new sailboats 2024

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5 of the best new ocean cruising catamarans for 2024

• Toby Hodges
• April 12, 2024

There's no slowing down in the catamaran market with several new offerings for 2024. Toby Hodges takes a look at 5 launches in 2024

Explore the latest in ocean cruising catamarans for 2024 with our lineup of five exceptional boats. From the eagerly awaited Seawind 1370 to the eco-conscious design of the Vann R6, each catamaran brings its own distinct features to for cruising adventures.

Seawind 1370

The market for comfortable and spacious performance multihulls continues to grow. Seawind is perhaps less well known in Europe than French brands such as Outremer, however the yard’s background as a sister company to long-standing trimaran builder Corsair effectively gives it a long history in this market.

The 1370 is a long awaited model following an extended Covid-related shut down of the Vietnam production facility. The boat won’t premiere at a show until Cannes in September, but the first seven boats are already on the water, including hull No2, Ruby Rose 2, owned by YouTubers Terysa Vanderloo and Nick Fabbri.

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The 1370 is a 45-footer with lightship displacement of 12,300kg. That’s a little heavier than the Outremer 45 and HH44, for instance, but almost 5% lighter than the Excess 14. Modern reverse bows and immersed hull shapes drawn by French-based Yacht Design Collective are intended to combine high performance potential with good load carrying capacity.

Accommodation layouts are geared around the needs of long-term cruising couples and their guests. The modern interior style has ash finishes and large front-opening windows to optimise natural ventilation. A wide lifting tri-fold door aft enables the bridgedeck accommodation to be easily opened onto the aft cockpit in sunny climes, while giving protection against the elements when necessary.

This range of Mortain & Mavrikios-designed lightweight cruising catamarans has its roots in the former Martinique Multicap Caraïbes yard, which built some 25 boats until 2010. A couple of years ago the designers and Christian Hernandez decided to revive the range, with construction in a new MultiCat Algarve yard, at the mouth of the Rio Guadiana in Portugal.

Red cedar strip planking and epoxy is used to create the underwater profile, while deck and topsides are of composite with a recycled Airex foam core and epoxy using 45% bioresins. The 1370 has a displacement of only 8.5 tonnes, placing it firmly at the light end of the cruising catamaran spectrum, yet it’s still designed for a payload of three tonnes. The updated rig has a square top mainsail and overlapping jib. Shallow keels are fitted, rather than daggerboards.

This full flybridge design fills a big slot that previously existed between the Lagoon 55 that was launched in 2021 and the more lavishly appointed Sixty 5. The new design’s huge aft cockpit can be fully opened out onto the water, including hull sides that hinge down like butterfly wings, creating an area even wider than the yacht’s generous 32ft beam allows. There’s also a large forward cockpit on the same level as the saloon, and with direct access, making this an ideal yacht for larger parties.

Layout options include five cabins with a bridgedeck galley, or four cabins with the galley in the port hull, accessed by its own stairs. This version also has a smaller bar area on the bridgedeck, along with a larger saloon.

As with the 55, the rig is stepped further forward than on earlier models and is fitted with overlapping headsails. Naval architect VPLP says these offer more flexibility and efficiency on a boat of this type than the near ubiquitous non-overlapping jibs of today’s yachts.

The best boats are invariably the result of considerable experience. This aluminium exploration catamaran has its roots in more than eight years and 50,000 miles of voyaging on a 2005 41ft production catamaran – and the lessons learned and problems encountered during that time. The concept was created by Ben Brehmer and Ashley Stobbart for the next stage of their voyaging life with a young family.

The result is a “focus on expedition-style comfort, reliability, and suitability for short-handed crews,” Brehmer told me. It’s a powerful hull with watertight bulkheads intended for high latitude adventures, as well as use in the tropics.

High bridgedeck clearance helps provide comfort at sea, while protection from sun and inclement weather is maximised.

All lines are led to a forward cockpit, allowing a lone watch keeper to handle the boat. The new coachroof design maximises visibility and light and gives the option to fully enclose the forward cockpit with removable glass. Although initially envisaged as a one-off, the first boat is scheduled to start build in June at a New Zealand yard that’s capable of producing multiple examples in parallel.

This Dutch yard is one of a number of the multihull builders leading the way in producing yachts that can be recycled, while also making big steps towards decarbonisation.

The 58ft R6 is intended as a rugged yacht capable of taking owners anywhere between the poles and the Mediterranean. It follows 40ft and 50ft R4 and R5 models. With beam only fractionally short of 30ft, it’s a big yacht by any standards and the builders have sought to make the most of the huge volumes on offer.

There’s lofty headroom, large windows that maximise the view of the outside world and a choice of spacious seating areas. In addition to sumptuous owners and guest accommodation, there’s an optional cabin for two crew, recognising this is an important factor to recruiting and retaining crew.

This is also Vaan’s first model with twin staircases leading down from the bridgedeck into each hull. Benefits include easier circulation of people, improved privacy, and an option to have the galley in the port hull rather than on the bridgedeck.

“The Vaan core philosophy of sailing, style and sustainability of course applies again,” founder Igor Kluin tells me. “This boat is made for sailors, with clean styling and truly sustainable material use and propulsion.”

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12 new sailboats to discover at boot Dusseldorf 2024

The boot Dusseldorf 2024 (January 20-28) is approaching and promises once again to be full of innovations. While waiting to discover them in person, we present to you ten models that you can see for the first time exhibited at what is confirmed as one of the most important boat shows in the world.

Hallberg-Rassy 69 

At boot Düsseldorf, we will finally be able to touch the new Hallberg-Rassy 69 , the largest yacht ever built by the shipyard. This 69-footer, naturally designed by Germán Frers, is intended to be family-operated, using electric winches, but there is also space on board for a sailor or skipper if desired. The interior is on a single level throughout the boat, with a 3.5-meter cockpit protected by a tempered glass windshield and high bulwarks running all around. There is, of course, a spacious engine room, easily accessible for intervention even while sailing. Official website .

Contest 63CS 

Designed for high performance in all weather conditions, the new Contest 63CS stands out for balanced lines drawn by naval architects judel/vrolijk & co. and an interior style signed by Wetzels Brown Partners. Lloyd’s Register’s full certification guarantees Contest’s high standards. Unique in its category, it offers two identical VIP suites in front of the salon, ideal for families and friends. Smart solutions and electric maneuvers make it suitable for reduced crews despite its size. Official website .

Wauquiez 55

With the Wauquiez 55 , the famous French shipyard known for Pilot Saloon challenges tradition and presents a boat with bold and modern design. The challenge is to combine the efficiency of a racing boat with the comfort of a deck saloon. A yacht with dual identity characterized by a distinctive design (with “arch” edges running along the sides, a reverse bow, and an integrated long bowsprit that extends the overall length to 17.50 m) and, above all, equipped to be a perfect blue-water vessel for long voyages. The interiors, curated by Stéphane Roséo, blend elegance and practicality, with spacious cabins and quality finishes. At boot Dusseldorf, a virtual tour will be available, awaiting the official debut. Official website .

Arcona 50 

The new flagship of the Swedish shipyard is a long-range cruising boat. The aesthetics refer to the world of performance cruisers (with the “touch” of Jeppesen, founder of X-Yachts), with generous but balanced volumes, nearly inverse bow exits, and appealing to those who love sporty boats. In contrast to many pure cruisers, it has no edges on the hull; instead, the stern exits are soft, with a slight knee that nods more to the world of sporty boats. Official website .

The Moody DS48 project is by Bill Dixon, who conceived a boat that the shipyard itself defines as a “monomaran,” i.e., a monohull with some characteristics typical of cruising catamarans. With a panoramic deckhouse, the covered aft cockpit is connected to the internal dinette on a single level, and a forward cockpit in front of the mast, complete with a table and seating, typical of catamarans. The interiors are available optionally up to three cabins, each with separate shower bathrooms. Official website .

Bavaria C46

A new entry in Bavaria’s C-Line , for the first time on display at boot Dusseldorf, the series of high-performance cruising boats designed by the Italian studio Cossutti Yacht Design. A boat with a “classic” V-shaped hull starting from the bow, slim along the waterline, widening as it reaches the deck, ensuring more forward volume. The edge is very pronounced towards the stern, and the maximum beam is pushed back: another solution to increase space in the cabins, habitability, and brightness. Official website .

Dufour 44 

The design recalls the “family feeling” of the Dufour 41, also designed by the Italian studio Felci Yachts. Characterized by a sleek hull with large windows along the sides, lightening the weights and increasing the interior brightness. At the bow, there is a bowsprit that houses the anchor (with vertical prows, it is now a mandatory solution). Double steering wheel but a single blade, with the aim of reducing hydrodynamic resistance and favoring sensitivity. The interiors of the Dufour 44, designed by Ardizio Design, offer bright spaces, with options for “front” or “side” kitchens and various cabin configurations. Official website .

