A victorious vision
Local boat builder Vision Yachts recently received one of the most prestigious awards that can be bestowed on any boat builder around the world. They were handed the Best Cruising Catamaran Under 50 award in the 2024 Cruising World Boat of the Year awards.
The announcement was made on Wednesday 6 December and marks the first time that Vision Yachts has triumphed at the awards, which CEO and co-founder James Turner described as the "Oscars of the yachting world".
The Boat of the Year awards are organised annually by sailing magazine and website Cruising World, and have been held for the past 25 years.
2024 competition
The annual awards, selected by an independent judging team, recognise the best new production cruising boats and multihulls laid out and equipped for coastal and offshore sailing and voyaging. This year's judging panel is comprised of systems expert Tim Murphy of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), and previous CW editorsin-chief Mark Pillsbury and Herb McCormick.
This year, 19 new sailboats from top boat builders around the globe battled for the coveted Boat of the Year title. Boats are judged in eight categories with one of the most competitive categories being the Best Cruising Catamaran Under 50 feet category. The Vision 444 won this category.
Lots of praise for the Vision 444
The announcement was made in an online video last week, and judges were full of praise for the Vision 444.
"In a lot of cats [catamarans] these days, sailing is an afterthought, but on this boat it was all about the sailing," Pillsbury said. Murphy wasn't shy with his praise either, highlighting that they conducted their test sail (whereby they judge the boat) with the owner of the vessel. "Every now and then we get really lucky on these test sails and we get to sail with the owner. This was a case where the owner really revealed a lot about the boat. He obviously is a guy who loves his boat and the boat showed why," he said. Finally, McCormick was very complimentary too, stating that the Vision 444 "was the clear winner in the class".
A proud moment
The triumph truly meant a lot to Turner and his team at Vision Yachts. "We are incredibly proud of our team and the hard work and innovation that they bring to the Vision 444. This is a fantastic
achievement as we faced strong competition, and I would like to thank Cruising World for running a fantastic campaign," he said.
According to Turner, the Vision 444 has been designed around real-world conditions where the boat needs to be selfsufficient but also provide the luxury and comfort that owners can enjoy.
"What sets us apart is that we sail a lot with our clients, and we take the feedback as well as our own experience to bring all these details together to provide the most efficient and comfortable sailing experience without compromising on performance," he said.
A showcase of durability
One thing that really stood out about their triumph was the fact that the boat won the competition despite the vessel being judged not being brand-new.
"It's a real testament to the quality and durability of the build, because the boat had already covered about 30 000km on the water before it underwent judging, while all of the other boats in competition were brand new," Turner explained. Vision Yachts is based in the Knysna Industrial area, with its factory in Boswerker Street.