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Top 5 Best Yachts From 10 to 12 Meters (33-40 ft) in 2024

Let’s talk about the favorites of 2024 yachts from 10 to 12 meters (33 to 40 feet) in length, and also rate them. A difficult task, since sailboats and motor vessels, monohulls and catamarans all participate in the competition. All have a different purpose, a different level of seaworthiness and comfort on board. But everyone has something that unites them - the recognition of the community of yachtsmen from all over the world, as well as the fact that all participants in the list have prestigious titles and regalia received at the most popular yacht exhibitions of the past few years.

• FOUNTAIN PAJOT ISLA 40

So, the mixed fleet regatta begins, no holds barred, and we will start immediately from the final stage of the race – the top 5 boats. Therefore, even the last ones here are the undisputed leaders among those who did not make it to our final list.

• Brand: Dufour Yachts
• Hull type: Sailing yacht
• Overall length, m: 10.77
• Width, m: 3.8
• Draft, m: 1.9
• Displacement, T: 6.747
• Keel weight, T: 1.86
• Water tanks, l: 180
• Exterior design (Architect): Felci Yacht Design
• Interior design: Felci Yacht Design
• CE Certification: A
• Mainsail type: Fully battened
• Jib type: Furling genoa
• Mainsail area, m²: 33
• Jib area, m²: 25.9
• Engine, HP: 18.8
• Fuel tanks, l: 160

The fifth number in the regatta is occupied by our good friend from the Dufour Yachts family - Dufour 37 monohull sailboat, which became the owner of Boat of the Year 2022 award.

Dynamic lines and excellent sea performance have endowed this boat with a sporty character, despite an increased level of comfort that is not typical of sailboats that are just over 10 meters long. As always, the shipyard responded to the demands of the maritime community, this time for a comfortable racing cruiser with compact dimensions and an affordable price, yet with good seaworthiness.

The shipyard has done its job with flying colours, using its win-win technique: to select the best from previous models and to complement this best with innovations in technology and design.

All the advantages of Dufour's DNA were left intact, but the changes were also significant. This is noticeable immediately from the stern. Here the platform has been reduced to fit the dimensions of the yacht, and it is now less likely to damage the transom due to its weight.

You can now enter the cockpit via two ladders from different sides of the platform, by folding the wings, which can act as additional seats. Between them is a capacious locker, in which you can place a life raft or a rolled-up inflatable dinghy .

The skipper’s position became much more convenient for the skipper at the left helm due to the folding wing. Now you can also sit there resting on your back and legs.

The deck shower, a folding table, as well as the grill (or plancha) with a sink, which everyone loves, remained unchanged in the cockpit, allowing you to cook and dine outdoors. Under the sofas there’s more lockers. One of them will perfectly fit all the equipment for fishing, spearfishing, diving and other water activities.

Full Review Dufour 37 »

Yachtsmen around the world have welcomed the innovative helm station. The double steering wheels remained in the same place, but panels were installed directly on them: here the controls for all the important instruments and equipment of the yacht are displayed - the thruster, autopilot, anchor winch, anchor chain controls, etc.

Some were disappointed that the chartplotter remained in the same place - at the end of the table. But if it is really problematic to see the image on the screen at such a distance on a boat 14 meters long, then the size of the Dufour 37 cockpit eliminates this problem. In addition, there is space left on the panel for additional equipment, and a chartplotter may fit just right.

Winches are very conveniently located - at the helm and at arm's length. Winches for controlling the boom with a sheet are placed on the roof of the saloon. The choice of drive - manual or electric - is left to the buyer of the sailboat.

The built-in fender was replaced by a bulwark, which was noticed and appreciated by all Dufour fans. With this replacement, the architects not only facilitated the maintenance of the boat, but also solved an important design problem - providing additional rigidity to the entire hull.

Comfort in driving and living on board has become the goal of architects and designers. They pushed it as far as possible for a 10-meter boat.

A spacious cockpit, safe decks, a spacious bow create conditions for free movement and control of the boat, relaxation with family or friends, sunbathing, and a platform is great for comfortable launching and swimming.

Increased comfort also includes access to natural light even in rooms that are below deck level, not to mention the saloon. This task is performed by numerous hatches and large windows.

This sailboat continues one of the shipyard's traditions - to allow passengers on their yachts to take on board everything that will provide them with comfort on a cruise. To do this, there are many cabinets, shelves, lockers and compartments.

The saloon offers a beautiful view not only of the sea around the yacht, but also of the sails above it. So, the skipper can continue to drive without interrupting a lunch at the convertible table. And you can cook this lunch in a well-equipped L-shaped galley.

In the toilet room of the saloon there is a washbasin, a toilet bowl, a hand shower and shelves with mirrors.

Despite the small size of a monohull sailboat, you can choose from two cabin options:

• version with two cabins, one of which is a master cabin in the bow of the boat with a full double bed, and the second is a guest cabin in the stern for two berths, the area of which is increased with the help of poufs;
• the three-cabin version includes a master cabin in the same design, as well as two forward cabins with 2 berths each.

Thus, the capacity of the boat is up to 6 people, and if you use a transforming table in the saloon for a bed, then 8 passengers can settle here, although, of course, it will be cramped. The cabins have ample headroom, natural light and plenty of storage space.

You can also choose finishes - designers offer natural mahogany or white oak veneer.

The basic configuration of the Dufour 37 already provides for an installed bowsprit and rollers, which not only give the hull swiftness, but also make it possible to increase the sail area by shifting the center of sail. This allows active use of downwind sails. An automatic jib is also included in the standard sailing equipment, but the genoa is an optional item.

• Overall length, m: 11.88
• Width, m: 3.96
• Draft, m: 1.82
• Keel weight, T: 2.6
• Water tanks, l: 250
• Interior design: Ardizio Design
• Engine, HP: 50
• Fuel tanks, l: 250

Here comes another representative of the Dufour family - the latest racing cruiser produced by the Dufour Yachts shipyard. The Dufour 41 monohull sailboat develops a range of cruising sailboats of various sizes. This model is a little short of 12 meters in total length, but its width is almost 4 meters. It was these dimensions that made it possible to make an unprecedentedly comfortable cruiser out of a 41-foot racer.

To combine these qualities, naval architects used early designs and introduced a number of innovations. The latter include a decrease in the area of the wetted surface of the hull due to the raised stern.

For the same purpose, the capabilities of the bowsprit were used. Moving forward the sail center of the boat allows you to increase the area of sailing rig. The bowsprit and rollers allow you to set sails for downwind, which increases the speed of the boat.

The folding fenders at the entrance to the cockpit remained unchanged, which received general approval from yachtsmen on the previous 37th Dufour model. This ensured the convenience of steering the helm on the port side.

Naval architects remained committed to the single-feathered rudder on the Dufour, which, when brought to both helms, makes it easier to steer the boat by reducing hydrodynamic drag.

