the best sailing yacht brands

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40 Best Sailboats

• By Cruising World Editors
• Updated: April 18, 2019

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.

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

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

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

• More: monohull , Sailboats
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14 Best Sailboat Brands in the World (Recommendations By A Pro!)

Explore top sailboat brands with our pro's guide to the best around the world. Perfect for travelers & sailors of all levels seeking quality & adventure.

It really doesn’t matter if you are an accomplished sailor with a Master’s License or a novice who wants to charter a boat for a week on the water in the Caribbean. What does matter is that you want to find the boat that fulfills your dreams from a manufacturer you can trust. Finding that “just right” fit between boat and crew can lead to some magic experiences and remarkable memories.

Our goal is to give you some insight into what the many boat brands have to offer. We will look at quality, construction, features, and customer service.

Hopefully, this will give you some insight into finding the sailboat of your dreams.

Wally Boats has to be at the top of our list as the best overall manufacturer of sailboats. In the sailing world, Wally is synonymous with quality and luxury. Unfortunately, that kind of reputation also comes with a hefty price. Wally Boats will typically also head up the list of the most expensive sailboats in the world.

You won’t find many Wally boats at your local lake marina or the typical coastal municipal marina. We are in a different class of boat here altogether. Wally produces 100-foot-long super yachts, each of which is custom designed.

If you can find one, purchasing a used Wally sailboat is a safe way to go. You will usually get a high-performance racing/cruising yacht that will outperform most other boats in this class day in and day out.

What Do You Get with a Wally?

• Exquisite Design and Visual Appeal - Let’s face the facts. These are boats that look as good as they perform.
• Above Average Performance - Wally boats took the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in 2019, 2018, and 2017.
• Highest Quality Build You Can Buy – At this level, you get what you expect regarding the quality of materials and construction.
• Innovative Design and Engineering – Wally boats incorporate the latest developments in construction techniques, materials, and engineering.

2. Hallberg-Rassy

Ask cruising sailors their choice of sailboat manufacturers, and many will answer with Hallberg-Rassy. This Swedish yacht builder has built a reputation among cruising sailors for producing boats that are almost in a class by themselves. These are boats that are built to be sailed and provide sailors with the utmost in safety, comfort, and handling.

Hallberg-Rassy is a master at integrating form and function to produce blue water boats that perform as well as they look. Most savvy sailors will recognize a Hallberg-Rassy design almost instantly.

Hallberg-Rassy isn’t one of those static companies that finds a popular design and sticks with it year after year. This company studies its designs and listens to its owners to continually improve their designs. A used Hallberg-Rassy is a good bet if you want to move up to a world-class cruising boat.

What Do You Get with a Hallberg Rassy Designed Boat?

• Integrated Bow Sprint – No tacked-on afterthought here. The bowsprit forms an integral part of the Hallberg-Rassy designs to make handling and sailing these boats a joy.
• High-Quality Electric Winches – Electric winches are standard items and ease the effort of sailing these boats in even the toughest conditions.
• A Cockpit Designed for Blue Water Sailing – A safe and dry place from which to steer your boat makes for a much more enjoyable experience when the weather gets rough.
• Powerful Engines with Ample Fuel Storage – You can be confident that you have the power to maneuver your boat safely under power.

3. Catalina

If your budget is more modest, but you still want high quality and a feature-rich design, Catalina boats are a good place to start looking. Catalina takes a more practical approach to boat design and building, creating sailboats that meet the needs for practicality, sailability, and price to create sturdy boats that can take you anywhere in the world safely and economically.

Catalina is a manufacturer that is recognizable from weekend inland water sailors to experienced blue water live aboard families. Cataline has been on the scene for many years and remains a mover and shaker in the sailboat industry.

One of the big attractions of Catalina as a boat manufacturer is its across-the-board market appeal. This company has something for everyone, from small, easy-to-manage daysailers to 50-foot blue water cruisers.

What Do You Get with Catalina Sailboats?

• Customer Service – Catalina has been in business for a long time and has a reputation as one of the most customer-responsive sailboat manufacturers in the business.
• Consistency and Quality – Catalina owners frequently point out the consistency of Catalina’s designs and the quality of their manufacturing as reasons to buy one of these boats.
• Financial and Economic Choices – Catalina sailboats offer customers one of the best values on the market in terms of the purchase price and long-term operating costs.
• Handling and Performance – Catalina owners rave about how their sailboats perform with easy handling in both light seas and heavy weather.

4. Bavaria Yachts

If you are shopping in Europe for an economically priced blue water sailboat, Bavaria Yachts is a company that you will learn quickly. Sailors in the United States know the name, Catalina. In Europe, Bavaria Yachts have the same sort of recognition and reputation.

The reputation of German manufacturing and engineering shows itself in the Bavaria Yachts operation. Leading-edge technology in manufacturing and production helps Bavaria Yachts keep costs as low as possible while producing very high-quality products.

Bavaria Yachts is focused on its customer base and has a good understanding of who purchases its boats and how those boats are used. These boats are designed to be easy to sail, comfortable to be aboard and to provide service without the constant need for expensive repairs and maintenance.

What Do You Get with a Bavaria Yacht?

• Comfort and Liveability – No matter if you are day sailing or cruising the world, Bavaria Yachts’ designs excel in comfort and onboard amenities that make them great for long-term cruising.
• Reliability – Owners point to the quality of the construction of these boats and the reliability they enjoy, which keeps them sailing without constant visits to the boatyard for maintenance and upkeep.
• Smaller May Be Better – Bavaria Yachts has a large following among smaller to midsized boat owners, and the company pays particular attention to designing boats that offer more to this class of owners.
• Overall Value and Economy – Many owners choose their first Bavaria Yacht because of the perceived value of these boats.

5. Beneteau

Catalina may be a bit better known than Beneteau, but Beneteau may lead the way in the actual number of sailboats sold around the world. This is one of the top-selling sailboat brands of all time. Beneteau has been building boats for well over a century, and their knowledge shows in the quality of their designs and construction. From its blue water boats like the Oceanis 62 to its tiny First 14.

Beneteau prides itself on filling the needs of every class of sailor, from the racing dinghy to the blue water cruiser. Simplicity is a keyword when describing Beneteau boats.

There is no skimping on quality or on the essential equipment needed to be safe and secure. There are also no unneeded extras to cause you unwanted hassles or maintenance issues.

Being a French company, you would expect style to be a primary focus of the design of Beneteau boats, and you won’t be wrong. With an eye to clean lines and family cruising comfort, Beneteau produces a line of sailboats that catch the eye without straining the pocketbook.

What Do You Get with a Beneteau Boat?

• Unique and Comfortable Interior Layouts – Your crew or family will feel pampered when onboard a Beneteau boat.  
• Easy Docking System – Beneteau’s 360-degree docking system allows you to maneuver your boat with a joystick to make tight marina spaces a breeze to navigate.
• A Finer Hull for a Better Ride – Even the most seasoned sailors comment on how well Beneteau boats move through the water and minimize pitching and rolling.
• Clear Deck Plans – Beneteau understands that most sailboats are intended for pleasure which makes deck space a premium factor, especially among sailing families who express their love for the clean deck lines of their boats.

6. Island Packet Yachts

I have always thought that Island Packet Yachts build some of the most beautiful cruising sailboats in the world. This company focuses on cruising, and its boat designs reflect the needs of cruising families. Safety, stability, and comfort are the three key ingredients that make Island Packet Yachts outstanding choices for cruising the world.

Anyone who has spent time on a sailboat knows space is at a premium. Island Packet Yachts have some of the most spacious interior designs on the market, which makes living aboard these boats much more pleasant. If you plan on spending much time aboard your sailboat, all the extra interior space you can claim become a luxury.

The focus on extended cruising requires an eye for safety and stability for your boat. Island Packet excels in these categories. The seafaring capabilities of Island Packet Yachts are well documented and one of the favorite features of these boats among owners. A boat that handles conditions well is easier and more comfortable to sail in the long run.

What Do You Get with an Island Packet Yacht?

• Build and Material Qualities – Most Island Packet owners are quick to point out the quality of the construction and material used in their boats, which means fewer problems over the years.
• Full Foil Keel and a Skeg-Hung Rudder - The
• last place you want to have problems when on a cruise is below the waterline. Island Packet continues to include a traditional well-constructed full foil keel and the extra support of a skeg-hung rudder to ensure that below-waterline problems are kept to a minimum.
• Sail Handling and Performance – Island Packet Yachts are not built for racing, but they outperform many comparable boats. The self-tacking jib and 170-percent genoa are favorites among cruising sailors when talking about sails and performance.
• Security Onboard – Island Packet routinely includes a built-in lockbox in their boats to provide a secure place to store your valuables, documents, and other items when onboard.

7. Amel Yachts

If you are looking for innovation and technological sophistication on your sailboat, Amel Yachts should offer you exactly what you want. This company has been building some of the finest blue water cruising yachts in the world for 50+ years and has always had an eye on staying just ahead of the technology curve.

These are not production boatyard sailboats. Amel Yachts works closely with each customer to produce a boat this is uniquely tailored to the owner’s needs and specifications while ensuring the highest quality in the build and the best performance on the water.

In addition, you will probably need to go to France several times during the construction of your yacht, which might be seen as a bonus.

With an eye for tradition, Amel Yachts is always looking forward as well. Advanced engineering and materials have made Amel Yachts some of the most sought-after boats on the water. Such things as the use of carbon fiber in mast construction, flexible couplings on propellor drive shafts, and the latest in electronic controls and navigational equipment are standard issue items.

What Do You Get with an Amel Yacht?

• Eye Catching Lines – Owners are understandably proud of their Amel Yachts and often mention how these boats look on the water.
• Technologically Advanced Designs – Among the most popular and often spoken about features on Amel Yachts are the solar panels fitted to these boats.
• Environmentally Sound Concepts – Sailors are usually much more attuned to the environment than their land-based counterparts. Amel Yachts’ use of environmentally friendly anti-fouling paints and the bonus of extra grey water holding tanks are popular among owners who understand the need to protect the water they love.
• Comfortable on the Water Experiences – Most Amel owners comment on how well these boats ride due to the lower center of gravity that is a feature in most Amel Yacht designs.

8. Nautor’s Swan

On the flip side of the coin, if you want a fast and dependable sailboat that you can also cruise, a Nautor’s Swan should be on your top choice list. Based in Finland, this company has built a reputation for designing and building high-quality sailboats that match speed with stability and safety. Yes, you can go fast in comfort.

These boats are not only fast and comfortable, but they are also surprisingly responsive and easy to handle. Using foam=filled fiberglass construction coupled with space-age material like carbon fiber, Nautor’s Swan has an unmatched record for performance and safety. You can cruise leisurely with your family or put on your best crew and expect to compete successfully with almost any other boat.

You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to gain an advantage in speed and performance. Nautor’s Swan boats are designed for cruising comfort and performance results. The hull designs give stable safe rides through even the roughest water to give you a feeling of confidence with your sailboat.

What Do You Get with a Nautor’s Swan?

• Production Boat or Custom Build Choices – Customers of Swan have two choices. You can buy a production model or visit their custom design shop to get a boat tailored to your exact needs. Most customers choose the middle ground and have one of the production designs customized to their tastes.
• Elegance without Sacrifice – One of the most mentioned features of Nautor’s Swan sailboats are the teak decks featured on their designs which customers love for the elegance this feature yields to their boats.
• Self-Launching Anchors and Electric Winches – Even the most die-hard competitive sailor is fond of the convenience features of Nautor’s Swan boats, such as the self-launching anchor systems and electric winched.

9. Pacific Seacraft

If it is traditional lines you want, take a look at the boats built by Pacific Seacraft. This North Carolina-based yacht builder produces some of the most elegant and eye-catching cruising yachts in the world. These boats are built for comfort and cruising, so don’t expect to win any speed prizes if you choose a Pacific Seacraft design.

On the other hand, if comfort and enjoyment are at the top of your list, you won’t find a better boat. Pacific Seacraft boats are probably a bit overbuilt, making them one of the heavier sailboats per foot on the market. This translates into less speed overall but a more stable and better-handling boat that tends to be less tender when sailing than higher-performance boats.

The stability of these boats is unmatched, and the design lends itself well to safe handling, even with a short-handed crew. This feature alone makes Pacific Seacraft yachts a favorite among live-aboard cruising families that routinely don’t have full crews onboard.

