For many cruisers, especially cruising couples, the roughly 40-foot length overall is their sweet spot: a yacht voluminous enough for comfy accommodations; long enough to sport enough heft and features for inshore and offshore adventures; yet not so grand that it becomes daunting to sail, moor or maintain. These Midsize nominees represent the bread-and-butter offerings of their respective brands, which means they need to be smart and well-executed. All four nominees achieved that goal. 

Winner: Hallberg-Rassy 40C

Swedish builder Hallberg-Rassy is no stranger to the Boat of the Year winner’s circle. In fact, the company’s 40-foot sistership to this new center-cockpit offering is the HR 400, the aft-cockpit version of the Germán Frers design, which in 2023 that was named the Import Boat of the Year in 2023. 

About the 40C, judge Tim Murphy got straight to the point: “Arguably, this was the best-built monohull in the fleet. Systems-wise—with the electrical labeling, analog breakers, engine layout and access, sound insulation, the doubled Racor filters—it was definitely best in show. She sailed over to the United States on her bottom, some 10,000 nautical miles, and looked fresh from the showroom. The 40C has the same-size cockpit as the HR 44, which is a pretty neat trick. It has a longer waterline and more volume than the company’s 10-year-old 40-footer that it replaced. And more volume equals more-powerful sailing. I jotted down this note after our test sail: ‘Steering is absolutely divine.’ What else is there to say?”

Beneteau Oceanis 37.1

Judge Mark Pillsbury was immediately drawn to the spacious interior of this rangy 37-footer: “I think the Beneteau 37.1 is a viable option for a cruising couple or family in search of a manageable new boat at a relatively affordable price,” he said. “There are a few possible layouts, but I liked the one we saw on our test boat, which, with two cabins and a single head, was quite practical. The forward cabin is roomy without a second head crammed into one corner, and the large storage area that’s accessed through the shower or the starboard cockpit locker provides lots of storage space for gear and toys.”

Judge Herb McCormick said, “added: “Sadly, this was the perhaps the last design from noted French naval architect Marc Lombard, who recently died. Under sail, this was certainly a vintage Lombard creation. He was known for his fast, slippery hull forms. We had a cracking great sail on the boat; in about 10 to 12 knots of breeze with the code zero, the knot meter registered 7s and 8s. Perched to weather with the boat heeled over, the helm was light, and it was an absolute blast to drive. TrèsTrès bien, Monsieur Lombard. Thank you for some thrilling sailing.”

Dufour 41

A longtime admirer of the Dufour line, judge Herb McCormick found a lot to like about this new 41-footer. “Umberto Felci has been the principal naval architect for Dufour for quite some time, but in recent years, he’s taken the brand in new directions. This latest offering, with its rounded bow, takes some inspiration from the Open 60 monohulls so prevalent in shorthanded offshore racing. There are two chines, one above the waterline and the other higher up the topsides, almost to the sheerline, which carries the beam well forward. I liked it.”

Judge Tim Murphy had an interesting observation related to the boat’s single rudder, particularly under power: “Compared with the twin-rudder boats we tested, in close-quarters maneuvering, the single rudder provides a nicer experience, with more control. With twin rudders, unless you have a thruster, you need actual boatspeed over the rudders for close turns. With this single setup, you still have the traditional thrust over the rudder. You can spin very quickly.”

Elan Impression 43

The Slovenian builder has racked up an impressive list of entries in recent Boat of the Year competitions, and according to judge Mark Pillsbury, that solid track record has continued. He said: “The builder’s representative described the yacht as a family boat, and that made sense to me. It’s roomy enough for Mom and Dad to have some privacy in the forward cabin—there’s an option to add a fourth cabin with bunkbeds if needed—and with twin cockpit tables that can be lowered to make large sun beds, the whole clan can sit out at night and enjoy the stars. Most of all, I really liked the oak interior with a big, country-style dining table in the salon that even had a couple of folding chairs that could be stowed in their own locker. Moving around on deck underway felt secure, thanks to the 26-inch lifelines on top of solid bulwarks. High coamings in the cockpit were comfortable, and the cockpit seats were long enough to stretch out and take a nap if you were off-watch but wanted to stay on deck.”

