14.04.2023
Every year, sailboat manufacturers around the world launch their latest models, and every year, SAIL magazine’s experienced boat reviewers spend days and weeks learning what’s new, talking with boatbuilders, examining the boats top to bottom dockside, and finally taking them sailing. This culminates at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, where our review team gets together and makes its final assessments on which boats earn top honors. Results are announced in our January/February issue, and full reviews of the winning boats will be published throughout the year.
For almost 20 years, we’ve called this awards program SAIL Best Boats, but this year, we’re refining and renaming this program to better and more fairly represent the boats we’ve selected. Restricting boats to categories and labels—such as Best Cruising Monohull 30-40 feet and Best Performance Monohull 40-50 feet—doesn’t bring our readers the full picture. Too often, defining these boats by categories results in unfairly comparing apples to oranges, sorting boats with very different purposes and design briefs into the same bracket just because of their LOA, and inevitably kicking out some really terrific boats. So, starting this year, we’re honoring the Top 10 boats, period. By eliminating the artificial straitjacket of size categories and focusing on what are simply the Top 10, SAIL will present readers a more complete and equitable assessment.
So, without further ado, here’s the SAIL Top 10 Best Boats for 2023. After exploring a mix of bluewater boats, racer/cruisers, speedsters, dinghies, and multihulls, we’ve settled on the very best the industry has to offer. We were excited to see that designers and builders are steadily pushing the envelope in propulsion, electrical generation, and more sustainable options for getting out on the water. And as always, we admire the ever-evolving innovations and tenacity of the sailboat industry that makes what we do possible.
Beneteau First 36
The first step in Beneteau’s plan to revitalize its legacy performance brand saw the giant French builder partnering with Seascape, a successful upstart Slovenian yard, to rebrand Seascape’s existing models as Beneteau Firsts. Now, with the introduction of the new Beneteau First 36, phase two is revealed: a wholly novel racer/cruiser, developed by top French racing designer Sam Manuard and the Seascape team with input from Beneteau. The result is a surprisingly versatile, lively craft that will appeal strongly to dedicated racing sailors as well as performance-oriented cruisers.
Construction is no-holds-barred for a mass-produced boat. The hull and deck are fully cored resin-infused structures, with all supporting bulkheads and interior furniture modules likewise cored and vacuum-infused. The only solid piece in the hull is the keel grid, which is all-encompassing, stretching up out of the bilge all the way to deck level to provide maximum security in this disconcerting age of breakaway keels. Either a carbon fiber or aluminum rig can be specified, and a thicket of standard halyards—for masthead and fractional A-sails, a Code 0, a staysail, plus twin jib halyards—make it easy to keep maximum canvas flying forward of the mast. The round-bilge hull carries lots of beam aft on its waterline and begs to jump up on a plane when driving hard downwind.
We were particularly impressed with the First 36’s cockpit layout. A removable cockpit table and a pair of removable storage/bench seat extensions make it possible to convert the boat’s nerve center from a straight racing layout designed to keep full and shorthanded crews happy to a much more cruiser-friendly space. Likewise, below you’ll find good-sized aft staterooms that can be easily shifted from double- or single-berth configurations to simple storage spaces. A proper galley with a separate centerline “refrigeration island,” a full nav station, and a full-size double V-berth forward complete a quite cozy, well thought out interior.
And yes, of course, the boat sails like a bandit. An all-around winner in our book.
X-Yachts X4.3
Many boatbuilders looking to capitalize on a successful design will create a “new” model of a boat by changing a few particulars on an old hull and then change the name as well. Leave it to the circumspect Danes at X-Yachts to soft-sell an entirely new design, built with all new tooling for hull and deck, by giving it the same name as its immediate predecessor. The previous X4.3 was a bestseller in the X-Yachts “Pure X” range, with over 100 hulls launched worldwide, and the new X4.3 takes what was already an outstanding boat and makes it even better.
The new hull sees maximum beam carried a bit further aft, with a subtle soft or “radius” chine, rather than a simple hard chine, pushing out volume to increase initial stability and boost interior space in the aft cabins. The larger cockpit also has a slightly raised sole, thus increasing clearance over the aft berths. The new deck design incorporates a dodger with improved forward visibility and accommodates overlapping and self-tacking headsails. Forward, a longer integral bowsprit allows for larger off-wind sails to be set, and this combined with a taller mast (or an even taller optional carbon mast) improves light-air performance.
The quality of construction, as on all X-Yachts, is impeccable, with epoxy-infused post-cured structures throughout and a bulletproof galvanized steel keel grid. The boat’s interior is elegant and traditional, exquisitely finished, with more opening portlights and improved ventilation. Under sail the X4.3 is fast and nimble, with a newly designed rudder that grips the water tenaciously even when over-pressed. Best of all, given its build quality, the boat is competitively priced.
J/Boats J/45
It has been a long time since the hallowed Johnstone family has seen fit to throw a larger performance cruising boat into the market. They’ve done very well in recent years titillating us with compact, competitive one-design sport boats, but let’s face it—J/Boat aficionados have been holding their breath, waiting to see if there would ever be a larger J to sail (and maybe even cruise) about in. The new J/45, designed by Alan Johnstone and built by J/Composites in France, does not disappoint. It does a very fine job of splitting the difference between contemporary design idioms and the J/Boats of yore.