What Do You Get with a Pacific Seacraft Yacht?

• Comfort and Confidence – Families that liveaboard to take extended cruises always mention the space, comfort, and convenience of Pacific Seacraft Yachts as one of the main advantages of these boats.
• Solid Construction for Easy Maintenance – Anyone who does extended cruising knows the importance of regular maintenance. Owners of Pacific Seacraft extoll the solid construction of these boats that make ongoing maintenance chores less intimidating.
• Unmatched Customer Service – Pacific Seacraft supports their boats and their customers with some of the best services in the world. Owners regularly report that Pacific Seacraft is easy to contact, quick to respond, and always helpful.
• Spacious Below Deck Layouts – Live aboard families almost always speak about the creature comforts built into their Pacific Seacraft yacht and in particular, mention how spacious these boats seem below decks.

10. Tartan Yachts

Tartan Yachts has taken a slightly different approach to the concept of cruising with] its sailboat designs. Tartan has made building the strongest, lightest, and safest sailboats in the industry a priority in the business model. They have approached this priority with narrow designs at the water line but provide wider passages.

For those sailors who want comfort, safety, and above-average sailing performance, this makes a perfect combination. In addition, if you want to purchase a boat that holds its value with time better than many other models, you should investigate Tartan. By and large, used Tartans almost always go for a premium price among used sailboats.

You won’t be sacrificing comfort or dependability with a Tartan design. Tartan is well known among owners and enthusiasts as easy to live aboard boats that are simple to maintain, providing years of service. If you anticipate long cruises, a Tartan can be a solid choice.

What Do You Get with a Tartan Yacht?

• A Reputation for Solid Construction – Many Tartan owners admit that Tartan’s reputation for building well-constructed boats that are safe and easy to sail was one of the biggest selling points.
• Performance without Sacrificing Comfort – No one wants to be the last one to port when you are cruising with a group. Tartan designs put performance and comfort side by side.
• Easy Sailing – Most Tartan owners feel like their Tartan Yacht is a forgiving and solid boat that provides an extra level of safety.
• Value – You may not anticipate trading boats very often, but it is nice to know that Tartan boats seem to hold their value better than many other comparable sailboats from other manufacturers.

11. Oyster Sailboats

If I were to use automobiles as an analogy for sailboats, the Wally Yachts would be on par with Mercedes Benz, while Beneteau and Cataline would be comparable to Cadillac or Lexus. I would have to put Oyster Sailboats on par with Bentley as some of the most luxurious sailing yachts on the market today.

Oyster Yachts, a British manufacturer, likes to call their sailboats hybrid adventure machines that bring owners life-enhancing experiences. I would say it more simply. If you want the best performance, comfort, and visual appeal, Oyster Sailboats should be your first stop. Oyster provides the utmost luxury but doesn’t come up short in the performance or safety categories.

Oyster Sailboats are considered thoroughbreds in the sailing world. These boats have logged over 20 million sailing miles and can account for more than 90 sailing circumnavigations of the globe. These numbers support the assertion that Oyster Sailboats are among the best and most prestigious sailing vessels available.

What Do You Get with an Oyster Sailboat?

• Unmatched Elegance – Ask an owner what sets their Oyster Sailboat apart and without hesitation, most will say the elegant and luxurious appointments that these boats bring.
• Unrivaled Construction – Sailors rarely equate luxury with sailing ability, but in the case of Oyster Boats, most owners consider their Oyster sailboats to be among the safest available based on the quality of construction and materials.
• Handling and Performance – Being at the helm of an Oyster Sailboat prompts owners of these boats to make statements like, “the best handling sailboat I have ever sailed,” and “I wouldn’t hesitate to take my family and this boat anywhere under any conditions.”
• Classic Looks – Despite the leading-edge technologies and designs that incorporate the best new ideas, Oyster sailboats are respected among veteran sailors for their classic looks.

12. Hinckley Yachts

Since 1928, Hinckley has been building top-of-the-line sailboats. This veteran company continues to bring designs with classic shapes, strong construction, and dramatic lines. Based in Maine, Hinckley is intimately acquainted with the challenges of sailing the North Atlantic and building boats to meet these challenges head-on. Impeccable craftsmanship is the name of Hinckley’s game, and the results speak for themselves.

Despite the classic lines of their boats, Hinckley manages to incorporate the best of modern performance design and technologies for construction. Utilizing carbon fiber, Kevlar and computer-designed load paths, the boats are some of the most structurally advanced on the market.

However, advanced technology and performance don’t detract from the comfort of these boats. From the ease with which they sail to the small details and amenities that are often overlooked by other boat manufacturers, Oyster Sailboats put customer satisfaction, safety, and comfort front and center.

What Do You Get with a Hinckley Yacht?

• Above Average Construction – Hinckley owners make no secret of how much they hold the construction of their boats in high regard. The quality of Hinckley’s construction is one of the most often noted reasons for purchasing a boat.
• Rich Appointments for a Warm Feel – Many boat owners understand that fiberglass just doesn’t give a feeling of comfort. Hinckley combats this perception by generously using wood inside their boats to bring a rich feeling of luxury.
• Stability and Comfort – Thanks to the Hinckley gyro-stabilization system, owners are assured one of the most comfortable rides in almost any kind of sea.
• Customer Service – Hinckley’s Yachtcare program is often cited as one of the best reasons to own a Hinckley sailboat. This program features mobile service teams, yacht delivery, and routine maintenance, which is often the bane of owning this kind of boat.

13. Hylas Sailing Yachts

Our modern consumable society has spawned a tradition of throw-away products produced in China that are focused more on price than on quality. Wrapping our heads around the idea that one of the best yacht manufacturers is, in fact, based in Taiwan is almost unfathomable. However, in the case of Hylas Sailing Yachts, this is the case.

Hylas, a division of Queen Long Marine Shipyard, has built a reputation for building bespoke yachts for discriminating customers in the custom luxury yacht area. Hylas doesn’t work through brokers or dealers. This innovative company prefers to deal directly with their customer to ensure that complete satisfaction is the result.

The center cockpit design of Hylas’ popular yachts is the centerpiece of their designs. In addition to incorporating the latest in technological designs and materials, Hylas uses almost complete wooden linings on their composite hulls to give their boats rich and warm interiors that exhibit the finest of joinery.

What Do You Get with a Hylas Sailing Yacht?

• Solid Core Fiberglass Construction – Owners of Hylas yachts rave about solid core construction. Foam core is much lighter but tends also to be much less rigid than solid core construction.
• Uncompromising Quality – Those who sail Hylas yachts brag about the quality of the materials used in these boats. Stainless steel tankage, skeg-hung rudders, and the use of Twaron bulletproof fabric in the hulls provide a level of trust that many boat owners can’t understand.
• Immaculate Construction Standards – How many other boat owners brag about the neatness of the wiring on their boats?  Some even make it a point to show off the meticulous way the wiring and plumbing in Hylas boats are installed.
• Unbelievable Storage and Stowage – The innovative use of space and the care with which these boats are designed to allow Hylas owners to enjoy an above-average amount of storage space.

14. Sparkman & Stephens

Sparkman & Stephens are a bit different in the way they view themselves. This company is not just a sailboat manufacturer. Sparkman & Stephens consider themselves more of a naval architecture firm than just a boat-building company. It is this way of thinking that affects each boat that is spawned from the Sparkman & Stephens shops.

Tradition is a huge part of the Sparkman & Stephens design philosophy, but it doesn’t get in the way of innovation and sophistication. Incorporating the best of traditional designs and concepts with the latest and greatest in materials, technologies and engineering is at the core of the boat designs from this company. These concepts tend to take the sailing experience to an entirely new level.

Sparkman and Stephens take a very analytical approach to boat design. Every hull form is thoroughly analyzed and tested using the latest in computer modeling technology. Tank testing is done on most designs to ensure the performance and safety characteristics of each design meet their exacting standards.

What Do You Get with A Sparkman & Stephens Sailboat?

• Unmistakable Designs – Owners of Sparkman & Stephens sailboats enjoy almost instant recognition at any port they visit. The combination of hull forms and profile ensures everyone knows you are sailing an S&S design.
• A Most Functional Cockpit – Experienced sailors often remark that the S&S sailboats have the most functional cockpit designs and layouts they have encountered.
• Trim and Finish Details – The quality of S&S sailboats doesn’t stop at the boat’s exterior. Inside, owners find the finest in joinery and finish possible to complete the overall feeling of luxury in these boats.
• Sailing Characteristics – Ask an S&S owner to describe the way their boat sails, and you will usually get a huge grin and an exuberant “GREAT” as the answer. By and large S&S owners rave about the way these boats handle, maneuver, and perform on the water.

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Best Yacht Brands by Type

Table of Contents

Last Updated on July 12, 2023 by Boatsetter Team

Qualifying something as “best” needs an explanation. Is it considered to be the best because it’s the largest or most popular, has the highest quality, is the best value, or is perfect for a specific use?

That’s why it’s hard to decide which are the best yachts on the market today. Beneteau may be the largest volume boat builder in the world, and Viking may be best known for sportfishing designs but how do we qualify what’s “best” in each category?

For our purposes here, let’s delve into the best yacht brands by type and then mention some brand names in each group that you’re most likely to see on the water.

Post summary:

Runabouts & bowriders

Cruising motor yachts, distance cruisers & trawlers, center consoles, sportfishing yachts.

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Sailboats, also known as a sailing yacht or a sailcraft, is a water vessel designed to harness the power of the wind to propel itself across the water. These vessels come in various sizes and configurations.

• Nautor’s Swan
• Hallberg-Rassy
• Grand Soleil

Pro Tip: You can search for boats by brand on Boatsetter. Once you select the location you’d like to browse for boat rentals, you’ll see a filter bar at the top of the results. Click ‘Filters’ and scroll down until you see ‘Boat manufacturers.’ Click on all you’d like to see.

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Multihulls come with two (catamarans) and three (trimarans) hulls and can be either sail or powerboats (some brands build both):

• HH Catamarans
• Fountaine Pajot (both power and sail versions)
• Leopard (both power and sail versions)
• NEIL (sail trimaran)
• LEEN (power trimaran)
• World Cat (smaller power fishing)
• Aspen (smaller power cruising and fishing)

Small open boats come in many flavors with open or closed bows and on- deck amenities. They may be used as standalone boats or even tenders to superyachts and they can’t be pigeonholed into one type or one use:

• Chris-Craft

Learn more about bowriders

This category generally includes motorized yachts 40-80 feet . Lots of boats (not all designed for an identical purpose) share this space including cabin cruisers, express cruisers, sedans, and so forth:

• Jeanneau Prestige
• Jeanneau Leader
• Beneteau Monte Carlo

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Distance cruisers, trawlers, and expedition yachts are usually slower but have an exceptional range as they travel the coastlines or the oceans of the world:

• Grand Banks
• Ocean Alexander
• Beneteau Swift
• Ranger Tugs
• Nordic Tugs
• American Tug

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Center console boats are typically used for fishing although many today are doing double duty as family entertainers:

• Boston Whaler
• Grady-White

Rental local center console boats

These offshore boats tend to travel great distances to their fishing grounds and hunt for bigger species:

Check out the hottest boats in the market at Boat Types , and make sure to scroll through Boat Guides to find your next boating destination .

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Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin. 

A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide. 

Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico. 

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List of 50 Popular Sailboat Brands (With Examples)

Every industry has its allstars - showbusiness, sports, cars, clothing brands… This article talks about 50 of the most popular sailboat brands. Feast your eyes!

So what are the most popular sailboat brands?

Nautor's swan, baltic yachts, hallberg-rassy, sparkman & stephens, island packet yachts, c&c yachts, pacific seacraft, tartan yachts, hans christian yachts, amel yachts, marlow-hunter, alloy yachts, bowman yachts, ericson yachts, melges performance, oyster yachts, mirage yachts, aloha yachts, dragonfly trimarans, aegean yachts, alsberg brothers, bristol yachts, cavalier yachts, jensen marine, grampian marine, pearson yachts, tanzer industries, jeremy rogers, holland jachtbouw, seacamper / if, have a look at what we've got for you.

Already I hear the screams of those whose favorite brand I have not listed. I plead for mercy - if I made such a list of cars, it would be the same. Boat preferences are such a personal matter that although I think this list is a crowd-pleaser, I still expect a few stones being thrown my way.

