One way to gauge the relative success of a production sailboat is to look at the size of the model’s run: the quantity of hulls sold or the number of years it was offered. After investing in research and development, not to mention tooling and marketing, a company needs to spread those costs over as many boats as possible. To be a winner, a new model should be versatile and appeal to as many buyers as possible. Often, this means multiple layouts and options to meet the needs (and budgets) of private owners and charter companies.

But for the latest sailboat in the Jeanneau Yachts range, the French builder decided to focus primarily on owners. This 55-footer has a layout that borrows concepts more often found on midsize multihulls. There are spacious accommodations for the owner, separate staterooms where guests can come and go without disturbing one another, multiple places to gather or find privacy, and protected spots to navigate and spend time off watch—without having to be down below.

The result is a very different sort of sailboat. In fact, it would be safe to say that Cruising World’s Boat of the Year judging team had never seen anything quite like it when we arrived for a dockside inspection during the Annapolis Boat Show this past October in Maryland. In the end, we obviously approved of the concept. The Jeanneau Yachts 55 not only earned the title of Best Full-Size Cruiser, but it also it went on to take top honors as the 2024 Boat of the Year.

With so much that’s new and different about the 55, let’s start with what you discover the moment you board using the fold-down swim platform. You then step up to encounter a living/lounging/working area that starts at the transom and stretches forward to take up nearly half the boat’s topsides. The builder calls it a dual-cockpit layout, but that barely begins to describe all that’s going on there.

Two cushioned seating areas—one is U-shaped to starboard, and the other is an upside-down L-shape to port that opens up a walk-through path for boarding—are located across the transom. Each one surrounds a table that can be lowered to create party-size sun lounges. With the boat’s beam of 16 feet, 4 inches, that’s a lot of room to kick back and relax.

Under the port seats, there’s life-raft storage, and between the tables, there’s access to a garage below the deck. It could handle toys, an inflatable or even a Tiwal sailing tender.

Between the lounges and the pair of helm stations located just forward of them, there’s access on either side of the boat to the walk-around side decks that have become a Jeanneau trademark.

A fiberglass cockpit arch rises up just forward of the steering wheels. On the boat we visited in Annapolis, it connected an optional hard spray hood that covered the forward portion of the cockpit and main companionway, and a hard Bimini top (also an option) that protected the aft area. The Bimini had a nifty sliding fabric panel in the middle that could be opened for sun and stars, or shut for shade and rain.

Two more companionways are just under the arch, providing access to two private port and starboard guest staterooms. We’ll get to them in a minute. But first, let’s complete the tour of the topsides.

Tucked up forward, under the rigid spray hood, there is another smaller table to starboard with U-shaped seating around it. Call it a breakfast nook or a fine spot to sit and enjoy a book, no matter the weather outside. It’s opposite a forward-facing navigation desk with a chart plotter. Here, a watchkeeper is protected from the elements but still has a clear view all around.

Much like on a catamaran, there’s a provision for another cushioned lounge area on the broad foredeck, giving guests another place to enjoy the great outdoors.

The 55’s interior accommodations, designed by Andrew Winch, are just as unique as those found topsides. The builder describes the layout as being “owners first.”

I mentioned that two guest staterooms are accessible only from the cockpit. These give the crew (and owners) privacy that’s not possible on a conventional monohull, where all of the staterooms open into the salon.

To port is a VIP stateroom with en suite head and shower, and enough additional space to allow for a small sitting area with a desk or vanity. The starboard guest stateroom, also with en suite head and shower, is a bit smaller because of the location of the galley in the salon, but it still has a double berth. Both staterooms have 6-foot-5-inch headroom.

Stepping down the main companionway and into the salon and master stateroom, the first thought that comes to mind is that it resembles an efficiency or one-bedroom condo in some urban center. In fact, two-thirds of the interior space is intended for those paying the bills. A dining area with L-shaped seating takes up the port side of the salon, with a large-screen television mounted on the forward bulkhead for movie nights.

A galley is opposite, with an island counter amidships, giving the cook a solid place to brace while preparing meals underway.

Ports in the cabin top and hull let in loads of light, and white walls and overhead panels help keep things bright. The boat we sailed had teak-colored Alpi bulkheads and furniture; white oak is another option.

The owner’s stateroom is forward, through double doors. A double berth is offset to port, with lockers and a sitting area to starboard. A spacious head and shower compartment is farther forward.

Depending on how an owner plans to use the boat, the forepeak can be either a sail locker or a crew cabin.

