MONOHULLS CRUISING
ELAN GT5 The latest from Slovenia’s Elan Yachts, which builds a wide range of racers and cruisers, the Elan GT5 represents the first of the company’s planned new “Gran Turismo” series, intended to combine comfort with performance afloat. Aft, in addition to a large swim platform, the boat boasts a cockpit galley featuring a fridge, grill and other amenities common to much larger boats. Forward, the clean deck design makes life easy for the crew, and includes dedicated cushions for sunbathing on the foredeck. Below, the accommodation plan includes an “inverted” saloon arrangement, with the galley forward and 180-degree “skylights” admitting scads of ambient light. Elan Yachts, elan-yachts.com
XC 38 One of the most highly regarded boatbuilders of our time, X-Yachts never disappoints, with the Xc 38 serving as the latest example of the company’s excellent “cruiser” line. Boasting rock-solid construction and carefully appointed joinery work belowdecks, the boat is also seakindly in the truest sense of the word with its deep, purposeful forefoot and moderate lines overall. Beyond that, the Xc 38 is carefully laid out so that it can be easily and safely handled by a couple, whether knocking around the harbor on a sunny day or on a passage. To this end, the boat includes twin helms, a large and powerful single rudder and a German-style mainsheet system. Aesthetically, the nearly plumb bow, springy sheer and traditional transom all work together to create a truly striking yacht. X-Yachts, x-yachts.com
HALLBERG-RASSY 412
After impressing sailors in Europe for a while now, the first Swedish-built HallbergRassy 412 has finally arrived in the United States, where this high-quality boat will undoubtedly attract plenty of attention. Configured with an aft cockpit, the HR 412 is designed to carry a small crew safely and comfortably either across the bay or across an ocean. To this end the standard rig flies a slightly overlapping headsail for easy handling (a self-tacking jib is also available), while a trademark Hallberg-Rassy windscreen helps protect the crew in a blow. Forward, a belowdeck headsail furler and no fewer than seven flush hatches serve to reinforce the boat’s clean lines. A gen set, washing machine, and bow and stern thrusters are all available as options.
Hallberg-Rassy, hallberg-rassy.com
MOODY DS54 The Bill Dixon-designed Moody DS54 combines the romance of passagemaking with the comfort and amenities of a powerboat, making it a compelling crossover design for those sailors contemplating switching to power—because now they don’t have to. Like the successful Moody DS45, the DS54, which missed out on last year’s East Coast boat shows, places the saloon and cockpit on the same level, with elevated helm stations aft, and staterooms and other accommodations a few steps down forward. It’s a novel and effective layout for a sailboat that makes a lot of sense and works even better. Moody, moodyboats.com
WAUQUIEZ PILOT SALOON 48
The French-built Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 provides a panoramic view of the outside world from belowdecks thanks not only to the boat’s carefully sculpted, eye-catching deck saloon, but the fact that the entire saloon is constructed on the same level. Beyond that, this bluewater cruiser features the same quality for which Wauquiez has long been renowned. Nice touches include room for a dinghy garage aft, a robust seakindly hull and a powerful rig. Wauquiez, wauquiez.com