{"id":47621,"date":"2021-12-15T16:03:26","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T21:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=47621"},"modified":"2023-05-06T18:17:45","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T22:17:45","slug":"2022-boat-of-the-year-best-midsize-cruiser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/sailboats\/2022-boat-of-the-year-best-midsize-cruiser\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 Boat of the Year: Best Midsize Cruiser (Under 40\u2019)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During and in the four days immediately following the US Sailboat show in Annapolis, Maryland, the <\/em>Cruising World judges inspected and sailed on 27 boats vying for recognition. Learn more about the boats in our 2022 Boat of the Year<\/a> \u00bb<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once upon a time, midsize cruisers, 30 to 40 feet, dominated the market, and harbors across the US were filled with what were once considered to be \u201cbig\u201d family sailboats. In this size range, a boat could sleep six or seven crew, with some models even offering one or more private staterooms. These boats often offered amenities such as hot and cold pressurized water, a shower and refrigeration, and they were capable coastal cruisers, while some went on extended voyages, including circumnavigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, the proliferation of midsize sailboats\u2014and dozens of American builders launching them\u2014is no longer the case. In fact, in this post-pandemic era, the midsize cruiser is an endangered species; the major overseas production boatyards have largely abandoned the entry-level buyer in lieu of manufacturing bigger boats that address the demand for three, four and even five private cabins, often with en suite heads. But all is not lost for sailors looking for new boats under 40 feet because there are still several companies knocking out quality vessels in well-designed packages that will get you just about anywhere you wish to go. Here\u2019s a trio of craft that fits that bill and, collectively, they made a splash at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cC\u201d in German builder Bavaria\u2019s C38<\/a> is for \u201ccruising,\u201d and more specifically, as stated by company reps, family coastal cruising. It\u2019s a sweet spot for the under-40-foot market, and Bavaria has managed to pack a lot of punch in that length overall. Hard chines maximize the interior volume, and the three staterooms in this roomy two-head 38-footer are expansive and impressive. BOTY judge and yacht designer Gerry Douglas noted the wide radius of the bow, which allowed the owner\u2019s cabin below to be pushed far forward, making the most of the interior space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bavaria <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n When the swim platform is down, the twin wheels set well outboard on the Bavaria C38 allow for an easy flow from the interior, through the cockpit, to the water or dock.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bavaria <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The hull chines just above the water allow for tremendous volume below for living accommodations.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Bavaria <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Bravo, Bavaria for including a nav station in the saloon large enough for a chart kit.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Twin wheels have become the rule, not the exception, in contemporary cruisers, and the Bavaria\u2019s are stationed well outboard, which provides plenty of visibility forward and a nice passage from the cockpit to the drop-down transom and boarding ladder. Sail control lines are led aft to winches at either wheel. The boat our judges sailed had an easy-to-manage self-tacking jib and an in-mast furling main; an over-lapping genoa is available for owners looking for a little more oomph from the rig. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The C38 was designed by Cossutti Yacht Design, a firm known for slippery hulls. Underway, its single rudder felt responsive, and on a close reach, the boat scooted along nicely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, judge Ed Sherman thought its stated purpose\u2014”a family coastal cruiser\u201d\u2014was an honest and straightforward one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sun Odyssey 380<\/a> is the fourth boat in Jeanneau\u2019s line of cruising sailboats to employ the walk-around deck that has earned a host of awards and recognition in Boat of the Year circles. Rather than having to climb over the coaming to reach the deck, the side deck slopes down as it passes the cockpit, so crew can simply walk around either of the two helms and stroll forward. An added bonus is the height of the rear pulpit railings and lifelines as one makes the transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Jeanneau <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380\u2019s integrated bowsprit does double duty by enabling an owner to fly off-the-wind sails and also serves as an anchor roller.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Jeanneau <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The BOTY judges applauded the 380s roomy cockpit and walk-around deck.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Jeanneau <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Rather than using fairlead tracks on the deck or cabin top, the 380\u2019s jib sheets are run through highly adjustable friction rings.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

This latest design from performance-oriented French naval architect Marc Lombard combines a host of go-fast features: twin wheels and dual rudders; an integrated bowsprit for setting quick-reaching and running sails; a high-aspect rig that will acquit itself well not only for speedy passages, but also for those inclined to mix it up on the club racecourse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boat we sailed had a traditional main and boom sail pouch, which was a refreshing change from the in-mast furling sails many of the other boats in the fleet carried. Rather than fairleads mounted on genoa tracks, the over-lapping jib\u2019s sheets are run through friction rings that can be adjusted up and down, as well as in and out, an arrangement that allows for true fine-tuning of the sail\u2019s shape. The result, well, let judge Tim Murphy weigh in here: \u201cIt really was a lovely boat to sail. Boy, and we got out there this morning, the breeze was light and you really, really felt the pleasure of going sailing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 380 was comfortable, as well. Down below, the layout is traditional, with a simple saloon incorporating the galley, dining area and nav station. What\u2019s not broken need not be fixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rounding out this category was a very different boat, the Hallberg-Rassy 340<\/a>, built in Sweden at a yard renowned for its bluewater cruisers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Hallberg-Rassy <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Hallberg-Rassy 340 introduces a new look for the Swedish builder, with more beam carried aft and twin rudders and helms.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Hallberg-Rassy <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The owner\u2019s forward stateroom in the 340 features plenty of storage for spending a weekend, week or month aboard.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Hallberg-Rassy <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The 340\u2019s interior retains the traditional layout and good looks that\u2019s a trademark of the Swedish builder.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

At 80, the great Argentinian naval architect Germ\u00e1n Frers is a living legend, with an unparalleled career designing everything from high-end race boats to superyachts. But Frers is nothing if not versatile, which he proved with this beautiful, twin-wheeled cruiser. Judge Ed Sherman summarized its winning appeal: \u201cWe started our sea trial with no wind, then it built slowly. And this boat sailed beautifully. It\u2019s such high quality; it\u2019s high-end, furniture-grade interior versus the Ikea treatment we sometimes see. What an impressive boat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other judges were not far behind in their praise of this twin rudder, twin wheel boat\u2014quite a change of pace for the builder, though it allows for beam to be carried farther aft, creating additional volume for accommodations below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In describing the design brief, judge Tim Murphy recalled that the importer of the boat described it as being intended for a cruising couple to go out for a weekend, a week or a month. In practical terms, this translates into adequate storage, a workable galley and accommodations that allow a crew to feel secure and stay rested, both underway and at anchor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Said Murphy, \u201cI love the interior of that Hallberg-Rassy maybe more than any boat in this year\u2019s fleet. I loved being in that space.\u201d And his colleagues did too, which is how the 340 came to be named Best Midsize Cruiser (Under 40\u2019).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a building breeze, the Hallberg-Rassy 340\u2019s overall performance and good looks made it a winning design.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":47626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Cruising World Editors","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"167","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Sailing performance and quality prove to be the winning combination, earning the Hallberg-Rassy the title of Best Midsize Cruiser (Under 40\u2019) in Cruising World\u2019s 2022 Boat of the Year contest.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","sponsored_url":"","social_share":true,"ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true},"categories":[167],"tags":[802,282,1880,367,1887,195],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47621"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47621\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}