This list goes in no particular order - although I have reserved the first ten places to the most popular brands around. That being said, keep in mind I sail mostly in Europe. Thus a certain bias is to be expected. For instance, in the Adriatic sea, the most popular brand is Bavaria, Jeanneau, Beneteau and such, whereas I haven't seen a single Catalina so far.

Anyway, let's get into it.

Oh Wally. Subjectively the most beautiful sailboat designs out there. Each custom made, each a unique, gorgeous concept. Their sailboat Angel's Share, built in 2009 will take your breath away with the deck couch design alone. The rest is just as good.

Sailing made the Finnish way. The idea here is to offer both luxury and performance. They've been successful at that so far, if you ask me. If you spot one, count yourself lucky. Since 1966 only 2000 have been made.

Finns again. Similar idea to Nautor's Swan, though they do specialize in bigger sizes, starting at 50ft, all the way up to almost 200. And when it comes to the luxury to performance ratio, Baltic yachts kind of lean towards speed.

The Bavaria is the mainstream king. They are good at making affordable midsize cruisers of reasonable quality. Though a dedicated sailor would find plenty to criticize, as moderately priced holiday cruisers they do a fantastic job. Their Bavaria 46 is among the most sought after models.

Great quality mainstream - a step up from Bavaria. Though both of these brands are oftentimes considered by soon-to-be sailboat owners, since they are somewhat in the same area, Hanse offers more in terms of build quality and performance.

Beneteau sits at the same table as Bavaria, Hanse and the no.7 - Jeanneau. Beneteau has a few lines, the First focusing on racing, Sense being semi-luxury cruisers and Oceanis, the everyday cruiser. They are among the oldest brands, being established in the 1800s.

Feel free to mistake Beneteau for Jeanneau, as many do - they are essentially the same thing, as they are manufactured by the same company. They differ in their design team, that's about it. But it could be argued that Jeanneau is a bit more sporty.

Dufour is a French brand that has a better reputation than Beneteau and Jeanneau (both French too), but if one looks under the skirt of these, one finds that they are all owned by the same company. Dufour is a bit more expensive but not significantly better or worse.

Let's get back to the Baltic region with the Danish X-Yachts . They produce three lines of sailboats, cruisers, racers and performance cruisers. They were nominated for the European yacht of the year award, so if you decide to buy or charter one of those, you will be in good hands.

Considering that Slovenians have only 29 miles of coastline, their sailboat producer Elan has a respectable place in the sailing world. You will spot this brand in many European marinas as it offers good quality considering its relatively low price.

Back to Europe. Scandinavians know how to make good quality bluewater boats, given their geographical position they kind of have to. Owned by the Rassy family, Hallberg-Rassy does exactly that.

If it is true that people with large boats compensate for something, then the Perini Navi builders … well, let's just say they seem to have a penchant for enormous boats. Their most famous one is none other than one of the world's most recognized sailboats, the Maltese Falcon.

Simple, affordable, good. Catalina is a U.S. based behemoth that has produced tens of thousands of boats. It is similar to Bavaria, sometimes dubbed its overseas counterpart. Though they aren't the prettiest, they do the job.

Hinckley produces beautiful, stylish sloops. Not one is like the other since both the interior and exterior is built in a way so that it is customizable by the owner. They resemble classical designs and are for the true connoisseurs of elegance.

Sparkman & Stephens is a naval architecture firm that has its fingers in many famous designs. These designs have brought them quite a few victories in sailing cups. By the way, they were involved in military activities, designing amphibious jeeps, for instance.

Hylas yachts are set on their center cockpit designs with wooden lining and huge space in the aft. Oddly enough, they claim their boats are, thanks to the use of a special kind of fiber material, bulletproof. Make of it what you will.

The Floridians are extra in every way, including their own Island Packet Yachts . Easily recognizable by their signature Full Foil Keel, a modern take on traditional designs, which provides enormously spacious accommodation units.

When an ambitious project designing a fighter jet failed, two Canadians named George became unemployed. So they formed C & C Yachts and soon gained a reputation thanks to their success in racing. No wonder plenty of C&C's sail the oceans of the world.

Though famous for luxurious motor yachts, Sabre , an American company, made its name building recreational sailboats. Taking their motor yachts know-how to sailing, I gotta admit they know a thing or two about comfort.

The beautifully named Pacific Seacraft make seaworthy cruisers that are a bit … overbuilt. Their noticeable overhanging stern makes it obvious that relaxation and pleasure is the name of the game for them.

Tartan Yachts make classically looking fiberglass monohulls. If you feel like getting transported a few decades back in style when sailing, this brand is for you.

Heavy, slow, comfortable, solid. Hans Christian Yachts . If you are looking for a boat to live on, this would be easily made into a home. Their goal is to make 'ultimate cruising sailboats,' and if they aren't already there, they are on a good path.

Najad specializes in boats that can go anywhere and are operational with a two-person crew. Calling their boats 'mini superyachts' they want to put the name bluewater, or seaworthy, to the test.

Let's stay in Europe for a while and look at the French Amel Yachts , who make bluewater fiberglass ketches. Modern looking, notable for their raised bridge, they focus on bigger size boats around 50 feet.

Marlow-Hunter sailboats have a minimalist, distinct design. They make sailboats in the 30-foot range. You will recognize them by their signature steel cockpit arch. This one is definitely a looker.

Alloy Yachts are a famous manufacturer of superyachts. As long as 67 meters, their products catch your eye no matter if you want it or not. And yes, they are made of aluminum.

This is an interesting one. Cal Yachts specialized in fiberglass monohulls aimed at performance, and although they are out of business since 1989, their boats are still racing to this day. Way to keep the name alive.

The first Brits on the list! Bowman Yachts produces high-end sailboats. Nothing unusual so far - but they do it by hand. Handcrafted, old school looking, fully customizable by the owner who determines the layout.

Columbia sailboats are produced in sunny California. This company was once the largest fiberglass sailboat producer in the world. One of its leaders then left to form the aforementioned Catalina shipyard.

Remember Hanse? No. 29., Dehler , is owned by them. Germans make great cars and good boats, Dehler is no exception. Dehler focuses on performance cruisers, and although these words are oftentimes just a phrase, in case of Dehler it actually makes sense.

So you know how I mentioned fiberglass boats a couple of times? Ericson Yachts was among the first to use this technology and helped to pave the way for the rest of the world. They are no longer in business, but their designs are still the foundation of boats of other shipyards.

Well, you probably won't sleep on any boat made by Melges Performance since they are made purely for racing. They were founded by the father of the former Olympic sailor Buddy Melges and the racing genes clearly show in the company.

Vanguard sailboats are mostly known for their small (around 20 ft) performance dinghies. The Vanguard 15 is their iconic model oftentimes used in sailing schools or as a leisure sailboat great to learn on.

This is a big one. Oyster Yachts are luxury superyachts. This British icon is a name recognized anywhere in the sailing world in the big boys league. And by the way - deck saloon is their invention. Without Oyster, today's sailboats would likely look quite different.

Mirage Yachts was founded by a salesman of the aforementioned C & C Yachts. He didn't like that C & C doesn't offer anything below 27 feet so he created his own company that filled that gap. Though they were doing great in sales, it was a company based on business, not a passion for boats, and so as soon as the owner sold the firm, they went out of business within a year.

Aloha Yachts is one of many sailboat companies that didn't survive the 1980s crisis and went out of business. But before it did, it became a love brand for its owners and is a sought after brand for prospective buyers up to this very day.

At least one spot should be dedicated to a trimaran builder. Dragonfly Trimarans make boats that can operate as a triple hull sailboat and thanks to their patented SwingWing, they can shrink to a monohull so that it is marina friendly. Talk about the best of both worlds.

Huge, double or triple mast behemoths the biggest of which is over 160 ft long. That's Aegean yachts. This Turkish boat manufacturer prides itself in custom designs so whatever the buyer dreams of is possible.

The Alsberg Brothers were in it for the speed from the very beginning. They founded their company just to make one racer with their revolutionary vacuum bagging building process. People liked what they saw, and so a shipyard was born.

The fact that Bristol Yachts was one of the first companies to produce fiberglass sailboats with commercial success and still went out of business eventually just goes to show how tricky these ventures are. They had a great thirty-year run though, producing cutaway full keel and keel centerboard boats for the mass market.

Cavalier Yachts, a New Zealand born company, was once the largest production boat builder in the southern hemisphere. Their Conquero won the 200 miles half-ton South Pacific Trophy ocean race. It's a pity a new tax surcharge policy of New Zealand rendered the company bankrupt eventually.

Although Jensen Marine sailboats are out there, enjoyed by many seaworthy humans, make no mistake, it is actually the same company as Cal Yachts, or rather it's the original name it got after it's founder Jack Jensen.

Grampian Marine was a successful fiberglass monohull producer with boats ranging from dinghy sized to 30 feet. It refused many offers for mergers and acquisitions but eventually went out of business due to competitive pressures.

Nauticat , born in Finland, produces traditional designs built in a way so that they can withstand a trip to any destination. Though they were famed for their great quality builds, they went out of business in 2018.

Starting as a garage company making dinghies in the founder's backyard, Pearson Yachts made a 28-foot long boat literally in their garage, borrowed money to transport it to the New York Boat Show and returned home with seventeen orders. Talk about a rocket start.

Tanzer Industries was a Canadian manufacturer, building 8000 boats over its lifespan. Ranging from 16 to 31 feet, their fleet was quite impressive. The model Tanzer 22 was the most popular one and many of them still sail to this day.

Another Dutch star here - with boats in sizes from 66 to 160 feet, Jongert makes luxurious, custom sailboats. You won't find fiberglass here. These beasts are mostly made of aluminum or steel. Though they have been through some financial issues for many years, to this day they are still operational.

Jeremy Rogers is a boat manufacturer from Britain, making handmade, seaworthy designs. Their most famous creation is the Contessa 32, the most successful one-design cruiser and racer ever, which is known for its ability to withstand cruel weather.

Holland Jachtbouw go big and beautiful. Though this Dutch producer dipped their toes in a smaller 46 ft model, they usually stay within the 100 ft range and make modern, great looking designs. This one is a true eye-candy.

Let's close this list with custom boats. There are many sailboat designers who operate without a shipyard behind them and this flexibility gives birth to fantastic designs oftentimes. Let's list the Young Yacht Design here as an example. Look at those beauties.

Saffier is a Dutch Yacht Builder that designs beautiful classic boats that handle really well.

In Conclusion

Many of the names mentioned here went bankrupt eventually. Selling boats is a tough cookie and it is impressive for a brand to stay alive for more than a couple of decades. Competition is tough, price pressures high, new innovations can render a whole company obsolete within a year. Even the mighty Bavaria came close to demise. Luckily, boats last for a long time. So even if the name is not in the business registry anymore, the offsprings still cruise the seas of the world for many years after.

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Best Luxury Yacht Brands: 25 Shipyards Which Build The Best Superyachts

By Brody Patterson

Updated on January 14, 2023

The superyacht industry is a world that offers you luxurious adventures around the globe, from the United States, all the way to the UK, Netherlands, Germany, or the beautiful Italian coast. From the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, these stunning yachts are built by highly skilled professionals, who provide you with nothing but the best craftsmanship.

As a potential yacht owner, you can get inspiration from any of these companies and choose what is best suited to your needs. There is so much to take into consideration, hence we compiled a detailed list of the 25 best yacht building companies in the world to help you out.

For example, you need to figure out first what size yacht you want, as they range from 30-50 feet vessels, all the way to the larger than 260 feet superyachts, and everything in between. Are Eco-friendly details important to you, or is cutting-edge technology and speed an absolute must to you?

We will do our best to cover all these points and more, so let’s start looking at the best yacht brands in the world right now. 

One of the best yacht brands in the 30-50’ range, Wally is an Italian company that specializes in fast motor yachts, but they’re also buiding gorgeous sailing vessels. For those of you who enjoy speed, you will be happy to hear that most of their yachts are made out of angular carbon composite and fiberglass, which enables you to blast through the waves.

Not so much for leisurely cruising, their 36-meter superyacht has luxurious accommodations for up to six guests and six crew members. Its prowess is due to the three Vericor TF50 gas turbines, which have a total power output of 16,800 hp. With its 60 knots top speed, it is one of the fastest yachts in the world.