Full Review Dufour 41 »

The increase in the size of the boat has affected the level of natural light in the interior due to the increased number of side windows. This has also resulted in a level of comfort that is unbelievable for a 12 m monohull sailboat .

The developers have heard the wishes of yachtsmen, and on the Dufour 41 we see chartplotters located directly on the steering panels, and not on the end of the table. The choice of brand and screen size is up to the buyer.

The location of the winches behind the steering wheels and on the cabin roof has not changed, since it is optimal. The ropes do not get underfoot; an experienced skipper can handle the controls alone.

The very roomy cockpit is designed for 10 people, who will find a place behind two helms and on benches around the table, which, when unfolded, triples in area.

The grill with a sink remained in the same place, so even the skipper can have a bite to eat without looking up from the controls.

For a more substantial meal, you will have to go down to the saloon, where the linear galley is located. This is also an example of what the developers have heard from boaters and their dissatisfaction with the L-shaped galley layout. Few people will not bump into each other here. The rest, while waiting for dinner, will be seated at a large folding table. Ten people can eat here. And the table, if necessary, can be converted into a double bed.

Soft sofas and a bench, natural veneer trim add coziness to the cabin, and it is all filled with natural light that comes through the windows. By the way, the ceiling porthole is also a source of fresh air, as well as an opportunity for the skipper to control the sails without leaving the company of diners.

Thanks to the expanded volumes of the Dufour 41, you can now choose from 4 options for completing the cabins, the diagrams of which are presented below.

In different options, in addition to the number of cabins and beds, you can choose how to dispose of the additional space - leave it for storage or equip a shower room or toilet there.

Due to the increased size of the sailboat, additional lockers are provided in its bow.

It remains to be hoped that the shipyard has forever abandoned the solid side fender, in the 41st it was also replaced with a bulwark, increasing the rigidity of the overall structure of the boat, which improves its maneuverability.

Boat performance is also benefited by the manufacturing technology of Dufour, pioneers in the use of fiberglass for yacht hulls. Now improved technologies are being used to minimize the effect of osmosis - filling sandwiches with special resins under pressure.

Fountain Pajot Isla 40

• Architect: Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design
• Length overall, m: 11.93
• Beam overall, m: 6.63
• Displacement unloaded, T: 9.5 (approx.)
• Draft, m: 1.21
• Sail area, m²: 59
• Genoa area, m²: 36
• Standard Power, HP: 2 x 20
• Option Power, HP: 2 x 30 HP
• Fresh Water, l: 2 x 265
• Fuel, l: 300

The middle of the list is occupied by a 40-footer from Fountaine Pajot - Isla 40 sailing cruiser. She is a cat that’s far from the average. This model made a splash on the day of the presentation and continued the shipyard's glorious tradition in the production of sought-after cruising 40-foot (12-meter) catamarans, including such bestsellers as the Lucia 40 and Lavezzi 40.

If we compare the new cat with its predecessors, then the continuity is already noticeable from the cockpit. In Isla 40, this area is still considered the largest in terms of area among all the cats of this size. A life raft and a davit occupy their traditional places there.

The dining area is still cozy and comfortable with this L-shaped sofa around the table, a large aft sofa and a comfortable lounger. Almost all the seats have lockers where you can hide all the equipment for fun on the water and underwater.

Full Review Isla 40 »

Transformer table for 10 people or a regular table for 6-8 diners, grill or plancha - this choice is left to the buyer and depends on the purpose for which the yacht is purchased. The catamaran with its comfort is perfect for both family cruising and traveling with friends, as well as for commercial use.

You have to climb several very wide steps to get to the control panel.

The helm is located on the hull of the control station, here, in direct access there are 4 winches, which can be either electric or manual, depending on the wishes of the future owner of the yacht.

On the panel, there are screens of measuring instruments and a radiotelephone, control of some equipment is also displayed here: a thruster, an autopilot. An optional small screen chartplotter is also located next to the helm.

See the roof cutout to the left of the chartplotter? This is done for a better view of the bow of the left float.

But the interior of Isla 40 is completely refurbished. Here the usual location of the skipper's place has been changed, and now it is a loft living room , with the same luxury and comfort. The entire loft is divided into recreation, cooking, dining and work areas.

The large galley includes all the necessary equipment for storing and processing food. In the recreation area there is a large modular soft sofa with pouffes and a low table. It easily transforms into a dining room and then the recreation area also becomes a dining area.

The skylight in the cabin roof can be opened, providing, in addition to natural light, ventilation and the ability to control the sailing equipment of the cat.

There are 4 options offered to the future owner regarding the cabin layouts on the Isla 40: two Maestro and two Quatuor. Their features are shown in the diagrams below.

Maestro versions include a mother cabin for the owner with a private bathroom and 2 double cabins with 1 or 2 bathrooms.

Quatuor version is 4 double cabins with bathroom options - there can be 2 or 4.

For charters you can order an option with a separate cabin for the crew. It will be located in the bow, the entrance is from the deck.

The master cabin contains a real island bed, plenty of storage for clothes, shoes, books and other belongings that will provide the necessary comfort on long passages. All cabins have natural light and the possibility of ventilation.

• Brand: Lagoon
• Hull type: catamaran
• Overall length, m: 11.74
• Width, m: 6.76
• Draft, m: 1.35
• Displacement, t: 10.885
• Air draft, m: 18.4
• Water tanks, l: 300
• Exterior design (architect): VPLP design
• CE Certification: A: 10 - B: 12 - C: 16 - D: 20
• Mainsail type: square top
• Jib type: self-tacking
• Mainsail area, m²: 80
• Jib area, m²: 32
• Code 0 area, m²: 63
• Engine: 2 x 29 HP
• Fuel tanks l: 2 x 200

Sailing catamaran Lagoon 40 is said to be the most comfortable 40-foot double-hull vessel. It is no coincidence that it takes the second place in our list. 40-foot yachts are one of the most competitive sections of the market. Yet the Lagoon company and the VPLP bureau involved in the development coped with the task so successfully that they were able to block the dubious success of the Lagoon 39 and equal the triumph of the Lagoon 42 catamaran. If the latter had not exceeded 12 meters in length, it would have taken this place in the ranking.

Differences from its predecessor are noticeable at first glance: the roof is more inclined towards the deck, and the freeboard has lost its former massiveness due to the portholes built into the hull niche. The yacht not only looks lighter, faster and more modern, it really has become more maneuverable and easy to manage. This is not surprising, since the converted catamaran has become almost a ton lighter than its predecessor.

Of course, not only the efforts of architects, but also technologists, who developed innovative sandwiches made of polyester and balsa to manufacture the cases, affected the "weight loss". But the architects preferred to leave the bottoms of the structures monolithic, and remove some of the modular structures. A careful approach to the selection of equipment also made it possible to free the cat from excess weight, and without any loss of comfort.

