Please select your home edition
Edition
Vetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 LEADERBOARD

Elan 350 wins European Yacht of the Year 2011 Performance Cruiser

by Gael Moldan on 24 Jan 2011
Aerial view Elan 350 - European Yacht of the Year 2011 Elan Marine
Once again, Elan has taken the top prize winning the 2011 European Yacht of the Year – Class Performance Cruiser with their sensational Elan 350 , the bold step- outside- the- square and revolutionary production yacht design by the celebrated Rob Humphreys.

Each year, the finest names in Europe’s boat industry are honored with the ‘Water Sports Oscars’, the international European Yacht of the Year 2011 , a title that is awarded in four categories and announced at the Düsseldorf Boat Show.

The Awards follow exhaustive testing over many months by a jury of editors-in-chief and test managers from eleven leading yachting magazines in Europe; first selecting the Nominations then Winners within the categories. The showpiece 350 model with her twin rudder, twin wheel, predominate chined hull was one of five nominations for this prestigious award.

The panel of judges assessed performance, comfort, construction quality, price -performance ratio, design and the unique selling criteria of each candidate. 'Performance levels were incredibly high this year. This made our decision very difficult in some cases,' said YACHT editor-in-chief Jochen Rieker, summarizing the current results. 'We were also impressed with the level of innovation shown by the boat builders and by their readiness to adapt elements from the regatta scene, for example,' added the yachting expert.

In fact several jury members voiced that the 350 is the production sailing yacht they would have chosen if they were buying their boat today. Judges Toby Hodges and Matthew Sheahan from Yachting World's review also had much praise and not at all surprising when Hodges has extolled, 'I can’t remember when I’ve had this much fun afloat before! …… Talk about a boat coming alive on the water. Perhaps a close second would have been the 350’s smaller sister, the Elan 310!'

They found the 350 steering direct and responsive and the boat a pleasure to sail, pushed hard the boat can do much more than what most people would dare to - just like a sports car. This boat is easy to handle, even under tough conditions.

It was agreed that the Elan 350 is the right boat if you are looking for a boat that balances between good sailing characteristics and covers the practical considerations for cruising, stating that there are a number of manufacturers that claim to offer this, but few deliver.

While the Dutch judge, Briek Waterkampioen, also writes he would like to own an Elan 350 – 'The boat combines the properties and what you need for cruising in a perfect way, 'says Briek. ??Interior design style does not appeal to everyone; light wood, dark floorboards and sharp corners provides a modern atmosphere, but also there are conservatives in the mix that miss Elan’s old mahogany furniture, 'says Curt Gélinas from Båtnytt.

Since the model’s launch, the Elan 350 is a boat that has caused such a buzz around the international sailing fraternity; much has been written about this boat and much video footage has been watched and re-watched. In fact as the statistics of the well informed sailing Norwegian website, Seilas’, show that in the top 10 most searched items, the Elan 350 has rated third - with no other sailing boat appearing in the top 10.

Whilst taking out one of this year’s ‘Water Oscars’, Elan also caught attention diving in yet another direction with the premiere display of their new petite model, Elan 210 with lifting keel and, as you would expect, excellent performance characteristics. (more on that can be followed up later)

Australian Importer Navsail have experienced much the same high level of interest and sales all round Australia throughout the year and also look forward to the Special 350 Regatta version with carbon Rig that will arrive for Sydney later in the year.

Navsail also look forward to opening a new path with Elan’s new model Elan 210. Contact Navsail for more details ; 02 99996730, elan@navsail.com.au, www.navsail.com.au.

Upffront 2020 Foredeck Club SW FOOTERVaikobi 2021 Boots - FOOTERNavico AUS Zeus3S FOOTER

Related Articles

Through Deck Bushes - All you need to know
How do you know which deck bush is the right one for the job? It's fairly common on modern boats to see rope passing through a surface, such as the deck, thwart or any other part of the hull. This rigging style ensures the rope takes the shortest path, meaning fewer turning points, less friction and less weight.
Posted today at 8:00 am
The final push through the Southern Ocean
The last week of the Southern Ocean Leg for Team Malizia We are in the final week of the Southern Ocean Leg of the iconic Ocean Race, with the teams estimated to arrive on 2nd April 2023 in Itajaí, Brazil.
Posted today at 7:07 am
Cup Spy Mar 29: ETNZ rip out the miles
In Auckland, ETNZ had a big day, covering 120nm in a session which lasted just under four hours Two teams sailed on Wednesday, March 29. In Auckland, ETNZ had a big day, covering 120nm in a session which lasted just under four hours, for the sixth day of sailing their AC75. The Brits looked good early in the session, cut it short after a failure.
Posted today at 2:21 am
Cup Spy Mar 28: Swiss achieve a benchmark
ETNZ ramp up testing - hitting 45kts plus, INEOS Britannia and the Swiss have solid test days Three teams sailed on Tuesday March 28 - with Emirates Team NZ working up their AC75 in Auckland, and hitting 45kts plus. Alinghi Red Bull Racing got their dry tack/gybe percentage up to a benchmark 80%, which is comparable with the top teams.
Posted today at 12:26 am
Road to Gold Q&A Call with Will Ryan
How diversifying across a range of sailing makes you a better racer Will Ryan achieved pretty much everything imaginable in the 470. Now that his hugely successful Olympic partnership with fellow Australian, Mat Belcher, is at an end, Will is in huge demand across a range of different boat types.
Posted on 29 Mar
Rolex Fastnet Race: The two-handed revolution
This year the doublehanders are mostly competing in IRC Two or Three Offshore yacht racing's greatest evolution recently has been the rise of doublehanding. No better demonstration of this is there than the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 50th Rolex Fastnet Race.
Posted on 29 Mar
The Ocean Race Leg 3 Day 31
Team Malizia leads the fleet north towards Brazil After passing Cape Horn and escaping the south, the big weather challenges haven't quite ended for The Ocean Race sailors yet.
Posted on 29 Mar
11th Hour Racing Team begins race to north
Malama passed the most iconic landmark of The Ocean Race on Tuesday Rounding Cape Horn is one of the great moments of any sailor's career, although the enjoyment tends to come later, a few weeks, months, or even years later, according to skipper Charlie Enright (USA).
Posted on 29 Mar
International fleet set for Rolex China Sea Race
Boasting multiple international and previous winners A strong fleet boasting multiple international and previous winners, is preparing to take on the 2023 Rolex China Sea Race.
Posted on 29 Mar
Black Knight: Team Germany's JJ Giltinan challenge
Since the first regatta in 1938, twenty one countries have been represented at the event Since the first regatta in 1938, twenty one countries have been represented by some of their best sailing talent as they attempted to win the world's greatest 18ft skiff championship, the JJ Giltinan World's 18 footer Championship.
Posted on 29 Mar