European Yacht of the Year 2015 Awards.
The best and finest in Europe’s boat industry are awarded the ‘Oscars of Water Sports‘ every year: this is the twelfth time the international European Yacht of the Year awards are presented at boot Dusseldorf.
The European Yacht of the Year is the most thorough competition there is for production boats, the only one that comprises 11 different magazines, from 11 different European nations, testing 25 yachts in five different categories, over two weeks in two different seas.
Following the running of the sea trials in the autumn of 2014, and the long jury discussions, the awards for the winners of the European Yacht of the Year 2015 were announced at the FLAGSHIP NIGHT of boot Düsseldorf.
The five categories comprise Performance Cruisers, Family Cruisers, Luxury Cruisers, Special Yachts, and, for the first time to reflect the growing interest in this sector, Bluewater cruisers. As usual, there were some close decisions, particularly in the Family Cruiser and Performance Cruiser divisions, where debates raged and voting was tight.
Winner in the Performance Cruiser category: JPK 10.80 yacht
The title in the Performance Cruiser category went to the JPK 10.80 from France. JPK specialises in single-handed or two-handed craft. During testing, the high-performance craft convinced the judges with top-class data.
The other nominees in the category Performance Cruiser were:
Corsair Cruze 970
Dehler 46
Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600
Mylius 50.
Winner in the Luxury Cruiser category: Wauquiez Centurion 57.
The winner in the Luxury Cruiser category was the Wauquiez Centurion 57. The sporty flagship of the French Centurion range is characterised by an athletic elegance that is particularly emphasised by the clear layout and modern finish in the finest teak.
The other nominees in the category Luxury Cruiser were:
Euphoria 54;
Italia 15.98;
Moody 54 DS;
X-Yachts Xc 35.
Winner in the Special Yachts category: Advanced A 44
Among the Special Yachts, the Advanced 44 was a firm favourite with the jury. The smart-looking Italian craft succeeds in uniting two apparently contrary concepts and is a weekender and a racer rolled into one. Loft-style luxury is the dominant impression below deck, while the A44 also scores highly with radical performance on the water.
The other nominees in the category Special Yachts were:
Astus 24
Pogo 3;
Pointer 25;
Saffier SE 33.
Winner in the Bluewater Cruiser category: Boréal 52.
The winner of the hotly-contested new Bluewater Cruiser category was the Boréal 52. The yachts from the French shipyard are regarded as an insider tip for extreme touring, particularly at higher latitudes. The Boréal 52 has an integral keel and can be allowed to beach.
The other nominees in the category Bluewater Cruiser were:
Rapier 550 by Broadblue;
Garcia Exploration 45;
Ovni 52 Evolution
Southerly 535.
Winner in the Family Cruiser category: Bavaria Cruiser 46.
The laurels in the Family Cruiser category went to the Bavaria Cruiser 46. The previous model had already been nominated for the award in 2010, when it came a close second. Much-improved in both technical and conceptual terms, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 managed to convince the jury. This is regarded as one of the most sophisticated boats in this class.
The other nominees in the category Family Cruiser were:
Dufour 310 Grand’Large;
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349;
Nautitech Open 40;
RM 890.
