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10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

‍ There's no denying that sailors are certainly a passionate bunch. We’re so passionate about our boats that we always try going for the best sailboats. To make it a lot easier for you, here are the best sailboat brands.

Owning a sailboat is an indulgence that many of us only dream about but very few ever have the privilege of sailing the seas in what they can actually call their own.

While there's nothing wrong with renting a sailboat, the honor of owning one is certain what many sailors dream of.

With a perfectly crafted sailboat as company, gliding through the water, waves, and wind brings some sort of unmatched comfort and peace.

Add this to the fact that sailing takes you far away from the daily hustles and bustles that we've become accustomed to in our daily lives and you'll see why the life of sailing is very appealing to the masses.

But without a proper sailboat, all this fun and the good life of sailing are thrown out of the window.

Contrary to the widespread opinion, owning a sailboat isn't beyond anyone's reach. It's something that we can all achieve. But before getting into that, it's important to know some of the best sailboat brands.

The best sailboat brands will make your life as a sailor a lot easier and more fun. The best sailboat brands have, for decades if not centuries, mastered the art of woodworking. They've dedicated their skills and immense amount of their time to designing and manufacturing nothing but the best quality of sailboats in the industry.

So if you've been looking for the best sailboat brands from all over the world, you've come to the right place. We'll discuss the best of the best, something that will give you a perfect getaway from your normal life.

Table of contents

‍ Must-Have Features for Your Sailboat

Before highlighting the best sailboat brands, it would be appropriate to jog your mind a little with some of the features that must be available in your sailboat.

Choosing a sailboat can sometimes be a matter of compromises. In other words, it's sometimes sensible to accept that a sailboat cannot have all the features that you desire.

As such, it's all about going with a sailboat that has the features that matter to you most.

For this reason, let's look at the most basic features that can make the difference in both safety and comfort while improving your sailing experience.

A Safe and Comfortable Sailing Cockpit

You'll most definitely be spending a huge amount of time in the cockpit. Whether you're keeping watch, trimming sails , helming, or just enjoying the scenery, there's no better place to do all these than from the cockpit. That being said, a good cockpit should have the following.

• Have a good depth for safety reasons and adequate drainage
• Should give you a quick and easy access to jammers, cleats, and other important parts of the winch system
• Should have a seat or seats that are about 35 cm high, 50 to 55 cm wide to provide ideal support
• The seats should be adjustable to offer maximum comfort and allow you to change your position

GPS Chartplotter

Use a GPS Chartplotter once and your sailing will never be the same without it. It not only allows you to map a course but is also a great way of ensuring that your sailboat exactly follows that course. It also gives you constant updates on ocean conditions, weather conditions , and potential hazards such as deadly currents and sandbars.

A GPS Chartplotter is also an important safety device that can help you in some very critical situations while out there on the water.

For instance, it has a man-overboard button that is essentially meant to allow you to receive coordinates of the exact location should someone fall off your boat.

Electric Winch System

This is an amazing addition to any sailboat. It allows you to sheet a jib even in high and strong winds with a simple press of a button. It also gives you the chance of trimming a mainsail easily while still carry out other essential tasks in the sailboat.

An electric winch system can be of great importance, especially if you're short on crew. This is because it can free up some crew members to carry other important tasks. In other words, it can make duties that would otherwise require more crew members a lot easier.

More importantly, an electric winch system can maintain safety even in the roughest of conditions, thereby preventing you and your crew from getting injured. In essence, an electric winch system will make your sailing a lot safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

Reverse Osmosis Watermaker

This is a very valuable accessory, especially if you're going on long sea voyages. You can spend days on end without drinking clean and safe water.

As the name suggests, you can use this accessory to turn seawater into purified drinking water. It uses the reverse osmosis method that's essential not only in removing bacteria and parasites from the water but also in turning the water into purified and safe drinking water.

Even though this device is pricey, it's a great way to mitigate the over-reliance on huge water tanks. All you have to do is to ensure that it's properly maintained and you'll have an endless streak of safe drinking water no matter where you are.

Wide and Clutter-free Deck

While the deck is often an overlooked feature of a sailboat, it can be the difference between a great sailing experience and a stressful one. In essence, the deck of a sailboat should be wide enough and clutter-free.

This is significant as it can enable you to quickly access different parts of your sailboat with hindrance or getting tangled. As you can see, this is particularly important in improving safety and reducing stress.

With that in mind, make sure that the deck is organized in such a way that you can have easy access to sails, masts, and winches.

You should, therefore, avoid sailboats with decks that are designed in such a way that you have to climb on top of the cabin just to access these features. Needless to say, this can be quite unstable and very dangerous especially when conditions are rough.

The Best Sailboat Brands and Why

1. hallberg-rassy.

Hallberg-Rassy is a Swedish yacht maker that's very well-known in the blue water cruising circles for making some of the highest quality and sturdiest sailboats. For many sailors, this is the number one sailboat brand as it offers absolute comfort, utmost safety, and good and easy handling.

This brand is not only synonymous with sturdy construction but you won't worry getting soaking wet while out there on the water. This is because it has a well-protected deck and cockpit, finished with nice woodwork, and has a powerful engine with a big tankage just to ensure that you can go on long voyages.

When designing its sailboats, this brand has made it a norm to add some features that stand out from the rest. For instance, the bowsprit is an integral feature that makes sailing a Hallberg-Rassy quite easy and much enjoyable. This is because it grants easy access to and from the deck. Its electric anchor winches facilitate smooth maneuvering. Even more, its large steering wheels makes it much easier to control the boat even in the roughest of conditions. In essence, this brand has features that provide good control and an extra sense of safety.

Although this brand has evolved over the years, you'll easily recognize it even from a distance. And why is this? A Hallberg-Rassy never goes out of style. This is a unique sailboat brand that has always stayed true to its principles and concept. No matter which part of the world you go, Hallberg-Rassy will remain the undisputed king of blue water cruising.

2. Nautor's Swan

For over 50 years, Nautor's Swan has endlessly raised the sailing levels by designing and manufacturing new sailboat models that not only push the boundaries but also meet that many requirements and demands of sailors across the world. Thanks to its wide range of seaworthy, timeless, elegant, and highly-performing sailboats, the Nautor's Swan remains one of the best if not the best sailboat makers in the world.

Based in Jakobstad, Finland, this brand has severally set the industry standard with its speedy and sleek models such as the Swan 48, Swan 65, Swan 98, Swan 78, and Swan 120. These models have one thing in common: they never compromise on safety. As a brand that puts safety first, it ensures that its models are made of foam-cored glass fiber and reinforced both with carbon-fiber and epoxy. In essence, Nautor's Swan is widely revered for its unmatched seafaring and safety records.

Additionally, Nautor's Swan models are incredibly responsive. You can easily tell this just by the feel of the wheel. This brand has models that will gracefully slice through the biggest of waves with ease. That's not all; the interior of these models that are very comfortable even when the going gets tough. This is, without a doubt, a brand that strives to create self-contained worlds with each model.

3. Beneteau

This is perhaps the most selling sailboat brand in the world. For over a century now, this brand has based its models in a combination of simplicity and performance. This is a brand that will serve you just right across all latitudes and in all circumstances. Whether you prefer the Oceanis Yacht 62 or the Figaro Beneteau 3, this brand will never let you down on all fronts.

This brand revolves around a simple concept of creating a link around the world. From the deck space to its design and light, this brand does everything possible not just to uniformly transform life at sea but also to open doors to new horizons in a very luxurious yet practical way. Its models are designed with clear deck plans, stable hulls, simplified maneuvering and interior materials and equipment that can be easily personalized.

Whether you're looking for a racing sailboat or something that's designed to explore and enjoy the world in the company of friends and family, Beneteau is a true combination of sensations and simplicity. This is a brand that brings to the seas fun, simplicity, smartness, toughness, safety, intuitiveness, as well as dazzling reinvention.

4. Amel Yachts

Based on the ethos of designing and manufacturing comfortable, robust, and easy-to-handle boats, this French brand has, for over five decades, offered sailors and other sailing enthusiasts the perfect opportunity to explore the seas with the utmost quality, comfort, and more importantly, safety.

Using 100% French know-how, this brand has brought to the sailing world some of the best boats such as the Santorini, the Mango, the Super Maramu, and the Maramu. We would be doing this brand total injustice if we said that they're distinctive. Truth be told, there's nothing comparable to an Amel model. Well Amel was and still is, the ultimate standard by which other sailboat models are measured.