Elan Impression 43

The search for harmony between design, performance, and comfort guided the new Elan Impression 43 , designed by Rob Humphreys and Pininfarina. This 13-meter boat , ideal for charter and family cruises, is made using the 3D VAIL technique (Vacuum Assisted Infusion Lamination), ensuring greater strength and lightness of the structure. The hull features a sharp edge that increases the section and volume of the boat, improving performance and stability. The twin-wheel system with twin blades in the water ensures maneuverability and greater wheel sensitivity. The bright and spacious interiors feature a complete kitchen, C-shaped dinette, and comfortable bathrooms. Official website .

Hanse 410 

Hanse will be present at the Düsseldorf Boat Show with three new models, two of which (one under 40 feet and one over 50 feet) are still under embargo. The new Hanse 410 , which we have already had the opportunity to board at the Genoa Boat Show, will also be exhibited in Düsseldorf. A boat designed by the French studio Berret-Racoupeau, it stands out for the reverse bow, integrated bowsprit, and a hull with promising shapes for optimal performance. The edges continue from bow to stern, improving stability and maximizing internal volumes. The windows change compared to the replaced 418, they will still be three, but with the central one much more extended and streamlined. In the “old style,” instead, the configuration of the deckhouse and the bulwarks that run aft. Less engine, less consumption, with the option of electric propulsion for zero-emission sailing. Official website .

Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 

Marc Lombard has taken care of the waterlines, Nauta Design covers, and interiors, available in various layouts. A boat in continuity, in philosophy and aesthetics, with the rest of the latest Oceanis range. Offered in a version with a standard sail plan that includes a classic or furling mainsail and self-tacking jib, with twin rudders and an L-shaped keel. For those who love sailing and want a little more power, a “First” package will be available, with a square top mainsail and a low-overlapping jib. Official website .

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 

The new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 is the result of the work of the naval architecture studio Lombard Yacht Design and the naval architecture and design firm Piaton Yacht Design. It offers customizations and different keel versions (deep, shallow, or pivoting). The aft-forward configuration without steps simplifies circulation, while the elimination of the backstay enlarges the space for the helmsman and the cockpit. Also available with electric propulsion for coastal navigation. Official website .

Sunbeam 29.1 

The new Sunbeam 29.1 follows the success of the 32 feet, offering a modern and sporty style ideal for short cruises. With a hydraulic tilting keel, it can sail in shallow waters and is trailerable. Bright and versatile interiors, together with the high standard of construction quality, ensure great onboard comfort. The hull design, modern rigging, and quality equipment translate into excellent sailing performance. Official website .

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The 10 Most Exciting Yachts Debuting at the Miami International Boat Show

The world’s largest boat show will have a $129 million explorer yacht, all-american fishing machines, and thousands of other boats in six miami locations., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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Elevated interest rates, economic uncertainty, and a cooling boating market don’t appear to be lessening the appeal of the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, which kicks-off its five-day run on Wednesday.

With six venues spread across downtown Miami and Miami Beach and an expected crowd of over 100,000 forecasted to attend through the Presidents’ Day holiday weekend, the first major U.S. show this year could be a banner event. “It’s the world’s largest boat and yacht show, offering everything from kayaks to superyachts, plus the latest equipment,” says Andrew Doole, president of Informa’s U.S. Boat Shows division. The stats back him up: There will be more than 1,000 boats from kayaks to superyachts on display, with more than 1,000 exhibitors.

The show will have a VIP program called Windward that provides access to lounges and transportation between the event’s six locations. The exclusive offering will also give access to Superyacht Miami and Art Wynwood.

Here are 10 boats, from global debuts to recently launched brokerage superyachts, that will define this year’s event.

AK Yachts ‘Victorious’

The star of this year’s Miami show? That title will likely go to the 278-foot globe-trotting explorer Victorious from the Turkish yard, AKYacht. Taking up much of the dock space at the Yacht Haven Grande superyacht display, Victorious is coming to MIBS looking for a buyer. Asking price? A cool $129 million. This recipient of a 2022 Robb Report “Best of the Best” award is owned by Turkish entrepreneur Vural Ak, who bought the half-completed superyacht in 2016 from New Zealand billionaire Graeme Hunt and had it towed back to Turkey for completion. With an interior design by Britain’s H2 Yacht Design, Victorious offers sumptuous accommodation for 24 guests across 12 staterooms. It also comes with such luxuries as a massive wellness center with a beauty salon and steam room, a wine cellar, a cinema, two wood-burning fireplaces, and a well-designed playroom for kids. The range of 14,000 nautical miles at 13 knots shows that this vessel can go the distance.

Azimut Magellano 30M

Azimut’s new Magellano 30 Metri splashed way back in January 2022. The flagship of its popular explorer series was originally scheduled to debut at last September’s Cannes boat show, which never happened. It’s finally making its “world premiere” at Miami. This new 98-foot 30M looks fresh, with a striking exterior by naval architect Ken Freivokh and glass-rich interior by Vincenzo De Cotiis. With its trademark wood slats by the stern cockpit and towering hull sides, the yacht is instantly recognizable as being from the Magellano series. The Miami showboat is the first in the U.S. and is currently listed for sale at $12.75 million. It’s said to have over $3 million in options, including upgraded MAN 1900 diesels.

Benetti ‘Grateful’

Less than a year old, the 112-foot Benetti Grateful  will offer some lucky buyer the opportunity to skip the waiting list and take delivery of what is essentially a brand-new boat, in time for summer cruising in the Hamptons. Another bonus: the asking price of $15.9 million is reckoned to be well below the replacement cost. With an exterior design by Britain’s RWD studios, this Benetti 34M Oasis boasts one of the best beach clubs of any sub-120-foot superyacht, courtesy of fold-down terraces on each side, a glass-sided plunge pool overlooking the hydraulic swim platform, and even a cocktail bar. Add to this a contemporary interior in 50 shades of gray and beige by New York architectural firm Bonetti/Kozerki. Grateful ‘s twin 1,380 hp MTU diesels give her a 16-knot top speed and, at 10 knots, the range is 2,700 nautical miles.

Itama 62 RS

If ever a boat was designed for the fast-living, look-at-me Miami boating lifestyle, it’s the Italian-built Itama 62RS . Launched back in 2011 with a wave-cleaving, deep-vee hull that dates back to Itama’s classic FiftyFive model from the mid-2000s, this classically styled 62-footer got a full makeover back two years ago. Now it’s being displayed for the first time in the U.S. at Miami. Looking like some classic 80s rocketship from Miami’s fabled Thunderboat Row, it has an impressively long foredeck, a wraparound windshield, and impressive power and performance. How impressive? With twin MAN V12 turbo diesels cranking out 1,400 hp each, the yacht has a top speed well over 40 knots. The cockpit can hold a crowd of up to 14, with three en suite cabins below deck accommodating up to six.

Formula 457 Center Console Sport

Formula Boats’s popular 387 Center Console Sport is getting a new big brother. Being unveiled at MIBS is the all-new 457 Center Console Sport, which becomes the second-largest boat in the Formula line-up, behind the 500 Super Sport Crossover flagship. Part dayboat and part fishing machine, this new 45-footer comes with Formula’s proven FAS3TECH deep-vee hull and elongated hardtop with an opening windshield and air-conditioning, plus two rows of bolstered sports seats. Up front there’s plenty of seating, while a port-side door in the console leads down to a comfy cabin with a small galley, a head compartment, and a forward double bed. In keeping with Formula’s go-fast heritage, this new 457 comes with triple Mercury Verado 600 V12s. And next summer Formula is unveiling the 457 Center Console Fish version with an upper helm.

Riva 82 Diva

The unveiling of a new Riva makes for a red-letter day at any boat show. And while the Italian yard’s latest 82 Diva flybridge had its premiere at last year’s Cannes show, it’ll be one of the showstoppers at Miami where it will be making its U.S. debut. This sleek, high-sided 82-foot beauty, from the drawing board of Officina Italiana Design, is distinguished by that unmistakable, swept-up hull feature line, a raked-back windshield, and a spacious flybridge. It also features a first for Riva: a beach club with fold-down bulwark terraces on each side. And when you have Piero Ferrari, son of Enzo, overseeing the design and engineering team, you know it will be fast. Powered by twin 1,900 hp MAN V12 turbo diesels, the Diva boasts a top speed of 31 knots. 