The ability to increase the sail area by more than 5 m² also influenced the improvement in maneuverability - this makes a difference on sharp courses.

The shift of the mast towards the stern widens sail’s angle of attack, increasing the response of the catamaran to the actions of the skipper due to increasing the lift and facilitating the control of the sails.

Excellent ergonomics are inherent in all areas of the catamaran, and this commitment of the shipyard architects is evident from the moment you enter the cockpit. From the very transoms to the saloon and beyond, the deck has no ledges or steps. There is no platform, and there is no need for it - the cat has very wide steps of two ladders, along which you can go down to the water.

In place of the platform there are davits for an inflatable motor boat, which can be hung there and transported unassembled. There is also room for a folding bike. Under the sloop there is a niche for a life raft and a pump.

The cockpit accommodates 10 people at the table, if you add additional seats in addition to the sofas, which are located on both sides. The entire cockpit can be protected from sunlight and rain by a bimini, a detail typical of the Lagoon that the designers have kept intact.

From the cockpit and from the deck you can climb to the control station, raised by several very wide steps. The skipper can simultaneously control the catamaran and communicate with family or friends in the cockpit. And those, on demand, can serve a cooling drink to the helmsman.

All running rigging is concentrated at the control post, which is very convenient. But to view the bow on the port side, you will have to get up from the seat.

In the cabin, the windows overlooking the cockpit are shifted, through which cooked dishes can be passed. The saloon's L-shaped galley is thoughtfully equipped with all the essentials and yet is compact.

In front of the cabin there is a navigation table with the appropriate equipment. Sitting in front of it, the skipper can turn to the dining table to take part in a family or friendly feast.

The electrical panel and fuses are located under the skipper's table, which guarantees its safety from accidental presses by passengers during rolling.

There are two opening portholes above the soft sofas in the panoramic windows of the saloon, which provides this area not only with natural light, but also with fresh air.

The upholstery, textiles and accessories are chosen with great taste and at the same time are quite practical for a marine vessel.

The shipyard provides the opportunity to choose from several versions of the cabin configuration:

• The owner's version includes a comfortable master suite fully given over to port float with island bed aft and forward bathroom, work desk, extra sofa and a set of furniture to store clothes and other things, as well as two cabins in the starboard float, each - with a separate toilet room;
• The 4-cabin version has two cabins with shared bathrooms in each float.

In the bow, you can organize an excellent large solarium, if you lay out mats and sun loungers here, using the deck area and two trampolines.

Fountain Pajot MY4.S

• Brand: Fountain Pajot
• Overall length, m: 11
• Width, m: 5.1
• Draft, m: 0.8
• Displacement, t: 13.5
• Water tanks, l: 350
• Exterior design (Architect): Daniel Andrieu
• Interior Design: Pierangelo Andreani Studio
• Engine: YANMAR 2x150 hp
• Optional engine: YANMAR 2x250 hp
• Fuel tanks l: 2x600

The leader of our conditional regatta turned out to be the catamaran MY 4.S - the most inexpensive and compact sea cruiser from the entire line of this brand from Fountaine Pajot. The shipyard launched its production in 2021, meeting the needs of yachtsmen for a motor catamaran of increased comfort at an affordable price. Yes, yes, you understood correctly: this is a motor yacht, and no sails. As we said, we have a mixed fleet regatta without a handicap.

Renowned naval architect Daniel Andrieu has significantly redesigned the previous model MY 37, in particular by removing the flybridge. Some yachtsmen took this with hostility, but a flood of applications poured in from countries where they have to pass under bridges while sailing.

Length of MY 4.S is 11 m (36 ft), draft is 0.8 m, hull made of fiberglass.

Dimensions, excellent sea performance and an unprecedented level of comfort on a vessel of this size make it possible to use a motor catamaran for long passages with all the amenities. Its design, equipment and safety level are designed for long cruising in a close family circle, even with young children or in the company of best friends.

An example of the variability of the layout jumps at you immediately on the approach in the cockpit. The electric platform has several modifications: movable, fixed and with dinghy davits on it. Platform management is both stationary and remote.

The cockpit is covered with natural teak. On the starboard side there you can find a stern shower with hot and cold water. Opposite is a small grill.

The entrance from the platform to the cockpit is blocked by stainless steel gates. The cockpit can be completely covered with an awning with windows.

The table in the cockpit is not stationary, it can be removed and installed if necessary.

The lack of stairs to the missing flybridge allowed to significantly expand the cockpit compared to the already mentioned predecessor. At first glance, just the standard sofas are located here. But these have folding backs, and as a result you get an option of very comfortable beds.

On the port side of the cockpit is the engine compartment with good access and soundproofing, two Yanmar 250 hp engines , a water boiler and an autopilot drive. Further along the deck there is a locker with a life raft for 8 people, a pump and fire extinguishing equipment.

A sliding transparent door leads from the cockpit to the saloon, which unites both areas into a common large space.

On the port side is a well-equipped linear galley. For a 37-foot boat, it has a considerable size and a convenient approach for several people at once. Cabin furniture has rounded corners.

Above the galley of MY 4.S are large spacious wardrobes, since its lower part is the ceiling of the owner's cabin.

Between the galley and large soft sofas there is a folding table. Sofas and individual seats are located throughout the starboard side of the saloon. The entire interior is flooded with natural light, which enters through the glazing around the perimeter. This opens up a great view from the cabin.

A large overhead window adds light and space to this rather large cabin.

A control panel is situated in front of the central windows. In front of the helm and the working panel there is a comfortable chair for the navigator and assistant with lifting seats, which allows you to control the yacht both sitting and standing.

The steering wheel itself is more like a car steering wheel, only more powerful. The panel, of course, looks beautiful in this black color, but the prints remain on it quite easily. The panel contains the entire standard set of instruments that controls the yacht's equipment: engines, autopilot, electrics, etc. There is also a marine display that combines a chartplotter and an echo sounder. So, it is a “smart yacht” system by analogy with a “smart home”.

In the cabin there is a USB and AUX connection panel, an HDMI socket block and an electrical equipment control unit.

Motor yacht MY 4.S can be chosen from two options:

• three cabins - the master cabin, which is given over to the entire port float, with a separate bathroom and two full-fledged guest cabins in the starboard float with a large shared bathroom;
• four cabins - two cabins in each float with bathrooms for each pair of cabins.

The master cabin resembles a compact comfortable apartment with a bedroom and a living room (do not forget that we are on a catamaran!) A high ceiling, a comfortable double bed 1.6x2 m with a locker, a panoramic window, shelves - this is how the sleeping area of this “apartment” looks like.

In the living area there is a soft sofa and a wardrobe for outerwear. It also has natural light through the porthole.

At the entrance to the bathroom, you can see cabinets and shelves. The shower and toilet are quite comfortable to use.