From items such as electric winches and furling, to generators, Watermaker , and washing machine down to the simplest of items such as towels. Spare filters, bathrobes, deck brush, and a boat safe, the Amel is in reality with what the real life of a sailor is and should be.

Although some may say that Amel still has room for improvement in terms of specifications and personalization, it cannot be denied that the Amel is a serious brand that designs and manufactures complete boats. With this brand, you'll be guaranteed of a higher degree of reliability, safety, and an edge of fun while out there on the water.

5. Hinckley Yachts

Based in Maine, United States, Hinckley Yachts is a brand that has been building robust, luxury, and safe sailboats for more than 90 years now. In its sailboat class, you'll find several sailboats that have classic shapes, inner strength, dramatic lines, and features that are absolutely essential in dealing with the challenges of the North Atlantic.

This brand has been successful in integrating impeccable craftsmanship with new technologies to ensure that their models always stand out while articulating advanced sailing practices, timeless aesthetic, robust construction, and the utmost safety. Whether you choose the Bermuda 50, the Sou'wester 53 or any model for that matter, you'll never be short of advanced performance based on the best design and technology.

In terms of features, this brand provides sailboat models with modern performance hulls. These hulls are constructed with inner layers of carbon, outer layers of Kevlar, and are aligned with computer-designed load paths. Every feature is designed without compromising comfort.

To this end, this brand offers you a perfect combination of both fun and sail. This brand offers more than just sailing. Instead, it offers a unique sailing experience that's combined with the pure joys of sailing in the blue waters with an ease of ownership and maneuverability.

6. Oyster Yachts

If you've been looking for luxury more than anything else, Oyster Yachts provides you with numerous solutions. This British brand is widely known for manufacturing a wide range of luxury cruising sailing yachts. Its sailboats are among the finest in the world and are immensely capable of taking you to some of the far-flung places in the world without having to worry about high winds and hellish waves.

Whether you choose the iconic Oyster 565 or the immense Oyster 595 you never fall short of experiencing the new world like never before. These are models that will enable you to own your adventure, choose your destination, set your courses, pick your anchorage, and stay safe at all times. If you want to hold the wheel and pull the sail while feeling the tang of salt spray on your face, Oyster Yachts is the way to go.

This is, unquestionably, a brand that's meant for you if you want to explore the seas in comfort, luxury and utmost safety. From craftsmanship, sailboat design, to hull, deck, and keel configurations, everything is designed to allow you to circumnavigate the world in comfort, elegance, and style.

7. Tartan Yachts

Based in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, there's arguably no better to begin your sailing adventures than with a sailboat designed and manufactured by Tartan Yachts. With several award-winning designs and construction, this brand is widely known for providing easy handling, great performance, and an ultimately stable platform.

This brand always strives to deliver a unique and the best possible experience to every sailor. As a brand, Tartan fully understands that every sailor has his/her unique sailing needs. As such every component of their models is designed with engineering levels that guarantee optimum performance, excellent on-deck visibility, and luxurious interior.

From the Tartan 5300, the Tartan 4300, the Tartan 345 to the New 365 and the Fantail, this brand makes it a priority to ensure that its models are among the strongest, lightest, and more importantly, the safest in the sailing industry. In essence, this brand can be ideal if you appreciate performance. It has rewarding sailing features both in narrow water lines and wider passages. Add this to its easy handling and you'll have a top-notch performer in virtually every condition.

8. Catalina Yachts

As one of the most popular boat manufacturers in the world, this American brand is widely revered for building the sturdiest boats that can hold up perfectly well in real-world conditions. These are generally family-oriented boats that are intelligently designed to ensure that your entire family can have fun out there on the water.

Some of the models include the cruiser series such as the Catalina 315, the Catalina 385, the Catalina 425 while the sport series include the Catalina 12.5 Expo, the Catalina 16.5, and the Catalina 14.2 Expo. As the current winner of the "Boat of the Year" Cruising World, you'll rarely go wrong with a Catalina model.

It offers a wide range of sailboat sizes that suits your lifestyle. This brand makes it a priority to ensure that all their models are not only safe but offer the best ownership and sailing experience. If anything, this brand is widely known to have one of the most excellent resale values in the sailing industry.

9. Island Packet Yachts

From the IP 525, the IP 439 to the IP 379, the Island Packet Yachts is a brand that encourages its customers not to keep the world waiting. This brand is meant for sailors who want to explore the world in utmost comfort and safety.

The first thing you'll notice in an IP sailboat is its large aft deck. This is not only perfect for sunbathing but can also serve you well if you want an impromptu dinner with friends and family while out there on the water. The living space is also large enough to carry most of your belongings, which is an added advantage especially if you've been planning to spend longer periods in the seas.

With modern evolution and refinement, as well as proven features, this brand is known to offer sailors maximum comfort, luxury, and safety. You'll have better access to the cockpit, have enough space, and are excellently designed to provide superior seafaring and the best features to enable you to spend extended periods when cruising.

10. Sparkman & Stephens

For more than 90 years, Sparkman & Stephens has been at the forefront of the belief that sailboat excellence goes beyond hull lines and deck plans. Instead, this brand believes in excellent naval architecture, innovation, sophistication, and beauty. This is a brand that has laid the foundation of sailboat as a sport not just in America but all over the world.

These models have graced the world for decades and bring immense pleasure to their owners in terms of innovation, performance, and excellence. Though rooted in tradition, the brand has pushed sophistication, technology, and sailing experience to a whole new level. You'll be a proud owner of the Sparkman & Stephens model.

There you have it; these are the best sailboat brands in the world. Although there are several other sailboat brands to choose from, the-above described brands stand shoulder above others in terms of quality, safety, performances and luxury.

Hopefully, you're at a much better place when it comes to choosing a sailboat that suits your lifestyle, needs, and budget .

Happy sailing!

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A Comprehensive List of the United States Sailboat Manufacturers of the last 100 Years!

Published by sail on march 18, 2023 march 18, 2023.

Here are some of the most notable United States sailboat manufacturers of the past 100 years, along with a brief description of each:

Catalina Yachts –

Founded in 1970, Catalina Yachts is one of the largest sailboat manufacturers in the United States. Their boats range from 12 to 50 feet in length and are popular among both recreational sailors and serious cruisers.

Hunter Marine –

Hunter Marine was founded in 1973 and has built a reputation for producing high-quality sailboats that are both comfortable and seaworthy. Their boats range from 15 to 50 feet in length and are popular among cruisers.

Beneteau USA –

Beneteau is a French boat manufacturer with a strong presence in the United States. They produce a wide range of sailboats, from small day-sailers to large ocean-going cruisers.

J/Boats –

J/Boats is a racing-oriented sailboat manufacturer that was founded in 1977. Their boats are known for their speed and performance, and are popular among both amateur and professional sailors.

Pearson Yachts –

Pearson Yachts was founded in 1957 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Pearson Triton and Pearson 30. They went out of business in 1991, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

Tartan Yachts –

Tartan Yachts has been producing high-quality sailboats since 1960. Their boats are known for their classic design and seaworthiness, and are popular among both cruising sailors and racing enthusiasts.

Island Packet Yachts –

Island Packet Yachts was founded in 1979 and has built a reputation for producing high-quality cruising sailboats that are comfortable and seaworthy. Their boats range from 26 to 52 feet in length.

O’Day Yachts –

O’Day Yachts was founded in 1958 and produced a wide range of sailboats, from small day-sailers to large cruising boats. They went out of business in 1989, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

Cape Dory Yachts –

Cape Dory Yachts was founded in 1963 and produced a range of popular cruising sailboats, including the Cape Dory 25, Cape Dory 30, and Cape Dory 36. They went out of business in 1991, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

C&C Yachts –

C&C Yachts was founded in 1969 and produced a range of high-performance sailboats, including the C&C 35, C&C 41, and C&C 44. They went out of business in 2003, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

Here are additional United States sailboat manufacturers from the past 100 years:

Bristol yachts –.

Bristol Yachts was founded in 1966 and built high-quality cruising sailboats, including the Bristol 32, Bristol 35.5, and Bristol 41.1. The company went out of business in 1997.

