What’s new in Sailboats?

Honour to whom honour is due, the world leader Bénéteau is sparing no effort to always offer the best innovation-quality-price ratio. This year, the Vendéen boatbuilder is exhibiting the Océanis 41, 45 and 48, an almost complete range of large cruisers which, although only just launched, has already become a reference.

Designed as a family living space on the water, these new models benefit already from innovations developed for the Sense range in 2010: lighting, impressive intérieur space, spacious and open to the water-based recreational activites, with a modernised and stable hull.

And since the Sense (photo below) are making a sensation, Bénéteau will present in world preview in Paris the Sense 55, flagship of this innovtive series.

“Cousin” Jeanneau , a subsidiary of the Bénéteau group, but with its own personality, is also pursuing its faultless performance in the Sun Odyssey crusier range, with the new 379, 439, 509 and 44DS (photo below). The latter represents the French know-how in sailing yachts built for living aboard, with a huge aft cabin. A consistent range of vessels benefiting from the immense experience of the shipyard, constantly renewed leaving the competition no chance!

The oldest of the French challengers is an historic trademark, pioneer of modern boatbuilding: Dufour.

After the new and highly successful 335 and 445, packed full of artifice and innovations, the shipyard this year is presenting for its world preview at Nautic a new 36-footer (photo below) designed for pure performance. This new model heralds a new range clearly oriented toward speed and racing, while preserving the typical DNA of Dufour with a very advanced design and elaborate finish.

As a French response to the Danish X-Yachts , who have a developed two distinct product lines for cruising and racing, Dufour has segmented its offer to correspond as closely as possible to all desires.

The German challenger, Hanse , is presenting its new 495 and especially its 385 (photo below). The latter benefits from a large cockpit equipped with dual helms and one large pivoting rear platform, the trend of the moment.

There are many new models in the « medium » size sailboat range, as if the major boarbuilders are returning to this core market after years of offering ever larger vessels. The Dehler shipyard, now a part of Hanse, is bringing a new Dehler 41. It will share the share the spotlight with the Salona 38S, a Slovenian interpretation of the modern cruiser-racer.

These two new models will have their work cut out for them to face the Boat of the year 2011 chosen by a panel of trade professionals and readers of Voiles Magazine: just out the new J111 is already sowing terror on waters everywhere! French built, very high quality, with a simple but flawless finish, hair-raising performance, this new J is on track to become a reference among regatta competitors.

Among the specialised French shipyards, the northerner Wrighton is presenting his new Biloup 26, a beachable robust bilge keel that makes a good live-aboard. A delegation of Breton boats will be brought together under the banner of Britanny, omnipresent at Nautic 2011.

The small Astus trimarans, increasingly inspired by the racing multihulls, are offering a new 18 foot rapid rider: the 18.2.

And it is with pleasure that we once again find the ever innovative Ikone by Espace VAG, Malango by IDB Marine, Aviateur by Pichavant or Django by Marée Haute, voted Boat of the Year 2010.

Finally, the cruising multihulls have continued winning families over, while attending to their usage and image. Fountaine-Pajot, pioneer of the cruising catamaran, has thus developed a conception of positive energy positive for all of its boats, which will eventually have to achieve complete energy autonomy.

Lagoon, the leader, has continued developing its live-aboard range, focusing on the spaciousness and design of its houseboats, including the 400 which will be on show in Paris.