2019 BOAT of the YEAR Hail to the Chiefs Monohulls, catamarans and a trimaran too! In a fleet dominated by some of the world’s largest high-volume production boatbuilders, 22 boats from six nations gathered along the shores and on the waters of Chesapeake Bay to compete in the model year 2019 edition of Cruising World’s coveted Boat of the Year awards. When the spray had settled after sea trials conducted in breezes both light and boisterous, a worthy selection of winners in eight separate categories were crowned. Topping the list of champions was a pair of overall winners for 2019: The Island Packet 349 is the Domestic Boat of the Year, and the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 is the Import Boat of the Year. Story by Herb McCormick, Photos by Jon Whittle very year, it seems, the list of How else would you explain the very As always, judging took place during and ISLAND PACKET 349 cruisingworld.com nominees for our annual Boat of similar strategies of the massive German after the show in Annapolis, in a process cruisingworld.com Domestic Boat of the Year Ethe Year competition takes on a boatyard Hanse, and the aggressive with two components: dockside visits and 76 collective identity of its own. In the years approach of the French builder Jeanneau, sea trials. At the dock, our three-man panel 77 following the great financial crisis of both of which covered all the bases with of independent judges considered each nearly a decade ago, there was a rash fresh launches in the 30-foot sector (the boat’s layout and design, construction, JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 490 of imports from all points on the interna- Hanse 348 and the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey systems installations, safety factors and Import Boat of the Year tional compass rushing in to fill a vacuum 319), the 40-foot range (Hanse 418 and Sun livability. Underway, the judging team per- left by many U.S. builders that were either Odyssey 410) and even the 50-foot cate- formed anchoring and emergency-steering outright casualties of the distressed gory (Hanse 548 and Sun Odyssey 490)? tests, and put each boat through its paces economy or scaling back operations until And not to be outdone over there in under power and on all points of sail. For the smoke cleared. It was difficult to tell the “kitty corner,” how about Lagoon details on the judging team, sailing condi- what the future held. Catamaran saturating the market with tions, methodology and motoring tests, Then, for the next several editions a sweet Lagoon 40 and a Lagoon 50? please see pages 96 and 97. of Boat of the Year, the big stories were Heck, taken together, these three And in the pages that precede that often the big cats — specifically, the builders — Hanse, Jeanneau and Lagoon wrap-up, check out the composition of january/february 2019 january/february huge influx of catamarans that seemed — accounted for nearly half of the 22 the individual classes and their respective 2019 january/february to dominate the new-boat market as well brand-new boats introduced in Annapolis winners. Yes, it was a big year for foreign as the docks of the U.S. Sailboat Show last fall. Add in a couple of cool boats builders, but with it came a welcome in Annapolis, Maryland, where BOTY from another set of perennial French return to the winner’s circle from Island judging takes place each year. production builders (the Beneteau 46.1 Packet, one of America’s best-loved So, what was the overriding theme for and the Dufour Grand Large 360), and brands. You can call it a win-win situation. model year 2019? Well, it was a year dom- a pair from Denmark’s prolific X-Yachts inated not by boutique builders focused (the Xp 55 and X 49) and you’ve got what on a relatively limited run of high-quality you might call a juggernaut. CIRCLE OF WINNERS heirloom yachts (though the Hylas 48 will That’s not to say there wasn’t some real certainly play that role for a select few innovation and forward thinking, and a 78 Domestic Boat of the Year lucky owners, as will the Tartan 395 and lot of that came, perhaps not surprisingly, 79 Import Boat of the Year Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 42), nor by a herd in the two dedicated multihull classes. 