Hinckley Yachts –

Hinckley Yachts was founded in 1928 and is known for its high-quality, custom-built sailing yachts, including the Hinckley Bermuda 40, Hinckley Sou’wester 51, and Hinckley Picnic Boat. The company continues to produce boats today.

Sabre Yachts –

Sabre Yachts was founded in 1970 and produces a range of high-quality sailing yachts, including the Sabre 34, Sabre 42, and Sabre 48. The company continues to produce boats today.

Ericson Yachts –

Ericson Yachts was founded in 1963 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Ericson 27, Ericson 35, and Ericson 38. The company went out of business in 1990, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

Cal Yachts –

Cal Yachts was founded in 1956 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Cal 25, Cal 40, and Cal 48. The company went out of business in 1989, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

Columbia Yachts –

Columbia Yachts was founded in 1958 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Columbia 22, Columbia 34, and Columbia 50. The company went out of business in 1986, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

Tartan C&C –

Tartan C&C was formed in 2003 when the Tartan and C&C brands were merged. They produce a range of high-performance cruising sailboats, including the Tartan 3700, Tartan 4300, and Tartan 4700.

Pacific Seacraft –

Pacific Seacraft was founded in 1976 and produced a range of high-quality cruising sailboats, including the Pacific Seacraft 34, Pacific Seacraft 37, and Pacific Seacraft 44. The company went out of business in 2018.

Islander Yachts –

Islander Yachts was founded in 1956 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Islander 28, Islander 36, and Islander 40. The company went out of business in 1987, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

Cheoy Lee Yachts –

Cheoy Lee Yachts was founded in 1870 and produced a wide range of boats, including sailboats. They are known for their high-quality craftsmanship and innovative design. The company continues to produce boats today.

Island Packet Yachts was founded in 1979 and is known for producing high-quality cruising sailboats, including the Island Packet 31, Island Packet 38, and Island Packet 420. The company continues to produce boats today.

J Boats –

J Boats was founded in 1977 and produces a range of high-performance racing sailboats, including the J/22, J/24, and J/111. The company continues to produce boats today.

Morris Yachts –

Morris Yachts was founded in 1972 and is known for producing high-quality custom-built sailboats, including the Morris M36, Morris M42, and Morris M52. The company continues to produce boats today.

Shannon Yachts –

Shannon Yachts was founded in 1975 and produces a range of high-quality cruising sailboats, including the Shannon 28, Shannon 38, and Shannon 53. The company continues to produce boats today.

Swan Yachts –

Swan Yachts was founded in 1966 and produces a range of high-end racing and cruising sailboats, including the Swan 45, Swan 60, and Swan 115. The company continues to produce boats today.

Tayana Yachts –

Tayana Yachts was founded in 1973 and produces a range of high-quality cruising sailboats, including the Tayana 37, Tayana 42, and Tayana 52. The company continues to produce boats today.

TPI Composites –

TPI Composites was founded in 1968 and is known for producing high-performance racing sailboats, including the J/22, J/24, and J/105. The company also produces components for wind turbines and other industries.

Vanguard Sailboats –

Vanguard Sailboats was founded in 1964 and produces a range of sailboats, including the Laser, Sunfish, and Vanguard 15. The company also produces kayaks and other watercraft.

Westerly Marine –

Westerly Marine was founded in 1956 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Westerly Centaur, Westerly Renown, and Westerly Oceanranger. The company went out of business in 2000, but many of their boats are still sailing today.

W.D. Schock Corporation –

W.D. Schock Corporation was founded in 1946 and produces a range of sailboats, including the Santana 20, Schock 35, and Harbor 20. The company continues to produce boats today.

O’Day Corporation –

O’Day Corporation was founded in 1958 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the O’Day 22, O’Day 27, and O’Day 40. The company went out of business in 1989.

Cal Boats –

Cal Boats was founded in 1957 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Cal 20, Cal 25, and Cal 40. The company went out of business in 1989.

Pearson Yachts was founded in 1959 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Pearson Triton, Pearson Ensign, and Pearson 30. The company went out of business in 1991.

Columbia Yachts was founded in 1958 and produced a range of popular sailboats, including the Columbia 26, Columbia 29, and Columbia 45. The company went out of business in 1987.

Tartan Yachts was founded in 1960 and produced a range of high-quality cruising sailboats, including the Tartan 27, Tartan 37, and Tartan 4400. The company continues to produce boats today.

Hinckley Yachts was founded in 1928 and is known for producing high-quality custom-built sailboats, including the Hinckley Bermuda 40, Hinckley Sou’wester 42, and Hinckley Talaria 55. The company continues to produce boats today.

Wauquiez Yachts –

Wauquiez Yachts was founded in 1965 and produced a range of high-end cruising sailboats, including the Wauquiez Centurion 32, Wauquiez Pretorien 35, and Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48. The company went out of business in 2020.

Hunter Marine was founded in 1973 and produced a range of popular cruising sailboats, including the Hunter 25, Hunter 33, and Hunter 45. The company went out of business in 2012.

Catalina Yachts was founded in 1969 and produces a range of popular cruising sailboats, including the Catalina 22, Catalina 36, and Catalina 445. The company continues to produce boats today.

Com-Pac Yachts –

Com-Pac Yachts was founded in 1974 and produces a range of compact cruising sailboats, including the Com-Pac 16, Com-Pac Horizon Cat, and Com-Pac Eclipse. The company continues to produce boats today.

Precision Boat Works –

Precision Boat Works was founded in 1979 and produces a range of small sailboats, including the Precision 15, Precision 18, and Precision 23. The company continues to produce boats today.

Ericson Yachts was founded in 1963 and produced a range of popular cruising sailboats, including the Ericson 29, Ericson 35, and Ericson 38. The company went out of business in 1990.

Newport Boats –

Newport Boats was founded in 1945 and produced a range of popular cruising sailboats, including the Newport 30, Newport 41, and Newport 46. The company went out of business in the 1990s.

Bristol Yachts was founded in 1966 and produced a range of high-quality cruising sailboats, including the Bristol 27, Bristol 32, and Bristol 45.5. The company went out of business in 1997.

Allied Boat Company –

Allied Boat Company was founded in 1962 and produced a range of sturdy, ocean-going sailboats, including the Allied Seawind, Allied Luders 33, and Allied Princess. The company went out of business in the 1980s.

C&C Yachts was founded in 1969 and produced a range of high-performance racing sailboats, including the C&C 27, C&C 30, and C&C 44. The company went out of business in 2008.

Columbia Yachts (Modern) –

Columbia Yachts (Modern) was founded in 2007 and produces a range of modern cruising sailboats, including the Columbia 32, Columbia 45, and Columbia 50. The company continues to produce boats today.

For a complete picture, please use our free searchable database here!

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40 Best Sailboats

• By Cruising World Editors
• Updated: May 24, 2024

Sailors are certainly passionate about their boats, and if you doubt that bold statement, try posting an article dubbed “ 40 Best Sailboats ” and see what happens.

Barely had the list gone live, when one reader responded, “Where do I begin? So many glaring omissions!” Like scores of others, he listed a number of sailboats and brands that we were too stupid to think of, but unlike some, he did sign off on a somewhat upbeat note: “If it weren’t for the presence of the Bermuda 40 in Cruising World’s list, I wouldn’t even have bothered to vote.”

By vote, he means that he, like hundreds of other readers, took the time to click through to an accompanying page where we asked you to help us reshuffle our alphabetical listing of noteworthy production sailboats so that we could rank them instead by popularity. So we ask you to keep in mind that this list of the best sailboats was created by our readers.

The quest to building this list all began with such a simple question, one that’s probably been posed at one time or another in any bar where sailors meet to raise a glass or two: If you had to pick, what’re the best sailboats ever built?

In no time, a dozen or more from a variety of sailboat manufacturers were on the table and the debate was on. And so, having fun with it, we decided to put the same question to a handful of CW ‘s friends: writers and sailors and designers and builders whose opinions we value. Their favorites poured in and soon an inkling of a list began to take shape. To corral things a bit and avoid going all the way back to Joshua Slocum and his venerable Spray —Hell, to Noah and his infamous Ark —we decided to focus our concentration on production monohull sailboats, which literally opened up the sport to anyone who wanted to get out on the water. And since CW is on the verge or turning 40, we decided that would be a nice round number at which to draw the line and usher in our coming ruby anniversary.