Buyers also have options when it comes to a standard keel (8-foot) or shoal draft foil (6-foot-2-inch), and either a standard in-mast furling rig or a performance spar with full-batten main. The boat we sailed had the former, coupled with a versatile three-headsail sail plan that included a self-tending jib to simplify tacking upwind, an overlapping genoa for light-air days (both with electric furlers), and a downwind sail that’s flown from a continuous-line furler.

For motoring, the 55 is equipped with a 110 hp Yanmar diesel with a shaft drive and a three-blade Flexofold prop—and a bow thruster for close-quarters maneuvering. If I had to pick a nit, it would be engine access, which was through a hatch in the cockpit sole. It seemed adequate enough, though not necessarily convenient.

Loaded up with electronics and options, the price tag on the 55 in Annapolis was right around $1.4 million. That included Jeanneau’s Seanapps system, which provides remote boat monitoring, alerts and maintenance recommendations.

Underway, I found the 55 comfortable. The walk-around decks made it easy and safe to move about, and when I wasn’t doing the sailing, there were numerous places to relax and take in the sights.

When my turn came at the wheel, visibility all around was excellent, and electric winches made trimming sails effortless during singlehanded maneuvers. Steering by hand, you can stand inboard, out of the elements, or step out onto the side deck to feel the breeze in your face as you lean an arm over the stainless-steel life rail that encircles the cockpit.

Our test sail took place on Chesapeake Bay in variable conditions that ranged from nearly no breeze to gusts well into the high teens. Tacking in light air—about 5 knots or less—boatspeed was 3 to 4 knots. Later, reaching in 17- to 20-knot puffs, we trucked along effortlessly at 7-plus knots. Some boats do well in light air; some like big wind. The 55 lit right up in both. No wonder it’s a winner.

Designing Outside the Box

A casual sailor walking the docks at a boat show could be excused for thinking that these days, new boats all look pretty much alike. Sure, “innovations” are introduced annually, but a barbecue grill built into the transom or two cockpit tables instead of one are hardly radical innovations. And chines in the hull? Yup, pretty much everybody’s got ’em too now.

But in fall 2023, there wasn’t any other new sailboat introduced to North America that looked anything like the Jeanneau Yachts 55.

When the concept for the boat began to take shape under the shadow of the pandemic, Erik Stromberg, currently the vice president of power and motor yacht development at Jeanneau, was still a sailboat guy and leader of the design team. Tasked with coming up with a sistership for the Jeanneau Yachts 60 and 65, his logical step might have been to simply scale things down. And in fact, designer Philippe Briand did just that.

But the design team also asked, “What happens if you take a 55-foot boat and design it the way people actually use and live on the boat?” Stromberg says. Answering that question led them down a concurrent conceptual path—still toward a big, elegant cruising yacht, but one with more protection and bigger spaces to live in on deck, not to mention a different approach to staterooms that might not be used all the time.

Briand and interior designer Andrew Winch listened to the ideas and went to work.

Ironically, this owner-focused boat drew inspiration from an earlier Jeanneau model called the Sun Loft 47, a six-stateroom vessel designed strictly for Yacht Week events in Europe, where charterers pack the boat with as many people as possible. To make room for six staterooms belowdecks, the galley and entertaining area on the Sun Loft were moved topsides. With the onset of COVID-19, though, chartering shut down, and demand for the Sun Loft waned.

Stromberg says that so far, Jeanneau has orders for more than 30 of the 55s, and the boat is showing broad appeal in Europe and Asia. Here in the States, two were sold during the show in Annapolis—one to a couple who plans to go cruising with their 10-year-old daughter, and another to a couple on the Great Lakes who want a boat to sail and entertain friends. A third is under consideration by a couple of engineers who want to have their offices on board.

Stromberg says that the yard can build 17 or 18 boats a year, and the production run should fall somewhere in the 60- to 70-boat range. He calls the Yachts 55 an interesting project, the challenge being to stay within the limits of what has to work on a sailboat while still being creative.

“We need to keep innovating,” Stromberg says.

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With each passing year, it seems that top-end, fully found cruising boats become more powerful and sophisticated. They have ever-advancing construction techniques; major developments in charging systems, energy efficiency and propulsion; and fresh approaches to layouts and interior accommodations. All three of this year’s Boat of the Year nominees for Best Full-Size Cruiser well represented the state-of-the-art approach of their respective naval architects and manufacturers, and the fascinating results are a collection of all-oceans bluewater sailboats that can take us anywhere in the world we wish to go.  