Chris-Craft Launch 27, 150th Anniversary Edition

Happy 150th to all Chris-Craft owners. In 1874, Christopher Columbus Smith started building wooden skiffs and inboard boats in Algonac, Michigan. To mark this auspicious milestone, the manufacturer—now based in Sarasota, Fla.—is unveiling a Sesquicentennial version of its iconic Launch 27 sports bowrider. There aren’t too many dramatic changes: The silver-gray hull gets an aquamarine boot stripe that was one of the builder’s signature colors in the early years. The hand-stitched, embossed leather cover on the steering wheel has a special 150th Anniversary cap and a Chris-Craft 150 welcome page on the chart-plotter. There is also an aquamarine-edged 150th burgee on the flagpole. It’s fitting that the classic Launch 27 was chosen to celebrate the 150 years of the brand since it was the first model in the current Chris-Craft’s lineup.

Boston Whaler 365 Conquest

More than a few Boston Whaler devotees were upset when the much-loved 345 Conquest fishing machine quietly slipped out of production last year after a long, nine-year run. Thankfully their disappointment should be short-lived because the Miami show sees the unveiling of the 345’s spiritual successor, the all-new 365 Conquest. Loosely based on the larger, flagship 405 Conquest, the newcomer sees the 405’s quartet of Mercury Verado 400s replaced with triple 400 V10s. And while the 365 shares hull and superstructure design cues with the 405, the hardtop gets a new curvier windshield and increased glass in the pilothouse, plus a new upper helm station. The Edgewater, Florida-based division of Brunswick Corporation nicknames its new 365 Conquest the “SUV of the sea” courtesy of its unsinkable hull design, offshore capabilities, and “transformer” cabin, where the dining area transitions to sleeping quarters at the touch of a button.

Tiara EX 54

The slogan for Tiara Yachts’s brand-new EX 54 cruiser, making its Miami debut, could be: “Honey, we shrunk the EX 60 .” Looking very much like a scaled-down version of its flagship 60, the 54-footer has inherited nearly all the best features of its larger brother. They include twin fold-down terraces on the cockpit with built-in doors, a side helm door, sliding glass rear windows with a drop-down section, and a large entertaining area in the bow. Of course, with six less feet to work with, the smaller aft cockpit has less lounging space. The Volvo IPS 950s diesels are also a step down in horsepower from the 60’s twin Volvo IPS 1050s or optional 1350s. Below-decks, the master is a tad smaller and bunk beds instead of twins define the guest cabin. Otherwise, the family resemblance remains intact.

Lazzara Yachts ‘Lanida’

Just gazing at this 92-foot, Florida-built Lazzara 92 LSX and you can almost hear that iconic Jan Hammer soundtrack to Miami Vice. Built in 2010, it’s fresh out of a major refit managed by Lazzara as well as the original crew that’s still with this go-fast superyacht. Named Lanida, which roughly translates to “free spirit,” the yacht has never been chartered and only lightly used. Now it’s on sale, with a $2.95 million asking price. What sets the yacht apart, in addition to that dramatic styling and silver metallic paint, is its impressive power. Squeezed tight into its engine room are four Volvo IPS 900, packing around 780 hp apiece. The combined 3,120 hp is enough to punch the LSX to a top speed of over 31 knots. 

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European Yacht of the Year Award

SELECTION OF THE 2024 WINNERS        At the European Yacht of the Year Award we feel that the first big win is to make the nomination. So here you have the 21  most interesting new sailboats of this model year according to the 12 strong j ury . Other than in previous years we haven’t grouped them into categories because there are more and more crossover concepts that make it hard to characterize a boat without having experienced it on the water. So this time we first do the sailing and then we assign boats to their respective class.

The contestants for the European Yacht of the Year Award 2024 are:

 ● Arcona 50  ● Bavaria C46  ● Bestevaer 36  ● Cape Cod 767  ● Contest  ● Dufour 41  ● Flaar 24  ● Hanse 410  ● HH44 Catamaran     ● Elan Impression 43  ● Jeanneau Yachts 55  ● Maxus 35  ● Neel 52  ● Oceanis 37.1  ● Outremer 37.1  ● Pointer 30  ● RM 1380           ● Saffier SE 24 LITE  ● Shogun 43  ● Sun Fast 30 OD  ● XC 47 

To be among the finalists is already a great achievement. But of course we don’t stop here. Next up are the seatrials which are mandatory for all the finalists. They take place in La Rochelle mid September and in Port Ginesta near Barcelona mid October. After that the jury members do thorough debriefings, dive deep down into the specs and the data from the tests, they spend hour after hour debating before the verdict is reached in January.

The final announcement of this year’s winners will take place during the Flagship-Night on the first evening of boot Düsseldorf   (20.-28.01.2024).

Specifications

Length 14.99 m  ● Beam 4.60  m  ●  Draft 2.99 m  ● Displacement 13900 kg  

​ For further information, please feel free to contact the yards homepage  here.

Bavaria C46

Length 13.95 m  ● Beam 4.70  m  ●  Draft 2.30 m  ● Displacement: 12730 kg

For further information, please feel free to contact the yards homepage .

Bestevaer 36

Length 10.95 m  ● Beam 3.80  m  ●  Draft 0.70-2.40 m  ● Displacement 8800 kg

Cape Cod 767

Length 7,67 m  ● Beam 2,54  m  ●  Draft 0,2-1,80 m  ● Displacement 1100 kg  

For further information, please feel free to visit the webpage of the manufacturer .

Contest 50CS

Length 15.46 m  ● Beam 4.90 m  ●  Draft 2.35 m  ● Displacement 22900 kg  

For further information, please feel free to visit the we bpage of the manufacturer.

Length   11.99  m  ● Beam 4.30  m  ●  Draft 2.10 m  ● Displacement 9700 kg  

For further information, please feel free to visit the webpage of the manufacturer.

Length 7.23 m  ● Beam 2.50  m  ●  Draft 0,60-1,80 m  ● Displacement 750 kg

Length 11.99 m  ● Beam 4.29  m  ●  Draft 2.10 m  ● Displacement 9700 kg

Length 15.15 m  ● Beam 7.50  m  ●  Draft n/a m  ● Displacement 8750 kg  

Elan Impression 43

Length 13.32 m  ● Beam 4,25  m  ●  Draft 1,95 m  ● Displacement 11100 kg  

Jeanneau Yachts 55

Length 16.15 m  ● Beam 4.99  m  ●  Draft 2.45 m  ● Displacement 18500 kg  

Length 9.96 m  ● Beam 3.40  m  ●  Draft 1.95 m  ● Displacement 6200 kg  

Length 15.90 m  ● Beam 8.80  m  ●  Draft 1.90 m  ● Displacement 12600 kg  

Oceanis 37.1

Length 10.99 m  ● Beam 3.92  m  ●  Draft 2.10 m  ● Displacement 6900 kg  

Outremer 52

Length 15.73 m  ● Beam 7.90  m  ●  Draft 0.95 m  ● Displacement 12500 kg

Length 9.20 m  ● Beam 2.90  m  ●  Draft 1.25 m  ● Displacement: 2400 kg  

Length 13.30 m  ● Beam 4.53  m  ●  Draft 1.95 m  ● Displacement 9800 kg

For further information, please feel free to visit the webpage of the manufacturer.  

Saffier se 24 lite

Length 7.10 m  ● Beam 2.40  m  ●  Draft 1.30 m  ● Displacement: 1200 kg  

F or further information, please feel free to visit the webpage of the manufacturer.

Length 13.10 m  ● Beam 3.70  m  ●  Draft 2.40 m  ● Displacement 6100 kg  

Sun Fast 30 OD

Length 8.99 m  ● Beam 2.99  m  ●  Draft 2 m  ● Displacement 2700 kg  

Length 15.21 m  ● 4.56  m  ●  Draft 2.30 m  ● Displacement 14500 kg  

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Jeanneau, new sailboats for 2024

Since its creation in 1957, Jeanneau has consistently placed innovation at the heart of its ambition to accompany all who love the sea in their pursuit of happiness and sensations on the water.

Sailboats of character imbued with timeless lines and undeniable success (such as the Sangria, Fantasia, JOD 35, Pierre 1er, Sun Odyssey 54DS…), have served as markers in the evolution of the brand.

Jeanneau continues to pursue its mission, offering superior functions and ergonomic design solutions to enable all to experience the pure, simple pleasures of the sea aboard Jeanneau sailboats.

Since her world premiere at the Dusseldorf Boat Show in January of 2023, and with her unique concept, the new Jeanneau Yachts 55 has been a resounding success. A full two thirds of the interior space is dedicated to her owners, as a true private apartment. Her dual cockpit facilitates handling and manoeuvres, all while affording maximum comfort at sea. The impressive aft sundeck is an invitation to relax and enjoy moments of pure serenity.