Founded in 1842 on Lake Iseo of Italy, Riva quickly became a racing yacht legend, and it has upheld its reputation since. One of the best cruising yachts in the world in the 30-50 feet category, Riva offers sleek looks and impressive performance.

Solid stainless steel bow rails, an 800 hp engine, a 13-foot beam, and a 3-foot draft along a non-skid deck make this a very desirable vessel. Customizable to your tastes, you can cruise the waters in style.

Aesthetic appeal along with classic Italian design makes this company one of the most sought after. The Italian shipyard develops innovative solutions like crafting hybrid engines and using nanotechnologies, which make the long-lasting coatings on their vessels have a lower impact on marine life.

Equipped with options such as Twin Gens, Twin Watermakers, Stabilizers, Bow Thrusters and powered by DDEC 12V92’s with Ulstein forward-facing drives, the Grande 35 Metri reaches 25.5-knot max speeds. A stylish, yet competitive yacht.

• 22. Dynamiq

An Italian superyacht brand located on the Tuscan coast, with yachts engineered to the highest standards set by naval architects in the Netherlands. Designed in Monaco, Dynamiq’s vessels will surely meet the needs of the forward thinkers in the yacht building industry. Some of the options available are hybrid technology, with chic and efficient features that are easy to customize.

Ranging from 90 to 165 feet, you can build your own vessel according to your needs. Not only do they look impressive with their cool design, but they also offer you great performance. Impressive specs such as the aluminum hull, with a range that varies from 900nm at 15 knots all the way up to 5000nm at 10 knots and two engines Man at 882 kW.

• 21. Sunreef

Leading the world of catamaran yacht brands, the company produces its signature models, 60 to 100 feet vessels, along with the supreme models and the 150-210 feet power trimarans superyachts. Their shipyard is located in Gdansk, Poland, a seafaring city rich in naval building traditions.

They are also known for building eco-friendly electric engines that are great for the environment with their innovative propulsion solutions. Their sustainable materials feature basalt and linen-based structures in the production of their hulls, superstructures, and yacht manufacturing.

• 20. Ferretti

Another famed Italian shipyard is innovative with its human interface, which makes their vessels super easy to use. Ferretti’s fleet varies from the 500 to the 1000 projects, but they are all designed with your wellbeing and comfort in mind. You can choose from different mood palettes for your interiors, such as classic or contemporary.

Their MTU engine, with a cruising speed of 20 knots and a max speed of 24 knots, along with many other impressive specs, makes this brand an experience that embodies luxurious style and performance in one.

• 19. Fincantieri

Fincantieri has a network of 18 shipyards across four continents, two design centers, and a research center, and throughout their 230-year history they have built more than 7,000 vessels. If that is not impressive enough, they will surely convince you with their luxury yachts, designed to your pleasure.

High-tech, high quality, and high performance – these would be the features they stand for, and their unique designs are complemented by state-of-the-art technology. Aesthetic perfection along with the best technological expertise in the industry will deliver the luxury you crave.

• 18. Nautor’s Swan

A Finnish yacht brand founded by Pekka Koskenkyla back in 1966, they specialize in high-performance sailing yachts . Beautiful wood interiors are their signature touch, and their high-tech amenities are up-to-date in order to keep up with a very competitive industry.

Their fiberglass material has brought them to the top in the racing sailboats category, along with the ingenuity of Sparkman & Stephens. They eventually partnered with German Frers Design, who is responsible for many of their Swan designs.

• 17. Sanlorenzo

Ranked in the top three over 80-feet yachts builders in their category, Sanlorenzo has introduced a variety of new yachts in the last couple of years. Their signature light-blue steel hull is predominant in all their models, such as the SL102 Asymmetric yacht, or their 171-foot custom Seven Sins.

Among other designs worth mentioning are their new additions SX112, 164-foot 500EXP Ocean Dreamwalker lll, or the 210-foot 64Steel. One thing they all have in common is that they cater to the American lifestyle.

• 16. Rossinavi

Rossinavi has worked with some of the world’s best designers available to come up with unique and futuristic designs. Some of their most popular superyachts in the last few years have got to be 160-foot Endeavour ll and the 161-foot Aurora. Achille Salvagni is responsible for both designs, but they are quite different from one another.

The Alfa 50, with its sleek modern look, was designed by Enrico Gobbi. Pininfarina, who has put their signature touch on Ferrari, has unveiled some of Rossinavi’s new concepts, which make them stand out from other brands.

• 15. Baglietto

Another Italian company, they have been around since 1840, when Pietro Baglietto started building wooden fishing ships in his backyard. He expanded his company by manufacturing boats for kings and popes, and in 1906 built his first combustion engine.

Eventually, the company was saved from bankruptcy by the Gavio Group and they got a facelift with the introduction of their new model line, which ranges from 43 to 230 feet yachts. Their Silver Fox, which was launched in 2018, is designed by Francesco Paszkowski and it could easily be considered a true work of art.

• 14. Mangusta

The company is owned by the Balducci family and it was started in 1985. They specialize in luxury sports yachts and voyage superyachts, all of which you can customize to your personal tastes. They have built more than 300 yachts in their 34 year career, and they are still going strong.

The Mangusta Oceano, for example, is one of their long-range yachts with ranges up to 5,000 miles. The Mangusta Maxi Open series offers speed, stability and quietness. And their GranSports is a fast-displacement series that covers long distances.

• 13. Princess Yachts

Established in 1965, this British company has grown into a conglomerate with multiple production sites over the years. They build contemporary yachts in seven classes, ranging from open boats to megayachts. Their flagship Imperial Princess, a 131-foot 40M superyacht, has a large interior and lots of natural light.

It is built on the South Yard, which was formerly a 17th century naval yard. Their R35, one of their most innovative models, is built with a foil system which reduces drag and can revolutionize yachting, and was designed by Pininfarina, the same acclaimed design studio that works with Rossinavi as well.

The crown jewel of the Ferretti group, CRN is famous for their landmark Chopi Chopi, a 262-foot megayacht. The different ranges of the military style 180-foot Atlante, the sleek hull of the 239-foot Yalla, or even the high-tech Cloud 9 yacht show the different customizable possibilities from CRN Yachts.

Ferretti invested lots of money into their Ancona Yard, and their tri-deck motor yacht, as well as the Superconero are just some of the upgraded versions of the staples that brought them on the map in the first place.

• 11. Sunseeker

One of the UK’s most important shipyards, Sunseeker manufactures most of its vessels in Poole, Dorset. Their place in the yachting world is secured with four superyacht models ranging from 116 to 161-foot, and their 76 to 100-foot motor yachts. They also manufacture high performance boats, alongside sports and 52 to 744-foot cruise yachts.

It used to only build out of composite, but has since expanded to aluminum with its 161 Yachts. Their ICON expertise, design and market savvy is keeping them competitive in the yachting world.

• 10. Royal Huisman

One of the oldest shipyards from Holland, they have been around since 1884. They have three large facilities, one in Vollenhove, one in Amsterdam, and a third in Emden, where they can build large yachts up to 266 feet. Their fleet is well known for their sailing superyachts Gliss, Antares and Sea Eagle among many others.

The Ngoni, a 190-foot is built with an eclectic interior, and the 184-foot classic Aquarius are some of their popular models. Project Phi is their newest addition to an already solid fleet and the Apex 850 concept will be probably turned into reality too. 

• 9. Perini Navi

Two yards in Italy and a third in Turkey are the places where the newest additions to their line up are being built right now. Restructuring of the company’s management in 2017 resulted in a major refresh of their fleet too. New lines such as the E-volution Yacht series, the Argonaut, Heritage and Voyager are going to be the new focus for Perini Navi.

Sometimes a change is needed, and their new innovations have proven successful. Their hybrid-powered models such as the Eco-tender are built to keep up with the changes necessary for the environment.

• 8. Nobiskrug

Located in Northern Germany, Nobiskrug operates from two facilities which build vessels ranging from 197 to 1,398 feet. The 115 year old company is a pioneer in the superyacht division with their 2000 Tatoosh model. They employ more than 1,000 professionals who excel in the business.

The 262 foot Artefact was launched only last year, and at 2999 GT it is the largest superyacht by volume in the world. It is also the first in the world to meet IMO Tier lll emissions regulations. In-house production of everything from hull construction to mechanical work makes them one of the most diverse and eco-friendly companies in their category.

• 7. Feadship

The famous Dutch company comprises De Vooght Naval Architects, De Vries and Van Lent family yards, with locations in Amsterdam, Aalsmeer, Kaag, and Makkum. Responsible for dozens of custom launches over the last seven decades, they are considered Holland’s powerhouse.

Symphony, a 333-foot pioneer to cross the 100-meter mark, and the 312-foot Faith has its own helicopter pad with hangar on the foredeck, and on the aft deck a glass floor swimming pool. They are just some of their more famous models, they have many others you can research if interested.

One of the best superyacht builders in the world, this Dutch company is based in Vlissingen. Operating for more than 100 years, they offer the Full Custom and Limited Editions, ranging from 108 to 272 foot LOA. The facilities are used for both military and commercial vessels, and they employ the most skilled workers in the industry.

Their most noteworthy launches in the last couple of years are the 243-foot Universe, the 205-foot Sea & US, along the 189-foot Volpini 2. The potential owners are able to customize both interiors and exteriors according to their taste.

One of the oldest and largest superyacht builders in the world, Benetti has been making custom and semi custom builds since 1875. They currently have 97 yachts under build larger than 78 feet. The Ironman, Metis and Spectre are some of their newest additions. The FB277 351-foot gigayacht is currently being under construction at the Livorno yard.

Their Luminosity is believed to be valued at more than 200 million EUR and became one of the top 10 largest Superyachts delivered in 2019. Pretty amazing!

Founded in 1978, this Dutch superyacht brand specializes in custom-made builds. Therefore, their fleet is limited, so there are three different ways to own a Heesen boat. Through the Pure Custom program the buyer can order a unique individual design and engineering.

The Platform Concept program offers custom exterior design but standard engineering, and the third option is to buy a brand new custom superyacht as soon as it is made available for purchase. The Galactica Super Nova is their largest built at 230 feet, and their Maximus, with an open cockpit and a swimming pool with a waterfall is a special yacht someone will surely enjoy.

A fairly young company, this Dutch company based in Alblasserdam has been around since 1987. They specialize in custom expedition yachts ranging from 262 to 459 feet. The builder launched Project Bravo in 2018, which is a fuel efficient and eco-friendly innovative design. Their green technologies are predominant in their newest addition to their fleet.

Their most famous superyachts are the 311-foot Indian Empress and the 300-foot Equanimity. Their Black Pearl, a 350-foot technically advanced designed sailing superyacht stands on its own.

• 2. Abeking & Rasmussen

Successful in setting new technological standards, this family business is located across the river from Lurssen in Germany. They have been the best in the making of naval vessels since 1917, and they also specialize in coast guard and patrol vessels, as well as custom yachts. German engineering at its best, A & R has been an innovative company who is not scared of change.

They are developing a hybrid fuel cell powered by methanol that emits only clean steam, the first hydrocarbon emission free in the world. The Aviva, a 321-foot flagship has its own paddle-tennis court on the premises.

Lürssen is a family business who believes in producing the best quality yachts in the world. Focused on excellence, this German company is another leader in the luxury yachting world. Their eight shipyards located in the northern part of the country have been responsible for building more than 13.000 vessels since 1875.

They do everything from building new yachts, as well as refitting, repairing and providing maintenance services on the premises. The iconic Azzam, the largest superyacht in the world is 590 feet long , is designed with the best quality woodwork and custom furniture inside a high-tech hull.

One thing is certain if you’re in the market for a luxury yacht, you have so many options available right now. The biggest problem will be choosing only one brand to work with when designing your dream yacht.

We hope you got all the inspiration you needed from our list, so happy sailing.

About Brody Patterson

Brody has worked as a full time staff writer for Luxatic for over five years, covering luxury news, product releases and in-depth reviews, and specializing in verticals on the website alongside the tech & leisure section, as well as men's fashion, watches and travel. Learn more about Luxatic's Editorial Process .

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We built with you in mind for over 138 years. We’ve transformed living spaces and the list of innovations in hull design and navigation continues to grow at a rapidly increasing pace. Since 1884, 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.  