If you enjoy scrolling through this list, which includes all types of sailboats, then perhaps you would also be interested in browsing our list of the Best Cruising Sailboats . Check it out and, of course, feel free to add your favorite boat, too. Here at Cruising World , we like nothing better than talking about boats, and it turns out, so do you.

– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

40. Moore 24

39. Pearson Vanguard

38. Dufour Arpege 30

37. Alerion Express 28

36. Mason 43/44

35. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43DS

34. Nor’Sea 27

33. Freedom 40

32. Beneteau Sense 50

31. Nonsuch 30

30. Swan 44

29. C&C Landfall 38

28. Gulfstar 50

27. Sabre 36

26. Pearson Triton

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

25. Islander 36

24. Gozzard 36

23. Bristol 40

22. Tartan 34

21. Morgan Out Island 41

20. Hylas 49

19. Contessa 26

18. Whitby 42

17. Columbia 50

16. Morris 36

15. Hunter 356

13. Beneteau 423

12. Westsail 32

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

10. Alberg 30

9. Island Packet 38

8. Passport 40

7. Tayana 37

6. Peterson 44

5. Pacific Seacraft 37

4. Hallberg-Rassy 42

3. Catalina 30

2. Hinckley Bermuda 40

1. Valiant 40

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BENETEAU - Designed to be remarkable

A remarkable anniversary.

Our long history and tradition demonstrate our commitment to continuous innovation and pride in the quality and craftsmanship. They strive to push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of boat design and performance while making sailing and boating accessible to everyone, from experienced sailors to newcomers. 

LET'S CELEBRATE TOGETHER

There’s a whole world to discover out there, and there’s no better way to  discover it than at our BENETEAU events . Come and join our family at our events, boat shows, owners rendezvous, and leave with a lifestyle !

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We built our first boats  in 1884  and many things have changed since then. We’ve transformed living spaces and the list of innovations in hull design and navigation continues to grow at a rapidly increasing pace. However, some things haven’t changed and never will. BENETEAU’s philosophy of building the strongest, safest, most beautiful boats on the water is alive and well. The BENETEAU  family’s pride in craftsmanship and passion  for performance can easily be recognized in every sailing yacht and powerboat.

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Did you know that every month BENETEAU sends out a newsletter that gives you exclusive updates and the latest news from around the Americas? Don't miss VIP invitations to events, sneak previews of our new launches, tips from the experts, stories from owners, and more!

Seizing the Moment: Uncover Exceptional Value in BENETEAU Ownership

Current market conditions offer unprecedented opportunities to purchase a BENETEAU at discounted prices, with faster delivery times, and potential long-term financial benefits.

Embark on a remarkable voyage with the new Swift Trawler 54

BENETEAU, the world’s leading marine brand, celebrates 140 years of expertise and innovation with this new addition to the successful Swift Trawler range.

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Owning a boat brings a sense of adventure and freedom, but it also comes with responsibilities, one of which is securing adequate insurance coverage.

We love sharing the  boating lifestyl e with our family and friends. This love manifests itself in every BENETEAU built in any one of our many manufacturing facilities worldwide. Every  BENETEAU sailboat and powerboat  on the water reflects the best efforts of the finest architects, designers, and craftsmen along with the highest quality materials and the latest innovations. BENETEAU has been building  sailing yachts  and  powerboats  for all types of boating practices since 1884. Would you like to  buy a new boat ? Leisure boating, short trips, cruising, competitive sailing – whatever type of sailing you envision, there is a boat to suit you at your  local BENETEAU dealer .

BENETEAU: A LONG STORY THAT BEGAN IN 1884 

The first BENETEAU boats sailed from the shipyards of Croix-de-Vie over 136 years ago. Since that time, the BENETEAU brand has been synonymous with quality and innovation to all those who have taken to the water – first by the fishermen who made their livelihood from the sea and then by the legions of recreational boaters around the globe.

Over the years, our commitment to innovating and embracing ideas, no matter how unconventional, has been at the forefront of who we are in order to bring you the best boat possible. BENETEAU was one of the first boatbuilders many years ago to use computer-aided design (CAD) as well as lighter, stronger composite building materials. We’ve also been at the cutting edge of using greener materials and processes to do our part in protecting the incredible world which we explore. However, all this innovation doesn’t mean we’ve turned our back on tradition. One thing we’ve discovered in over a century of boatbuilding is that new-world innovations work best with old-school craftsmanship. This combination has resulted in some of the most iconic sailboats and powerboats in the world – supremely seaworthy yachts renowned for their sense of style, luxury, and comfort along with their creative use of space and new technologies.

WIDE RANGE OF SAILING YACHTS AND POWERBOATS 

Sailboat Range

We built our first sailboats over 135 years ago and many things have changed since then. The oak we once relied on has been replaced with strong but lightweight resin and carbon fiber. Where canvas once caught the wind, now it’s Kevlar and Vectran. We’ve transformed dark, confining saloons and cabins into bright, open living spaces. And the list of innovations in hull design and navigation continues to grow at a rapidly increasing pace.

However, some things haven’t changed and never will. Benjamin BENETEAU’s philosophy of building the strongest, safest, most beautiful boats on the water is alive and well. The BENETEAU family’s pride in craftsmanship and passion for performance can easily be recognized in every FIRST, FIRST SE, FIGARO, OCEANIS, and OCEANIS YACHT built today.  

Knowing what to keep and what to change – that’s why BENETEAU continues to set the bar in sailing.

Powerboat Range

In North America, we might be considered by some to be a late-comer to the powerboat market, but in fact, we’ve always been a major force in it. As with most things, we have our founder, Benjamin BENETEAU, to thank. He was one of the first to put a petrol engine on his fishing trawlers in the early 1900s, thus changing the French commercial fishing fleet forever.

His successors found that power was a perfect fit for the bold, new hull materials they were pioneering in the ’60s. Since then, new technologies in propulsion have always found their way aboard a BENETEAU first, and power has long been part of our equation for success.

Today, there’s a BENETEAU powerboat or motor yacht for whatever you’re looking for – from casual cruising to long-distance adventuring, from fishing and diving to water skiing. They can be found on the open ocean, coastlines, harbors, lakes, and rivers. There’s a whole world to discover out there, and there’s no better way to discover it than at the helm of a BENETEAU powerboat, trawler or motor yacht.

THE LARGEST WORLDWIDE DEALER NETWORK 

No matter where you cruise in the world or what port you drop anchor, there is a BENETEAU dealer close by to help if needed. With over 400 dealers on five continents, our network is a dedicated and motivated army of hand-selected, factory-trained individuals standing ready to provide you with expert advice and service.

Our infrastructure honed by years of experience, means each dealer has access to the spare parts and expertise needed to effect repairs and get you back on the water as soon as possible.

To purchase a new or pre-owned BENETEAU sailboat or powerboat, locate an authorized BENETEAU dealer near you. They will be there every step of the way to help you choose the right boat and maintain it properly for years to come.

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America’s Cup boats: 8 facts about the AC75 and why they’re unique

• Toby Heppell
• August 20, 2024

The America's Cup boats to be used on the 2024 edition of the event are immensely complicated high tech bits of kit. They might be officially sailing craft but they behave in some remarkable ways

The AC75 is the class of boat that takes part in the America’s Cup and are arguably the most radical boats the compeition has ever seen.  This type of America’s Cup boat was first used in the 2021 America’s Cup so this is the second event in which these boats have been used.  

The America’s Cup is, fundamentally, a design competition, and successive America’s Cups have featured the most extreme yachts yet – for their time – ever since the first race in 1851.

However, the foiling boats we have seen in the last four editions of America’s Cup racing (the AC72 and AC50 catamarans, and now the AC75 monohulls) do represent a new direction for the highest level of sailing.

There are plenty who argue that this technology is so far beyond the bounds of what most people consider sailing as to be an entirely different sport. Equally, there are those who believe this is simply a continuation of the development that the America’s Cup has always pushed to the fore, from Bermudan rigs, to composite materials, winged keels, and everything in between.

Good arguments can be made either way and foiling in the world’s oldest sporting trophy will always be a subjective and controversial topic. But one thing is certain: the current America’s Cup boats, the AC75s, are unlike anything seen before and are showcasing to the world just what is possible under sail power alone.

