The Swan 51 of 1981 broke new ground as it was the first German Frers design for Swan, the spark for an incredible relationship now in its fourth decade. Nautor…
Toby Hodges
Best base layer: thermal clothing for year-round sailing
Finding the best base layer or sailing thermal is the foundation of any layering system. It adds warmth and comfort for minimal bulk. While some elite athlete sailors may grind…
First look: Contest 63CS
The run of Georg Nissen-designed Contest 62CSs finished 10 years ago and what we can be assured of with the new generation of Judel/Vrolijk designed hulls is a lot more…
First look: Rapido 53XS – 20 knot cruiser
A desire for speed is leading to a revival of larger trimarans. This long awaited Morrelli & Melvin-designed ultra fast cruiser, offered in two distinctly different versions, is from a…
First look: Dazcat Ocean Cruiser 55
The Multihull Centre in Cornwall is no stranger to innovation. The Millbrook yard, nestled up a Tamar creek, has undertaken some fascinating custom projects, including in recent years the full…
Arcona 50 review: Luxury performance cruiser
Arcona – a Swedish yard with a sound reputation for producing traditional style cruiser-racers, designed by a little known Swede who had a gift of ensuring slippery hulls. If that…
First look: Black Pepper Code C.69
Black Pepper Yachts never ceases to impress, whether it’s the Nantes-based firm’s stylish and impeccably finished daysailers, or performance monohulls including Sam Manuard-designed IMOCA 60s for sailors such as Armel…
C-Cat 65 first look: elegant, sophisticated catamaran
Italian yard Comar is adding a 65ft model designed by Enrico Contreas and Luigi Cirillo to its existing range of 37-65ft performance catamarans and 52-100ft monohulls, the new C-Cat 65.…
First look: New designs from KM yachts
Dutch aluminium specialists KM Yachts continues to respond to a high demand in bespoke alloy and explorer-type yacht builds. It has a handful of projects in build alongside the OC…
Two new Owen Clarke explorer yachts for high latitudes cruising
A well established and regarded name in the offshore racing world, the Owen Clarke studio has in recent years been making a reputation for its bespoke explorer yacht creations. The…
First look: 18m Explorer Yacht OC188
Designed for extended remote cruising including a circumnavigation, OC188 is six months into its aluminium construction at alloy experts KM Yachtbuilders in Makkum. Its experienced owner wanted an easily handled…
First look: MCP 68 – luxury yacht meets trawler-style motorsailer
A luxury yacht meets a rugged trawler-style motorsailer, all wrapped in a purposeful explorer look in this MCP 68 from Brazil. Hull numbers two and three are being delivered this…
Best Christmas gifts for sailors: 39 top picks in 2023
Are you wondering what to get the sailor in your life for their birthday, for Christmas or for any other celebratory occasion? Here is our pick of the best Christmas…
First look: 15m Explorer Yacht Lynx
This 15m Explorer Yacht Lynx is very much a descendant of Qilak, and is even dubbed ‘little Qilak’, thanks to its similar looks, its hydraulic lifting keel, twin rudders and…
Spirit 72DH review: latest modern classic stunner
Clear the headland three miles south of Guernsey’s St Peter Port and the depth and conditions can change abruptly, as you transition from sailing around tidal banks into the English…
First look: Baltic 110 Zemi – all carbon luxury cruiser
This Malcolm McKeon all-carbon luxurious performance yacht is optimised to take the owner’s family and friends on a breath-taking itinerary of cruising and racing. After sea trials this summer she…
YYachts Y9 review: new sweet spot of superyachting
Time. You may not be able to buy it, but some may be fortunate enough to buy the things that let you use it most efficiently. It was mid afternoon…
We’re astounded by this new foiling superyacht: Baltic 111 Raven
Wow…! This foil-assisted, ultra-lightweight superyacht breaks new ground in many respects and Baltic says it is “one of the most extreme yachts” the yard has built in its 50-year history.…
First look: SailScow 37 – ocean racing inspired cruiser
Much of the drive towards scow bow cruising yachts is driven by top level racing sailors. Armel Tripon, who raced the then radical Sam Manuard-designed IMOCA 60 L’Occitane en Provence…
First look: Swan 108 – new maxi-era Swan
Nautor’s latest model – billed as being the first in the yard’s new Maxi Swan era – was launched in June this year and underwent sea trials in Finland’s Gulf…