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Keelboat

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.

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

Harbor 30

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper The Harbor 30, from California’s W.D. Schock, turned out to be a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The model our judges sailed was somewhat of a “de-tuned” version, sans optional asymmetric spinnaker and other features one might add for beer can racing. It wasn’t quite finished at the factory, either, said the dealer, because it had to be rushed to the U.S. Sailboat Show, and the judges picked up on a few interior finish details that migh

Dufour 36 Performance

Best Crossover Photos by Walter Cooper For an owner seeking a sharp-looking raceboat to take off on for the weekend, the Dufour 36 Performance, selected as the Boat of the Year’s Best Crossover, has everything to make that a reality: The cockpit is set up for racing, and even with an aluminum rig package, the boat was lively and quick. The interior, and even some of the more subtle cruising details, are so well thought out that you quickly forget you’re sailing a dual-purpose boat. Ther

C&C 101

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper The C&C 101 is billed as a return to C&C’s racing roots, and for this they tapped young in-house designer Tom McNeill. Teased by dying winds and a shortened test sail, the judges sailed the boat on two separate days so as to give it a fair test. Short-tacking up the shoreline of the Naval Academy, the boat accelerated quickly out of the tacks, and was responsive on the helm to subtle course changes, characteristics the judges liked. The b

Sailing World

Vendée Globe Preview 2012

The “Everest of the Seas” kicks off on Nov. 10 from Les Sables d’Olonne, France. Here’s what you need to know about this grueling ocean race.

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.

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

Harbor 30

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper The Harbor 30, from California’s W.D. Schock, turned out to be a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The model our judges sailed was somewhat of a “de-tuned” version, sans optional asymmetric spinnaker and other features one might add for beer can racing. It wasn’t quite finished at the factory, either, said the dealer, because it had to be rushed to the U.S. Sailboat Show, and the judges picked up on a few interior finish details that migh

Dufour 36 Performance

Best Crossover Photos by Walter Cooper For an owner seeking a sharp-looking raceboat to take off on for the weekend, the Dufour 36 Performance, selected as the Boat of the Year’s Best Crossover, has everything to make that a reality: The cockpit is set up for racing, and even with an aluminum rig package, the boat was lively and quick. The interior, and even some of the more subtle cruising details, are so well thought out that you quickly forget you’re sailing a dual-purpose boat. Ther

C&C 101

Boat of the Year Nominee Photos by Walter Cooper The C&C 101 is billed as a return to C&C’s racing roots, and for this they tapped young in-house designer Tom McNeill. Teased by dying winds and a shortened test sail, the judges sailed the boat on two separate days so as to give it a fair test. Short-tacking up the shoreline of the Naval Academy, the boat accelerated quickly out of the tacks, and was responsive on the helm to subtle course changes, characteristics the judges liked. The b

Sailing World

Vendée Globe Preview 2012

The “Everest of the Seas” kicks off on Nov. 10 from Les Sables d’Olonne, France. Here’s what you need to know about this grueling ocean race.

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