Winner: Jeanneau Yachts 55

It’s not every year that the winner of the Full-Size Cruiser division wins the Overall Boat of the Year prize, and for 2024, the Jeanneau Yachts 55 had stiff competition from the likes of the superb Dragonfly 40, the versatile Italia 14.98, the long-legged Vision 444, and other category champions. But as the judges learned in our two visits to inspect and then sail this massive 55-footer, it’s a boat that grows on you. Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt, in this case; it instills respect. It takes a bit of time to appreciate exactly what transpires here, and it is certainly not a boat for everyone. But Jeanneau dared to do something different, and then doubled down with that conviction. And for that bold action, we rewarded the builder. 

Runner-up: Hanse 510

After a brief hiatus from Boat of the Year, the major German production builder reentered the fray with a voluminous 51-footer whose layout signals a growing trend in larger cruising boats: the separation of topside space from working areas and social ones. Judge Mark Pillsbury viewed it from the context of his own sailing experience: “Being primarily a New England sailor, I liked the cockpit options that we saw on the Hanse 510. The boat is available with the usual low-profile coachroof and open cockpit, but our test boat in Annapolis had a fiberglass arch over the companionway and a windshield, with a clear acrylic panel in between. The boat also had a solid fiberglass Bimini top with a panel that slides open on Ronstan cars, so it was easy to open and close. Together, this set extends the sailing season for cooler-climate types from spring to late fall. Under sail upwind, the self-tacking jib made the 510 easy to handle, and when cracked off to a reach, the code zero gave us plenty of power to see speeds approaching 8 knots in maybe 12 knots of breeze.”

Runner-up: Hallberg-Rassy 57

When not serving as a Boat of the Year judge, Tim Murphy serves as the curriculum and education director for the American Boat and Yacht Council. He not only brings a critical eye to his inspections, but he also looks at how boats comply with ABYC standards. He liked what he saw with the Hallberg-Rassy 57: “It’s an exquisitely built boat, and exquisitely fitted out. The systems installations are the ones I’ll feature in future ABYC study guides about labeling and organizing, with the heading ‘How To Do It Right.’ It’s been designed to be used and maintained to the highest standards. The house system (chart plotter, VHF radio, thruster, etc.) is a 24-volt lithium-battery package; it compares favorably with the HH44 we tested for innovation. The custom Selden carbon mast is as exquisite as the rest of the boat. It’s this year’s most expensive boat, but it deserves flagship status.”

Judge Mark Pillsbury added: “Anyone in the market for an elegantly built, powerfully rigged, go-anywhere bluewater cruiser will want to have the Hallberg Rassy 57 on their must-see list. Of all the boats we looked at this year, none better met the description of luxury yacht than this Swedish beauty. It was the most expensive boat we saw, but in this case, ‘you get what you pay for’ rings true—in a good way.”

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In the great mono-versus-cat debate, what does a cruising multihull have that a monohull doesn’t? The typical reply would be lots of deck space, multiple places to gather, private accommodations for the owner and guests, and if there’s a flybridge, a great view in every direction. What’s not to like, right?

But for many sailors, there’s a trade-off to be made when it comes time to write a check for a new boat, because a similar size monohull is probably going to be more fun to sail, especially upwind, and all things being equal lengthwise, the monohull is likely easier to fit in a marina slip and less expensive to maintain because there’s one engine instead of two, and systems such as AC and electrical are confined to a single hull.

So, tired of seeing customers kick the keels of its monohulls only to slap down a deposit on a cat, French builder Jeanneau decided it was time to start with a black piece of paper and come up with a design that marries cat-style living with monohull performance. They call it the Jeanneau Yachts 55.

It’s a heck of a boat. Naval architect Philippe Briand and interior designer Andrew Winch have created a powerful hull form with loads of interior volume, an enormous cockpit that stretches from the stern to nearly the mast, with the option to enclose much of that area with a hard dodger and Bimini, the latter with a center panel that opens to let in sun by day and stars by night.

Accommodations are unique. The 55 that was introduced to North America during the 2023 Annapolis Boat Show included the Bimini, and it covered a pair of tables that can be lowered to become sunbeds. They are well aft, adjacent to the fold-down swim platform. Forward of them are twin wheels, with sheets leading aft to electric winches at each steering console.

Each helm station abuts a companionway. To port, steps lead down to a large VIP cabin with a seating area, desk, and en suite head and shower. There’s a smaller guest cabin to starboard, also with its own head and shower.