The forward guest cabin has a smaller bed but plenty of storage space and natural light through the porthole. The aft cabin has the same size bed as the master cabin.

In addition to a shared bathroom with a shower and toilet, guests in the guest cabins can use a freezer for ice cream or drinks.

The huge space on the foredeck fully compensates for the lack of a flybridge. With plenty of reclining mattresses and loungers and a table with recesses for glasses and bottles, this sunbathing area is a great place to spend time with family or friends.

Under the mattresses there is a large locker, which acts as a chain box and contains a water tank, you can also store a cockpit table here. The perimeter railings are made entirely of 22 mm stainless steel tube, which provides additional safety for the passengers of the motor yacht MY 4.S.

It is an ideal catamaran for family cruising due to its stability, safety and the ability to reach 800-1000 miles at 7-8 knots.

Congratulations, MY 4.S, for winning in our list too, additional to all the international acceptance. And if you got this far through the article, you should congratulate yourself too: you are a real yacht enthusiast - make sure to not miss out on our next top 5 list then.

Fair winds and following seas to you!

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60′ “10-Metre Yacht”

Heyman Yachts

Nothing ordinary

YACHT RACING IN THE EARLY 1900s

Cannot resist a Duesenberg

Sailors are not only rational people but have sentiments, too, and while many are drawn to ultra-light racers on foils, others wouldn’t go to sea in anything less than a heavy pilot cutter. But some sailors feel that the most attractive yachts were built between the wars when the perfect cruiser was at the same time a flush-decked racing yacht. This was in the days when even cars and motor yachts had style and the owner of a major racing yacht in Long Island Sound would go to his office downtown in a Duesenberg or, in summer, in his fast commuter.

In those days, around-the-buoys racing usually took place in those slender, white, gleaming one-off, flush-decked yachts with their billowing cotton sails. The Gold Cup was one of the desired trophies, the racing grounds changing between Hankö, Cowes, Genua and Sandhamn; while the America’s Cup was raced off Newport, Sir Thomas Lipton challenging Mr Vanderbilt.

Shamrock racing against Reliance in 1903 under a previous rule, the Seawanhaka rule

These one-off yachts obviously didn’t just come in any size or shape but were designed to a measurement rule, the idea being to assure that the speed of the yachts would be more or less the same, in spite of different length, sail area, displacement or other characteristics.

In international racing, two rules became dominant in the beginning of 1900:

The  Universal Rule , devised by the great Nathanael Greene Herreshoff of Bristol, Rhode Island in 1905, was used for the the huge America’s Cup contenders, including the J-boats raced in America’s Cup until 1937.

The International Rule was first laid down in 1907 by British and Scandinavian naval architects in collaboration with German and French and produced a number of “Metre” class yachts – the 6-metres, 8-metres, 10-metres and 12-metres were some of the most prominent classes. These yachts were raced in the Olympics and, when the America’s Cup was resumed again after the war, 12-metres replaced J-boats in the 1958 Cup.

Waiting for the morning breeze, Stockholm Olympics 1912

Sans Atout, 1912

I don’t have much of a personal bond with Metre Yachts even though it seems to run in the family. In the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Bengt Heyman won a silver medal in his 8-metre ‘ Sans Atout ‘, designed by Norwegian Johan Anker.

Another and very close relative, my grandfather Hugo Heyman, bought the 6-metre ‘ Borgila ‘ in 1925. Borgila was designed by Charles Nicholson and built in 1924 at Ängholmens Varv for a consortium at the Royal Yachting Club in Gothenburg, GKSS.  Borgila  was first owned by shipowner and Naval Minister Dan Broström but was bought by grandfather Hugo H after Mr Broström suddenly died in 1925, only 55 years of age. 

Hugo Heyman

Both Mr Broström and grandfather were active members of GKSS but the two gentlemen knew each other from business as well, because Hugo Heyman was one of the driving forces in the development of Götaverken, the great ship yard in Gothenburg. Dan Broström was the biggest shareholder of the yard  and his shipping company Broströms ordered most of its ships from Götaverken .

Let’s not try to wind the world back to those days but it seems the world was smaller then, and Sweden was perhaps a bit bigger. Götaverken was the world’s largest shipyard in the 1930s and Hugo Heyman was later CEO of the yard, after the war.

Borgila, 1924

Anyway, grandfather Hugo Heyman kept the 6-metre Borgila  until the late 1940s.

Like most 6-metres, Borgila  was probably fine for taking the family out on a sunny Sunday but very very wet in a blow. My father who was a keen sailor described her as a torpedo with sails, running right through the short, choppy waves in the Kattegat.

I was born a little too late to remember her. But nothing of all this has anything much to do with the following design, anyway:

______________________________

A 10-METRE CLASSIC

(however not a racing yacht, and not according to the international rule), design study for a yacht of an era when times were not necessarily better, and boats were not necessarily inferior.

This design study was made in 1998, inspired by sailing clients and boat builders talking dreamingly about long, sleek yachts of the past. Being asked for my opinion of such yachts I would usually take time to explain why boats of more moderate proportions make more sense. Still, things are never that simple and the perfect yacht does not come in one shape only.

The merits of a narrow yacht with long overhangs can not be understood if it is simply compared to other yachts of the same overall length. Yachts of this kind should instead be compared to others of the same displacement or waterline length. This design is 60’ long, has the interior of a 50’+ Classic and sails like a sub-50’ modern cruiser-racer but with more easy, predictable handling qualities.

Racing in 10-metre yachts would certainly be an overwhelming experience. And if built on similar hulls, keels and rigs and with equal distribution of weights they can certainly be raced against each other. But the real beauty is that they would be equally suited for just ghosting along without much fuzz an afternoon when you simply cannot resist the breeze .

The main differences between this design and an old-time 10-metre are in the hull shape and materials, and these differences are so great that the two basic types of boat will show vastly different characteristics:

Hull building techniques including cored laminates with multidirectional rovings on PVC closed-cell foam core or, for a one-off hull, strip-planked red cedar. Whatever technique chosen, it will produce a hull with a quality, strength, stiffness, impact resistance, sound insulation, thermal insulation and low weight that simply was not conceivable in the old days. In addition, bulkheads and other large panels should be cored in order to bring unnecessary weight down. And a more modern rig and sails, with a carbon fibre mast in particular, will improve the yacht’s stability and motion in a seaway.

Looking back at this design now in 2016, almost 20 years later, there are a number of details I stumble upon. In order to preserve her standing headroom without making her unduly high, I think she ought to be a little longer overall, which would also allow her superstructure to be made a little lower. Apart from that I feel her counter stern should be longer, and her bow shape needs more character. My tastes appear to have changed over the years but she was also nothing but a quick draft when I made the design. I think, today, I would have made her between 64 and 68 feet.

In all, despite any rational objections one might have against classic yachts of her kind with slender hull shapes, flush decks and long overhangs, this design should prove functional and very rewarding to sail. And, given some work, she could also be made beautiful to behold.