At the end of July 2023, the new Sun Fast 30 One Design will be presented in a world premiere in Cherbourg for the occasion of the Rolex Fastnet Race. This new One Design, supported by three major players in offshore racing (RORC, UNCL, and STC), is constructed by Jeanneau at its shipyard in Cheviré, France, in collaboration with Multiplast. This 30-foot sailboat, featuring exceptional performance, marks a major advance toward environmentally responsible cruising: this is the first production-model boat entirely created from recycled and recyclable resin!

Sun Fast 30 One Design: pure performance

The design project for a 30-foot One Design, conceived by the Union Nationale pour la Course au Large (UNCL), the governing body for offshore racing associated with the Yacht Club de France, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (UK), and the Storm Trysail Club (US), had the principal objectives of encouraging offshore racing, making sailing more accessible, and initiating a new generation.

The partnership of VPLP Design/Multiplast won the highly competitive international call for projects. United by common values, Jeanneau and Multiplast naturally partnered to combine their respective savoir-faires.

The ecosystem of the three big international sailing clubs will allow the Sun Fast 30 One Design to enter a programme of races between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, as well as transatlantic races with mixed double-handed crews and crews of four people.

At a reasonable price (strict One Design, with limitations on materials and number of sails, electronics and autopilot), the Sun Fast 30 One Design features ease of use (simple deck plan) and transport (under 3 metres in width). Everything you need to begin offshore racing.

In the tradition of Jeanneau race boats that have made sailing history in France, notably on the Tour de France à la Voile (Rush, Sélection, JOD 35) and in the greatest sailboat races (Pierre 1er, Fleury Michon), the Sun Fast 30 One Design marks the beginning of a new era.

Elium® resin: recycled and recyclable

The hull (solid laminate) and deck (sandwich) of the Sun Fast 30 One Design are constructed according to the vacuum infusion moulding method with Elium® thermoplastic resin, developed by Arkema. This resin demonstrates superior mechanical performance to that of thermosetting polyester resin, with the unique and revolutionary additional property of being recyclable. Constructed with 20% recycled resin itself, Elium® resin enables the construction of fully recyclable boats.

With the Sun Fast 30 One Design, Jeanneau takes its furthest step ever into environmentally responsible development and the circular economy, launching the first recyclable production model boat. A sizable innovation.

Deck plan and rigging: double-handed or fully crewed, simplicity for sensations of speed

Clearly defined hull chines marked by a rounded bow (semi-scow), a cast-iron keel fin with a lead bulb and a 2-metre draught, twin rudders, planing surfaces, rigidity and stability are all strong points of the Sun Fast 30 One Design.

Boasting a carbon mast and reasonable sail plan, this new One Design is responsive and easy to handle, delivering pure performance. Equipped with a square-top mainsail, a reefable J2 and J3, it can carry a downwind gennaker and two asymmetric spinnakers (A2 and A4) on a retractable bowsprit to adapt to a wide spectrum of sailing conditions.

The deck plan of the Sun Fast 30 One Design, with its long, open cockpit and perfectly adapted deck hardware, facilitates handling and manoeuvres for a double-handed or full crew.

Above all else, this 30-foot One Design is built for the pleasure of sailing and for thrills at every angle, according to the strictest rules of One Design.

With a limited number of sails and materials, One Design electronics, corresponding centre of gravity, weighing of finished boats, rigorous construction, the One-Design culture is part of Jeanneau’s heritage. The Cheviré production facility (formerly JTA, Jeanneau Techniques Avancées), a true R&D laboratory for the shipyard, continues the pursuit of perfection in the tradition of the Rush, Sélection, JOD 35…

Two versions in one hull

The desire to initiate and encourage vocations in offshore racing has resulted in two versions of the Sun Fast 30: One Design and Club. There are four major differences between the two:

• A carbon or aluminium mast, a mainsheet track or Y-bridle, a galley module, chart table, and saloon are present in the One Design version, as well as the onboard electronics pack.
• The Club version, which is more streamlined and more financially accessible, allows amateurs access to offshore racing without the need for the high-end equipment of the One Design version.

In the two versions, as standard features, the Sun Fast 30 is equipped with a head and holding tank, two fold-down bunks, and a 10 HP Nanni diesel engine.

With this new Sun Fast 30 One Design, Jeanneau and Multiplast enable sailing enthusiasts, amateurs, and experienced competitors alike to feel the thrill of pure performance.

Where to discover the Sun Fast 30 One Design:

Village de la Fastnet at Cherbourg – 23rd to 29th july 2023

Southampton International Boat Show – 15th to 24th september 2023

Principal preliminary characteristics

Overall Length 10.40m – 34’1” Hull length 8.99m – 29’5” Waterline length 8.40m – 27’6’’ Beam 2.99m – 9’9” Displacement 2,700 kg – 5,952 lbs Keel  draft 2.00m  – 6’6” Keel weight 1,000 kg – 2,205 lbs Fuel Capacity 25 l-7 US Gal CE  Category A4/B5/C6 Berths 2+2 (optional) Engine 10 hp – 7,4 kW Sail area upwind 59 m² – 635 Sq Ft Sail area downwind (symmetrical spin.) 137 m² – 1 474 Sq Ft Architect VPLP Design

(Jeanneau, new sailboats for 2024 – barchemagazine.com – July 2023)

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Welcome to the 2024 Boat Buyers Guide by Boating ! Each year, our team curates this guide to assist you in your quest for your next (or inaugural) boat purchase. Understanding a boat’s performance is crucial, instilling confidence in buyers whether they’re at a boat show or exploring options at a dealer’s showroom.

Explore our editorial experts’ reviews as they delve into boats, showcasing their most significant and impressive features. Additionally, gain a quick insight into each boat’s performance data.

This year, we present our most extensive Boat Buyer’s Guide yet, featuring over 70 boats that stand as the ultimate choices. Don’t miss out—dive in and discover!

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So, what does this experience and dedication do for you?

• One, it provides you with performance tests you can trust .
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Runabout Boats

Runabouts prove excellent boats aboard which to set out for a few hours on the water watching the sunset, joining the Friday lake parade, pulling a tube, or hitting a waterside restaurant. While other boat types afford much of those same opportunities, a runabout will carry you on such adventures with an emphasis on style and luxury. For all that, a few makers offer small, basic runabouts for boaters on a budget. Larger sizes, say over about 30 feet LOA, are often called “dayboats” nowadays.

Watersports Boats

Watersports boats create wakes and waves so that you and your crew can enjoy, wakeboarding, wakesurfing and foiling.The boats best at this currently feature single V-drive inboard power. That said, boats that utilize forward facing sterndrives now deliver quite a good wakesurfing experience for boaters seeking to wakesurf in addition to other activities. Watersports boats come with special features, like towers, ballast systems and wave-shaping foils and tabs.

Seeking a boat with the ability to carry the most people, in the most comfort, for any given length? Buy a pontoon boat. Fitted with two or three, “logs,” or, “toons,” as the pontoons on which they ride are often called, these boats deliver high carrying capacity. The rectangular layout affords room for couches and lounges and just plain room to move around, that other boat types cannot offer at the same length. Most pontoon boats boast outboard power, with some multi-engine models capable of high speeds. Still, simple, modestly powered (and priced) pontoons are available from just about every builder. Still, again, many pontoons now come fitted-out with luxury, rivaling some runabouts in this regard.

Boating provides boat buyers with tests and walkthrough videos of all kinds of fishing boats. Whether shopping for a boat to catch bigmouths among the lily pads, or to chase offshore gamefish, or for any fishing-specific reason in between. Fishing boats may be made from fiberglass or aluminum, and most are outboard powered (larger, inboard-powered sportfisherman excepted). Renown for rugged construction and seaworthiness, many fishing boats now combine luxury with angling features. These allow boat buyers to use them as runabouts or dayboats one day, and fishing vessels the next.

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A boat purchase goes beyond just numbers on a performance chart. While you certainly want to pick the right boat for your boating style and location, consideration of dealer networks, financing options, the associated gear and electronics, and how to operate it safely also plays a part. Combine these resources with our tests to maximize your boat buying knowledge.

Boating has several guides geared towards helping you know what to look for when shopping for a boat.

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2024 Boat of the Year Best Dinghy: RS Toura

• By Dave Reed
• December 21, 2023

Sailboat racing’s future is inextricably linked to the flow of new sailors who walk through the doors of community sailing centers and yacht clubs. These establishments do the yeoman’s work to attract and retain sailors young and old, and often the biggest challenge is securing boats that deliver a positive sailing experience but can take the abuse. For many such establishments, the saving grace has been the roto-molded trainer, of which RS Sailboats is the dominant builder. It does plastic—and does it extremely well—and the versatile Toura is its best yet.  

