European Yacht of the Year - the shortlist

by Sail-World Cruising on 28 Jul 2009 If you're thinking of getting a new yacht any time soon - or even a second hand one, keeping an eye on who is doing well according to the 'experts' is all part of the research.

The shortlist for the 2009/10 European Yacht of the Year awards has been finalised.

This year's 'experts', the judges are made up from journalists on 11 yachting magazines across Europe. They will have the unhappy job of testing the nominated boats in Ijmuiden in the Netherlands in September, and then also in Barcelona in November.

This is the 7th time the awards have been offered, and the winners will be announced at the Düsseldorf boat show, Boot, in January 2010.

Here are the finalists:

Performance Cruiser:
Arcona 340
First 40
Grand Soleil 46
J-97
Winner 12.20

Family Cruiser:
Bavaria 32
Delphia 47
Dufour 405
Ovni 445
Sunbeam 30.1

Luxury Cruiser:
Allures 51
Feeling 52
Halberg Rassy 372
Jeanneau 57
Saare 41

Multihull:
Catana 41
Dragonfly 28
Lagoon 400
Lipari 41
Outremer 49

Special:
Comet 21
K-650
Olsen 370
Seascape 18
Tofinou 12m