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Winner: Tartan Yachts, Tartan 365

Longtime Tartan Yachts designer and mainstay Tim Jackett joined our judges for the sea trial of his latest creation, the Tartan 365. Remarkably, it was Jackett’s first spin on the yacht, as well as ours. It was a terrific, windy sail.

“On a breezy day, with probably a little too much sail up, we had a thrilling test sail,” judge Mark Pillsbury says. “Thanks to a self-tacking jib mounted on an inner forestay, the boat was well-mannered close reaching to windward. And cracked off with the reaching sail set, let’s just say that the ride home was a thrill.” 

Of the double-headsail setup, which Tartan calls its CCR (cruise control rig), judge Herb McCormick agrees: “It just really works. You know, it really is great to have that option to really be able to switch gear when you’re hard on the wind. Then you crack off at 20 degrees, and you roll up the little jib, and you unroll the code zero, and it’s a whole different sailing experience. You’re hauling the mail.” 

The [Tartan 365] was well-mannered close reaching to windward. And cracked off with the reaching sail set, let’s just say that the ride home was a thrill.”

—Mark Pillsbury 

Judge Ed Sherman has a different take: “According to Jackett, COVID forced the plant to move and acquire new staff. In my view, this ended up as a change for the best because I saw significant improvements in the behind-the-scenes quality and detail work than on Tartans a few years back. First class all the way here.” 

Jackett was smiling at the conclusion of our test sail. Though he did not yet know the BOTY results, whatever transpired, he already realized he had a winner. 

Finalist: Beneteau Oceanis 34.1

The Beneteau Oceanis 34.1 is the latest in the French builder’s Oceanis line of cruisers, following the Oceanis 30.1, an earlier BOTY award winner. 

“There is a lot to like about the Oceanis 34.1, starting with the way the boat handles,” Pillsbury says of the twin-wheel 34-foot yacht. “We had a fair amount of breeze for our test sail, and the boat felt very comfortable, even without reefing.” 

McCormick also finds much to like with the vessel: “Beneteau is building this boat in its facility in Poland, and I thought that the overall build quality was very impressive. And of all the boats in this category, I found the Oceanis to be the best sailing platform, with a terrific cockpit layout. The spacing and sailhandling controls are fantastic; it’s a super-fun and easy boat to operate.” 

Sherman notes a new feature the company has introduced in all its offerings: “This boat was equipped with Beneteau’s Seanapps system, which is quite impressive. The app, linked to your cellphone, will provide GPS position, important engine data, battery-charge level, bilge-water level, fuel and water levels, and a maintenance logbook, to name some of its features. The app can connect you directly to your Beneteau dealer to set up maintenance services as needed. The app is a subscription-based service, but I think it’s worth its weight in gold.”

Finalist: Dufour Yachts, Dufour 37

Now under the auspices of French building consortium Fountaine Pajot, Dufour has made a concerted effort in the past several years to overhaul the look and presentation of the brand. Our panel agrees that the approach is moving in the right direction. 

Pillsbury is impressed with the use of space aboard: “You can cruise comfortably with only so many people on a 37-foot boat, and I thought that the two-cabin, one-head layout of the Dufour 37 that we sailed worked well. With a large storage locker and more-spacious shower in lieu of a third cabin, there was plenty of space for a couple to spend considerable time aboard, and room for guests, should they pop in from time to time.” 

Our systems expert, Sherman, goes deep in his praise, saying: “Small details on this boat impressed me. This boat was one of the few in our group that took the effort to seal the end grain on the plywood veneers that make up the cockpit table. The screws that hold this table together all have neat threaded caps on them where the screw extends beyond the nut holding things together. Nice, small touches that make a difference. While motoring, the boat was among the quietest in our group this year, rivaling some of its competitors costing significantly more money.”

View all of the winners by category, meet the judges, and more…

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