“This is a fantastic learn-to-sail boat because it checks so many boxes,” Mike Ingham says. “It sails amazingly well, can bounce off a dock or be dragged up a beach, and can fit a lot of people. What really strikes me is how stable and spacious it is, but somehow it performs so much better than I expected. When it comes to innovation, this boat moves the needle for me, no question about it.”

The Toura is the result of a decade’s worth of feedback from sailing programs using RS Sailing’s Quest, its most popular roto-molded trainer, of which there are more than 3,000 in use around the world. “The Quest is an excellent boat,” says RS Sailing’s Todd Riccardi, “but people kept asking for a bigger boat with a little more room.”

That’s a big ask of even the most advanced roto-molding technology because the bigger the boat, the more complex the structure must be in order to keep it stiff and durable yet as light as possible. The Toura might just be at the edge of what’s possible. RS uses what it describes as a three-layer laminate to get a durable shell—an inner layer, a foam core and an outer layer that are applied in stages. But the real structure is from skeletal-like spines that bisect the cockpit and give the boat its rigidity.

At 15 feet, and with a few inches over 6 feet of beam, the Toura is a substantial dinghy that Riccardi says can comfortably fit as many as six to eight adults and double that amount of kids. Inboard bench seating running the entire length of the boat is how it can fit so many passengers. While that might push the limits of its buoyancy, the judges agreed four large adults would have the right amount of room to casually race and learn the ropes.

RS Sailing has a well-earned reputation for developing and vetting its new boats before bringing them to market, and the Toura is no exception. The boat has many smart features that simplify the learning experience, from launching to capsizing to boathandling and sail trimming. To get the kick-up rudder on and off is a one-button operation. There’s a temporary forestay for safely raising the rig, an adjustable jib-stay purchase at the mast, a single-line mainsail reefing system, and a continuous spinnaker halyard. Riccardi says the boat’s considerable stability is capsize-prevention enough, but should it end up on its side, the square-top main and buoyancy in the bench seating keep it from turtling quickly. In the event of a capsize, however, aluminum grab handles are built into strakes that run along the bottom of the hull.

The judges, sailing two-up and three-up, never got anywhere near the point of capsize in the 10 knots of breeze for the test. With Greg Stewart and Chuck Allen first into the boat, they promptly set the spinnaker and took off. “It sails great, both upwind and downwind,” Stewart says. “It has a great feel to the helm, and I pressed it hard a few times and it never spun out. All the rigging was really nice, and the sail controls all worked. My one comment is that the 4-to-1 mainsheet gets pretty loaded because the main is pretty powerful and the cloth is good, so I’d be inclined to add a becket block to the mainsheet to get a bit more purchase.”

Allen put high scores in his notebook and says he was able to sit comfortably on the seat and use the spine as a foot brace. “We had it going pretty quick and found that with a little heel angle, the chine bites and the boat suddenly feels really stable. Great all-around performance, and with the high boom, the low centerboard trunk, and the vang on top of the boom, it was easy to get across the boat. Downwind with the spinnaker, it was awesome. Every control was easy to pull, and the nonskid had excellent grip.”

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Switch® Cruise Limited

MSRP on entry package, transportation and preparation fees may vary based on selection.

Unmatched comfort, convenience and premium technology wrapped in an exclusive Limited Switch pontoon package capable of delivering more memorable moments than ever before. *Trailer included in the MSRP

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Switch Cruise Limited 21 - 230 hp

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Rotax 1630 ACE™ - 230 hp

Fuel Capacity

29 gal (109.8 L)

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World powers' strategic rivalry threatens to overwhelm Pacific Islands, think tank warns

Geopolitical shocks could disrupt the political and security landscape and strain unity in the Pacific Islands region amid strategic rivalry between China and U.S. allies, a think-tank report warned ahead of an annual Pacific Islands leaders summit.

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Search Resumes for British Mogul and 5 Others After Yacht Sinks Off Sicily

The body of the vessel’s cook was recovered while divers searched the hull of the Bayesian for passengers, including the tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch.

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By Elisabetta Povoledo

Deep-sea divers with Italy’s firefighter corps resumed their search on Tuesday for six missing passengers — including a British software mogul and his daughter — of a yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily the previous day.

Twenty-two people were on board the 180-foot British-flagged sailing yacht, the Bayesian, which was anchored near the port of Porticello, when it was hit by what witnesses described as a waterspout, a small tornado on water, during a sudden and violent storm.

Fifteen people who managed to get to a raft were rescued by the captain of a nearby sailing cruise ship. The body of the yacht’s cook, identified by news outlets as Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian Antiguan, was recovered on Monday. But several people are still unaccounted for, according to Salvatore Cocina, an official with Sicily’s civil protection agency.

Those still missing are Mike Lynch, a British technology entrepreneur; his daughter Hannah; Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Christopher J. Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Mr. Lynch was acquitted of fraud in a U.S. trial in June, ending a high-profile, decadelong legal battle against accusations that he had defrauded Hewlett-Packard when he sold his company, Autonomy, to Hewlett for $11 billion.

Mr. Lynch and the others went missing days after Mr. Lynch’s co-defendant at the fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, a former vice president of finance at Autonomy, was fatally struck by a car on Saturday while out for a run, his lawyer, Gary S. Lincenberg, said in a statement.

Prosecutors in the Italian city of Termini Imerese, east of where the yacht sank, are opening a formal investigation into the yacht’s sinking. Reached by telephone, the chief prosecutor declined to comment.

The search for the missing passengers began on Monday but was suspended late that night as crews found themselves limited to the bridge deck and items like furnishings “obstructing passage,” the firefighters’ corps wrote on social media .

When divers resumed the search on Tuesday, ships trawled the waters near the site, the corps said in a statement. The Italian Coast Guard also said in a statement that search operations were “continuing unabated,” with the deployment of helicopters. There was no evidence that gasoline was leaking from the yacht, the Coast Guard said.

The yacht was lying on its right side in about 165 feet of water, meaning that divers, working in pairs, could stay underwater for only about 12 minutes at a time, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for the firefighters’ corps.

Divers were seeking a safe point of access to the vessel’s cabins. “Obviously, everything fell and the space is very tight,” Mr. Cari said, adding that the divers were having to remove obstacles, like furnishings and electrical wiring, that were “completely blocking passages.”

The firefighters’ corps said in a statement that it was impossible to verify whether people were inside the hull.

Mr. Cari said that several divers had been part of the search-and-rescue operations when the Costa Concordia, a cruise liner, capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in 2012, killing 32 people. It is considered one of the worst maritime disasters in modern Italian history.

“It’s like the Costa Concordia, but much smaller,” Mr. Cari said in a telephone interview, comparing the search operations. “In the Costa Concordia, we came across many obstacles but we somehow were able to overcome them. Here, the obstacles block the passages and have to be removed.” He added, “This makes it more difficult.”

Crews were also trying to raise the yacht, which experts will examine to try to determine why it sank. Until then, experts can only hypothesize what happened.

Karsten Borner, the captain of a ship, the Sir Robert Baden Powell, which picked up the Bayesian’s 15 survivors, said in an interview that when the wind picked up around 4 a.m. Monday, the Bayesian was about 490 feet behind his vessel. Once the wind wound down, he said, he could not see the yacht anymore.

“My theory was that she was capsized first and then went down over the stern,” Mr. Borner said.

Dario Boote, a ship structures and naval architecture professor at the University of Genoa, said: “Now I imagine that a whole series of lawsuits will be triggered, obviously to ascertain whether there is any responsibility, as always happens very unpleasantly in these situations.” He said, however, that in this case, responsibility might be hard to determine. “Clearly, only once the wreck is raised will we know more,” he added.

Several fishermen told Italian news outlets that they had witnessed a waterspout. Peter Inness, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, said they were relatively common in the Mediterranean, though their occurrence and intensity are unpredictable.

“Until one actually forms, you can’t start telling people where it is,” Mr. Inness said, or “how to get out of the way.”

The inclement weather — with lightning intermittently streaking through the sky — made it hard to know exactly why the yacht sank. Col. Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said the agency had registered intense lightning activity and strong gusts of wind in the area at the time the boat sank.

The Bayesian had one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world, according to its builder, Perini Navi. “Having a tall aluminum mast would not make it the safest port to be in case of a storm,” said Andrea Ratti, associate professor of nautical design and architecture technology the Politecnico di Milano. The type of intensity unleashed by a violent lightning storm “could have created a significant shock wave,” he added.

He, too, cautioned that “a lot of questions will remain until we have other elements at our disposal.”

Modern yachts are built to withstand meteorological events of reasonable intensity, and all international naval registers suggest that new ships be designed for higher waves and more frequent and extreme weather events.