A yacht of this kind could be built by any skilled European or North American yard but, because of the character of the design, it only makes sense to go for the best finished, highest quality product.

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: L.O.A. 18,30 m   60,0’ L.W.L. 13,10 m   43,0’ Beam, maximum 3,78 m   12,4’ Beam, waterline 3,28 m   10,8’ Draft 2,48 m   8,1’ Displacement 17000 kg   37500 lbs Ballast 7200 kg 16000 lbs Sail area (100% fore triangle) 145 m_ 1560 sq.ft.

Ratios: D / L 214 SA / D 22 SA / WA 2,7

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William Fife III 58ft International 10-Metre 1926/2015 - Sold

William Fife III 58ft International 10-Metre 1926/2015

These details are provisional and may be amended

BROKER'S COMMENTS

Could the International Rule 10-Metre be the most perfect of all the Metric classes? 58 ft/ 18 m of overall length is enough to wow - if RITA IV doesn't already do that by looks - yet handy enough to sail and race with family and friends. And RITA IV brings that extra dimension of being a William Fife design, and, what's more, a former Royal Yacht. Rescued from oblivion by a passionate syndicate of died-in-the-wool yacht racing aficionados and superbly restored at David Vieira and Miguel Ministro's Absolute Yachts, the result is structurally sound, fair, fast, and a true delight to the eye - in fact the definition of 'Fast and Bonnie'.

RESTORATION

2012-2015 By Absolute Projects, Setubal, Portugal - Keel up restoration saving structural items where possible - Deck arrangement and structures replicating the original configuration - New rig - Conforming to Lloyd's Rules and Regulations International Classes - Conforming to the International Ten Metre Class Association Rules DAVID VIERA OF ABSOLUTE PROJECTS: "We were perfectly aware that most of the wood and metal structures of RITA IV were beyond any possible repair. The main backbone structures, the stem, wood keel, sternpost, horn timber and deadwoods needed to be replaced. "The upper clamp/ beam shelf also needed replacement: it was found pitted with too many holes and damage in the deck beam pockets. The lower longitudinal bilge stringers could be saved and were reinstalled after repairs. "All the deck beams, cockpit and hatch carlins were replaced, not only for poor condition, but also because the deck layout had been changed over the years and the project was to bring RITA IV back to her original design. "Most of the original Honduras mahogany planking above the waterline could be saved, though requiring "surgical“ restoration. Many of the original steam bent timber frames were in good shape; some needed restoration but we were able to re-use most of them. The main steel frames were all too damaged and corroded; none could be saved and the decision was to replace them with new main wood frames following Lloyd‘s Scantlings for the International Metre Classes. "The lead keel was found asymmetric and was corrected. All the original bolts and screws were replaced by new ones in silicon bronze; all the copper nails (attaching the bent frames to the planking) were also replaced. "The overall hull shape and geometry of RITA IV was checked and corrected to the original offsets." JOHN LAMMERTS VAN BUEREN OF PROJECT TIMBER SUPPLIERS TOUCHWOOD: "Touchwood was honored with the order to supply all wood for this project: the Sitka spruce for the spars, deck beams, stringers and shelf; the mahogany for the hull planking and the teak for the deck. We were lucky to source a superb, veneer grade Sipo mahogany log of 11 metres in length which was quarter-sawn to specification for the hull planking and superstructures. The result is structurally sound, fair, fast, and a true delight to the eye."

WILLIAM FIFE III Design No. 736 The stronghold of activity and interest in the International Rule 10-Metre Class has always been the Baltic Sea and its associated coastlines out to Norway. In Denmark, royal approval and patronage ensured a strong 10mR fleet there through the 1920s and into the 1930s, often with six boats coming to the start line. Even as relatively recently as the mid-1980s, the register of Dansk Forening for Ældre Lystfartøjer (the Danish association for older pleasure craft) included four active 10mRs, though by then dedicated cruisers. For his third 10mR, and fourth RITA, King Christian X commissioned this beautiful design from Scotland's William Fife III for building by English ship and boat builders John I. Thornycroft & Co's boat, truck and engine building venture in Copenhagen's Sydhavn, Thornycroft Scandinavia A/S, established in 1913. The yard's master boatbuilder, C.F. Hansen - originally from Helgoland - had previous experience of working to the famous Scotsman's exacting specifications in the build of serial racing yacht (and Copenhagen department store Magasin du Nord - “the Harrods of Scandinavia”) owner William Vett’s Fife-designed 6-Metre BONZO, in which Vett won the 6mR Silver Medal at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games 6mR and 8mR Classes regatta sailed at Le Havre. Construction of RITA IV was closely supervised by the King's Sailing Master, Holger Rodkjær. Fife's specs in metric units included 29mm mahogany planking of not less than 560kg/m3 density. Her inventory included two masts: the racing one of silver spruce, and a second made from Danish larch. Although Lloyd's Register of Yachts credits her original sail inventory to the English Ratsey & Lapthorn loft - a suit made in 1925, possibly for RITA III - the contemporary Danish press mentions only a suit by Johan Freytag of Copenhagen. RITA IV was christened at launching by Queen Alexandrine on Saturday 17th April 1926 with her husband present, and Lieutenant John W. Thornycroft in attendance representing the parent company. Her maiden sail was two weeks later, on Saturday 8th May, from the yard via a cruise of The Sound to her mooring at Kongelig Dansk Yachtklub (Royal Danish Yacht Club)'s Langeline clubhouse just north of Copenhagen city centre. Accompanying the King were Rodkjær, yard director R.F. Newman, and the King's long serving professionals Petersen and Pedersen. RITA IV was raced by the King until the end of the 1929 season. A new Royal 10mR was commissioned from Johan Anker, and from the 1930 season RITA IV became KARAMA under the ownership of Danish shipowner A.P. Møller. Although it is believed that during 25 years with Møller KARAMA was mainly a cruiser, he kept her engineless. She remained thus until 1955 when a 6-cylinder Penta motor was installed in Denmark on transfer to her third owner, Pierre Poulain, whose oil tanker shipping line, Société des Transports Maritimes Pétroliers (STMP) was then a very significant client of A.P. Møller's Odense Staalskibsværft shipyard on the Danish island of Fyn. Yacht Club de France and Société Nautique de Marseille member Poulain had KARAMA shipped first to Le Havre, then to Marseilles for the start of a brief Mediterranean period. Her second French owner from 1960 was Le Havre shipping insurer, newspaper owner and politician, Yves Chegaray, but this seems to have been a short-lived affair: the 1961 edition of Lloyd's Register of Yachts listed her as "Sold to U.S.A." She remained KARAMA on the West Coast under the ownership of prominent San Diego architect and SDYC member Richard George Wheeler, notably winning Ocean Racing Division Class A in the 1966 Newport to Ensenada Race at the expense of Arnold and Don Haskell's Sparkman & Stephens 67ft yawl CHUBASCO. Then, from about the mid-1970s she became David Emery Baxter's RAPIER out of Newport Beach and Morro, California. The colour 1980s photo here is from Danish yachting historians Bent Aare and Jan Ebert's 1984 publication 'Bogen om Meter-Bådene' which recorded her then name as KALALAU. By the early years of the 21st Century her structure had deteriorated to the extent that she no longer sailed. Yacht designer and classic yacht enthusiast Doug Peterson did much to stir interest in saving this Fife gem. By 2008 she had been shipped to Brian Pope's Ocean Yacht Company yard in Cornwall, England to connect with a restorer. And three years later this happened: shipped again to Setubal, Portugal in 2011 for the beginning of the process by David Vieira and Miguel Ministro of Absolute Projects that has resulted in the magnificent yacht she is again, and is related elsewhere here. Since 2015, as RITA IV again (it always remained engraved on her rudder head), she has been beautifying Lac Leman, Switzerland, and racing again to the manner born. KING CHRISTIAN X (1870-1947) AND HIS RITAs 1899 RITA (Komm. Bonnesen/ Christian N. Laudrup, Copenhagen 1894 as PRINCESS) 1912 RITA II (10mR d & b Max Oertz, Hamburg, 1907 as PINGUIN II) 1922 RITA III (10mR Johan Anker/Anker & Jensen, Asker, Norway 1919 as CYRANO) 1926 RITA IV (10mR Wm Fife III/Thornycroft Scandinavia, Copenhagen) 1930 RITA V (10mR Johan Anker/Anker & Jensen, Asker, Norway) 1937 RITA VI (10mR-Cruiser E Wedell-Wedellsborg/Nordbjærgs Bådeværft, Copenhagen) ©2023 Iain McAllister/ Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd

CONSTRUCTION

- All scantlings to Lloyd‘s International Metre Class Rules - Mahogany planking (25-30% original) - On laminated mahogany frames (all new at restoration) - All new bronze screw fastenings - 2 x Intermediate oak riveted timbers (mostly original) - All new copper rivets - All new bronze strap floors and stainless steel web floors - Bronze lifting eyes - Sitka spruce new deck beams, stringers and beam shelf - Original fir bilge stringers - Composite ply and laid teak deck - Mahogany deck structures

DECK LAYOUT, EQUIPMENT AND GROUND TACKLE

- Raw teak laid ply composite deck - Varnished Sipo mahogany covering boards and king planks - Raw teak toerail - Varnished Sipo mahogany deck structures FROM AFT - Bronze rubbing strake at taffrail - Bronze backstay chainplate - Leather covered ash blocks for adjustable topmast backstay - Bronze ensign staff socket - Bronze mooring fairleads and rubbing strakes port and starboard - Teak and bronze mooring cleat on centreline - Flush lazarette hatch - Original engraved bronze rudder head - Bronze Fife-style engraved 'keyhole' deck plate - Metal tube tiller; bronze yoke; turned wood end; modern removable extension tiller - Bronze spinnaker cheek sheaves port and starboard - Bronze mainsheet padeyes - Leather covered ash blocks for adjustable running backstays STEERING COCKPIT AREA - Ray teak laid sole - Raw teak raised seating port and starboard - Folding teak grated and mahogany foot rest/ seat - Yanmar engine instrumentation - Engine control - Leather covered ash mainsheet blocks - Bronze mainsail sheave blocks port and starboard - Absolute 8.56 bronze mainsheet winch on centreline - Raw teak cleats port and starboard MAIN COCKPIT AREA - Raw teak laid sole - raised coamings to sides faired to trunk cabin fwd - 2 x Absolute 8.46 secondary bronze winches port and starboard - Raw teak cleats port and starboard aft of secondary winches - 2 x Raw teak cleats port and starboard between secondary and primary winches - 2 x Absolute 8.56 primary bronze winches port and starboard - Bronze foresail track port and starboard with bronze and Tufnol GD cars - 2 x Raw teak cleats port and starboard fwd of primary winches - 2 x Large Dacron sheet tail bags under side deck port and starboard - Large Dacron sheet tail bag under main sheet winch - 2 x Quarter berths to port and starboard of steering cockpit - Raw teak steps port and starboard ad fwd bulkhead TRUNK CABIN - Companionway sliding hatch - Large butterfly skylight; bronze grills - Bronze fairleads and rubbing strips mid deck (fenders/ mooring) MAST POSITION FORWARD TO WC COMPARTMENT: - Smaller butterfly skylight over heads; bronze grills - Raised Scandinavian style foredeck hatch - 2 x Bullseye prism deadlights - Bronze spinnaker pole stowage chocks - Bronze padeye and sheave for pole downhaul - Bronze and teak mooring cleat at centreline FORWARD TO FOREPEAK - 3 x Pipe cots - Sail stowage - Sitka spruce lockers to port and starboard - Forehatch in deckhead

ACCOMMODATION AND DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT

Access via 5 x steps companionway ladder GALLEY TO PORT AND STARBOARD UNDER HINGED MAHOGANY TOP SURFACES TO PORT - Top surface is fiddled - Top opening refrigerator - Dometic 'Origo Two' gimballed 2 x burner spirit hob - Locker under TO STARBOARD - Top surface is large chart table - Glasses/ cups rack - Traditional nav instruments stowage at aft bulkhead - Wooden sink - Brass fawcet - Stowage fwd of sink - Locker under - Ship's isolator panel - Tank gauges for fresh water and diesel SALOON - Long "Concordia" style settee berths port and starboard - Lockers under - Saloon table stows at stbd fwd bulkhead - Glasses locker at at stbd fwd bulkhead - Flag pigeon holes at at port fwd bulkhead - Butterfly skylight in deckhead - LED lighting FWD TO WC COMPARTMENT - Dometic macerator electric toilet to starboard - Locker to port - Smaller butterfly skylight in deckhead

RIG, SAILS AND CANVASWORK

RIG - Sitka hollow spruce mast, boom and spinnaker pole by Absolute - 2 x Spreaders and jumpers - Internal halyards - 2 x Spreader downlights - 2 x Absolute 8.30 bronze halyard winches - 8 x Wood cleats - Spruce folding boom crutch SAILS - In white Dacron by Europe Sails, Geneva - 1 x Mainsail (2015) - 3 x Genoas (2 x 2015; 1 x 2016) - 1 x Symmetrical spinnaker (2015) - 1 x Asymmetrical spinnaker (2016) - 1 x Battle Flag replica of original King Christian X racing flag CANVASWORK - Covers for all deck houses and hatches

MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND TANKAGE

MECHANICAL - Yanmar 4JH4-TE 75hp Diesel under cockpit sole - Traditional drive train; R&D flexible coupling - 3 x Bladed Max Prop feathering propeller - Vetus inlet strainer - Vetus exhaust system w. waterlock and gooseneck ELECTRICAL - LED lighting - Spreader lights - House batteries - Engine start batteries TANKAGE - Rigid plastic Vetus 60L diesel tank - Deck filler; Vetus water separator - Rigid plastic Vetus 66L fresh water tank - Deck filler; filters - Pressure water system - Johnson Aquajet pressure pump - Rigid plastic Vetus grey water sump tank with Whale electric pump - Rigid plastic Vetus grey and black water holding tank w. associated plumbing

NAVIGATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS

- 3 x Raymarine MN100-2 Instrument repeaters at companionway hatch

- Whale double action manual bilge pump in cockpit sole - Whale electric bilge pump - Rule electric bilge pump with float switch

OTHER EQUIPMENT

- Fenders - Dock lines

IMAGE CREDITS

Sailing images: Société Nautique de Genève Motoring image: John Lammerts van Bueren Historic images: John Lammerts van Bueren/ Danmarks Museum for Lystsejlads

These particulars have been prepared from information provided by the vendors and are intended as a general guide. The purchaser should confirm details of concern to them by survey or engineers inspection. The purchaser should also ensure that the purchase contract properly reflects their concerns and specifies details on which they wish to rely.

Sandeman Yacht Company

Brokerage of classic & vintage yachts.

Special Boat Show | The best boats from 9 to 10 meters

• August 31, 2018
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THE PERFECT GIFT!

Give or treat yourself to a subscription to Boats in Motion print + digital and for only 39 euros a year you get the magazine at home plus read it on your PC, smartphone and tablet. With a sea of advantages.

1 ZAR FORMENTI / ZAR 95 | 9,5 M

2 SCOUT / 320FLX | 9,83 m

3 INVICTUS / 320GT | 9,97 m

4 JEANNEAU / NC37 | 10 m

5 AVENTURA / Aventura | 10 m

6 CANTIERI CAPELLI / Tempest 1000 OPEN | 10 m

7 EVO YACHTS / EVO CC | 10 m

8 SEALINE / S330v | 10 m

9 BAVARIA / E 34 | 10,36 m

10 FIART MARE / Fiart 34 | 10,58 m

Speciale saloni | Primo episodio: le migliori barche da 4 a 8 metri

Speciale saloni | le barche migliori da 8 a 9 metri, tutte le novità sui saloni di cannes, genova e montecarlo, le trovi sul prossimo numero di barche a motore in edicola dal 10 settembre.

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10 metre family yachts part 2 : Now it's all about the inner values

Michael Good

, Fridtjof Gunkel

 ·  11.01.2024

Technology on a small scale

Battle for centimetres on the family yachts, room to rest, what else is available: current models in the 10 m class, space for lounging and stowing on the family yachts, measured values in comparison, conclusion after part 2, data and prices of the family yachts in detail, video of 10 metre family yachts below deck, in the test:, bavaria cruiser 33, hallberg-rassy 310, sun odyssey 349, all parts of the comparison of the 10 metre family yachts:.

• 10 metre family yachts part 1: Five cruising boats aim for the podium
• 10 metre family yachts part 2: Now it's all about the inner values

They are under particular scrutiny by many potential buyers and are considered the most important market segment: touring yachts around ten metres in length mark the usual size for entry-level yachting. Potential customers scrutinise the features, performance and prices particularly closely. This class is therefore ideal for a detailed comparison test. And after all, the manufacturers are looking for potential new customers who they want to retain in the long term. That's why YACHT invited five family yachts to the test bench in the Ancora Marina in Neustadt on the Baltic Sea.

The Bavaria Cruiser 33 from Germany, the new Delphia 34 from Poland, the two French boats Dufour 350 Grand'Large and Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 as well as the Hallberg-Rassy 310 from Sweden accepted the invitation.

In Part 1 of the comparison test, the YACHT test editors analysed the competitor boats in terms of their sailing characteristics, handling, layout and deck equipment - in other words, everything on the outside. The conclusion in a nutshell: There was no clear winner after the first round.

Most read articles

The two French boats Dufour 350 and Sun Odyssey 349 with their modern hull constructions and high-quality wardrobes have advantages in terms of performance under sail, especially in stronger winds. The boats from Bavaria, Delphia and Hallberg-Rassy, on the other hand, scored points for handling and equipment. There was a draw after the first round.

Part 2 now deals with living and touring comfort below deck, storage space, functionality in the individual areas and the quality of the interior. Everything on the inside. And last but not least, the pricing is relevant.

The family yachts offer more volume, more variance

With hull lengths of less than ten metres, the interior layout options are quite limited, even in the entry-level models. Nevertheless, versions with two or even three cabins and a wet room are now considered standard in the class. Ten years ago, this variance was unthinkable. In the current comparison, the newer models Delphia 34, Dufour 350 and Sun Odyssey 349 can already offer this option. Incidentally, the Sun Odyssey 349 from Jeanneau is the only ship that was represented in the comparison test in the version with three cabins.

The Cruiser 33 from Bavaria is only available as a two-cabin model. The Hallberg-Rassy 310 also has a layout with two separate compartments. The pretty Swede is to a certain extent the outsider, she is the smallest and also by far the slimmest boat in the comparison. An extension with three cabins is unthinkable with her.

The family yachts are moored side by side in the Ancora marina in Neustadt. An ideal starting point to directly compare the boats in terms of comfort, space and equipment standards.

Functional or cosy

The Dufour 350 Grand'Large has the largest volume in the comparison of family yachts, and not just in terms of feeling, but also in terms of testing. The Frenchwoman is the widest boat in the comparison and has a living space of 2.90 metres in the saloon, measured between the side fittings. This dimension is significantly smaller in the boats of the competition. The double door to the front also contributes to the very generous impression of space on the Dufour 350. When both wings are open, the saloon and forward living areas merge into one another. The Dufour is also the only one to offer a large panoramic window on the cabin superstructure and additional windows in the hull - plenty of light that benefits the interior.

The interior of the Bavaria Cruiser 33 has a simpler and more modern look, as does that of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349. In both yachts, the functionality of the interior seems to play a more important role than cosy nautical comfort. The Delphia 34 and especially the Hallberg-Rassy 310 successfully combine these two themes, with the Swedish yacht displaying the classic and high-quality Scandinavian interior style with the usual Nordic cosiness.

Here's an observation: on the Swedish boat, the YACHT testers immediately sit down on the comfortable, inviting sofas for the discussion. On the competitors' boats, on the other hand, the group remains standing.

Borderline berths on the family yachts

All boats in the comparison offer sufficient sleeping comfort for two adults in the forward cabin. The dimensions of the berths are well above the minimum requirements according to the YACHT definition. Once again, the voluminous Dufour 350 Grand'Large comes out on top. It has the largest sleeping area with a length of over two metres and a width of 1.86 at shoulder width.