Yes, this J is a bit wider than larger Js in the past, but max beam is not carried aft, and there’s a fine sensuous taper in the transom that will warm the hearts of traditionalists. Twin wheels control one rudder—deep, grippy, and highly efficient. There is also a fine integral bowsprit for flying the big sails. The result is a boat that is not optimized for just driving hard off the wind, in the modern style, but is more reliably a traditional all-rounder—more slippery in light conditions, heeling a bit more in heavy conditions, but always quick, easy to drive, and sure-footed.
Construction, of course, is rock solid, with a fully resin-infused foam-cored hull and deck, courtesy of the longest-standing SCRIMP infusion system. The interior treatment, composed by the revered French designer Isabelle Racoupeau, is a breakthrough for J/Boats. It is decidedly contemporary, understated, very elegant, but wrapped around a purely functional layout. We were all greatly relieved to see a boat like this on the water again.
Hanse 460
The new Hanse 460 is a step up in performance and accommodations among production boats in its class. The hull features a sharp, reverse bow followed by a short chine, and then it flares out into a broad, flat contour aft. This—coupled with a large, easily handled sailplan, excellent placement of winches and line stoppers at the twin wheels, a self-tacking jib, furling mainsail, and huge cockpit and cabin space—produces a comfortable, fast cruiser that can be sailed by a middle-aged couple.
On a brisk autumn day, we motored out on the Chesapeake at an easy 8 knots, performed a few sharp, responsive maneuvers under power and unfurled the sails to a 12-knot breeze. The Hanse 460 accelerated nicely to almost 7 knots, then tacked reliably through 90 degrees. With the in-mast furling mainsail and the self-tacking jib, tacking was a matter of simply turning the wheel. It’s actually fun.
Unlike many European cruisers, the Hanse 460 is laid out so the helmsman has everything within easy reach. For shorthanded sailing, this boat is hard to match. Sight lines were excellent, and seating was comfortable. The cockpit tables drop to seat level so you can sleep outside under the stars on a spacious berth.
The interior is quite pleasant, with the galley along the starboard side and a large table and seat to port. Everything is finished attractively (Hanse offers a huge selection of colors and fabrics), and there’s lots of light from the hull windows and plentiful opening hatches. The standard layout has a big double berth in the forward cabin and two more double cabins aft, with two head compartments. Other layouts are available.
The Hanse 460 will please a lot of sailors, especially with the price made possible by today’s strong dollar/Euro exchange rates.
Hallberg-Rassy 400
Hallberg-Rassy’s newest addition, the 400, quickly follows the Germán Frers-designed center-cockpit 40C, incorporating the good looks and proven elements of plumb bow for maximum waterline, integral bowsprit, and twin rudders in an aft-cockpit version that seamlessly marries traditional bluewater cruising experience with contemporary design and interior trends. Combined with this Swedish builder’s reputation for bulletproof construction, the result is a powerful, elegant, fun, go-anywhere machine.
Hallberg-Rassy’s ethos has long been that comfort and sailability add up to safe, happy sailors, and the 400 manifests this inside and out. Though it follows its contemporaries with twin helms, this boat’s cockpit feels ergonomically sensible and safe while still providing all the entertaining room one needs. Everything is practical and uncluttered, geared to making sailhandling straightforward for one or two people.
This carries through the sailplan as well; the headsail can be either slightly overlapping or self-tacking (a Code 0 is optional), and the mainsail traditional slab reefing or in-mast furling; on our test boat in Annapolis, the vertically battened Elvstrøm main reefed easily with the Seldén in-mast system. A split Dyneema backstay with simple but forceful block adjustment, coupled with the mainsheet traveler forward of the companionway, allow for maximum sail trim and control (and tweakable fun).
Below, offshore features such as beautifully crafted fiddles that double as beefy handholds and comfy settees that quickly transform into secure sea berths are coupled with a flexible layout. Owners can opt for one or two heads and two or three sleeping cabins; the forward cabin comes in three different layouts, including an owner’s version with centerline double bed and en-suite head with shower. Serious cruisers can convert an aft cabin into an enormous work and storage space.
For many sailors, Hallberg-Rassy means proven offshore experience and pure sailing chops delivered in a solid, thoughtful, handsome whole. The 400 continues that legacy with this flexible layout and competitively priced package.
Dufour 37
If you look at the specs of the new Dufour 37, you may scratch your head. How is a 34-foot LOA boat called a 37? No worries though, this little yacht is mighty, feeling and sailing like a bigger model.
The first surprise is how the boat feels on deck and below. The cockpit is spacious with long settees and twin wheels that open up the traffic flow. The folding table between the settees is massive—perfect for entertaining at anchor. And let’s not forget the drop transom where the chef can stand out of the way while working on the plancha grill, a big boat feature to be sure.
The interior is deceptively large as well. The owner’s suite in the bow has bifurcated doors for easy entry. With these open, you experience the full length of the boat when you descend the companionway as the eye is drawn forward. There’s another enormous dining table, and the compact galley to port has made room for double sinks and bottle storage—a nice touch. Three cabins are offered, but two plus a storage room would work better for couples.
The Z-Spar rig holds a powerful higher-aspect mainsail and self-tacking jib that make shorthanded sailing a snap. In just 9 knots of true breeze, we slipped along at 6.5 knots on a beam reach and flat water. The gennaker on a top-down furler can be used up to 60 degrees AWA and kept us moving along smartly at nearly 7 knots. She was comfortable and dry throughout the sail.
Small is the new big, and the Dufour 37 delivers with some impressive features you’d not expect on an entry model. The only thing that isn’t big about the Dufour 37 is the price. Expect a well-optioned version to come in just around $200,000, and that means you can have a lot of fun for not a lot of money.