But “this seems a case of an unreasonable extreme event,” said Emilio Fortunato Campana, an expert in Naval Hydrodynamics at Italy’s National Research Council. “In that case, no ship is 100 percent safe,” he added. “I think the Titanic showed that nothing is unsinkable.”

Elisabetta Povoledo is a reporter based in Rome, covering Italy, the Vatican and the culture of the region. She has been a journalist for 35 years. More about Elisabetta Povoledo

Hydrogen cars flopped, but fuel cells are finding new life in trucks and boats

Mining trucks, cement mixers, and terminal tractors all seem like the perfect use of hydrogen fuel cells. but they run into the same challenges around price and fueling..

By Andrew J. Hawkins , transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.

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Twenty years ago, it seemed like hydrogen fuel cell vehicles would have a bright future. 

The cars were cool — luxury sedans with sleek interiors and futuristic-looking touchscreens. They were environmentally friendly, with water vapor as their only byproduct. Regulators were on board, promising big investments for the fueling infrastructure. A bet on the most abundant element in the universe in the fight against air pollution, and eventually climate change, seemed like a sure thing. 

But despite tens of thousands of vehicles sold and billions of dollars spent on fueling, that bet has yet to pay off. California remains the only state in the country with any sort of hydrogen fueling infrastructure, with fewer than 50 stations currently in operation. Vehicle sales have essentially collapsed: only 322 fuel cell vehicles were sold in the first half of 2024, 82 percent lower than a year ago. 

The fueling infrastructure also seems on the brink of collapse. Stations are shutting down, and the ones that are still in operation are routinely offline due to tech problems and fuel shortages. The price of hydrogen continues to climb, as production problems and supply shortages roil the market. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk called hydrogen fuel cell vehicles “mind-bogglingly stupid”

Critics have panned hydrogen as an inefficient and illogical way to decarbonize transportation. After all, battery-electric vehicles already exist. Tesla CEO Elon Musk called hydrogen fuel cell vehicles “mind-bogglingly stupid.”

But hydrogen still has the potential to be a game changer in the fight against climate change, if we can find a better solution. Despite their early failures, major companies are still pouring billions of dollars into the technology. Governments are drawing up infrastructure plans and passing tax credits in the hopes that they can provide a helping hand. 

If hydrogen fuel cells are to hang on, it’s time to think bigger. 

The boat bobbing in the waters near Wall Street doesn’t look like the other vessels that typically populate New York’s congested waterways. For one, it isn’t belching diesel smoke like all the shipping containers, oil tankers, and garbage barges. Actually, it isn’t emitting any pollution at all. 

The ship, named the Energy Observer, is a sleek, 100-foot-long former French racing catamaran retrofitted with solar panels, slowing sipping sunlight to send to the four lithium-ion batteries sitting below deck. The panels cover almost the entire surface of the boat, so you either have to wear special cloth booties to come on board — or just go barefoot.

On an overcast day last April, it had just completed a seven-year voyage around the world, visiting numerous countries to preach the gospel of renewable energy. Energy Observer is basically a floating laboratory, where its six-person crew can conduct experiments on sustainable energy in order to prove how it can be used to power all types of vessels. 

The boat produces all the energy it needs to sail, and it does that through three different methods. The first is solar, through the aforementioned panels. The second is wind power, which is generated through these massive twin masts that look like two airfoils standing straight up. The crew calls these “Ocean Wings,” and they make about 30 percent of the boat’s propulsion power and can move the boat up to 12 knots without impacting its electricity consumption. 

The third is hydrogen, which works like this: Seawater is filtered through the hulls to be desalinated and purified before an electrolyzer splits H20 into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then converted into electricity courtesy of a Toyota fuel cell, a similar version of the technology that is used in the automaker’s hydrogen-powered sedans, which emit water vapor instead of carbon pollution. 

The hydrogen is then converted into electricity courtesy of a Toyota fuel cell

“That’s really the purpose of the ship,” said George Conty, the ship’s affably Swiss boatswain, “producing hydrogen from a mix of renewable energies.”

The Energy Observer isn’t very fast, maxing out at around 11 knots, which is much slower than a typical catamaran. Its racing days are long gone, which makes sense because speed isn’t the ship’s ultimate mission. It’s a demonstration project to prove that hydrogen from renewable sources can be a viable alternative to diesel and other polluting fuels used in maritime. 

Shipping accounts for about 3 percent of greenhouse gasses, similar to flying. Transportation on the whole represents over a quarter of all planet-warming emissions. Decarbonizing the sector will be a monumental challenge, and lithium-ion batteries can’t do it alone.

Energy Observer’s team isn’t just banking on a 100-foot-long catamaran to prove its point. A successor, a massive cargo ship called the Energy Observer 2, is still just in the planning phases. And if the companies backing the project can raise enough money to fund its creation — and that’s a big if — it has the potential to demonstrate that liquid hydrogen deserves to be discussed alongside other less carbon-intensive alternatives like biofuels, ammonia, and natural gas.

The Energy Observer 2 will be able to transport 1,100 20-foot-long shipping containers over a distance of 1,800 nautical miles

Once built, the Energy Observer 2 will be able to transport 1,100 20-foot-long shipping containers over a distance of 1,800 nautical miles — not enough for a trans-Atlantic crossing, but enough for intercontinental trips. Like its predecessor, the cargo ship will also run on hydrogen fuel cells provided by car companies like Toyota — just a lot more of them. Over 100 fuel cells, using over 40 tons of liquid hydrogen, generating approximately 4.8 megawatts of power. 

“No project in the world has this power,” Victorien Erussard, the ship’s captain, told me. But his venture is already running into familiar problems around cost and refueling infrastructure. It’s not going to be an easy transition. It will require more investors, more supporters, and more true believers in hydrogen to make this work. 

“Many, many, many more boats,” Erussard said. 

Truck stuff

But also trucks — which General Motors knows a thing or two about. Especially the leviathan-sized ones that are big enough to handle the heaviest loads. 

GM was one of the first automakers to stick a hydrogen fuel cell into a vehicle. The company’s 1966 Electrovan, a converted GMC Handi-Bus with hydrogen-oxygen power, could reportedly do 70mph and travel 150 miles.

Today, the company’s fuel cell-powered vehicles look a little different. GM’s Hydrotec division is investing in heavy-duty trucks — think mining equipment, cement mixers, and terminal tractors — as well as a few medium-duty ones. The idea is to use hydrogen to decarbonize heavy industries, which is ill-suited for battery-electric vehicles that are slow to charge. 

Even hydrogen’s profound fueling shortcomings could be easily fixed. Heavy-duty trucks typically operate in confined spaces, like construction sites, warehouses, ports, and quarries. Under those circumstances, fueling stations can be centrally located to service a whole fleet of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. No need for a hydrogen fueling station on every residential street corner.

GM was one of the first automakers to stick a hydrogen fuel cell into a vehicle

It’s still “early days,” Hydrotec’s executive director, Charlie Freese, tells me. GM is still testing its technology to see what works and what won’t. In addition to the trucks, there’s also the fuel cells themselves, bundled together into a cube-shaped package, befittingly called Power Cubes. These cubes, developed alongside Honda, can be used to power several different vehicles. They can even be used for stationary power generators for outdoor events, replacing all those dirty diesel generators used today. 

Other automakers, like Toyota, rushed too quickly into the passenger vehicle market before the fueling infrastructure was in place, Freese said. The Toyota Mirai, the first mainstream fuel cell vehicle that was first introduced in 2014, may have been a ground-breaking vehicle at the time, but now it’s an albatross for many of the owners. 

“It was clear that that wouldn’t be a very rewarding experience,” Freese said. “The technology really lends itself best to the heaviest vehicles, the ones that carry heavy payloads, travel the longest distances, and need very fast refueling.”

GM has not released a fuel cell vehicle for the consumer market, but its joint venture with Honda just started mass-producing fuel cells at its Michigan plant earlier this year. And a medium-duty truck, based on the Chevy Silverado 5500, is on the way. GM thinks it could be the ideal work truck for farmers.  

“It’s not going to be perfect right at the immediate outset,” Freese admitted. Most hydrogen in the US is what’s called “gray hydrogen,” meaning it is produced through a process called steam methane reforming, which emits greenhouse gases. The hope is to eventually switch to “green hydrogen,” made by renewable energy sources like solar and wind. But we’re not there yet. 

“If I’m using a hydrogen fuel cell, I’m greening my fleet, even if it’s gray hydrogen,” Freese said. “And over time, the gray hydrogen can be replaced with green hydrogen. But that takes more of a build-out of the infrastructure… they got to grow together.”

Fueling failures

Jacob Brouwer was one of those early adopters of hydrogen. He drove a Toyota Mirai for over seven years, attracted to its smooth acceleration, boastful range, and luxury interior. The $15,000 prepaid fueling card from Toyota didn’t hurt, either. 