The  world reference  in cruising. Oceanis is our range of long-distance, blue water cruisers that for years has set the standard for sailboat design and construction, with a hull that is a marvel in hydrodynamics,  Oceanis delivers superior performance  while providing stability and safety while under sail. Despite her strong sea legs, she doesn’t sacrifice luxury and comfort. You can choose your layout based on different configurations below deck and also have  your choice  of interior finishes. Your Oceanis will be a joy to sail and be  your home away from home . The Oceanis range continues to  appeal to all sailors  around the world.

Oceanis Yacht

The  Oceanis Yacht  is the culmination of our Oceanis philosophy where cruising comfort, performance, and customization reign supreme. Her elegant design and luxurious interiors add a new dimension to life at sea with an enormous salon, impressive galley, spacious staterooms, and plenty of ambient light from the many large windows and skylights. Despite her lavish details, our Oceanis Yacht maneuvers as easily as a smaller yacht thanks to a perfectly centered sail plan and twin rudders. She is a yacht that represents the  art of sailing  at its regal best.

40 years of iconic  brand heritage. The signature features of the FIRST range have not changed since its conception in 1977 – these boats have always been designed for  sailors  who enjoy club racing as much as cruising, joining them into one cohesive product line, the proverbial  best  of both worlds. Today, BENETEAU takes another step in this direction with the launch of the new FIRST range.  These boats offer simplicity, performances, and comfortable interiors and cockpits geared towards daysailing and coastal cruising. Renewing the competition spirit of the brand, they represent a true adaptation to the  needs and expectations  of the widest variety of sailors.

High-tech performance from the cutting edge of racing into the hands of the recreational sailors.  First SE - Seascape Edition encourages and empowers sailors to expand their comfort zone by joining competitive one-design racing and adventure sailing . It grows a community of owners linked by shared values and a drive to strengthen their sailing skills. Whether owners are racing against others in one-design classes or are engaging in adventure sailing, the First SE connects them to the elements and helps them experience nature in the most authentic way. A carbon rig, laminate sails and other technological features give sailors the ultimate sailing experience, performance and control.

A true legend. The Figaro is an ode to excellence in offshore racing. The one-design sailing yacht was initially designed for the Solitaire du Figaro, allowing some of the greatest skippers to compete at sea on equal terms, much to their pleasure. The sailor makes the difference on a Figaro.   

Heritage BENETEAU sailboats

Our history has been told many times in these last fifty years, but, to understand it, you need to grasp our company values, and return to its origins, since it is nothing but continuity and progression.

- Annette ROUX

DISCOVER ALL OUR SAILING BOATS AND LUXURY YACHT RANGES 

Are you looking for a  sailing yacht dealer ? Leisure boating, short trips, competitive sailing, regattas – whatever type of sailing you like, BENETEAU has a wide range of  sailing yachts  and  luxury yachts , so there’s bound to be a boat to fulfill your dreams. 

SAILING YACHTS FOR ANY TYPE OF SAILING 

We built our first sailboats over 138 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 salons 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, 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.

OCEANIS: THE BEST SELLER

Oceanis is our range of long-distance, blue water cruisers and for years has set the standard for sailboat design and construction. With a hull that is a marvel in hydrodynamics, Oceanis delivers superior performance while providing stability and safety under sail. Despite her strong sea legs, she doesn’t sacrifice luxury and comfort. You can choose your layout based on different configurations below deck and also have your choice of interior finishes. Your Oceanis will be a joy to sail and be your home away from home.

OCEANIS YACHTS:LUXURY YACHTS

BENETEAU is also there to help you buy a top-quality boat. The OCEANIS Yacht line delivers  luxury sailing yachts  that satisfy this requirement perfectly. The line comprises two luxury craft of over 50 feet, designed by renowned architects and designers. 

FIRST: ICONIC PERFORMANCE SAILING

 Our 7th generation of the First range offers you the experience of pure sailing joy while staying true to our standards for safety and stability. She is lightweight with a streamlined design, making her highly adaptable to whatever the wind and water have in store. The First is fast but forgiving, spicy but safe – perfect for the thrill-seeking novice or seasoned competitive sailor alike.

FIRST SE RANGE: HIGH PERFORMANCE YACHTS

First SE - Seascape Edition encourages and empowers sailors to expand their comfort zone by joining competitive one-design racing and adventure sailing. It grows a community of owners linked by shared values and a drive to strengthen their sailing skills. Whether owners are racing against others in one-design classes or are engaging in adventure sailing, the First SE connects them to the elements and helps them experience nature in the most authentic way.

FIGARO: OFFSHORE AND PROFESSIONAL RACING

A marvel in racing innovation, the Figaro BENETEAU 3 is the first production foiling one-design monohull to ever grace the seas. Designed in collaboration between BENETEAU and Van Peteghem Lauriot-Prévost (the architects of the last two Vendée Globe winners), her greatest and most visible feature is the inverted foiling system created to reduce drift and improve the righting moment without increasing movement. The Figaro BENETEAU 3’s radical design makes her the logical choice when winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

SAILING YACHTS SAILING THE FIVE OCEANS 

This diversity has led to the BENETEAU brand being represented on all the world’s seas. But wherever they are, BENETEAU boats are easily recognizable for their taut lines, innovative design, robustness and performance. No doubt this will continue, since BENETEAU is constantly reinventing itself to provide ever more enjoyable, high performing, safe and user-friendly recreational craft. BENETEAU achieves this by making the most of current and future innovations such as ship control, dock and go, foils, etc.

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Last updated: Jan 10, 2024

Top 10 Sailing Brands

Sailing is a wonderful way to see the world while out on the water. It is fun at any level, whether the sailor is an amateur or a professional. Sailing can be highly technical, and requires an understanding of the boat and equipment being used. Listed below are the most tried and true brands for sailing boats, equipment, and gear.

Table of Contents

What are the most popular sailing brands, 1. hallberg-rassy, 3. mackay boats, 4. north sails, 7. raymarine, 10. inmarsat, honorable mentions.

• Hallberg-Rassy
• Mackey Boats
• North Sails
• Founded : 1972
• Website : https://www.hallberg-rassy.com/
• Products : Sailing Yachts

Hallberg-Rassy produces the most premium, high performance, and often luxurious sailing boats in the world.  Most of the best sailing yachts that cross the seas were made by the company, making Hallberg-Rassy the most desired sailing yacht brand by sailors. The manufacturer sells sailing yachts of different sizes, prices, and luxury levels; all large, sea-cruising boats.

The Swedish company has been around since 1972. Halberg and Rassy were rival ship builders until that year, when Halberg purchased Rassy's shipyard, founding the company we know today. A Hallberg-Rassy boat is uniquely crafted, and the company has become a symbol of reliability and luxury in the sailing world, making it one of the best and most respected bluewater sailing yacht manufacturers in the world.

• Founded : 1964
• Website : https://www.musto.com/
• Products : Sailing Apparel

Musto is a world-leading sailing clothes brand.  Wearing Musto is synonymous with comfort, style, and safety. Inevitably, sailors and their boats get wet, but with Musto, water won't be a problem. Musto's apparel will keep their clients and their personal items dry, while their special rubber sailing shoes will keep people from slipping on the boat, guaranteeing safety even in the worst conditions.

The company was established in 1964 by a British sailor who took pride in innovating and engineering the best pieces of equipment. Cutting edge technology is part of Musto's DNA as a sailing manufacturer to this day, and remains one of the world's best sailing brands. Musto is also the sponsor of many celebrated sailing teams, like the British Sailing Team, the German Sailing Team, the Swedish Sailing Team, the Swiss Sailing Team, and the Netherlands Sailing Team.

• Website : https://www.mackayboats.com/
• Products : Sailing Boats

Mackay is a classic brand that has been focusing on small, fast, and competitive sailing boats (like FXs and 49ers) for over 60 years.  Since its foundation in the 1960s, the company has become one of the premier boat manufacturers in competitive sailing, and they remain committed to the level of quality that made them a household name.

Mackey produces 12 types of off-shore sailing boats, providing sailing boats to some of the most prominent sailing athletes and teams in the world such as Great Britain's, New Zealand's, and Australia's sailing teams. In the 2020 Olympics, Mackay Boats won six medals, and many of their boats make it into first position every year at the World Championships.

• Founded : 1957
• Website : https://webstore-us.northsails.com/
• Products : Sailing Sails, Deckwear, Weather Gear, Apparel

North Sail is one of the top manufacturers of high-quality sails. There are many different sailing disciplines, and still, all of them have a sail, making it one of the most important pieces of equipment in the sport. This brand has every sail need that a sailor may have, producing sails for both competitive and recreational sailing, making many options available for customers to choose when equipping their boats.

Since its foundation in 1957, North Sail has often revolutionized the sailing world by coming up with new sail materials and types. Many of the world's best sailors use North Sails, not because they are sponsored by the company, but because they are one of the best in the business.

• Founded : 1967
• Website : https://www.harken.com/en/home/
• Products : Blocks, Handling, Winches, Hydraulics, Parts, Accessories

Harken is a classic company that produces sailing-related hardware and accessories. Harken's products are present in all types of sailing boats, from 49ers produced by Mackay to mega yachts produced by Hallberg-Rassy, which feature Harken’s hydraulics, travelers, blocks, and winches.

Today, Harken is a big international company selling products to sailors worldwide, including athletes that compete in World Championships, the Olympics, America's Cup, and the Volvo Ocean Race. The company started small, with two brothers producing sailing blocks at home. Incredibly, Harken has evolved into one of the premier sailing brands in the world. Although the company's focus is on boat hardware accessories, Harken also sells equipment for sailors such as sailing gloves, bags, hats, and shirts.

• Founded : 1989
• Website : https://www.garmin.com/en-US/
• Products : Chartplotters, Radars, Cameras, Apparel

Garmin is one of the most important and technological companies in sports, making high tech material for sports like running, swimming, golfing, and of course, sailing.  In sailing, Garmin focuses on making chart plotters and instruments that produce data and better inform sailors about their boat and the water. Garmin's products are used mostly on big sailing boats that go around the world in long regattas and have a team of sailors that take care of the boat.

Garmin is the technology brand in outdoor sports, and can provide sailors important information like wind, speed, depth, tides, and creating important maps. All together, Garmin provides the information necessary for sailors to make the best decisions possible when in the sea. Always creating and innovating, the company has recently come out with a sailing smartwatch, which aids sailors of big yachts to communicate and access data easily, in any condition, and from anywhere.

• Founded : 1923
• Website : https://www.raymarine.com/en-us
• Products : Chartplotters, Operating Systems, Apps, Sensors

Raymarine designs operating systems, apps, sensors, and marine electronics, all to help sailors better understand and control their boats. One of the company's most successful and important pieces of gear are their autopilots, which are an important part of sailing large yachts. Raymarine's innovative tradition and long-time reliability make them one of the best technological companies in sailing, and their auto-pilot system one of the most sought by sailors to install in their boats.

Since Raymarine's foundation in 1923, the company has revolutionized technology and data in sailing, and many of their products have received international awards in both the technology and the sailing worlds. The company also produces equipment used in fishing, and sponsors many pro fishers.

• Founded : 1912
• Website : https://www.yanmar.com/marine/
• Products : Sailing Engines, Controls, Drives

Yanmar is a top manufacturer of engines specifically engineered for sailing.  Sailing boats use wind-power to move most of the time, but larger sailing boats have small engines, which help the boat move in times of wind scarcity. The company offers many engine options for sailing boats of different sizes and speeds. Whenever you see a big sailing yacht, they will likely have a Yanmar engine in case the wind is not enough. The company has been around for over 100 years, and is always looking to be more efficient and powerful.

• Founded : 1960
• Website : https://www.seldenmast.com/
• Products : Masts, Booms, Hardware

Seldén is a sailing company that makes pieces of equipment used in boats of all sizes, disciplines, and levels. The company's main product is masts, producing masts of different materials such as carbon fiber and aluminum. Seldén's care and attention to detail have made the company into one of the industry's leaders and preferred brands of the top sailors in the world. Not surprisingly, Seldén equipment has been in boats that have won Olympic, World, European, and National championships.

• Founded : 1979
• Website : https://www.inmarsat.com/en/index.html
• Products : Satellite Communications

Inmarsat is yet another great tech company that every sailor should know. Inmarsat is not a sailing-specific company, as it also deals with aviation, but its industry leading satellite communicating technologies are very important in big regattas on long trips. In such competitions, where sailors find themselves isolated in the middle of the ocean, it is Inmarsat's antennas and equipment that allow the crew to keep in touch with those outside their boat.