Amidships, beneath the dodger, there’s another table with U-shaped seating to starboard and a nav station, complete with plotter to port. It’s a great place to sit. With windows overhead, forward and to either side, the view tremendous. Just aft of the mast, the main companionway leads to the salon and owner’s suite below. It includes a well-equipped galley to starboard, a table to port, and the owner’s private cabin, head, and shower forward.

Just like on a cat, owners and guests have a place of their own.

Comfortable dockside, the 55 lights up under sail. The boat in Annapolis came rigged with an in-mast roller furling, a self-tacking jib, a genoa and a code zero—in other words, a quiver of sails well-suited for changing conditions and any point of sail. In shifty conditions, with wind that ranged from single digits to the high teens, the boat had some get-up-and-go. In 4 knots of breeze, the speedo read 3.4 knots. In 17 knots, it was more like 7s and 8s.

And it was a fun boat to sail. At the wheel, the person on the helm can sit inboard, under the cover of the Bimini, with great visibility through the dodger’s windows, or else step out on to the walk-around side deck and lean against the solid stainless-steel railing of the rear pulpit that’s carried amidships. Out there, with one hand on the wheel, the wind’s in your face and the water’s rushing by. You know, it feels like you’re sailing—and that’s just what the creators of the Yachts 55 intended.

The Jeanneau Yachts 55 awarded Boat of the Year Overall Winner

To learn more about the Jeanneau Yachts 55, contact your local Jeanneau dealer: CLICK HERE

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At first glance, there’s a certain familiarity to the Jeanneau Yachts 55. Once upon a time, 50-plus-foot cruising boats were a rarity in far-flung ports, but they are now quite common. And of all the production builders, Jeanneau has long enjoyed a strong reputation for building boats that sail exceedingly well.  

What separates Jeanneau’s new 55-footer—and ultimately sealed the deal as our pick for Overall Boat of the Year for 2024—is what happens when you step aboard. The experience brings to mind the title of that old Monty Python film And Now for Something Completely Different. Jeanneau’s design team, collaborating with naval architect Philippe Briand on the hull and interior designer Andrew Winch for the layout and accommodations, took a blank sheet of paper and created something fetching and unique.

But that’s not to say it was a slam dunk from the get-go. In fact, judge Herb McCormick said: “When I first stepped aboard and looked around, I was actually pretty confused. There were wide-open spaces topside, but the interior was compartmentalized. It just seemed rather incongruous. But once we got under sail and I spent some time getting familiarized on board, it all started to make sense.” 

Judge Tim Murphy said: “It goes back to something the team at Excess catamarans, Jeanneau’s Groupe Beneteau stablemate, said to us. There, they built a catamaran to attract monohull buyers. Here, they built a monohull to attract catamaran buyers. As a marketing ploy, it makes sense. Jeanneau has many clients who start with, say, a 34-footer, then buy larger models. The sales side noticed that when clients get into their mid-50s, they start looking at the space of catamarans. They took a real flier with the interior accommodations, in that they’re very different from what we’ve seen in other monohulls. From the companionway forward is entirely dedicated to the owners. The two guest suites are accessed separately from the cockpit. In the end, Jeanneau tried a really new thing. And I applaud them for it.”

The deck layout is also well-thought-out and innovative. “Under sail on a crisp day, I thoroughly enjoyed sitting out of the breeze under the big hard dodger and Bimini,” added judge Mark Pillsbury. “The on-deck nav station and plotter is ingenious. At the wheel, I liked the way you could step to the side deck, lean against the rail, and get a clear view of the sails with the wind in your face. For cruising, the three-headsail rig that they put on the 55 gives the crew lots of options to shift gears as the boat changes points of sail. The self-tacking jib makes upwind work effortless. And the genoa and code-zero sails provide lots of horsepower once you crack off and sail deeper. I came away feeling that the 55 would be a fun boat to sail and also to hang out on with a pair of couples or the family. And that was the point, right?”

McCormick also came around to his colleagues’ way of thinking: “We’ve seen Jeanneau take chances before, and they always seem to come up aces. Their little 34-footer was a BOTY winner, and they’ve sold hundreds of them. They were on the leading edge of the deck-salon craze and executed those models extremely well. The side-deck arrangement they introduced a couple of years ago was a ​ gamechanger that we’re starting to see adopted by other brands. And here they are again with something very fresh and new. I’ve learned to stop betting against them. I have the feeling that this yacht, above and beyond our contest, is destined to be a winner.”

