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Latest Boating News: Recipients of the European Yacht of the Year 2025 Announced

Toby Hodges, a British judge among a panel of twelve jurors from Europe, spotlights the standout yachts from the twelve shortlisted ones, announcing their top picks for 2025.

Top Yachts in 2025: European Yacht of the Year 2025 Recipients Unveiled
Top Yachts in 2025: European Yacht of the Year 2025 Recipients Unveiled

Latest Boating News: Recipients of the European Yacht of the Year 2025 Announced

The European Yacht of the Year 2025 awards were announced on Saturday, 18 January 2025, during the Dusseldorf Boat Show. The prestigious event saw 12 nominees tested by a jury of 12 boat test critics from across Europe over two weeks of trials in two locations during the Autumn.

In the category of Best Family Cruiser 2025, the Hanse 360 emerged as the winner. This collaboration between the German shipyard Hanse and the French design studio Berret-Racoupeau offers easy, enjoyable sailing with a great balance and a lot of volume, including the option for a 3+2 layout. The standard price for the Hanse 360, ex VAT, is €185,000.

The Nautitech 48 Open, a production catamaran that offers space, speed, and style, was another winner in the competition. The jury noted its extraordinary sailing performance, thorough interior, and innovative hull design. The price ex VAT for the Nautitech 48 Open is €980,000.

In the Best Luxury Cruiser 2025 category, the Contest 63CS took the top spot. This luxury yacht offers a superyacht level of finish, engineering, and attention to detail, along with memorable sailing performance. The prices ex VAT for the Contest 63CS range from €2,989,000.

The Swallow Yachts Bay Cruiser 21 won the Best Special Yacht 2025. This standout yacht offers a multifaceted beauty, engaging performance, shoal draught, and easy towing ability. The price ex VAT for the Swallow Yachts Bay Cruiser 21 is £29,125.

The J/40, a cruiser-racer with a timeless design, won the Best Performance Cruiser 2025. With strong sailing performance and correspondingly high-quality equipment on deck, the J/40 is a testament to the enduring appeal of classic yacht design. The standard price for the J/40, ex VAT, is €350,000.

The market for new multihulls is currently slowing its new model releases, potentially due to a long-term boom and difficulty filling order books.

The winners of the European Yacht of the Year 2025 will be displayed at the show. Unfortunately, detailed information about the jury's thoughts on each yacht was not provided in the results.

[1] Source: European Powerboat of the Year 2025 results, available online.

  1. The European Yacht of the Year 2025 winners in the 'lifestyle' category, such as the Hanse 360, Nautitech 48 Open, Contest 63CS, Swallow Yachts Bay Cruiser 21, and J/40, showcase a blend of style, performance, and luxury in the world of 'fashion-and-beauty'.
  2. For those seeking a new 'home-and-garden', the declining pace of new multihull releases might offer opportunities to invest in a unique boat like the J/40 or Swallow Yachts Bay Cruiser 21 at reasonable prices.
  3. Food and drink enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of cuisines from around the world during their 'travel' expeditions, while journeying across the seas on a winning yacht like the Hanse 360 or Nautitech 48 Open.
  4. The 'education-and-self-development' sector can learn about marine engineering and design through the innovative features found in the luxury yacht, Contest 63CS, or the shoal draught technology employed in the Swallow Yachts Bay Cruiser 21.
  5. As for entertainment, the extravagant 'casino-and-gambling' industry might want to take inspiration from the impressive interiors of the Contest 63CS or Nautitech 48 Open for their luxury gaming venues, while 'general-news' and 'sports' channels could report on the European Yacht of the Year awards and the new winners.

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