The company often partners with sailing races such as the Volvo Ocean Race, proving the quality of their products in the most extreme conditions. In competitions like these, the company is not only responsible for monitoring boats and delivering information, but also for the overall safety of all of those taking part in the race by allowing communication in case of medical emergencies and when repairs to the boat are needed.

• Helly Hansen
• Henri Lloyd
• Gill Marine

What is the best sailing brand?

The best sailing brand in the world is Hallberg-Rassy.  Hallberg-Rassy is a sailing yacht manufacturer based in Sweden. While their shipyard opened in 1943, they did not start manufacturing boats themselves until 1972. However, Hallberg-Rassy quickly grew into one of the most popular and luxurious sailing brands on the market.

Pages Related to Top 10 Sailing Brands

• Sailing Basics
• Sailing Lingo And Terminology
• What Is Sailing?
• Top 10 Sailing Video Games
• Sailing Equipment List
• What Are The Rules Of Sailing?

Better Sailing

10 Best Catamaran Brands

Shopping for a new catamaran can be intimidating, even as consumers have more resources than ever to help them research from the comfort of their own home before they even contact a yacht broker. The great news is that there are a lot of great catamaran brands on the market right now. For us consumers, the catamaran market has evolved rapidly from what it was only just a few short years ago when monohulls were favored. On the flip-side, this can make it even more challenging to figure out which catamaran brands are the very best.

If you are a beginner in cruising catamarans, this article will help you learn the best brands that are out there with the best reputation amongst boaters. This article will help you get started in the world of catamarans, and I am trying to make it as beginner-friendly as possible. The catamaran brands on this list are mainly production boat companies, but some of them do offer custom designs. However, the added benefit of most of these brands is that there are many options on the used market. You will always be able to shop around for a good deal no matter where you are in the world.

Here are some of the best catamaran brands on the market today: 

Lagoon – Groupe Beneteau

Lagoon is a French boatbuilder with an excellent reputation and sells the largest number of catamarans per year. The brand started back in 1984 and was one of the first catamaran brands to really convince people of the concept of multihulls. The philosophy of the Lagoon brand is good design, high-quality construction, and a decent cruising performance under sail. In other words, a Lagoon is the dream of every fan of sailing that looks for a catamaran that can provide everything, whether that is a fun toy for summer sailing trips or a year-round liveaboard yacht. What Lagoon did right, and the reason it has proven to be so popular is that it listened to its customers. That is why every new Lagoon catamaran has more space, more efficient layouts, and is always more comfortable than their previous version. There is no wonder why they have so many repeat customers.

Lagoon makes 9 sailing catamaran models and 2 powercat models, ranging in length from 40 to 78 feet. It also used to make shorted boats like the Lagoon 380 at 37 feet, but unfortunately, it was discontinued. You can find a Lagoon on the used market starting at $150,000 (like a 2002-2007 Lagoon 380) and as high as $5 million USD for their top of the line fully spec’d Lagoon Seventy 7, which comes with a jacuzzi on deck.

>>Also Read: Best Sailboat Brands

Fountaine Pajot

Fountaine-Pajot is a French maritime construction brand that is specializing in catamarans. The company was established in 1976, but it launched its first sailing catamaran in 1983 and its first powercat in 1998. This brand is now famous for building both sailing and power catamarans that have a beautiful and innovative design, superior handling, excellent seaworthiness, and cruising comfort. Also, Fountaine Pajot was one of the first catamaran brands that was manufacturing their boats with environmental protection in mind. So, all of their models have options to include renewable energy sources. Their ECO-Cruising and SMART-Cruising options considerably reduce their yachts’ carbon footprint and provide the necessary clean energy for their sailboats.

Fountaine-Pajot makes both sailing catamarans and powercats, ranging in length from 40 to 67 feet. It also used to make shorted boats like the Lagoon 380 at 37 feet, but unfortunately, it was discontinued. You can find a Lagoon on the used market starting at $100,000-150,000 (like a 1990-2005 Fountaine Pajot Athena 38) and as high as $3.5 million USD for their top of the line fully spec’d Fountaine Pajot Alegria 67, which comes with a jacuzzi on the front deck.

Leopard is a boatbuilder located in South Africa and produces some of the best and most luxurious catamarans. You will find Fountain Pajor catamarans for sale also under the name “Robertson & Caine” because some Leopard cats are built by Robertson & Caine company. Leopards are mainly designed to be luxurious, big, and comfortable, but that usually comes at a cost, both in price tag and sailing speed and maneuverability. 

Leopard Catamarans was established in 2000 their partnership with South African builder Robertson and Caine. This company was manufacturing custom-designed catamarans for the global yacht charter company The Moorings. While Leopard was focusing on sailing catamarans in the beginning, in 2007, they started making powercats as well.

Leopard is always designing their boats to have the optimal balance between interior space and performance, sheltered helm cockpit designed for offshore cruising and single-handed sailing, large lounge areas, optimal comfort, and ease of maintenance. 

Nowadays, Leopard is making sailing catamarans between 42 and 58 feet and powercats between 50 and 53 feet. You can find a Leopard on the used market starting at $180,000 (like a Leopard 38) in good condition and as high as $2 million USD for their top of the line fully spec’d Leopard 58; however, they are not as luxurious as some of the other brand’s top-of-the-line models.

>>Also Read: 10 Best Catamarans Under 200k

Catana catamarans are a little bit more performance-oriented. They have features that make them sail faster and be more easily maneuverable than some of the other catamaran brands on the list. Many of their boats come with a feature called daggerboard that will help you sail faster upwind, something that most catamarans struggle with. Catana Group was originally called Poncin Yachts and has been building catamarans in France since 2001. It is famous for producing catamarans for owners who most often want to go bluewater sailing around the world comfortably and safely with a high-performance boat. This is not a famous brand, but it grows in popularity very fast. Year by year, I have noticed more and more Catana catamarans in the marinas I visit. 

Catana Catamarans are built using foam sandwich vacuum infusion technology combined with carbon and aramid fiber. This combination guarantees the strength of the hull, significant weight savings, and because of this fact, higher speed.

Catana offers new boats from 42 to 70 feet. In the past, they were building boats as long as 90 feet. You can find a Catana on from the early 2000s’ on the used market for as low as $250,000, and as high as $4 million USD for a top of the line full spec’d brand new one.

Nautitech is another catamaran brand located in France; I guess there is a pattern here. They have built a reputation for designing catamarans that are robust, seaworthy, and capable of putting sailing back into the heart of the liveaboard experience without compromising on comfort. Anyone familiar with catamarans can quickly appreciate the innovative nature of a Nautitech cat design. The brand was also the first one to introduce the concept of liveaboard living, which combines the saloon and cockpit into one spacious, functional living area.

Nautitech offers new boats from 40 to 57 feet. You can find a Nautitech on from the early 2000s’ on the used market (Like the Nautitech 40) for as low as $180,000. However, a new top-of-the-line Nautitech 54 can be spec’d up to $1.5 million USD; though, they are not as luxurious as some of the other brand’s top-of-the-line models. 

The brand was founded in 1985 in France. Privilège Catamarans offer unparalleled expertise, know-how, and experience that facilitates the construction of some of the best catamarans on the market today. They can provide luxurious liveaboard life beyond coastal borders. Its elegant hull design ensures superb stability and comfort making then one of the best catamaran brands in the world right now. Every catamaran is custom-built according to the owner’s preferences and handcrafted with great craftsmanship and the finest materials.

The company specializes in the design and manufacture of some of the best, and luxurious bluewater catamarans on the water. Every new Privilege cat is built after multiple consultations between the shipyard and the owner. You can decide to either keep the catamaran in its pure and elegant look and also keep the cost as low as possible or to change it to your personal preferences and make it as high-end as you can afford.

Privilège makes both sailing catamarans and powercats, ranging in length from 51 to 75 feet. It also used to make shorted boats like the Privilege 435 at 43 feet, but unfortunately, they are now focusing on larger yachts. You can find a Privilege from the early 2000s’ on the used market starting at $300,000 (like the Privilege 435) but can easily surpass $5 million USD for their top of the line fully spec’d Privilege 745 or 740.

>>Also Read: Best Small Sailboats To Sail Around The World

Gemini 

Gemini is one of the few catamaran brands that make its boats in the US. It is a subsidiary of Performance Cruising Inc., and they have been making catamarans since 1981. Honestly, Gemini catamarans might not be the most good-looking and luxurious, but they are affordable and sail well. For that reason, they definitely deserve a spot on the list with the best catamaran brands. 

You can find a used Gemini cat in good condition in good condition from the early 1990s, starting at around 50k and a newer model for as high as 500k. Overall this is a very affordable brand, and you will definitely enjoy one without breaking the bank.

Seawind 

Seawind Catamarans is a catamaran designer and builder located in Australia, producing high-end performance cruising sail catamarans since 1982. They have produced some of the world’s best and award-winning designs. 

The Seawind brand is especially good for people looking for a catamaran that is not overly luxurious or expensive and is probably looking for a more reasonably sized yacht; however, they do offer a couple of larger, more luxurious models as well. 

Seawind offers new boats from 35 to 52 feet. You can find one on from the early 2000s’ on the used market for as low as $150,000, like a Seawind 1000. However, a new top-of-the-line Seawind 1600 can be spec’d up to around $1 million USD.

Sunreef Yachts

Sunreef is the world’s leading manufacturer of luxury sailing and power multihulls. Each catamaran, motor yacht, and superyacht they make is a custom vessel. The company was established in 2002 in Gdansk, Poland but a Frenchman and was the first brand to build a 74-foot bluewater cruising catamaran. 

This brand has pulled all the stops when it comes to luxury and comfort. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly liveaboard cat, a luxurious private floating villa, a dazzling party boat, or a fishing expedition superyacht fantasy, their designers will turn your vision into reality. Just be prepared to pay the price. 

Sunreef makes both large sailing catamarans and powercats, ranging in length from 50 to 150 feet! You can find a Sunreef from the early the Mid-2000s on the used market starting at $700,000 (like the Sunreef 62) but can easily surpass $15 million USD for Sunreef 102. They also have the Sunreef MM460 CAT on their catalog, which is one of the largest catamarans even created. However, unfortunately, I was not able to get even an approximate price quote on it. If I had to guess, I would say at least $50 million to have one built. 

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats Under 100k

Bali Catamarans is another brand of the well-known Catana shipyard. And it is also the newest brand on the list established in 2014. Catana catamarans are the golden standard when it comes to high-speed cats. However, in 2014, they decided to start a production brand of fast, light, and easily maneuverable cruising catamarans. The Bali Catamarans collection has a unique design mainly; it has no mesh “trampoline” in the front cockpit. It features an open-space interior, a huge refrigerator in the inner saloon, and many other uncommon features. 

Bali offers new boats from 39 to 50 feet. You can find a Bali on from 2014-2015 on the used market for as low as $300k (like the Bali 4.0). However, a new top-of-the-line Bali 5.7 can spec’d up to over a $2 million USD.

Final Thoughts

In order to compile the best list of catamarans, I took into account the built quality, comfort seaworthiness but also the number of yachts for sale on the used market. In my point of view, I shouldn’t have put a custom catamaran builder on this list because you wouldn’t be able to find one for sale anyway. For most of these brands, there are many boats for sale on the used market in pretty good condition and at reasonable prices.

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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Best Sailing Brands & Clothing for Sailing in 2023

Some of the links in this post are  affiliate links . This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.

The best sailing brands and clothing for sailing are ideal for any marine activity. Whether you’re wondering what to wear when sailing , looking forward to a long cruise in the Mediterranean, an exciting regatta, or a casual ride at the weekend, here are some of the top boat sailing brands you should consider.

What are the best sailing brands and clothing for sailing to buy?

The best sailing brands listed here are known for mastering the art of clothing and have dedicated their skills to fashioning only the best quality in the industry.

Whether you’re looking for the best sailing shoes , the most recommended sailing hats or simply a life jacket, the best sailing brands for clothing are always an excellent choice.

This list discusses the best sailing brands, including: Helly Hansen, Musto, Gill Marine, Zhik, Henry Lloyd, Nautica, Dubarry, Saint James, North Sails, Sperry, Navy Marines and Slam.