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On the heels of the Jeanneau Yachts 60 and 65, the French boatbuilder synonymous with sailing in style premieres its latest prodigy, the Jeanneau Yachts 55, at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Our editors first saw the 55 as a scale model back at the 2023 Miami Boat Show. A quick study suggested it was anything but another everyday sailboat design. With this new model, Jeanneau has emphasized the idea of building a boat around its potential owners’ needs, with an eye on long-range cruising in more space and comfort than ever before.

The Jeanneau 55 was penned in a collaboration between Philippe Briand Yacht Design, Winch Design and Jeanneau. According to the builder, the 55 sought inspiration from catamarans for space optimization. That approach is evident in the final product.

It starts with the boat’s exterior, in the form of a true dual cockpit setup. The twin helm stations are positioned a bit forward, leaving a wide area abaft for entertainment and relaxation, with two sofas: one U-shaped and one L-shaped, which both convert to sun lounges, and a hydraulic swim platform. Sheltered by an optional hardtop arch, the helm area and forward “exterior salon” include a chart table with a GPS screen and autopilot controls, all protected by a wraparound windscreen with excellent visibility. The streamlined foredeck also includes plenty of real estate for a sun-lounge, which can be shaded with a canopy at anchor.

Below the waterline, it’s a dual rudder system and a sturdy keel (either a traditional L-shaped fin keel with a weighted bulb or an optional shallow-draft version). At 40,878 pounds with a D/L of 125.5 and a 26 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, it extends its beam throughout, adding a topside chine for more interior volume.

Its sail configuration comprises a modern fractional sloop rig, enhanced by an attractive bowsprit. Versatile rig options are available. Downwind performance can be enhanced with an optional asymmetrical spinnaker, spanning 2,690 square feet. 

The Jeanneau 55 employed advanced composite materials in the build, with elegant wooden accents carrying a sense of timeless craftsmanship. Inside, the 55 sports a distinctive three-cabin layout, providing roomy, comfortable accommodations for up to six guests. Designed with a private apartment in mind, the forward owner’s suite occupies nearly two-thirds of the main interior. The cabin has an inviting island berth, while the salon offers an inviting L-shaped settee and two comfortable chaises. Two aft cabins offer cozy double berths, each accessible via its dedicated staircase from the protected cockpit salon. A functional crew cabin can be integrated into the bow as an option.

The starboard-side galley has a streamlined design, incorporating an island with a cooktop, an ice storage unit and a double sink. The 55 has three private heads, one in each cabin. Cabin headroom is also a plus, at over six and a half feet.

Attributed with the 55’s living spaces, design Andrew Winch says ergonomics are essential to the success of any boat design. “I was so pleased with the Jeanneau range, I even bought one for myself,” he says. “I have always wanted a yacht that was as comfortable as this and performed extremely well as an ocean sailing yacht. If there is one unifying thread which runs through all of our design departments, it’s our commitment to designing not just spaces for clients, but lifestyles.”

Jeanneau Yachts 55 Specifications

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First impressions count, and mine were definitely ­favorable as I approached the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 with CW’s Boat of the Year ­judges during October’s United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland. Something about the way the reverse bow’s knuckle hovered just above the water caught my eye. Toss in pronounced hull chines carried aft from amidships, a low-slung coachroof and a high-aspect rig, and this boat hinted at the potential for some serious giddyap-and-go.

And it did, as we found out a few days later, when we went for a sail on a delightfully sunny morning on Chesapeake Bay.

The breeze was decent, about 15 knots. Sailing hard on the wind, we saw 7 knots and change on the GPS; we pushed it past 8 knots when we cracked off to a close reach. The 380 comes with a sprit that does double duty as an anchor roller and tack for off-wind sails, but a code zero wasn’t available (or we might have bumped the speedo by another knot or so while reaching deeper).

Judge Tim Murphy summed up our time aboard fairly well later in the day: “It really was a lovely boat to sail. Boy, we got out there this morning; the breeze was light, and you really, really felt the pleasure of going sailing. That’s quite successful.”

After my trick at the wheel, I wrote in my notes, “super-­responsive.” Naval architect Mark ­Lombard knows how to draw slippery hulls, and with twin rudders, the 380 immediately zigged and zagged with just a turn of the wheel. I ­believe they call it fingertip steering. 

The helms are far aft in the cockpit, adjacent to the manual ­fold-down transom/swim platform, and there is a clean path between them. This ­design allows the helmsman to move easily from side to side. I had no problem tacking the boat single-handed, releasing the loaded-up ­genoa sheet and the crossing to trim to the new heading. A single Harken sheet winch was just forward of either wheel. Another pair of Harken winches was on the cabin top, to either side of the companionway, for halyards, reef lines and a vang control.

