{"id":50194,"date":"2023-05-31T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=50194"},"modified":"2023-05-31T10:28:59","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T14:28:59","slug":"sailboat-review-2023-boat-of-the-year-hallberg-rassy-400","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/sailboats\/sailboat-review-2023-boat-of-the-year-hallberg-rassy-400\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailboat Review: 2023 Boat of the Year Hallberg-Rassy 400"},"content":{"rendered":"\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 400<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n\n

In the ongoing history of production-yacht construction, one of the more astonishing lists covers what seemed like iconic, top-notch sailboat brands\u2014Little Harbor, Alden, Valiant and Tayana, to name a few\u2014that have simply ceased to exist. But then there\u2019s the story of shipyards such as Sweden\u2019s Hallberg-Rassy<\/a>, named for the founding boatbuilders Harry Hallberg and Christoph Rassy. In one iteration or another, it\u2019s been knocking out boats for 80 years now. After splashing nearly 10,000 yachts, it shows no signs of slowing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of reasons for this longevity, a major one being that once a sailor has owned a Hallberg-Rassy, at some point he or she will likely trade up or down for another one. Quality, after all, begets quality, and it\u2019s a testament to the brand that there are so many repeat customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another strong \u00adreason is that, with the \u00adbrilliant Argentine naval architect Germ\u00e1n Frers driving Hallberg-Rassy\u2019s design efforts for several decades, the company has continued to evolve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At no time has this been more evident than with Frers\u2019 latest creation: the aft-cockpit, twin-rudder, performance-\u00adoriented Hallberg-Rassy 400. (A sistership, the Hallberg-Rassy 40 C, shares the same hull but has the center-cockpit configuration that\u2019s synonymous with the company.) As a judge in our 2023 Boat of the Year competition, I was part of the unanimous panel that named the 400 our Import Boat of the Year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its integrated bowsprit, triple-spreader Seld\u00e9n rig, rectangular hull windows and dual helm stations, the 400 at first glance appears to occupy the same sort of territory we\u2019re used to seeing from all the hot French naval architects who dominate contemporary sailboat design. Yet here is an important difference: no chines. In the pursuit of a seakindly ride and good manners offshore, Frers has instead gone with a rounder hull form, not a V-shape\u2014a most effective approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the plumb bow, Frers has also maximized the waterline, which is something you notice as soon as you step aboard: The 400 seems like a much larger vessel than 40 feet. But don\u2019t fret, Hallberg-Rassy aficionados: Frers has kept one of the line\u2019s signature features, the nifty windshield that accents the front edge of the cockpit, with the traveler and a pair of solar panels stationed just forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"H-R <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The nav station underscores the 400\u2019s vibe of old-school craftsmanship meets new-age tech.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

It\u2019s a beamy boat (another reason for the sense of volume and space on board). That beam is carried well aft, a fact that necessitated the twin wheel\/rudder setup, which also provides the benefit of total control when well-heeled under sail. The double helms and a split backstay allow easy access to the optional drop-down swim platform aft. While a self-tacking jib is also an option, the standard headsail is slightly overlapped, about 110 percent, which is big enough to provide plenty of power but is still easily tacked. The sheet leads run between the inboard and outboard shrouds, giving the skipper very tight sheeting angles to optimize closehauled upwind performance while making egress unimpeded when moving forward or aft along the side decks. I\u2019m having an extremely difficult time understanding why every builder doesn\u2019t do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hand-laid laminate construction includes a Divinycell PVC foam core for insulation and a favorable strength-to-weight ratio, and what the company calls an integrated \u201ckeel stiffener,\u201d an internal reinforcement that runs longitudinally and fore and aft, and is laminated to the hull, as is the hull\/deck bond, capped by a formidable bulwark. The result is a strong, robust, monolithic structure. The stiffener negates the need for a central bulkhead in the interior, and this, along with the deck-stepped mast, truly opens up the inviting central salon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahogany is standard for the interior furniture, though our test boat had the inviting European oak option. The joiner work is nothing less than exquisite; the Swedes are certainly craftsmen of the highest order. Tankage (two fuel tanks and three water tanks) is centralized in the hull, again in the interest of optimizing performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"HR <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Out of sight, out of mind. The cockpit employs smart stowage spaces for lines not in use. <\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

There is a trio of different layouts, the major differences being the choice of one or two staterooms aft, one or two heads, and three designs for the owner\u2019s stateroom forward. Options include a \u00addishwasher, washing machine, extra freezer, lee cloths, TV and so on. Our test boat had retractable bow and stern thrusters, electric furling for the main and jib, electric winches, and air conditioning, all optional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, our test boat lacked a generator (the owner, who was aboard for our sea trials, laughed and said, \u201cI don\u2019t want to service two engines\u201d). Our in-house tech guru and Boat of the Year judge, Ed Sherman, definitely approved. \u201cThis boat was one of several in our group that has taken a no-generator approach,\u201d he said. \u201cUsing Mastervolt lithium batteries and both 12- and 24-volt electrical subsystems, this fully equipped cruiser will regenerate battery voltage via the 60 hp main engine when needed. It was beautifully executed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our test sail got off to a \u00addisappointing start, as the wind on Chesapeake Bay was nearly imperceptible. But it slowly filled in, and while the breeze never topped 10 knots, the performance was eye-opening, especially when we unleashed the code zero headsail tacked to the bowsprit and reached off at nearly 8 knots, an impressive number given the conditions. Those twin wheels with \u00adrack-and-pinion steering provided exact fingertip control, and the sightlines sitting well outboard were terrific. It\u2019s a boat built to go places with style and efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frers has been at this game for quite some time now, but clearly, he hasn\u2019t lost his fastball. Hallberg-Rassy has built its reputation on tough boats that fare well under sail in the stormy northern seas, and the 400 ratchets up the performance side of the equation. That\u2019s what you get when the worlds of tradition and advancement collide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hallberg-Rassy 400 Specifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
LOA<\/td>40’4″<\/td><\/tr>
LWL<\/td>38’6″<\/td><\/tr>
BEAM<\/td>13’9″<\/td><\/tr>
DRAFT<\/td>6’4″<\/td><\/tr>
SAIL AREA<\/td>970 sq. ft.<\/td><\/tr>
DISPLACEMENT<\/td>24,250 lb.<\/td><\/tr>
D\/L<\/td>190<\/td><\/tr>
SA\/D<\/td>18.5<\/td><\/tr>
WATER<\/td>137 gal.<\/td><\/tr>
FUEL<\/td>106 gal.<\/td><\/tr>
MAST HEIGHT<\/td>64’10”<\/td><\/tr>
ENGINE<\/td>Volvo Penta \u00adD2-60 (saildrive)<\/td><\/tr>
DESIGNER<\/td>Germ\u00e1n Frers<\/td><\/tr>
PRICE<\/td>$650,000<\/td><\/tr>
WEBSITE<\/td>hallberg-rassy.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Herb McCormick is former editor-in-chief of <\/em>Cruising World and the yachting correspondent for The <\/em>New York Times. An author of five nautical books, he\u2019s owned several sailboats, including his current Pearson 365 and Pearson Ensign.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Old-school craftsmanship and values combine with new-age thinking and innovation in this Germ\u00e1n Frers design.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":50197,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Herb McCormick","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"167","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Boat review of the 2023 Boat of the Year Hallberg-Rassy 400. The German Frers-designed 40-foot sailboat combines traditional craftsmanship with new-age thinking.","_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":true,"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":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"ad_targeting":"","sponsored_url":"","social_share":true},"categories":[167],"tags":[1945,367,1956,227,195],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50194"}],"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\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}