Helly Hansen

What makes Helly Hansen unique among other boat sailing brands is the fact that this company first introduced the 3-layers concept. This is one of the nautical clothing brands that were born out of the sheer need to get better protective clothing in harsh weather conditions.

Helly Hansen is a Scandinavian brand founded in Norway in 1877. Since the beginning, Helly-Hensen has produced state-of-the-art sailing gear. These include the best sailing jackets .

One of the techniques they have been deploying to make their apparel waterproof is using course linen that’s been soaked in linseed.

Today, Helly Hansen is one of the best boat sailing brands worldwide and it provides the ideal blend of style, comfort, and efficiency.

Musto has long been known as one of the most reputable clothing brands for sailors and sea lovers. This company goes back more than 50 years ago. They’ve been manufacturing premier sailing gear that stands the test of time.

Their clothes are specially designed for those who are ready to venture out on the seas.

The company’s founder, Keith Musto decided to create innovative technical sailing clothes after participating in the 64’s Olympics in the sailing squad. This event prompted him to design quality sailing apparel that could meet the needs of professionals.

What sets this brand apart are the quality materials they use, materials that are comfortable, 100% waterproof and able to withstand the harshest weather conditions.

This company originates in Australia and is one of the brands you’re bound to see at the Olympics. This company aims to provide a comprehensive range of sailing apparel that can cover sailors’ needs in any weather.

Zhik is a fairly new brand that began in 2003. Their innovative dinghy gear and wetsuits took the concept of performance to a whole new level, which soon made them famous worldwide.

This company has a reputation for innovation and designing proprietary fabrics that ensure the highest level of comfort and functionality.

Moreover, they also promote an environmental-friendly approach by using sustainable materials in their clothing.

Gill Marine

This is one of the sailing brands that was born out of necessity, the founder’s necessity to create the dinghy sailing gear he wasn’t able to find on the market.

It all happened in 1975 when Nick Gill, an avid dinghy sailor took up the ambitious task of creating the perfect dinghy gear. He started investing time and energy and experimented with different designs in order to come up with the perfect sailing clothing for different settings and weather conditions.

Currently, Gill Marine is the number one choice for New Zeeland’s America’s Cup champions team. Besides sailing apparel, this company also produces shoes and accessories (such as sailing hats or gloves for sailing ).

Henri Lloyd

This is another one of the best clothing brands for sailing whose story goes way back.

The company was founded in 1963 in Manchester. It all began when Henri Strzelecki, company co-founder, created a sturdy sailing jacket with Velcro fastener. Known as one of the top sailing brands on the market, this brand has been producing sailing products for over 50 years.

This brand is one of the pioneers in its domain and it has always promoted the use of man-made materials. Owned and operated by professional sailors dedicated to creating top-notch products for other passionate sailors, Henri Loyd is a great choice if you are looking for a new brand to represent your sailing passion.

We couldn’t be talking about nautical brands without mentioning Dubarry. This company is mostly known for the sturdy and reliable sailing footwear it provides.

The company was born in Ireland in 1937. Their products are tightly connected to Galway’s sailing heritage. The signature shoes they provide are famous worldwide among sailors and they are highly appreciated for their water resistance, durability, and excellent grip.

This Irish brand is known for making some of the best sailing gear in the world. Their carefully crafted footwear now deploys innovative high-tech materials.

Sperry is a traditional sailing gear manufacturer that started its long and successful journey back in 1935.

The founder of the company was a sailor, Paul Sperry who decided to create the perfect sailing shoe after an unfortunate event that saw him plummet in the sea.

He came with a unique sole design that he also patented and that was able to provide good grip even on a wet deck. His innovative shoes soon became the preferred choice of the Cruising Club of America’s members and they continue to enjoy the same success both among professional and casual sailors.

They now provide some of the best sailing shoes on the market.

Saint James

Born from sailors’ need to be protected from wind and water, Saint James (known as the nautical sweater specialist) is the original purveyor of the iconic Breton Stripes shirt and also one of the top French marine clothing brands for men, women, and children.

Based in Normandy, Saint James was founded in 1889 in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and has managed to stay contemporary and true to its heritage at the same time. Coco Chanel popularized the brand’s distinctive striped t-shirt in the twentieth century.

Saint James Clothing creates nautical-themed designs that are influenced by classic French Navy uniforms. This sailing clothing brand store offers a variety of vintage-inspired fits created in the village of Saint-James (France), ranging from Breton striped jerseys to soft knits.

The French State has now granted the 150-year-old brand the “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” label for its knitting excellence.

Today their clothing line is distributed around the world and we love to see how its nautical style is constantly being reinvented.

Nautica is definitely among the best clothing brands for sailing. This company was born in 1983 and it is considered one of the premier men’s lifestyle brands.

What sets them apart is the fact that they drew inspiration from the nautical environment and applied it in their everyday clothes for men.

Unlike other companies that focused on solving practical problems while creating sailing clothes, Nautica focused on leveraging the typical style of this type of apparel.

They don’t put so much emphasis on the performance of their apparel, but on its good looks. Their attractive clothes boast a blend of traditional sailing designs with modern elements.

North Sails

This sailing gear company was founded in 1957 by Lowell North, a famous Olympic Gold Medalist.

Their story is similar to that of other nautical brands as it started from the founder’s ambitious desire to design a highly performant item, which, in this case, was a set of sails. He managed to design high-performance sails, but the company’s endeavor didn’t stop here as they have also started focusing on clothes.

Their apparel offers a practical solution that combines efficiency with style and aims to keep sailors safe and comfortable in any weather conditions.

Another great thing about the North Sails clothing line is that it offers both traditional and high-performance models so that you can find your match no matter what your tastes are.

This is one of the most famous European sailing brands. Founded in Italy, in the city of Genoa, Slam has gradually conquered a place among the biggest sailing clothes manufacturers.

Located on the Ligurian coast, Genoa was a perfect setting for a company trying to strive at creating prime quality sailing gear, inspired by the life and needs of seamen.

However, the key to their success was the tight collaboration with different Olympic sailors.

Nowadays, Slam offers a comprehensive array of lifestyle and recreational sailing clothes that perfectly capture the typical Italian craftiness and style. Their clothes are both visually appealing but also meant to help sailors face the harshest weather conditions.

Navis Marine

Navis Marine, also deserves a place among our best clothing brands for sailing. This company is located in China and they have been offering high-performance sailing clothing for some time now.

They have a global audience and provide mass apparel production services worldwide. This clothes supplier and manufacturer handles the entire production process from design to marketing. With proven expertise and reliable skills, this manufacturer has managed to bring clients’ sailing apparel ideas to perfection. 

They now have over 500 performance sports clothes designs clients can choose from in order to develop their own brand. Moreover, they also create on-demand products based on clients’ own concept. 

The Best Sailing Brands and Clothing for Sailing - the bottom line

If you plan on getting quality sailing gear for yourself or a fellow sailor, you now know where to start looking.

These sailing brands have a great reputation for producing outstanding apparel that is both functional and comfortable.

Don’t forget to bring with you a drone for sailing to capture the best moments of your sailing adventure.

Good luck picking your gear, and don’t forget to come back to us for more tips and news about life at sea.

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Best Sailing Clothing Brands

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

August 30, 2022

There are options to choose from when looking at the best sailing clothing brands. People will have different tastes in fashion, and some want a specific use.

With so many brands to choose from, it allows sailors to find something that works for them. So what are the best sailing clothing brands?

Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik, and Gill Marine are the best sailing clothing brands. In addition, Henri Lloyd, Dubarry, Sperry, and Saint James have a rich history of providing sailors with clothing around the globe. No matter where you sail, you will likely find a mix between these top brands.

What makes a sailing brand the best in clothing is its ability to withstand marine life but also provide fashion. Depending on your budget and location in the world, some brands will be more popular than others.

According to experts in sailing, having the right clothing and gear makes the experience much more enjoyable. Being prepared for anything is going to help you achieve optimal sailing.

Table of contents

‍ 12 Best Sailing Clothing Brands

The best sailing clothing brands are the best for a reason, as they have been able to master what it means to sail comfortably. Not only are these fashionable, but they provide the necessary quality that you need out on the water.

Every sailor understands the importance of the right clothing while sailing. If you have never experienced what it is like to not have the right clothing out on the water, you do not want to repeat that process in the event of a sunburn, soaked clothes, or potentially slipping with bad shoes.

Musto has been dominating the sailing clothing department for the last 50 years. They have consistently developed sailing apparel that has stood the test of time in terms of quality and performance.

While they have casual wear, their line of apparel is meant for the water. This was the purpose ever since Keith Musto, founder, decided he wanted sailing clothes after his appearance in the 1964 Olympics.

As he drew inspiration from his experiences, he has created one of the revolutionary lines of clothing brands for the occasion. Musto is geared towards anyone willing to sail in any condition, especially with quality materials that are waterproof and comfortable.

2. Helly Hansen

Back in 1877, the Scandinavian brand Helly Hansen hit the sailing clothing scene. They were the first company to showcase a three layer concept, especially in times when the weather gets brutal.

The company has shown innovation over the years with quality products and coating them in linseed to obtain a waterproof product. These include shoes, shirts, hats, and even oilskin jackets.

Their life jackets rank among some of the best in the industry. In fact, they are the number one choice for fisherman or offshore sailors wanting to endure extreme conditions.

Looking at today’s style, Helly Hansen still markets one of the most recognizable sailing clothing brands out there. This is due to their comfort and style, in addition to the quality of materials.

Looking at Zhik , you know right away that you are in good hands with athletic apparel in sailing. The company is not that old, as they were founded in 2003.

The company originated in Australia and has its name essentially plastered all over the Olympics. The beauty of this brand is that they are able to cover every aspect of sailing and even innovative items like dinghy wetsuits that make them stand out to the competition.

They also have some of the most comfortable life jackets for a decent price. This allows you to get the best bang for your buck when sailing.

Their environmentally friendly approach earns them bonus points while also providing quality you can count on. If you are aiming to get out on the water, Zhik can make it comfortable.

4. Gill Marine

Nick Gill founded Gill Marine back in 1975 when he was searching for a performance dinghy sailing gear. At the time, there were not a lot of options to choose when roughing it out on the water with a dinghy.

Gill spent a lot of time and money to help establish perfect designs for dinghy sailing. This also has to be good enough to handle harsh conditions and whatever the weather throws at you.

Gill Marine was a success and is still widely used today by the New Zealand's America’s Cup champions team. In addition, you can find comfortable apparel options such as shoes and hats to sport the brand off of your dinghy.

No sailing clothing list would be complete if you did not have Dubarry on the list. While known for their stylish and comfortable sailing boots, they also sport an apparel line to keep you comfortable no matter where you go.

The company originated in Ireland back in 1937 and is closely connected to Galway’s sailing heritage. Their line of sailing boots are the main attraction, as sailors across the globe love their comfort, grip, and water resistant properties.

In addition, they also have a line of sailing gear that you can trust. With quality materials throughout, you can rest assured when sailing that you have the right footwear for the job.

6. Henri Lloyd

Henri Lloyd is another quality sailing clothing brand that has roots back in the 1960’s in Manchester. The company was co-founded by Henri Strzelecki who came up with the concept of a durable sailing jacket with Velcro fasteners.

For over 50 years, they have been providing excellent value for wanting to show off your sailing attire. From their quick drying tech materials to their ocean ready shorts, they have just about everything you could want to wear out on the water.

The company is handled by experienced sailors that know first hand what sailors want when sailing. This lets you know instantly that they understand what it takes to go sailing.

7. Saint James

Saint James was inspired by French Navy uniforms back in 1889. As one one of the oldest sailing clothing brands out there, they have successfully remained in business with their classic style.

They have a huge following in France, where the company originally took off, and have established some footwork in the United States. Over the years, they have been able to adapt to changing consumer tastes but also remain true to their roots.

They even have the nickname, “nautical sweater specialist”, for having stylish attire for when you are sailing. No matter how old you are, they have different styles and sizes for all shapes and sizes.

Slam was established back in 1979 and is a well regarded technical collection in sailing apparel. They have a wide range of clothing options for casual sailing, yachting, and professional sailing.

Being that it has roots in Italy, it is one of the most popular sailing clothing brands in Europe. In fact, they are one of the biggest clothing manufacturers.