Photo: Ian Roman / America’s Cup

1 Unimaginable speed

Topping the 50-knot barrier used to be the preserve of extreme speed record craft and kiteboarders. A World Speed Sailing Record was set in 2009 of 51.36 knots by Alain Thebault in his early foiling trimaran, Hydroptere , and was bested in 2010 by kite boarder, Alexandre Caizergues who managed 54.10 knots.

Only one craft has ever topped 60-knots, the asymmetric Vestas Sail Rocket 2 , which was designed for straight line speed only and could no more get around an America’s Cup course than cross an ocean. Such records are set by sailing an average speed over the course of 500m, usually over a perfectly straight, flat course in optimum conditions.

America’s Cup class yachts, designed to sail windward/leeward courses around marks, are now hitting speeds that just over a decade ago were the preserve of specialist record attempts, while mid-race. American Magic has been recorded doing 53.31 knots on their first version of the AC75 class, Patriot.

Perhaps even more impressive, in the right conditions when racing we have seen some boats managing 40 knots of boatspeed upwind in around 17 knots of wind. That is simply unheard of in performance terms and almost unimaginable just three or so years ago.

Article continues below…

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American Magic’s new AC75, Patriot, has garnered significant attention due to its unique approach. While all the teams are bound…

2 A storm onboard the AC75

Related to the speeds the boats are sailing through the water, particularly upwind, is the wind speeds the sailors will feel on deck.

When sailing, the forward motion affects the wind we experience onboard, known as apparent wind. The oft’ trotted out explanation of how apparent wind works is to imagine driving your car at 50mph. Roll down the window and stick your hand out of it and there will be 50mph of wind hitting your hand from the direction your car is travelling.

So when an AC75 is sailing upwind in 18 knots of breeze at a boatspeed of 40 knots, the crew on deck will be experiencing 40 knots of wind over the decks plus a percentage of the true wind speed – depending on their angle to the wind.

The AC75 crews might be sailing in only 18 knots of breeze – what would feel like a decent summer breeze on any other boat – but they experience winds of around 50 knots.

To put that into context, that is a storm force 10 on the Beaufort scale!

3 Righting moment changes

The single most radical development of the AC75 is to take a 75ft ‘keelboat’, but put no keel on it whatsoever.

When the then America’s Cup Defender and the Challenger of Record, Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli respectively, announced that the 36th America’s Cup (to be held in 2021) would be sailed in 75ft monohulls, conventional wisdom had it that the boats would look something like a TP52 or a Maxi72 – both impressively high performance keelboats.

By doing away with the keel entirely, the design is now like nothing we have ever seen, particularly when it comes to how dynamic the power transition is between foiling and not foiling.

The boats are designed to foil on the leeward foil, with the windward one raised to help increase righting moment: to help balance the boat. This means that when the AC75 is not foiling they are extremely tippy – much more so than most other boats of the same size.

Essentially, when the wind catches the sails, the boat wants to fall over as there is too much sail area for the amount of weight underneath the boat – something a lead keel usually counters on a yacht or keelboat.

Once the boat is up and on the foils, however, that all changes, as everything to windward of the single foil in the water balances the sails. That means, the hull, the crew weight, the sail and rig weight, and the windward foil, all work to counter the sails.

What all this means is that the boats go from being extremely tippy, to hugely powerful in just the few seconds it takes to get up on the foil. “The [AC75s] are really very tippy pre-foiling and then they go through the transition where they will need to build significant power. Then immediately [once they lift off] you have more stability than, well, take your pick, but certainly more righting moment than something like a Volvo 70 with a big canting keel.

“That change all happens in a very short space of time,” explained Burns Fallow of North Sails, who was one of the team who developed the soft wing concept back when the concept was revealed.

Photo: Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup

4 ‘Cyclors’ return to power America’s Cup boats

Bak in 2017 Emirates Team New Zealand stormed to America’s Cup victory in an AC50 foiling catamaran which was, by some margin, quicker than any of the other teams.

The most glaring difference was their use of pedal grinders to produce power rather than traditional pedestal arm grinders. ETNZ’s sci-fi style term for their grinders was ‘cyclors’, cyclist sailors.

The idea had actually been tried before in the America’s Cup; Pelle Petterson used pedal grinders on the 12-metre Sverige in 1977. But ETNZ’s set-up now was very different: here it was part of a linked chain of innovations, the most obvious emblem of a radical approach.

One obvious benefit was the greater power output from using legs to pedal, but beyond this it left cyclists’ hands free and allowed the team to use a highly sophisticated system of fingertip control systems, and thus to use faster, less stable foils, and then to divide up crew roles so ETNZ could be sailed in a different way.

When the AC75 was first introduced in 2021, Cyclors were specifically banned by the class rule. However, with a reduction of crew numbers from 11 to 8 in the second AC75 class rule – in use for the 2024 America’s Cup – cyclors are now allowed once again and all teams look set to be using pedal power onboard.

5 America’s Cup boats may not be heading where they point

With the AC75 sailing on its foil, drag is dramatically reduced, vast amounts of power can be generated and so speeds rapidly increase. But the foils can serve another purpose too.

In order to be able to lift each foil out of the water, the foil arms must be able to be raised and lowered. Hence the foil wings, which sit at the bottom of the foil arms (and are usually a T or Y shape), do not always sit perpendicular to the water surface and the AC75s often sail with them canted over to something nearer 45º to the surface.

The further out the leeward foil arm is canted – essentially more raised – the closer the AC75 flies to surface and, crucially, the more righting moment is generated as the hull and rest of the boat gets further from the lifting surface of the foil.

There is another positive to this: as the lifting foil is angled, it produces lift to windward, which can force the boat more towards the wind than the angle it is sailing.

Due to this negative leeway (as it is known when a foil creates lift to windward) the boat can be pointing at a compass heading of say 180º but in fact will be sailing at eg 177º as the foil pushes the boat sideways and to weather, essentially sailing to windward somewhat diagonally.

6 The foils are heavy. Very heavy.

As the foils work to provide stability to the boat (when it is stationary both foils are dropped all the way down to stop it tipping over) and to provide massive amounts of righting moment, they are incredibly heavy.

A pair of foil wings and flaps (excluding the one-design foil arm which attaches them to the boat and lifts them up and down) weigh 1842kg. To put that into perspective, the entire boat itself with all equipment (but without the crew) weighs between 6200kg and 6160kg. So the foil wings at the base of the foil arms are nearly ⅓ of the total weight of the boat.

It is partly due to this that you will see some teams with bulbs on their foils. If you decide to go for a skinny foil wing (which would be low drag and so faster) then there will not be enough volume to cram sufficient material in to make the foil weigh enough. So some teams have decided to add a bulb in order to make it weigh enough but to also keep a less draggy, slimmer foil shape.

7 Sails can invert at the head

As with everything on the AC75, the mainsail was a relatively new concept when the boat was first announced. It consists of two mainsails which are attached to both corners of a D-shaped mast tube. This has the effect of creating a profile similar to a wing.

It is well established that solid wing sails are more efficient at generating power than a soft sail and for this reason solid wings were used in both the America’s Cup in 2013 and 2017. But there are drawbacks with a wing: they cannot be lowered if something goes wrong and require a significant amount of manpower and a crane to put it on or take it off a boat.

One reason a wing makes for such a powerful sail is that the shape can be manipulated from top to bottom fairly easily with the right controls. With the AC75 the designers wanted a sail that could have some of this manipulation, produce similar power but could also be dropped while out on the water. The twin skin, ‘soft wing’ is what they came up with for this class of America’s Cup boat.

In addition to the usual sail controls, within the rules, the teams are allowed to develop systems for controlling the top few metres of the mainsail and the bottom few metres.

What this means is that the teams are able to manipulate their mainsail in a number of different ways to develop power and control where that power is produced in the sail. But it also means that they have the ability to invert the head of the sail.

Doing this effectively means ‘tacking’ the top of the sail while the rest of the sail is in its usual shape. The advantage here is that instead of trying to tip the boat to leeward, the very top of the sail will be trying to push the boat upright and so creating even more righting moment. The disadvantage is that it would come at the cost of increased aerodynamic drag.

We know that a number of America’s Cup teams are able to do this, though whether it is effective is another question and it is very hard to spot this technique being used while the boats are racing at lightning speeds.

8 America’s Cup meets F1

A new America’s Cup boat is a vastly complex bit of kit. Each team has incredibly powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software packages and simulators in order to try to understand the various gains and losses.