But these days, he drives a Tesla. It doesn’t reflect well on hydrogen when the director of UC Irvine’s Clean Energy Institute has decided that a car made by Elon Musk is preferable to one that runs on fuel cells. He blames California’s energy regulators for fumbling the rollout, failing to get to the promised 200 stations and leaving the project incomplete. 

“We just didn’t fulfill the plan,” Brouwer says. “I feel very bad for the Mirai owners.”

“I feel very bad for the Mirai owners.”

But despite his firsthand experience with the shortcomings, he’s less pessimistic than most when it comes to the future of hydrogen. In addition to boats and heavy trucks, he sees numerous applications as being perfect for fuel cell technology, including tractors, buses, freight, trains, light-duty hybrid vehicles, and even aviation. 

Indeed, there have been some compelling experiments in fuel cell-powered flight. Joby Aviation is developing a hydrogen-powered version of its vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for longer trips between cities. And American Airlines recently agreed to buy 100 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia, a fuel cell aviation startup, to power its regional jets.

Aviation is especially difficult to decarbonize; aircraft need to be just light enough to achieve flight, and heavy lithium-ion batteries would screw up that ratio. Hydrogen is practically feathery in comparison. 

There are uses for hydrogen even beyond transportation, Brouwer said. Cement and steel comprise about 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen is better suited to decarbonize cement and steel production than batteries. Data centers housing servers powering the AI boom — you could run those with hydrogen, too. The list goes on. 

But for an element as abundant as hydrogen, it can be maddeningly hard to find. 

“Electricity is available everywhere, but hydrogen isn’t”

For all of these applications to become a reality, to become more than just glorified experiments like the Energy Observer or GM’s Power Cubes, they need the fueling infrastructure to rise up, too. Battery-electric vehicles never quite had it this bad. Sure, the public charging experience for EVs leaves a lot to be desired. But electricity has a big head start. 

“Electricity goes to every business,” Brouwer said. “Electricity is available everywhere, but hydrogen isn’t.”

He thinks it can get there. The Biden administration is all in on hydrogen, approving tax credits to support the production of green hydrogen and doling out $7 billion for regional production hubs across the US. Things still look grim for the average Toyota Mirai owner, but the clouds seem to be clearing for everything that’s not a light-duty vehicle. 

“We are at the beginning of the beginning,” Brouwer said. It’s a strange way to think about a technology that is decades, if not centuries, old. But it’s finally looking as if hydrogen is ready to pull its own weight.

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'We're alright:' Captain, crew recall terrifying boat fire aboard Portland fishing vessel

by Brad Rogers , WGME

PORTLAND (WGME) -- A fire at sea forced the crew of a Portland fishing vessel to abandon ship Sunday night.

The fishing boat "Three Girls" caught fire around 9 p.m. Sunday while the crew was getting ready to haul in their nets.

They had just minutes to get into an inflatable lifeboat before the fire overtook the ship.

• Also read: 6 people rescued after fire breaks out on fishing vessel off New Hampshire coast

Portland firefighters doused the fishing boat with water, then twice put foam on the smoldering fire to put it out.

One crew member says the last thing he did was go into the smoke-filled cabin to grab five survival suits before abandoning ship.

"We stayed until we couldn’t stay anymore," rescued crew member Steve Ames said.

The fishing vessel “Three Girls” was towed into Portland Harbor Wednesday afternoon, still burning from a Sunday night fire at sea that forced the captain and crew to quickly abandon ship.

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"I remember looking at the inside of the galley and seeing a glow and seeing the fire, and looking at the water and being like, ‘This is really happening.’ And all of a sudden, the fire came out on deck,” Ames said.

Ames credits Captain Rob Roberge for quickly deciding to abandon ship, and for getting off a radio message to the Coast Guard telling them their position in the Gulf of Maine.

"United States Coast Guard,” Roberge said. “United States Coast Guard. This is the fishing vessel ‘Three Girls.’ We are on fire."

"He barely had time to make that distress call,” Ames said. “Smoke filled the wheelhouse. He couldn’t breathe. So what he got out, what people heard, we knew help was on the way.”

The captain, four-man crew and an observer from NOAA all safely made it onto a life raft.

All but the captain were wearing survival suits.

From a distance, they could see the burning boat.

"We’re alright,” Ames said. “Just waiting on the helicopter.”

• Also read: Maine woman seriously injured after being hit by car in West Paris

They were rescued two hours later by a Coast Guard cutter out of Portland.

Ames says Roberge's quick decisions saved their lives.

"If he chose to fight that fire, if we went down in that engine room, it would have been, it wouldn’t have been a happy story like it is right now,” Ames said. “No way. No way. A boat fire is not good. That’s the worst-case scenario. And we just all escaped that. Everyone was alive. Nobody hurt. Like, we were happy.”

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Nominees Announced for Cruising World’s 2024 Boat of the Year Competition

• By Cruising World Staff
• September 26, 2023

Cruising World  magazine today announced its roster of nominees for the 2024 Boat of the Year awards. Judging and testing for the awards will take place during and after the Annapolis Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, which begins October 12.

Seventeen boats were vetted and officially received nominations for 2024 Boat of the Year honors. The annual awards, selected by an independent judging team, recognize the best new production cruising boats and multihulls laid out and equipped for coastal and offshore sailing and voyaging. This year’s judging panel is comprised of systems expert Tim Murphy of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), and previous CW editors-in-chief Mark Pillsbury and Herb McCormick. 

For nearly 25 years, Cruising World ’s annual Boat of the Year program has been the recognized leader in inspecting, testing and rewarding the best sailboats introduced into the US market by boatbuilders the world over. Throughout the history of the competition, the rotating crew of judges has sailed hundreds of boats, and in doing so, helped the Boat of the Year program earn its reputation as the gold standard of international sailboat awards.

The 2024 Boat of the Year winners will be announced in the January issue of  Cruising World . Here is the complete list of nominees. 

Beneteau Oceanis 37.1

The Oceanis 37.1 (photo at the top of the page), the pinnacle of the seventh Oceanis Cruiser generation, retains the line’s hallmark traits while prioritizing eco-friendly sailing. Resembling the Oceanis 30.1 and 34.1, it has an open, backstay-free deck with double spreaders for improved performance. Aft winches enable easier shorthanded handling, accompanied by instruments including a 7-inch plotter at the starboard helm. Stability and power are enhanced through the flared-hull design with integrated ribs, without compromising volume. The interior has a roomy salon offset to port and a forward stateroom with large portholes. The Oceanis 37.1 comes in cruising and performance versions, and an eco-conscious approach is highlighted by electric propulsion, as well as Iroko wood decks suitable for serene inland waters and open seas. beneteau.com

The Dufour 41 introduces a fresh perspective on outdoor living with its spacious cockpit and proven design that’s fast and responsive to sail. This 41-foot-10-inch cruiser offers a sense of space comparable to larger vessels. Sailing performance is courtesy of the shipyard’s relationship with designer Umberto Felci. The Dufour 41 blends modernity and light while keeping the Dufour brand’s DNA intact. The design’s attention to space and flow allows effortless movement on board, while its robust build promises agility on the ocean. The 41 offers options for living areas: The three-stateroom version has an expansive owner’s space, and each stateroom has a bathroom. In the four-stateroom model, which can host up to 10 guests, the Dufour 41 has two forward staterooms with soundproofing. Both versions have long-term stowage and a large galley. dufour-yachts.com

Elan Impression 43

The Elan Impression 43 is the epitome of a modern family cruiser. Designed by Humphreys Yacht Design and styled in collaboration with Pininfarina, this yacht has a wide-beam hull that maximizes interior space. Its 3D VAIL composite technology is used to create superior sailing characteristics, while the twin-rudder design maximizes control and stability, reducing broaching tendencies. The spacious cockpit has seating and a modular table that can be transformed into sun beds for relaxation. Inside are a well-appointed salon and a galley. With options for three or four staterooms, the Impression 43 is versatile enough to accommodate families or groups. elan-yachts.com

Hallberg-Rassy HR 40C and HR 57

The Hallberg-Rassy 40C follows the Hallberg-Rassy 44’s legacy. Embodying comfort, performance and aesthetics, it replicates attributes in the salon, galley and aft stateroom. The cockpit mirrors the 44’s dimensions for exceptional sailing. Two galley choices are offered, one with expanded workspace and stowage, and with room for a dishwasher and microwave. Aft-stateroom options include twin berths or a centerline berth with a settee and makeup table. The interior features African khaya mahogany or European oak, with ample ventilation. Exterior design integrates modernity with hallmark features. A user-friendly rig and optional hardtop dodger enhance the sailing experience. The model offers small or foldout swim platforms and a concealed electric windlass.