The 380 uses a double-ended main sheet attached to a bridle with anchors on either side of the cabin top. Sheet ends are led to stoppers at either wheel so that they can be locked off and the coaming winches can be used for genoa trimming. Rather than using fairlead cars and tracks, the genoa jib sheets are led through friction rings on either side of the mast. The rings are each controlled by inhaul and outhaul lines, which means you can position the clew where you want it and really fine-tune sail shape. It takes a little getting used to, but it’s a ­pretty ­nifty feature. The boat we sailed was set up with a 110 ­percent genoa on a roller ­furler; a track for a self-tacking jib is an option.

Forward of the helms, the 380 has a roomy, well-laid-out cockpit. A centerline table has fiberglass leaves that drop to allow a clear path forward to either side, and its stainless-­steel tube frame provides a solid handhold. The boat we visited had cushions on the coamings and seats, and the benches were long enough for the off-watch crew to stretch out and grab some rest.

A few years ago, Jeanneau introduced walkaround decks to the Sun Odyssey line, and the builder has now brought this concept to the 380, likely the smallest boat that will see it. The side decks ramp down to the level of the cockpit sole, so you just have to walk out from either wheel and then forward up a relatively gentle incline. Besides ease of use for older crew, the arrangement means the lifeline and stern pulpit are about waist-high at the after end of the boat (good for safety as well). Forward of about amidships, the lifelines are at their typical 24-inch height. Thick, molded toe rails help keep feet from sliding overboard when the boat’s heeling.

Two last notes about the topsides: The 380 has no backstay, meaning an owner can hoist a square top main for added performance (our boat had a traditional main, stowed in a boom pouch when not in use). The trade-off is relatively low lower shrouds that need to be ducked when heading for the foredeck, though the low coachroof makes stepping up and past them tolerable.

Down below, the 380 has a fairly traditional layout by Jean-Marc Piaton, who’s had a hand in styling the entire Sun Odyssey range. A centerline drop-leaf table is forward in the saloon, surrounded by U-shaped seating to port; opposite is a long settee, with a kind of cool inboard armrest at its forward end. It lets you face aft and relax, or turn to converse with mates across the table. At the opposite end are a nav station and the boat’s electrical panel.

The galley is abaft the ­dinette. It has a gimbaled ­propane two-burner stove and oven, as well as generous refrigeration space. The counters have deep fiddles, and there’s enough stowage to provision for extended time at sea.

There are multiple ­options for sleeping ­accommodations. The boat we saw had a three-stateroom, two-head ­layout, with a shared head and shower compartment to starboard, at the foot of the companionway. With the two-stateroom, one-head arrangement, you gain a second hanging locker in the owner’s stateroom forward, and the stateroom aft and to starboard is reconfigured for a separate shower, as well as room for a workshop or stowage. If it were my boat, that’s what I’d choose.

Jeanneau injects the ­balsa-cored deck of the 380, which means there is a finished top and bottom ­surface when it comes out of the mold. The hull is hand-laid and solid fiberglass. There are two cast-iron fixed keels available: shoal draft (5 feet, 3 inches) and standard (6 feet, 6 inches). There’s also a lifting keel option. At 54 feet, 6 inches, the rig is Intracoastal Waterway-friendly. Our boat had a 29 hp Yanmar and shaft drive (a 40 hp Yanmar is optional). A base-model SO 380 starts at $237,000. The boat we sailed, with canvas, air conditioning, electronics and a stereo system among the options, will run you about $350,000, delivered and commissioned to the East Coast of the United States. 

Though I began with a nod to first impressions, my ­lasting impression of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 is favorable too. Or, as Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman put it,
“Yeah, cool boat.”

Mark Pillsbury is a CW editor-at-large.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 Specifications

Sea Trial

For a complete guide to ­Cruising World’s extensive ­online ­catalog of boat reviews, or to ­request ­reprints from our older print ­archives of reviews, go to ­cruisingworld.com/sailboats.

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Once upon a time, midsize cruisers, 30 to 40 feet, dominated the market, and harbors across the US were filled with what were once considered to be “big” family sailboats. In this size range, a boat could sleep six or seven crew, with some models even offering one or more private staterooms. These boats often offered amenities such as hot and cold pressurized water, a shower and refrigeration, and they were capable coastal cruisers, while some went on extended voyages, including circumnavigations.