To make these simulators and computer projections as accurate as possible each team has been getting as much data as they can over their three year development cycle.

In the case of this America’s Cup it does seem the development process is genuinely getting closer to Formula 1 (albeit with smaller budgets than a modern F1 team has behind them).

INEOS Britannia have been work alongside the all powerful Mercedes F1 team (both of who are backed by INEOS) and have been open about how much this has helped their development process and after a relatively small amount of collaboration in 2021 the British team and Mercedes have created a much tighter relationship for the 2024 America’s Cup .

But the British team is not alone. When two-time America’s Cup winner, Alinghi announced they would be coming back to the event after some years on the sidelines, they also announced their own tie-in with current F1 World Champions, Red Bull Racing, to for Alinghi Red Bull Racing .

“It’s really similar to F1,” explains Mercedes Applied Science Principal Engineer Thomas Batch who has 11 F1 titles to his name and is was with INEOS in Auckland 2021. “Certainly in this campaign the technology is close to what we have in F1.

“In terms of raw sensors on the boat you are probably talking in the 100s but then we take that and we make that into mass channels and additional analysis with computational versions of those channels that we then analyse and get into in more detail. So you are looking at 1000s of plots that we can delve into [per race or training session].

“That level of data analysis and then feedback with the sailors is very similar to working with an [F1] driver.”

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Superyacht designers at the Superyacht Design Symposium 2015

The legends.

It’s a fact often lamented in the superyacht industry: the designers of these spectacular craft don’t get their due. It falls to _Boat Internationa_l, therefore, to lionise these hardy few, who share a patience unrivalled in the world of design. We gathered the top 50 designers for a photo shoot at the Superyacht Design Symposium  2015 to celebrate those who are at the pinnacle of the industry.

Tim Heywood Tim Heywood Design

The most charming man in yachting, yacht designer Tim Heywood is a true A-lister. He started his career with Jon Bannenberg before branching out on his own in 1996. His prolific output includes the hugely successful Limited Editions series with Amels and Feadship projects such as 808, now named Symphony , at 101m the yard’s biggest boat. My favourite design… “That’s like asking which my favourite child is!”

Remi tessier Rémi Tessier Design

When this French former cabinetmaker walks into a room, people nudge each other and whisper: “That’s Rémi Tessier!” Arguably the outstanding interior designer of his day, he’s self-taught when it comes to yachts and defines himself as a craftsman of luxury. My favourite design… “Every single project is special to me, I love them all!”

Espen Øino Espen Øino International

Øino’s Monaco-based studio is taking over the world. With projects in build in six countries and a recent output comprising the 140m Ocean Victory , 95.2m Kismet , 89m Infinity and the 77m Silverfast , Øino is at full throttle. My favourite design… “The latest on the drawing board! But I am very fond of Skat and the Silver series”

Terence Disdale Terence Disdale Design

Another superyacht designer who started his career under Jon Bannenberg, yacht designer Terence Disdale opened his own firm in 1973 so he could spend more time fishing and less time at a desk. It didn’t quite work out, as hit followed hit for the London studio. It soon became one of the industry’s leading lights, to the point where it has more interior designs in the world’s top 101 superyachts than anyone else. My favourite design… “The 162.5m Eclipse ”

Andrew Winch Andrew Winch Designs

Yacht designer Andrew Winch is one of the few superyacht designers to have successfully moved into more mainstream territories, including jets and architecture. But his boating output hasn’t suffered – quite the opposite, with recent launches such as the 91.5m Equanimity and 99m Madame Gu reinforcing this studio's pedigree. My favourite design… “Truthfully it is every single one of them”

The sailing greats

Bill Dixon Dixon Yacht Design

Dixon, 57, fronts this eponymous studio, which designs everything from production motor cats to sailing superyachts, but his first is his favourite: the 36m Yanneke Too , launched in 1996. Sailing icon… The 31m Ron Holland-designed sloop Whirlwind XII

Ed Dubois Dubois Yachts

Names don’t come much bigger. The 63-year-old yacht designer Ed Dubois has had hit after hit: Escapade , Como (renamed Lady May ), Mondango 3 , Zefira . But we’re really excited about his 58m performance sloop at Royal Huisman. Sailing icon… The 1973 Derecktor Salty Goose

Bill tripp _Tripp Desig_n

The only American in our line-up launched his company in 1984 – and never looked back. Tripp, 60, is the son of a designer and grew up “tinkering on a boat”. His biggest project to date, an 85m in the final stages of completion at Oceanco, is set to break cover soon. Sailing icon… The 49m Herreshoff Westward

Andre Hoek Hoek Design Naval Architects

No one does elegance quite like Hoek, who founded his company in 1986. With sleek J Class yachts and timeless sloops, the Dutchman, 60, has cornered the “gentleman’s yacht” market. Sailing icon… The J Class Endeavour . Own the iconic Endeavour , currently for sale asking €19,950,000

Mario Pedol Nauta Yachts

Pedol’s name was all over the wires in 2013 when the world first caught a glimpse of Azzam , the biggest superyacht yet constructed . The Italian designer, 60, penned the exterior of the 180m Lürssen , but it’s his Milanese studio’s prolific output of custom and production sailing yachts that makes him a great. Sailing icon… The 42m Herreshoff Mariette of 1915

The Brit Pack

Justin Redman Redman Whiteley Dixon

Redman, 51, and his co-directors have become a new establishment in British yacht design, with massive projects such as the exteriors of Vava II and Hampshire II under their belts. USP of British yacht design ... “Bespoke Britain: small, niche and very special indeed”

Martin Francis Francis Design

The 73-year-old superyacht designer Martin Francis was the technical expert for the 110m yacht A and has a big new Lürssen project in its final stages of completion. On British yacht design… “Britain’s design USP is a result of great education from places such as Central Saint Martins, the RCA and the AA”

Steve Gresham Gresham Yacht Design

Once of the Williams F1 team, Gresham, 48, moved on to yachts and went solo in 2013. On British yacht design... “[It is] like F1, where the teams are mostly based in Britain. The British psyche lends itself to creative design and engineering”

Ken Freivokh Ken Freivokh Design

A starry back catalogue includes exterior styling and interior design on the iconic 88m sailer Maltese Falcon . On the British yacht industry... “There are only a few yards, mainly busy with production or smaller yachts. It’s a pity as the skills are still here”

Mark Tucker Design Unlimited

Tucker, 51, has penned the ultra-modern 30m sailer Hamilton , and refitted the 65m classic motor Shemara . On British yacht design… “Britain is a nation of seafarers so boats are embedded in our heritage. It is part of our culture to explore their possibilities”

Andrew Langton Reymond Langton

Langton, 44, and Pascale Reymond set up shop in 2001, and designed the interiors of 134m Serene and 95.2m Kismet. On British yacht design… “We created industrial design and continue to be world leaders in many [design] fields. This exciting activity brings international design talent to our shores”

Jonny Horsfield H2 Yacht Design

Horsfield, 48, was the go-to designer for refits, before doing new builds such as 54m Talisman C , 82m _ Graceful  _and 125m Maryah . USP of British yacht design… “Our cultural ability to problem-solve as well as not being too rigid or pedantic with rules or conventions”

Dickie Bannenberg Bannenberg & Rowell Design

Son of famous designer Jon, Dickie, 53, proved himself with yachts such as 60m Bacarella and the 72m Feadship Predator . USP of British design... “An unconventional blend of irreverence and tradition, coupled with a pioneering outlook towards new ideas”

Simon Rowell Bannenberg & Rowell Design

Creative director Rowell, 46, designed the interiors on 85m Lürssen Pacific and 65m Heesen Galactica Star . On British yacht design… “Jon Bannenberg was an Australian who found London to be creative and receptive in the 1960s. So maybe it is the environment as much as the natives”

Jonathan Rhoades Rhoades Young Design

Rhoades, 42, started in architecture before turning to the sea at Ken Freivokh Design. Projects include the interior of 48m Royal Huisman sailing yacht Wisp . On British yacht design… “Perhaps it is the intoxicating history of science, craft, music, art and general irreverence in Britain that creates such a healthy environment in which to design”

The Global Players

Malcolm Mckeon Malcolm Mckeon Yacht Design

Formerly at Dubois, Mckeon, 56, has penned more than 50 30m-plus sail and motor yachts. Favourite yacht feature… “Carbon fibre masts and rigging. These have dramatically enhanced performance as well as improving the level of comfort while sailing”

Tim Ulrich Beiderbeck Designs

Ulrich, 42, is one of eight naval architects and designers at the German studio, with sailing yachts Phocea and the Swan 105RS Ti-Coyo in its portfolio. Favourite yacht feature… “Being close to the water is a most outstanding feature”

Immo Lüdeling Beiderbeck Designs

Lüdeling, 43, is part of a German studio that has turned out about 50 projects averaging 53m. Favourite yacht feature... “A terraced or liftable bathing platform. It’s the perfect way of being close to the water, even on big boats”

Jacques Pierrejean Pierrejean Design

The French studio was set up 35 years ago by Jacques Pierrejean, 62. Most notably he penned 141m Yas , the eighth- largest yacht in the world. On yacht design… “It is exciting to think about the interior in harmony with the spirit of the external design concept.”