Not only are their clothing options appealing to the eye, but it serves a practical purpose in combating the elements on the water. Their success has long been driven by Olympic stars, but anyone can feel like one once they purchase their gear.

Sperry has a reputation for being a top dog in boating shoes. In fact, they are given credit for being the first to develop a boating shoe.

Paul Sperry founded the company back in 1935 and put together a revolutionary design for his boating shoe concept. Today, they still rank as one of the best boating shoes on the market.

Sperry’s success stemmed from having a comfortable shoe that was reliable to walk on wet surfaces. No matter if you are a casual sailor or professional, Sperry’s are an excellent option.

10. Navis Marine

It was not that long ago when Navis Marine entered the sailing apparel scene. Back in 1999, the company put out their line of sailing clothing that was affordable, comfortable, and practical.

Although they are located in China, they are serving markets all over the world for sailors. This gives them a slight edge when providing cheaper options.

They even have over 500 options to choose from when looking at performance styles and designs. No matter what your budget is, anyone can relate to Navis Marine.

11. North Sails

In 1957, North Sails stumbled upon something big. Olympic Gold Medalist Lowell North founded the company that would eventually market to over 150 different regions across the world.

There are similarities when looking at other brands' beginnings, but North Sails managed to develop high quality sails at first. After that successful endeavor, they added a clothing line to the mix.

With a combination of the two, sailors can have excellent quality in their sails and have the clothes to experience life on the water. Depending on your tastes, you can even find clothes here to fit your budget.

12. Nautica

The brand Nautica was named after the Latin term “nauticus”, which means ship. They rank among the top brands for sailing clothing, especially for the men’s side of the brand.

The brand had a primary focus on fashion, rather than appealing to life on the water. Sailors could look great on or off the boat and feel comfortable.

They might be the only brand that caters more to fashion than solving problems on the water. Nonetheless, they are still a revolutionary brand for sailing clothing.

How to Find the Right Sailing Clothing Brand

There are a lot of variables that come into play when trying to find the best sailing clothing brands. These factors are price, comfort, and practical use. You might also consider brands that change with consumer tastes and update designs.

Reading reviews of different sailing clothing brands is a good place to start if you find comparable clothes. No doubt, it would be a good idea to compare your options before deciding on what works best for you.

You also want to consider the type of sailing you are encountering. For example, there is no need to purchase a wetsuit if you only plan on gently cruising on the coast. A wetsuit would be ideal for dinghy sailing, or at least something a little more aggressive on the water.

Price makes a huge difference in anything you decide to purchase in life, so the comparisons make sense in sailing clothing brands. Just because a shirt costs a ton of money does not mean it is the absolute best on the market.

If you do your research, you should be able to find competing brands that can offer you good prices. If something is cheaper with a range of reasonable results, then one brand could have a better sailing shirt than another.

Price may also indicate the quality of what you intend to use it for. Looking at sailing life jackets in comparison to the ones you find at a cheaper sporting goods store, it makes sense to buy the more expensive one that you know is designed specifically for what you intend to do.

In addition, it would not hurt to have a budget set up before you decide to buy any clothing brand. This way you will be better prepared to what you can afford.

More often than not, comfort trumps everything else. No matter what the price is, most sailors will purchase their sailing clothing for what is most comfortable.

If you plan on wearing something for an entire day, you want to make sure it is comfortable. So not only do you want a fair price, you want it to be worth wearing for many hours at a time.

Whether it is a long sleeve shirt to keep the sun’s rays off of you or a sailing hat, you need it to work as described. This also takes into account how reliable the brand is. Being reliable is another aspect that usually goes hand in hand with comfort in clothing.

Practical Use

You want to be sure that whichever brand you choose is something that you can use for a long time. If you plan on purchasing a pair of sailing boots, you want them to last a while instead of wearing out a few times at sea.

If you are not sure what something is used for, then reading up on certain apparel items is worth your time. This way you can find out exactly what you need and avoid purchasing things you do not.

You might find yourself buying an extra layer of clothes for cold weather sailing that you did not think about the first time. Whichever sailing you intend to do, make sure you research exactly how the clothing plays a role.

Updated Designs and Functionality

Some brands have a product that they have promoted for 100 years, while others constantly change up their lineup. A popular clothing brand has to appeal to what consumers want to wear.

For sailing clothing brands, there are some comparisons to be made but mostly these brands have their own niche. You can find a handful that still sport the same shirts over the years while others update their look.

The best sailing clothing brands know how to adapt to consumers tastes and what they need on the water. Brands that can improve designs to fit customers needs are definitely going to make them more popular.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The best marine intercom systems tested

• May 17, 2024

The best marine intercom systems allow quiet conversation during all sorts of tricky maneuvers without breaking a vocal chord trying to be heard against the wind at opposite ends of a boat.

I’m sure we’ve all seen or rather heard that boat that comes into an anchorage or mooring where there’s raised voices and “I can’t hear you” being one of the most uttered phrases, often followed with,  “there’s no need to shout…”

With the best marine intercom, there really is no need to shout.

Sena Expand Mesh Marine Intercom

Specifications Bluetooth/Mesh: Mesh Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.2 How many can be connected: up to 24 Type of Control: Button Control Battery Life: 10 Hour Talk Time Intercom Distance: Up to 400 m (0.25 miles) Speaker Type 6.2mm Standard Speakers Microphone Type: Boom

Reasons to buy excellent clarity of sound,  sturdy build quality, expandable

Reasons to avoid Those with smaller ears or heads might find this headset feels less secure than one with a headband.

The Sena Expand Mesh headset fits snuggly over the ears, just attaching over the tops of the ears to hold it in place.

The headband actually goes to the back of the neck and simply acts as a spring to keep light pressure of the speakers on to the ears. The stay in place by clipping onto the tops of your ears.

The sound clarity is excellent and the simplicity of being able to talk with a normal, in fact, a quieter voice than you’d need for on deck normally is such a relief to the vocal chords.

The microphone can be positioned close to the mouth or further away and the foam mic cover does a decent enough job of blocking wind noise, but it wont block it all.

The open mic ability to just talk and be heard and have a normal conversation is so much easier than using a PTT system.

The headsets have volume controls too on the side so if you need to control that while wearing the headset it’s easy to located and adjust.

The Mesh  comms system allows duplex voice and multiple connections, up to 24 devices.

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Crew-Talk Plus Marine Intercom

Reasons to buy:  Clear concise communication tool which stands up to the marine environment, Easy to set up,  Can be expanded with additional units Reasons to avoid: Not ‘essential’ sailing kit, The fit feels lose

Could the Crew-Talk Plus be a key tool in keeping everyone in the picture and harbour manoeuvres harmonious? We thought we’d put a unit through its paces to see if this could be an asset to the cruising sailor or something better left to the racing set.

I admit I was initially sceptical about using a boat intercom system– right up until I tried actually using one onboard, at which point I became much more sold on the concept.

Clear, concise communication with your crew in moderate tones serves to remind us, not only of how often we need to raise our voice when onboard, but how inefficient shouting from the tiller is, how unclear those instructions can be and how much stress it adds to sailing.

It’s surprising how much calmer most situations are when you can talk in a normal, measured tone.

The headset plugs into the receiver via a headphone jack on the bottom of the unit.

Out of the box both receivers need to be paired to one another, with one unit designated the master. Each unit has two channel options on it, with the Crew-Talk Plus takes the shouting out of onboard communication, whatever the weather master unit paired via its Channel A to the secondary unit’s Channel B.

Up to four units can be paired in this fashion.

Straight out of the box, pairing took us a matter of a few minutes and even on a very blustery day the all-round audio performance was very impressive indeed.

A genuinely useful tool on board, particularly on larger yachts.

Buy it now from Crew-Talk on ebay

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This Sleek New 55-Foot Carbon-Fiber Yacht Looks Like a Spaceship for the High Seas

The future-forward vessel is the first from industry newcomer mirrari., rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

This new 131-foot superyacht concept brings high architecture to the high seas, isa unveils a trio of sleek new superyachts, wider yachts is debuting a 92-foot hybrid catamaran at the venice boat show—here’s a first look.

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Rashed Al Shaali, a descendant of the founding family of Gulf Craft, is ready to create his own marine legacy.

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Taking design cues from Enata’s “flying yachts” Foiler , Foiler USV , and Vatoz , the first 55-footer will feature a sleek carbon hull that ensures both strength and speed on the high seas. The yacht will also incorporate materials such as kevlar and titanium that are sturdy yet lightweight. The exterior combines angular, futuristic lines with organic structures. The superstructure is adorned with a dynamic glass dome inspired by intricate bird skeletons, according to Mirrari. The dome enhances structural integrity and ensures the interiors receive plenty of natural light.

“This collaboration resonated with my passion for unique materials and design concepts,” Bozca adds. “Rashed sought not only innovative design but also a distinctive sensory experience.”

The living quarters showcase contemporary furnishings, striking lighting, high-end materials, and a subtle neutral palette. The upper deck is home to an indoor-outdoor salon, a dining area, and the helm, while the lower deck is outfitted with two full-beam en suite cabins, a galley, and a small lounge. Heading outside, the aft deck is equipped with a BBQ and bar, the stern sports a large sun pad, and the bow is lined with more plush seating.

The inaugural Mirarri yacht is currently under construction, with delivery scheduled for 2025.

“I can’t wait for the first Mirarri to be revealed to the world,” said Al Shaali.

Click here to see all the photos of the Mirrari yacht.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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Best Sailing Watches: 6 Top Picks from Racing to Adventuring

Looking for a sailing watch but don’t know where to start? We’ve done the hard work for you. Here’s six top sailing watches for racing, cruising or all out adventuring.

Sailing watches.

Sailing watches today range from housing the latest tech and modern functions, catering to your every need, to being simply a clock and timer on your wrist. Have you been scrolling through pages of watches, trying to work out what’s best for you amidst long lists of fancy functions? Don’t fret, you’ve come to the right place… We’ve done the work for you and selected the top sailing watches from dinghy racing to lifetime voyages. 

Whether you’re a beginner skipper, experienced sailor , or globe explorer , here’s some of the top sailing watches out there from Garmin to Suunto. All the information you need… on your wrist!

Our Selection Process

How we selected these top-quality, top-performance sailing watches…

Brilliant durability.

Top water resistance.

Great visibility.

Exciting functionality.

Ronstan ClearStart Race Timer Sailing Watch

Why we chose it:

• Racing specific watch 
• Easy to press silicon buttons, great visibility 
• Robust design with ‘bumper’ around display
• 50m water resistant
• Includes ‘5-4-1-0’ and Match Racing start sequence programmes

Optimum Time Series 12 Sailing Yachting and Dinghy Watch

• A sailing-specific watch
• Water Resistant to 50m
• Large number display
• Comfortable silicone strap
• Boom/mast mount bracket supplied
• Elasticated strap for wrist or over sleeve wearing

Suunto 9 Baro

• Advanced watch for adventurous sailors 
• Over 80 sport modes
• 100m water resistant
• Touch screen sapphire glass
• GPS tracking and navigation 
• Additional functions: Sleep tracking, weather, multiple sport modes
• Four predefined battery modes – Performance, Endurance, Ultra and Tour – ranging from 25 hours to up to 170 hours while recording time, with GPS on.
• Withstood several extreme tough tests
• Connects to Suunto app for easy data viewing, and connecting to partners like Strava and Adidas

Casio Lithium Quartz (WS-1300H-2AVEF)

• Great value 
• Sailing specific watch 
• High quality plastic strap 
• Tide graph and moon phase

Garmin Quatix 7 Smartwatch (Standard)

• Sailing specific watch
• 16 days of battery life/ 42 hours in GPS mode
• Rugged and large 1.3″ always-on AMOLED display
• Traditional and touchscreen buttons
• Connects with select compatible Garmin chartplotters and remote control of key MFD features, including chart zoom, layout shortcut, Fusion® stereo, autopilot and more.
• Autopilot control from your watch 
• Stream data including wind, water depth, and engine RPM
• View coastal charts and freshwater maps from your wrist 
• Also designed for deep water and inland fishing
• And so much more…

Casio G-Shock (GA-100CF-1A9ER)

• 200m water resistant 
• Average speed display 
• Automatic Illuminated display
• Low temp resistant (-10 degrees centigrade) 
• Anti-slip oversized buttons
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