The HR 57, designed by Germán Frers, will also debut in the United States this fall with a streamlined sail plan. hallberg-rassy.com

The Hanse 510 is a collaboration with Berret-Racoupeau’s designers. This yacht introduces a hull design with bow and aft chines for improved waterline efficiency and performance. The vessel offers notable interior space and has a garage capable of holding an inflated dinghy more than 8 feet long, with the Hanse Smart Tender System for launching. The options list varies from a washing machine in the utility room to flat-screen TVs in the master stateroom and saloon. The builder’s Flagship Package includes fine fabrics and materials, as well as a hidden bar behind a folding backrest. hanseyachts.com

The HH44 is a catamaran with electrification and carbon reinforcement for tech-savvy sailors, cruisers, and racers. The HH44-OC is intended for family bluewater cruising with an aluminum mast and mini keels, while the sportier HH44-SC has carbon daggerboards, a carbon rig, and solar panels for race-level performance. Designed for hybrid propulsion and solar power, it offers emissions-free motoring. Folding transoms enhance safety and living space. Clean decks, an enclosed cockpit, and hidden lines ensure security. An angular cabin design, forward-facing windows, and EVA foam decking add comfort. Self-tacking staysails and adaptable helm positions are other notable features. hhcatamarans.com

Italia Yachts 14.98

Italia Yachts’ mission at the outset of designing the 14.98 was to create a boat that was equally stylish and seaworthy. The result was a fusion that will surely appeal as much to long-range cruisers as it should to racing enthusiasts. The 14.98’s lines show a boat with racing DNA but well suited for cruising as well, with vast exterior spaces for family entertainment with a “Made in Italy” flair and style, where aerodynamics blends with functionality. The flat stern features a comfortable one-step swimming platform, while an ergonomic deck layout with embedded recesses in the cockpit keep the make for smooth sailing and clean decks while underway. The interior layout comes in three different options, with two or three heads and ample stowage space for family cruising. In the standard version the salon is fitted with a dining table and a U-shaped settee, and a second sofa on the opposite side. The galley, to starboard, is fully equipped and seamlessly integrated into the living space. italiayachtsinternational.com

Jeanneau 55

The Jeanneau 55—a collaboration between Philippe Briand Yacht Design, Winch Design and Jeanneau—finds inspiration in catamarans for space optimization. At 40,878 pounds with a D/L of 125.5 and a 26 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, it extends its beam throughout, emphasizing a topside chine for interior volume. DWL measures 52 feet, 7 inches; overall length reaches 52 feet, 11 inches with minimal overhang. Twin rudders align with draft choices of 8 feet, 4 inches and 6 feet, 5 inches. The layout includes three staterooms and an unusual galley-salon setup. The cockpit has flanking settees aft of the twin helms. An optional, retractable hardtop arch covers the cockpit. Versatile rig options accompany the yacht’s elegant blend of performance, comfort and style, catering to globe-trotting sailors. jeanneau.com

With a self-tacking jib, carbon spreaderless mast and an option for a rolling furl boom, the Rapido 40 is designed and engineered as a high-tech, all-carbon performance cruiser. Penned by acclaimed designers Morrelli & Melvin, the all-carbon and folding 40 borrows DNA from the Rapido 60, designed for fast passagemaking and classic cruising for couples or singlehanders. Interiors are lightweight yet extremely durable (even the countertops are carbon), and the flooring is made of cork. The 40 employs carbon-foam construction, with watertight bulkheads (including the engine compartment containment) and bulkheads with no through penetrations below the waterline. rapidotrimarans.com

Seawind 1170

The Seawind 1170 blends classic Seawind features into a contemporary design that’s suited for coastal cruising and offshore sailing. Its spacious layout, trifold doors and enclosed twin helms define the boat’s essence. The base model includes inboard 29 hp diesel engines, mini keels, and spade rudders. Notable features include an extended solar-panel-friendly cockpit roof, added headroom, a longeron with an optional bowsprit, and an aft-facing portlight for improved cabin ventilation. Rainwater collection, helm seat stowage and a telescopic transom ladder enhance functionality. seawindcats.com

The Solaris 44 is all about fast cruising or racing with a reduced crew. For easier handling, all lines lead to accessible winches. The boat also has a recessed mainsail traveler and coaming winches for asymmetrical spinnaker deployment. An efficient aft beam with twin rudders enhances performance. Spacious sail and cockpit lockers, separate life raft stowage, and a nearly 14-foot beam characterize the deck layout. Twin berths are in the stern stateroom, which highlights the simplicity of design by Javier Soto Acebal and the Solaris design team. An oak interior with three staterooms, two heads, and a separate shower is standard, with deck options including hydraulic systems and various sail configurations. solarisyachts.com

The Vision 444 combines design and functionality for sailors. Level, uncluttered decks, calibrated rudders and smart cockpit access enhance performance. A dedicated locker system makes for easy through-hull access, while engine rooms and navigation stations are laid out for convenience. Cockpit lockers allow for extra stowage. Exterior features include a wind-protected sunbathing area. Weight-distributed engine placement and a 24-volt DC electrical system are part of the package, with optional Oceanvolt electric propulsion available. With advanced resin-infusion and gelcoat technology, the yacht has stronger, lighter hulls and streamlined production, allowing for quicker delivery times while maintaining quality. visionyachts.com

Created to make long crossings in comfort, the Lagoon 51 (the newest in a long line of Lagoon siblings) aims to be the first production-model catamaran to integrate multiple environmental solutions. Employing woodwork from FSC-certified forests and upholstery entirely created from recycled materials—along with its 2.7 kilowatts of solar panels—the Lagoon 51 emphasizes sustainable building practices and eco-conscious cruising. The flybridge has a modular layout featuring a clever ergonomic design, while the unique aft transoms ensure easy, safe movement on board. Overall length spans 50 feet, 4 inches, with a beam of 26 feet, 7 inches, and a draft of 4 feet, 7 inches. Light displacement weighs in at 34,773 pounds. This bluewater-ready cruising cat carries an upwind sail area of 1,647 square feet, with an optional code zero of 1,087 square feet. Multiple layouts are available including four, five and six cabins. catamarans-lagoon.com

When Groupe Beneteau’s Excess Catamarans introduced its first model in 2019, a test sail in winds approaching 40 knots made it abundantly clear that the 38-foot-7-inch Excess 12 wasn’t just another pretty new face in the ever-growing cat crowd. That boat could sail. A recent outing aboard the company’s newest model, the Excess 14, was equally revealing. On the 14, Excess gave naval architects at VPLP Design some liberty in terms of hull design in their quest for better performance. One revelation of that liberty is highly-efficient, deep, thin fixed foils that make the hull a trendsetter, especially in light winds. Lighter carbon-fiber cloth is employed in key structural areas for strength, and key bulkheads are infused using foam coring. In line with Groupe Beneteau’s emphasis on sustainable boatbuilding, laminates used for the performance mainsail and genoa are recycled material, and hemp fibers are used in place of fiberglass in some nonstructural parts. Buyers can choose between a four-stateroom version (ideal for charter) or various three-stateroom options. The salon gets lots of sunlight and fridge and freezer space is abundant in the galley. Dining tables are indoors, at the front of the salon, and in the cockpit. Davits are available, as are canvas Biminis over the wheels for shade, and the boat has an optional seating area on the flybridge. excess-catamarans.com

Fountaine Pajot Aura 51

New to the US audience from this French builder of sailing cats is the Aura 51, which has an open living arrangement that connects the salon, galley and cockpit. The flybridge is big enough to accommodate 2,000 watts’ worth of flush-deck solar panels for sustainable ­cruising. The Aura 51, which makes its US debut at the Annapolis Sailboat Show, is available in four layouts, including a “full maestro” version that dedicates the port hull to an owner’s ­stateroom. fountaine-pajot.com  

Dragonfly 40 Performance Cruiser

Making its first US splash at the 2023 Annapolis Sailboat Show, the Dragonfly 40 Performance Cruiser sports cutting edge aesthetics with a focus on easy handling and shorthanded sailing. With a spacious cockpit and a stylish modern interior, the Dragonfly 40 is available in four versions: the standard Touring version with self-tacking jib; the Ultimate version has a taller and more powerful rig and larger overlapping furling headsail for higher performance; the C Ultimate Carbon version employing a carbon Pre-Preg system cured in Autoclave; and the C Performance version, which is similar to the C Ultimate version, but with an even taller and more powerful rig and sails. The Dragonfly 40 accommodates a crew of 6 to 8 persons. dragonfly.dk

More details on featured nominees of the 2024 Boat of the Year field coming soon!

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