reasons not to choose this route, try sailing this boat! Direct steering brings so much more helming pleasure – you get the enjoyable feeling and communication more associated with a monohull. I consider this 44 Open to be the ideal size to go distance sailing, with good performance, low draught and space for family and friends.

The interior design is smart and inviting – not as voluminous as some, but certainly enough to be smugly comfortable at anchor. Out of all the multihulls nominated or sailed in the last year, this cat impressed me the most.

Price: €560,800 ex VAT. (€818k ex VAT as tested).

Jury Comments

“This is a catamaran that makes the heart beat out at sea rather than at a boat show.” Axel Nissen-Lie, Norway

“Sailing sensation sets the Nautitech apart. She’s delightfully sensitive in light wind and gets more and more convincing with speed – which she picks up to very decent numbers.” Pasi Nuutinen, Finland

“This shows why the desire for catamaran sailing is spreading: It combines the comfort of two hulls with the good sailing characteristics of a modern yacht.”  Lori Schüpbach, Sui

Best Specialist Yacht

Nominees: Astus 22.5 ;  Ecoracer 25; Ace 30

Always the most diverse category, once again this did not disappoint with its contenders comprising a plywood IRC scow, a trailable trimaran and a recyclable sportsboat!

Special mention: Sustainability – Ecoracer 25

A reusable, recyclable prototype competitive sportsboat. If a ‘garage project’ such as this can successfully prove that the use of more sustainable materials, such as thermoplastic resins, linen fibre, basalt and recyclable carbon, are a viable solution for boatbuilding already, there is no excuse why the mainstream production yards shouldn’t already be employing them!

While most fibre-reinforced boats are destined for landfill, here the composites can be separated from the resin after immersion in a solvent, to make reusable composite products.

This is an on trend one-off racer, which at 1.1 tonnes and 2.7m beam can be towed when tilted and takes one hour from crane to sailing. It’s so much fun to sail, even in the lightest puffs, and won the ORC sportsboat class on Lake Garda on its debut season.

A shame it’s only a prototype, but the future looks bigger and brighter for this startup brand Northern Light Composites, with a 30ft version going into production. Congratulations on taking the initiative.

Price: Circa €80k

“Without changes the leisure boat market will be regulated and potentially fade away. The 100% recyclable Ecoracer 25 has shown that it’s possible to turn green for real.” Morten Brandt-Rasmussen, Denmark

“Shows that a technically complex sailboat can be built in a better way – without compromising on performance.” Axel Nissen-Lie, Norway

European Yacht of the Year Jury

Toby Hodges, Yachting World, GBR Jochen Rieker, YACHT, GER Loic Madeline, Voiles & Voiliers, FRA Pasi Nuutinen, Vene, FIN Roland Duller, YachtRevue, AUT Alberto Mariotti, Vela e Motore, ITA Morten Brandt-Rasmussen, Bådmagasinet, DEN Marinus van Sijdenborgh de Jong, Zeilen, NED Joakim Hermansson, Praktiskt Båtägande, SWE Axel Nissen-Lie, Seilmagasinet, NOR Diego Yriarte, Nautica Y Yates, ESP Lori Schüpbach, Marina.ch, SWI

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