Sadly, the proliferation of midsize sailboats—and dozens of American builders launching them—is no longer the case. In fact, in this post-pandemic era, the midsize cruiser is an endangered species; the major overseas production boatyards have largely abandoned the entry-level buyer in lieu of manufacturing bigger boats that address the demand for three, four and even five private cabins, often with en suite heads. But all is not lost for sailors looking for new boats under 40 feet because there are still several companies knocking out quality vessels in well-designed packages that will get you just about anywhere you wish to go. Here’s a trio of craft that fits that bill and, collectively, they made a splash at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland this year.

The “C” in German builder Bavaria’s C38 is for “cruising,” and more specifically, as stated by company reps, family coastal cruising. It’s a sweet spot for the under-40-foot market, and Bavaria has managed to pack a lot of punch in that length overall. Hard chines maximize the interior volume, and the three staterooms in this roomy two-head 38-footer are expansive and impressive. BOTY judge and yacht designer Gerry Douglas noted the wide radius of the bow, which allowed the owner’s cabin below to be pushed far forward, making the most of the interior space.

Twin wheels have become the rule, not the exception, in contemporary cruisers, and the Bavaria’s are stationed well outboard, which provides plenty of visibility forward and a nice passage from the cockpit to the drop-down transom and boarding ladder. Sail control lines are led aft to winches at either wheel. The boat our judges sailed had an easy-to-manage self-tacking jib and an in-mast furling main; an over-lapping genoa is available for owners looking for a little more oomph from the rig. 

The C38 was designed by Cossutti Yacht Design, a firm known for slippery hulls. Underway, its single rudder felt responsive, and on a close reach, the boat scooted along nicely. 

Overall, judge Ed Sherman thought its stated purpose—”a family coastal cruiser”—was an honest and straightforward one.

The Sun Odyssey 380 is the fourth boat in Jeanneau’s line of cruising sailboats to employ the walk-around deck that has earned a host of awards and recognition in Boat of the Year circles. Rather than having to climb over the coaming to reach the deck, the side deck slopes down as it passes the cockpit, so crew can simply walk around either of the two helms and stroll forward. An added bonus is the height of the rear pulpit railings and lifelines as one makes the transition.

This latest design from performance-oriented French naval architect Marc Lombard combines a host of go-fast features: twin wheels and dual rudders; an integrated bowsprit for setting quick-reaching and running sails; a high-aspect rig that will acquit itself well not only for speedy passages, but also for those inclined to mix it up on the club racecourse. 

The boat we sailed had a traditional main and boom sail pouch, which was a refreshing change from the in-mast furling sails many of the other boats in the fleet carried. Rather than fairleads mounted on genoa tracks, the over-lapping jib’s sheets are run through friction rings that can be adjusted up and down, as well as in and out, an arrangement that allows for true fine-tuning of the sail’s shape. The result, well, let judge Tim Murphy weigh in here: “It really was a lovely boat to sail. Boy, and we got out there this morning, the breeze was light and you really, really felt the pleasure of going sailing.”

The 380 was comfortable, as well. Down below, the layout is traditional, with a simple saloon incorporating the galley, dining area and nav station. What’s not broken need not be fixed.

Rounding out this category was a very different boat, the Hallberg-Rassy 340, built in Sweden at a yard renowned for its bluewater cruisers.

At 80, the great Argentinian naval architect Germán Frers is a living legend, with an unparalleled career designing everything from high-end race boats to superyachts. But Frers is nothing if not versatile, which he proved with this beautiful, twin-wheeled cruiser. Judge Ed Sherman summarized its winning appeal: “We started our sea trial with no wind, then it built slowly. And this boat sailed beautifully. It’s such high quality; it’s high-end, furniture-grade interior versus the Ikea treatment we sometimes see. What an impressive boat.”

The other judges were not far behind in their praise of this twin rudder, twin wheel boat—quite a change of pace for the builder, though it allows for beam to be carried farther aft, creating additional volume for accommodations below. 

In describing the design brief, judge Tim Murphy recalled that the importer of the boat described it as being intended for a cruising couple to go out for a weekend, a week or a month. In practical terms, this translates into adequate storage, a workable galley and accommodations that allow a crew to feel secure and stay rested, both underway and at anchor.

Said Murphy, “I love the interior of that Hallberg-Rassy maybe more than any boat in this year’s fleet. I loved being in that space.” And his colleagues did too, which is how the 340 came to be named Best Midsize Cruiser (Under 40’).