Frank Neubelt Frank Neubelt Yacht Design of NC2

Neubelt, 54, set up German firm Newcruise in 1990, and a new company in 2012. The 115m Luna is one of his. Favourite yacht feature… “Characterful design: Luna ’s long outdoor pool and Siren’s folding helipad”. Superyacht Siren is for sale .

Philippe Briand Philippe Briand & Vitruvius

The son of an Olympic sailor, the Frenchman, 57, has penned America’s Cup yachts, big sailers such as 67m Vertigo and tough motor yachts under the Vitruvius brand. Favourite yacht feature… “The carbon wheel of a 100ft+ sailing yacht – and to be the helmsman”

Luiz de Basto De Basto Designs

The Miami-based De Basto has designed hundreds of motor boats and superyachts, and was a WSA finalist in 2014 for The Big Blue . Favourite yacht feature… “Bulkheads and balconies that can lower to open the interior to the outdoors”

Richard Hein The A Group

Hein, 56, was president of Oceanco until 2004 and has created more than 18 yachts over 50m, including 101m I Dynasty by Kusch Yachts. Favourite yacht feature… “The use of glass surfaces as construction material, with all the inherent design rules and construction challenges”

Peder Eidsgaard Eidsgaard Design

The London studio of Norwegian designer Eidsgaard, 43, has risen quickly since it opened in 2005, with 78m Feadship Tango among its triumphs. Favourite yacht feature... “Open spaces and long vistas”

Gord Galbraith Gregory C Marshall Naval Architect

The partnership between Galbraith, 46, and Greg Marshall has yielded yachts including iconic explorer Big Fish . Favourite yacht feature… “The beach club. Despite a superyacht’s size and luxury, yachting for me is always about being close to the water”

The female designers

Francesca Muzio FM Architettura

This Italian house, led by Muzio, crosses disciplines, from refits on superyachts such as the 52m Amore Mio II to designing the Signature Suites in the Shangri-La hotel at the Shard in London. Do women bring anything different to boat design? “It’s not a matter of sex, but the passion that led each person into that job”

Paola Galeazzi Zuccon International Project

As one half of the venerable studio, Galeazzi has worked on production sports fishers and the 60m CRN J’ade , featuring the world’s first drive-in tender garage. Do women bring anything different to boat design? “There’s nothing male designers, provided they are true professionals, don’t or cannot know”

Fiona Diamond Seymour Diamond

Diamond honed her skills working with Terence Disdale on more than 30 projects, including Eclipse and Pelorus , before going solo in 2010. She worked exclusively on the interior of Feadship’s recently launched 92.5m  Royal Romance . What men don’t know about boats… “You’d have to ask them!”

Laura Pomponi Luxury Projects

The Italian founded her company in 2008 and works on anything from yachts and jets to villas and penthouses. She is known for the vibrant interior of 35m Koji.   The luxury yacht Koji is now for sale .  Do women bring anything different to boat design? “It’s not about being a man or a woman, but meeting a client’s expectations”

Laura Sessa Laura Sessa

Spend some time on CRN’s 80m Chopi Chopi and you’ll soon see why Sessa won a ShowBoats Design Award for its interior. More recent is the 60m Madame Kate , the second Amels LE 199. Do women bring anything different to boat design? “You just have to love the boats and what you create"

Sandrine Melot Melot + Trillo

Melot came to yachts after a successful career designing hotels, restaurants and offices – and landed with a bang. Her first interior, on the 34m Blue Princess Star , won a World Superyacht Award. Lately, she designed the interior of ISA’s 43m Philmi . What men don’t know about boats… “It depends on the man!”

Pascale Reymond Reymond Langton

Reymond is half of one of the most successful design duos operating today. Since forming the company with Andrew Langton in 2001, she has designed some of the most iconic boats afloat, from the 78m Titan to the 134m Serene . Do women bring anything different to boat design? “I truly believe women deal with solitude and stress better than men”

Adriana Monk monkdesign

In a former life, Monk helped shape the interiors of the modern Range Rover and Rolls-Royce Phantom, later becoming chief interior designer for Jaguar Land Rover. With boats, she designed the deck sculpture, colour scheme and graphics for the 30m WallyCento Hamilton . Do women bring anything different to boat design? “Talent comes in many guises, male or female”

Daniela Zulli Terence Disdale Design

Italian Zulli headed up her own design company before joining Terence Disdale Design. She has had a big hand in many of the studio’s most notable projects, including the massive 147m Lürssen Topaz . What men don’t know about boats… “They still haven’t learnt how to put the toilet seat down after using the dayheads!”

The Dutch Masters

Marnix Hoekstra & Bart Bouwhuis Vripack

Vripack’s two creative directors lead a team of 80 and a company responsible for more than 7,000 designs since its founding in 1961.  Why is Holland such a superyacht hub? “Because of our rich related heritage and the drive to constantly innovate and collaborate to improve the end result. It’s in our DNA”

Frank Mulder Mulder Design

Established in 1979, this family-run studio has designed more than 600 boats, including some iconic craft such as the 35.36m Moonraker and 42.4m The World is Not Enough . Why is Holland such a superyacht hub? “Because of our abundance of lakes, rivers and other waterways. And the word yacht comes from the Dutch jacht!”

Perry van Oossanen Van Oossanen Naval Architects

His team are at the cutting edge of hull design. The company’s Hull Vane and Fast Displacement Hull Form are taking efficiency and comfort to the next level. Why is Holland such a superyacht hub? “Because most of us live below sea level!”

Ronno Schouten De Voogt Naval Architects

Schouten leads Feadship’s design department and has been busy of late, working on the hulls of the 101m project 808 and 83.5m Savannah .

Guido de Groot Guido de Groot Design

De Groot fell in love with yachting when he saw the fourth Highlander leaving De Vries in 1986. He launched his own design firm in 1997, and is now working on yachts in Italy, Abu Dhabi and China. Why is Holland such a superyacht hub? “Our exceptional degree of dedication, expertise, ingenuity, craftsmanship and time management”

Frank Laupman Omega Architects

Laupman’s team have six nominations at this year’s World Superyacht Awards, for sleek, sporty Heesen yachts such as Galatea ,  Alive and Monaco Wolf . Why is Holland such a superyacht hub? “We know ships, design, beauty and craftsmanship”

The design duo

Pietro Mingarelli Italian

As a designer, engineer and architect, Mingarelli has worked on more than 120 superyachts. With Tina Green, he is now designing his biggest yet. Who is your yacht design hero…? “Tim Heywood. His designs are proof that less is more”

Tina Green British

An interior designer who started off in the fashion world, Green has designed dozens of superyachts – as well as living on one. She says that it was only when joining forces with Mingarelli that she was really able to grow as a yacht designer. Who is your yacht design hero…? “Terence Disdale. I love the way he brings together different materials. He has been a great influence on my style”

Italian Flair

Enrico Gobbi Team For Design

Gobbi, 39, likes aggressive lines and nature-inspired touches, such as the gill-like windows on Rossinavi’s 48m Vellmari . Italy’s design USP… “Careful attention to every detail that elevates the overall design”

Tommaso Spadolini Design Studio Spadolini

With more than 200 yachts now afloat – including 70m Rossinavi Numptia – Spadolini, 57, has earned a reputation for classic style. Italy’s design USP… “Italian design is often more sexy than other design schools”

Giovanni Zuccon Zuccon International Project

Zuccon, 70, is the Ferretti Group’s designer of choice, with a portfolio that includes the 80m CRN Chopi Chopi . Italy’s design USP… “A culture that teaches us how to integrate different design knowledge, also allowing us to find the right relationship with history, and thus to understand the present and, above all, to imagine the future”

Antonio Romano Hot Lab Yacht & Design

Romano, 36, penned the airy interior of Palumbo’s 40m Columbus Sport Hybrid – but he and his partners also do sweeping exteriors. Italy’s design USP… “Design is part of our heritage, from industrial products to food”   Luca Brenta Brenta Design

Sailing yacht supremo yacht designer Luca Brenta , 60, boasts iconic designs such as the Wallygator in his locker, and picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ShowBoats Design Awards. On Italian design… “Two thousand years ago we were building Roma while you guys were barbarians!”

