We ghosted down the Hamble River under mainsail alone, the water slipping silently past our red hull in the grainy half-light of a winter morning. We’d hoisted the mainsail in…
Boat tests
Wauquiez PS42 review: Interior finesse shines through on classy cruiser
A good brand exudes quality. Seeing a logo on a car or a yacht is a visual pat on the back from the manufacturer, a little thank you from them…
Hanse 548 review: The push-button 50-footer that can be sailed by a couple
Imagine putting a cruising couple from the late 1990s into a time capsule and fast-forwarding them to the present. Then tell them about the Hanse 548 – a stylish, modern…
X-Yachts X4-9 test: Danish yard strikes a tough balance with hybrid design
The X49 is squarely aimed at the no-compromise sailor who wants it all. It combines a comfortable, stylish interior, with clean, beautiful lines on deck and can even be raced…
Finot-Conq FC3 53 test: Can this offshore cruiser deliver the best of both worlds?
If the electric green hull and striking looks of Nica don’t grab your attention, then its on-paper description certainly will. This Finot-Conq FC3 53 is a carbon-hulled, water-ballasted, swing keel…
Baltic 67 review: Finnish superyacht yard goes back to its roots with no-compromise cruiser
Were money no object and you wanted the ultimate yacht for long-term cruising, what would you choose? How large could you go without needing a paid crew? What do you…
Is the Contest 67CS the most impressive new yacht under 80ft in production today?
We were on board Contest’s first new 67CS, a sensational new 67ft semi-custom model, and the first Contest designed by Judel/Vrolijk in the yard’s near 60-year history. We were sailing…
Dramatic Contest 67CS video: showing the new Judel-Vrolijk design with soul
Dutch yard Contest commissioned Judel/Vrolijk for the first time to design its new 67CS. This is a size on the increase for owners who like to get places quickly and…
The jaw-dropping X6 from X-Yachts – a super-stylish step up for this Danish builder
The X6 is a bold design: a muscular, small superyacht blessed with powerful lines; a yacht that will place most others of her size firmly in the shade. The flagship…
Oyster 675 video – footage from our trials aboard Oyster’s brand new first 675
When it comes to series-building large cruising yachts, Oyster Yachts is the undisputed world leader. In the 60ft size range alone it has, over its 40-year heritage, produced a 61,…
Azuree 41 video – footage from our trials aboard Sirena Marine’s versatile new performance cruiser
Over the last decade Sirena Marine has established itself as Turkey’s leading production boat builder. But its learning curve has been a steep one, matched by improvements in quality and…
Contest 42CS video – our overnight cruise and test aboard this Dutch-built premium cruiser
As this Contest 42CS video shows, our cruise was the ideal way to appreciate how this model is blessed with the pedigree of over half a century of builds. Contest…
Video: we test the decidedly luxurious new Jeanneau 54 in a gale off Cannes
One look at the deck configuration would lead most people to presume the Jeanneau 54 is a hedonists’ yacht, one for the sun worshippers anchored in warm climes. Indeed my…
Video: Hanse 315 – we test Hanse’s new baby and find it packs serious punch
The Hanse 315 is an example of a large firm concentrating the best of its products into a more compact, feature-rich yet user-friendly version. We found in our test –…
Video: we test the Grand Soleil 46LC, Cantiere del Pardo’s formidable first cruising yacht
A cruising yacht means different things to different sailors. LC stands for Long Cruise and there are many clues that this Italian brand is targeting warm weather cruising with the…
Video: We sail the new Discovery 58 offshore to explore the features of a bluewater cruising yacht
If you were to go long distance cruising, what would be the primary features you would look for in a yacht? I would wager that both looks and reward on…
Solaris 50 video – showing our Adriatic test of this trendsetting new Italian performance cruiser
Production yachts are rarely referred to as trendsetters. Like a mainstream saloon car, their primary goal is to offer maximum potential value, rather than seek admiring glances. Solaris may change…
The Gunboat 55 Video – full footage of our test aboard the coolest new fast cat available
The Gunboat 55 takes cool to a whole new level. She is a curvaceous yet fiery, muscular yet elegant design, drawn by the godfather of lightweight multihulls, Nigel Irens. And…
VX One: could this be a modern keelboat class to match the popularity of Flying 15?
I’ll come straight out with it: there are some boats that hit the spot from the outset and for me the VX One is on that list. In fact, I’ll…
Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 on test – a multi-purpose cruiser-racer
For all the meticulous market analysis and detailed planning behind a new production boat launch, sometimes even the big players can get caught unawares and stumble upon a recipe for…