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So what, exactly, constitutes a “luxury cruiser”? It’s certainly up for debate and open for interpretation. However, for the purposes of this discussion directly related to the 2022 Boat of the Year contest, let’s go down a checklist: price tag in the seven figures? Check. Over 60 feet? Check. Provisions for a “crew cabin” so the boat can accommodate a professional skipper and/or mate? Check. Not every one of the boats in this category will require the latter (the CNB 66 we tested was owned and operated by a very experienced cruising couple, who had voyaged extensively aboard her), but you get the idea. These are big, rangy, systems-rich, well-executed cruisers with the ability to take you anywhere on the planet (another criteria). State-of-the-art? Check. And a big challenge for the BOTY judges to test and analyze? Check, mate.

The Contest 67 CS was the first up on the docket, which the BOTY team examined and then sailed on a windy Chesapeake Bay afternoon on the concluding afternoon of 2022’s U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland. 

Judge Tim Murphy said: “The Contest comes from a Dutch boatyard, and while this is the most expensive boat in this year’s competition, they do really fine work, and this yacht certainly reflected that. It’s built to Lloyd’s specifications, so there’s a high level of inspection in the quality of construction, the systems and so on. It’s more on the boutique side of the equation as far as production boats are concerned. And man, she really sailed well.” Gerry Douglas said: “It was presented as a blue-water performance cruiser, and it certainly met those qualifications. Vacuum-infused construction with a foam core: pretty high-tech for a traditional-looking boat.” Frankly, the BOTY crew was blown away by the sophistication and presentation of the Contest, which was run by the young couple of pro sailors who are entrusted to her care and management. 

Next up was the Dufour 61, the company’s flagship vessel, which is somewhat of a departure from previous models from the well-established French builder. Having tested many a Dufour in previous BOTY contests, Tim Murphy was well-acquainted with the brand. “Dufour has done well here over the years,” he said. “They generally have a few common denominators: They come in at a fair price point within their given category, and they usually have a strong mix of good accommodations and performance, though I’d say they typically lean more toward the performance end of the equation.” Now under new management, the company is taking a different tack: While Dufours used to share a common aesthetic, the 470 (the smaller of two Dufour yachts entered in the 2022 BOTY contest) and the 61 are clearly different craft. A new Dufour age is upon us—an interesting one.

Of course, Jeanneau is another French brand that has enjoyed entering many a winning vessel in previous BOTY contests. A collaboration between renowned French naval architect Philippe Briand and British interior designer and stylist Andrew Winch, the Jeanneau Yachts 60 is part of the company’s high end Yachts collection, which also includes a 51, 54 and 65. The profile is striking, with a long waterline, sleek coach roof, a cockpit arch that anchors the mainsheet and provides the foundation for an opening Bimini and enclosed cockpit dodger, and an integrated bowsprit from which to launch both the ground tackle and a code zero reacher or asymmetric kite. A dedicated dinghy garage houses a RIB, and there are multiple interior -layouts from which to choose. Like several recent Jeanneaus, the Yachts 60 incorporates the walk-around deck layout that is the signature feature of BOTY category winners over the last few years. 

But it was the final French entry in the Luxury class, making its US debut at the Annapolis show, that exceeded the efforts of all the others. The BOTY judges actually inspected a pair of CNB 66s, a semicustom yacht with countless available options. The dockside model was brand new; the one we sailed had been cruised by a husband and wife for two years (underscoring the company’s claim that it could indeed be handled by a savvy sailing couple). Judge Gerry Douglas found much to like: “The build quality was just impeccable. The layout [of the older CNB] was terrific; they didn’t try to cram things in but had three really nice cabins with en suite heads and a nice desk/office area, plus the chart table. Aesthetically, it’s a really pretty boat. The owner understood how to sail it well, and he had a system where he could handle it solo. He proved that you could operate a big, sophisticated boat alone.”

In fact, that demonstration played a big role when the time came to deliberate the pros and cons of this big-boat class. “The sail plan really worked for the (heavy) displacement of the boat,” said Murphy. “It was a real pleasure to sail. You know, when we started to see boats getting this big marketed to couples, maybe 10 years ago, we were all extremely skeptical about whether it would really work. You know, can they actually handle it when things get real? And it was lovely, actually, to spend time with the people who have been doing it for more than a year and have some real ocean miles under their belt at this point. And I’m a believer that they can. So that was good, I thought. It was a big, big boat, but it looked like it worked. And we sailed it today in very light air, and she moved well. So, I came away with a stronger impression after being aboard with the owners under sail.”

In such a competitive class, even in light winds, the sail trial swayed the votes in favor of the CNB 66, so much so that it was the runaway winner of the Best Luxury Cruiser category for 2022.

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