Cruising World's 2024 Boat of the Year: The Big Reveal 

Great job Cruising World!! Special thanks to Herb, Mark and Tim. These guys are truly passionate about sailing and this contest. It's always a treat to spend time with all of them, both on and off the water! Onwards...

One wonders if anyone on the Boat of the Year panel actually spent any time on a 2023 HH44-OC. As Shelly Martz comments point out, both boats have a forward nav and a work shop option. Not mentioned by the panel is that diverse choice of HH44 sails and the many configuration choices it has, plus the fact that HH sails faster. Not mentioned is the fact that the HH44-OC is a Hybrid electric Cat that can use its two propellers to spin while under sail and generate electricity to recharge the battery banks. That's in addition to the solar array power. The HH44-HC also has a well thought set of powered divots and for the essential dingy that is secured in a manner that does not block the view from the stern Did not notice any divot set up on the very Vision 444. Final thought. It has not gone unnoticed that after an exhaustive review of mid size Cats that Jason and Nikki Wynn just took delivery of a very nice all electric Hybrid HH44-OC with a work shop and dish washer.

Huge congratulations, Vision Yachts! 🙌🏻

Congrats Vision Yachts!! Great stuff.

Your winner is glued to the stringers and the wood is laminated. This is unbelievable

So awesome, what a great achievement, well done..

Interesting selections. The Jeanneau 55 indeed has some innovative ideas, and it's good to hear she sails well. My personal choices would be the HH or Rapido, though you really can't go wrong with a Dragonfly. Jens knows how to make a great tri.

I think this is a great list of award winners. While I see the HH44 “loss” is controversial, I think you made the right call. It will certainly be a performer, but it’s also new, complicated, and somewhat unproven at that size. I also agree with the comments on the FP helm station. Having sailed a few, it’s a great layout.

Great to see such a diverse panel 😅

If Dragonfly had a 50 footer we would have ordered it but Rapido does so that is what we are ordering.

2008 J 53 DS is still my pick

Boats that you review are getting too large and too expensive for many weekend, sailors, As an old sailor, I now sail a 28 foot Catalina. I’d love to see you review boats in the 28 to 34 foot range for us old guys that wanna weekend or cruise for a short time or day sail.

Groovy episode

The Jeanneau 55. Three questions How are the stringers attached to the boat? Glue Fiberglass 2. Is the wood laminated or solid? 3. Do the carpenters use stainless steel nails throughout or galvanized?

WHAT!? You guys chose a Vision 444 over the HH44 from HH? Both boats have a forward nav and a work shop option, and the HH sails faster, yet those were the reasons you picked Vision? Why not pick "the boat of the future?" I looked at both boats at the show and it was no contest in my mind.

Put Chuck Paine on your judging list!

A rather strange video... you chose the Vision 444 (a fine boat no doubt) because you liked sailing with the owner - legend that he may be - and a customizable/buyer-selected feature that can certainly be optioned on virtually any of the other boats nominated for the award? Was this the "Boat of the Year" award, or the "Best Owner Optioned Boat of the Year" award? I would think that the criteria for "Boat of the Year" would prioritize model inherent features like sailing capability, overall exterior/interior design, build quality, mechanical systems, systems integration, sail plan, and especially in the "cruising" categories, real-world livability (comfort, safety, storage, ease of maintenance, durability, customer support approach/responsiveness/reputation, etc.). And yet virtually NOTHING about any of those critical features was explored in your award announcement. I think my advice to boat manufacturers ahead of next year's "competition" would be to stop worrying about the boat itself but rather focus on entertaining you guys while you're aboard... it's likely a much better strategy than actually sweating the small stuff like performance, innovation, and quality.

Of course when these review test sails the vessel is light with smooth conditions. Full tanks and gear in a seaway and then talk to me.

So to win a category you need to have an owner who really sings the praises of the boat he paid for. That figures.

Na Na Na ~~~. That 60 foot Rapido Boat ! You know the one. From over there in Viet Nam. The one and only. That "Mustard" color. Come on now. Admit it. The best boat on the water. That boat that will go 20 knots plus. I'm not going to Name Names here ~ but yea. That Rapido Boat. The Yellow ish one. You know the guys who have been on the water for so long. That should be the BOAT OF THE YEAR. Come on now. Ya got to admit it. That Rapido Boat. The one and only. Yea. ～✨🌟‼🌟✨～.✨🇦🇺✨

Way to expensive for the average sailor, be realistic for a change instead of dreaming about these ships go for the smaller sized ones !

Island berth might be an option but i Would never own a boat that requires climb out over partner to yet out of bed... Poor layout choice.

No trailer sailer? 40-60 ft gives you room, a trailer-sailer is far harder to make special.

What a rip off!!….You chose the Vision 444 over HH 44?! What were you all thinking??

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Hilarious Advertising! Gunboat! Outremer! HH! Over 50 feet

☺️ "promo sm"

What an elitist boat-load of over-priced sillyness. What happened to the below 30' blue-water cruisers?

To the guy smoking on the Xquisite, it's not cool and exhibits your and Xquisite's poor choice. 👎 Excellent presentation, men. Thanks for sharing.

A view from the UK. I've come across this channel through this video and have got to ask you who says you are: "recognised leader in inspecting, testing and - best of all - rewarding the 'Best sailboats'? No disrespect but you're a bunch of people i've never heard of. Judging anything is subjective and you, like everyone else, are entitled to your opinion, but to give out awards for your opinion is the height of conceit. Opinions are like backsides, we've all got one but most of us don't give out awards on the strength of them. There's far to many of you so called 'experts' doing this particularly on You Tube. As you may have gathered, i won't be back.

FP, really?!? I guess the entry list was very short. Hardly a world cruising boat, these fat, slow, low bridge deck cats cater to the charter market and are not primarily suited for open ocean sailing. Stop recommending them, please!

What a full of crap self-indulgent list. Nobody should sail across an ocean on a yacht unless it has a center mounted helm and rated for at least category 8 gales. 10 to be safe.

Come on.... Really.....??