80 Best Midsize Cruiser Under 38 Feet of stampeding cats. A trimaran, the Neel 51, was one of the 82 Best Midsize Cruiser Over 38 Feet No, 2019 will be remembered as a year Annapolis show’s real head-turners, and 84 Best Full-Size Cruiser Under 48 Feet for an influx of production boats from more cats from South Africa (Leopard 88 Best Full-Size Cruiser some of the planet’s largest high-volume 50), Vietnam (Seawind 1260) and, natu- 90 Best Cruising Catamaran Under 50 Feet builders. And their aim, in a couple of rally, France (Bali 4.1, Catana 53, Fountaine 92 Best Cruising Multihull Over 50 Feet notable instances, wasn’t just to make Pajot Astréa 42) ensured that there was 94 Best Value a splash in the market, but to take no plenty of variety for those who enjoy their 95 Best Charter Boat prisoners while doing so. sailing on more than one hull. 96 Specs, Prices, Judges PRESENTED BY 2019 BOAT of the YEAR // DOMESTIC BOAT OF THE YEAR // Winner ISLAND PACKET 349 2019 BOAT of the YEAR // IMPORT BOAT OF THE YEAR // Winner SUN ODYSSEY 490 ▲ HELLY HANSEN HELLY HANSEN ▲ “The sail plan is terrific,” Murphy said. “It has a really nice solent rig with an inner Sun Worship headsail for short tacking, but when you’re on a longer reach, you have a code-zero- unanimously that it was a style reacher that’s right there championship performance. and very accessible. I think “They’ve done so many the sail plan makes up for all really nice things,” said Tim the wetted surface of the full Murphy. “It’s easy to move keel. During our sea trials, around the split backstays. in only about 8 knots of true Going forward, it’s the same wind, the boat labored a bit with the inboard shrouds. under the jib, but once we put And in those very gusty out that reacher, it really lit ometimes a boat comes conditions, those twin up. I was pleasantly surprised Salong that does so many rudders really worked. The by how well it sailed.” things well, and is such a boat answered its twin helms “The saloon doors have downright joy to sail and throughout the test sail. It proper hatch locks that maneuver, that its excellence was a real treat to sail. are very clever,” said Alvah simply cannot be denied. In “This series of Jeanneaus Simon. “The benches were 2019, one such yacht — a marks their eighth generation long enough to sleep on, blend of innovation, intelli- of boats,” he continued. which cruisers do. The place- gence and execution — rose “The’ve built 18,000 boats by ment of the winches and to the top over a slew of sheets is good. They have a worthy competitors. In a year THE PHILIPPE traveler forward, and a proper when production boats ruled binnacle with a single wheel. the roost, the Jeanneau Sun BRIAND continuation of that.” The lifelines are high and Odyssey 490 — designed, What, exactly, does that coated, which is something conceived and built in France DESIGN cruisingworld.com Happy Return mean? Well, rest easy, Island I always like. Everywhere — took on and surpassed SEALED ITS cruisingworld.com Packet fans, original founder you go on the boat there’s a all the others, and in doing 78 and designer Bob Johnson stout, shiny rail to hang onto; so, has been named 2019’s TRIP TO THE 79 lots of other tweaks, large and remains a consultant, and his there are no finger jammers Import Boat of the Year. WINNER’S After a cold front passed through, the Jeanneau Sun small. Say what you will about iteration of a full keel will or knuckle breakers in there. That the 490 took the CIRCLE WITH Odyssey took flight in a fresh northerly (above). The Island Packet, but they’ve got still grace the underbody of It’s all very nicely done. The overall prize without winning interior is open, modern, light and airy (below). a very, very devoted following, IP’s yachts. But the Allens are whole boat will make an ele- an individual category is A RIPPING and this feels like a company open to tweaking the inte- gant, heavy, easy to handle, noteworthy. But the Philippe “The deck access forward was a sled, it just turned right that’s going to stay very well riors of their boats, which is safe home. It’s old fashioned, Briand design sealed its trip GREAT SAIL. from the cockpit to the on a track, with authority. connected to that group. I something new, and — holy and I mean that favorably.” to the winner’s circle in a coachroof is one of the most And once we’d raised the wouldn’t call it a ‘cult,’ but cow! — your IP no longer “The deck is cluttered, devastating display of sailing now, so this is a big company revolutionary things I’ve sails, just look how it stood up they’re sailors who really needs to have the famous but in a good way,” said Ed prowess during Chesapeake that’s put a lot of boats out seen on new sailboats,” said to its canvas.