Lorenzo Argento Brenta Design

Brenta’s partner Argento, 52, has penned well-known sailers including Vitters’ 37m Ghos t and now runs the design studio. On Italian design… “From a beautiful environment to beautiful food, [Italy] educates people to a certain sensibility. Beauty educates!”

Dan Lenard Nuvolari Lenard

Carlo Nuvolari and Dan Lenard, 47, have worked with Palmer Johnson, Perini Navi and CRN, since they set up shop 15 years ago. They can count the exterior of iconic 82m Oceanco Alfa Nero among their successes. On Italian design… “It’s not ‘Italian design’ that sells, it’s Italian that sells, even without the design”

Portriats by Dan Annett

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More From Forbes

Blaming immigrants for eating pets is an old american urban legend.

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump debates Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris ... [+] in Philadelphia on September 10, 2024. Blaming immigrants for eating pets was an American urban legend years before Donald Trump spread the baseless rumor about Haitians in Ohio. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Blaming immigrants for eating pets was an American urban legend years before Donald Trump spread the rumor about Haitians in Ohio. Following the pattern of other urban legends, such as the “rat in the Coke bottle” and the “Vanishing Hitchhiker,” the legend that newly settled immigrants are eating dogs and cats has been around for decades. The legends are not harmless fun. After Trump and his running mate JD Vance spread the rumors about Haitians, a bomb threat using “hateful language towards immigrants and Haitians” caused an evacuation of City Hall and children to evacuate an elementary school in Springfield, Ohio.

The Controversy

As with other urban legends, the story of Haitians eating local pets was spread not by eyewitnesses but by individuals claiming they heard the story. “The woman behind an early Facebook post spreading a harmful and baseless claim about Haitian immigrants eating local pets that helped thrust a small Ohio city into the national spotlight says she had no firsthand knowledge of any such incident and is now filled with regret and fear as a result of the ensuing fallout,” reported NBC News .

On X (formerly Twitter), vice presidential candidate JD Vance wrote , “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country.”

Donald Trump made the rumor a central argument against immigration during the presidential debate with Kamala Harris. “In Springfield, they're eating the dogs,” he said . “The people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating—they’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country. And it’s a shame.”

Trump and Vance fueled the story. However, NBC News reports, “Local police and city officials have repeatedly said there is no evidence of such crimes in Springfield, but that hasn’t stopped the lies from spreading across the country.”

Best Pet Insurance Companies Of October 2022

How much does pet insurance cost in 2022, an american urban legend.

Long before Springfield residents, neo-Nazis and others spread rumors about Haitians, other Americans told tales of immigrants eating pets. “Do not too easily accept the statement . . . that Asian refugees barbecue pet dogs here ‘all the time,’” wrote Jan Harold Brunvand, professor emeritus at the University of Utah, in 1986.

Brunvand identified stories from the 1980s about Asian refugees eating pets that emerged in Salt Lake City, Utah, Stockton, California, Fairfax, Virginia and elsewhere. “Evidence was supposedly found in garbage cans, and people had heard about Vietnamese wanting to buy puppies or kittens to use for food,” wrote Brunvand in his book The Mexican Pet , one of several books he authored compiling folklore or urban legends. (Journalist Brandy Zadrozny found a 1987 article on the topic.)

Brunvand noted there is typically a racial element to the rumors. “These examples of modern folklore are similar to earlier stories about pet remains found in garbage cans behind Chinese restaurants.”

As if anticipating the current urban legend about Haitians and pets in Springfield, Ohio, Brunvand writes, “Another common twist is the notion that there has been a recent rash of missing pets in the community; the statistics on such crimes, dug up by some enterprising reporter, usually prove to be normal.”

In 1999, in a later book, Too Good To Be True , Brunvand described news stories on allegations of immigrants eating pets: “These items are typical of many similar articles that have appeared in the American press since Southeast Asian refugees began arriving in large numbers during the 1970s and ‘80s. Vague rumors about disappearing pets, strange cooking odors, and supposedly larger problems with pet-eating in another state—usually California—are standard features of such stories.”

Brunvand added, “The prejudices displayed in American ‘eaten pet’ stories are generally directed against Asians, and occasionally immigrants from southern or eastern Europe.”

Today, Haitians are the disfavored group, making the current stories different from those of the past. There is another 2024 twist on the urban legend about immigrants eating pets. In 2024, a former president and his current running mate are the ones spreading the story.

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12 Trendy Fall Boat Shoes That Are More Comfortable Than Sneakers — Picks from Amazon, Nordstrom and More

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Out with the sneakers and boots, in with the boat shoes! If you consider yourself a fashionista, you know that boat shoes are about to replace sneakers in the style spotlight. Given that sneakers have had the spotlight all summer long, it’s about time!

Related: This Designer-Looking Trench Coat Is Only $30

Unlike sneakers, boat shoes yield a classy, refined style that screams East Coast rich. They’re slightly nautical, ultra-preppy and sophisticated, all while pairing perfectly with any everyday ensemble. And unlike chunky boots, they’re light, chic and comfortable — if you find the right ones, that is!

We found some of the trendiest boat shoes from stores like Zappos, Nordstrom, Walmart and Amazon bound to give you the aesthetic you seek while supporting your feet, the best-case scenario if you ask Us ! Whether your budget is $20 or $200, read on to find a new go-to that’s comfier than your favorite walking kicks.

Let’s jump in!

1. Classy classic:  When you think of boat shoes, chances are you think of Sperry. These are the original boat shoes that have thousands of five-star reviews — $110 at Nordstrom!

2. Functional find:  If you’re serious about this whole yachting thing, you’ll need a non-slip shoe that repels water and resists stains. Meet your new go-to from outdoor brand Columbia — originally $70, now $41 on Amazon!

3. Clean look:  All-white sneakers are trendy . . . but all-white boat shoes are trendier! These leather Jeffrey Campbell boat shoes are effortlessly chic — $145 at Nordstrom! 

4. Plush cushioning: Yes, they’re as comfortable as they sound! Sketchers nailed the boat shoe look with these kicks while incorporating Ultra Go cushioning for support — originally $65, now $58 at Zappos!

5. Sperry Bahama 2.0:  Colors like white and navy exude yachting energy and these casual Sperry shoes are no exception — originally $70, now $52 at Zappos!

6. Girly girl:  Rhinestones are just the beginning when it comes to why we adore these Kirt Geiger London boat shoes. Gold accents and a darling bow tie are a few highlights — $135 at Nordstrom!

7. Casual find:  You’ll love the suede material of these Cecelia New York shoes that combine a boat shoe and a loafer. A 1.25-inch heel will give you some height, too — $20 at Walmart!

8. Sporty chic:  These leather shoes from Sebago are water-resistant and extra-breathable , ideal for day-to-day walks, touring the city and more — $185 at Nordstrom!

9. Crowd favorite:  Nearly 50,000 reviewers give these Hey Dude boat shoes five stars, so if you don’t take our word, take theirs! The shoe also happens to be over 50% off right now — originally $64, now $26 on Amazon!

10. Coastal style:  Another win from Sketchers! With a recycled knit upper, these are the perfect shoes for anyone traveling to Europe . . . or who are just wanting to look Italian — originally $63, now $57 at Zappos!

11. Chunky look:  Combine a chunky sneaker, boat shoe and loafer into one with these brand-new Steve Maddens ! A 1.5-inch heel, lace-up style and raw edge detailing give them a one-of-a-kind flair — $100 at Nordstrom!

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12. Western-inspired leather:  Why choose between Western and East Coast styles when you can have both ? This Roper shoe has a trendy design etched into its distressed leather — originally $81, now $65 at Zappos!

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