None of the family yachts can be criticised for the inadequate dimensions of the double berths in the aft cabins either. In the case of Delphia, Dufour and Bavaria, however, the dimensions of the berths depend on whether the boat is ordered in the version with two or three cabins; the berth area is more generous in the two-cabin version. Bavaria gives its two-cabin Cruiser 33 the largest berth area in the aft section. The bed is over two metres long and 1.80 metres wide at shoulder width. It therefore has a king-size format.

All test boats also offer welcome sleeping options on the sofas in the saloon. On the Dufour 350, however, the additional single berths are only 1.90 metres long and are therefore not suitable for tall sailors. Depending on the version of the Delphia 34, you can only sleep on one side of the saloon. The Poles have developed an extremely smart system for converting the single berth into a larger double berth. An additional folding bunk board closes the gap to the saloon table, while the backrests of the sofa become matching cushions. This widens the bunk area to 1.20 metres at shoulder height. Although this is still not wide enough for two adults, it is sufficient for children.

The Hallberg-Rassy 310 offers the most beautiful and comfortable saloon berths, on which the backrests can be folded up completely in a single movement and locked in place at the top by means of a push strap. This provides an exemplary 80 centimetres of lying space in width at shoulder height.

Very different pantries

An important topic when cruising: Cooking on board. Accordingly, the manufacturers pay particular attention to this area. Jeanneau leads the way: the kitchen area on the Sun Odyssey 349 is more spacious than on the other four boats. There is more work space and more usable storage space. Those who cook a lot on the boat will also find plenty of opportunities to store their kitchen equipment neatly. This even applies to bulky items such as large pots and pans.

• Bavaria Cruiser 34: The long-runner in the entry-level size in the test
• Beneteau Oceanis 34.1: Cruising yacht bestseller with many faces
• Dufour 37: Mock giant with the most space in her class
• Hanse 348: New mid-range cruising yacht
• Maxus 35: New competitor in the ten-metre class tested

The galley block on the Delphia 34 is beautifully designed and very functionally arranged, and also offers plenty of usable storage space in the galley. However, anyone interested in the three-cabin version of the Polin should be aware that the galley shrinks to a minimal size in this version.

The pantry modules from Bavaria and Dufour are comparable in type and size. In both cases, however, there is a lack of storage space for less handy items.

Although the galley on the Hallberg-Rassy is small, it is very practical. Because there is no third cabin on the Swede, the galley can be set far back. Here, you can stand well and safely in a bay with your back to the flanks of the companionway - even in rough seas and heeling.

Sometimes big, sometimes small

Like the kitchens, the wet rooms also offer the necessary room for manoeuvre for the designers to plan the interior layouts with two or three cabins. In all cases (except Hallberg-Rassy), the size of the bathrooms is heavily dependent on this. Based on a two-cabin layout, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 offers by far the largest bathroom in the comparison. It can even score points with a separable shower area. On all other boats, however, the shower facilities are limited.

If the family yachts are extended with three cabins, the space available in the toilet rooms is greatly reduced everywhere, even on the Sun Odyssey 349. Another issue with the bathrooms: Air and light. All ships have only a small ventilation hatch in the toilet room, cross-ventilation is impossible. On the Delphia, the hatch is even smaller than on the competition and is also concealed behind the panel on the cabin superstructure. Artificial light is therefore permanently required in the wet room of the Polin. More or less functional ventilation is only possible via the open door to the saloon. This can be uncomfortable for fellow sailors.

When it comes to ventilation in the saloon, the Bavaria 33 and even more so the Hallberg-Rassy 310 get good marks. The smallest boat in the comparison has two larger hatches on the cabin superstructure. In addition, all the windows in the saloon can be opened. The Swede's ventilation options are exemplary.

The situation is different on the Delphia 34, where there is only a single dorado fan in the saloon. However, it can only provide weak ventilation when the companionway is open. The Polin has a large light window in the roof of the cabin superstructure, but unfortunately it cannot be opened.

When it comes to navigation, the shipyards involved have very different philosophies. At Hallberg-Rassy, it is assumed that work with nautical charts, if at all, takes place at the saloon table - there is no longer any navigation in the conventional sense on the Swede. In contrast, the Dufour 350 has a proper navigation corner where you can sit properly and work with a chart and compass even when the boat is heeling and travelling in the direction of travel.

Enough storage space

There is a comparable range of wardrobes for clothing in all cabins, as well as other open shelves where you can store things. The spaces below the berths are ideal for larger items such as travelling bags, provided these are not already occupied by the tanks for fresh water and fuel.

Only Hallberg-Rassy installs the reservoirs under the sofa berths in the saloon. They are nicely centralised there, which is good for performance under sail. However, this is at the expense of the usually very welcome storage space in the saloon, where cruising sailors like to store provisions and drinks. On the other hand, the Swede has more space under the berths in the fore and aft sections. A compromise solution.

On the Delphia 34, the stowage spaces below the berths and in the saloon are easily accessible. Well-organised hatches with hinges and gas struts to hold them open ensure perfect accessibility. On the Sun Odyssey 349, the side overhead lockers in the saloon are missing.

All the other boats in the comparison offer additional options for packing away small and large items within easy reach. However, most of them lack sling rails.

Careful or careless

Looking at the quality of the interior fittings, Hallberg-Rassy once again lives up to its special role. Her high standards prove that she is in a different, higher league. The craftsmanship of the yacht builders in Ellös is impeccable and the quality of the workmanship is beyond reproach. Of course, this quality does not come for free.

The two boats from Bavaria and Delphia are remarkably well equipped. The work on the interior fittings has also been carried out cleanly and with obvious care. The gaps are okay and the furniture fits. The fittings, such as the hinges in the storage compartments or the water supply fittings, are also from the higher-quality ranges.

The Dufour 350 and Sun Odyssey 349, meanwhile, show minor flaws in the quality of the interior fittings. If you take a closer look, you can recognise excessive gaps and some unsightly workmanship in the details. A circumstance that is repeatedly and apparently not entirely unjustifiably blamed on French large-series yacht construction in particular. Too bad, it wasn't always like this.

Even after part 2 of the family yacht comparison test, the question of a superior winner remains difficult. The Bavaria Cruiser 33 offers the most balanced and harmonious range overall. It has the fewest points of criticism, is characterised by decent performance under sail, has a clean construction and, last but not least, is available at a very attractive price. The more modern boats come from France, the more traditional from Sweden and the alternative from Poland.

Overall, the competition is strong. This also applies to the boats that did not take part in the test, such as the Hanse 345 and the Oceanis 35, and the other attractive used boat market. All the boats listed have character. The customer looking to buy has a big - and difficult - choice.

Price and shipyard

• Used boat price: 40,000 to € 110,000 (as at 01/2024)
• Shipyard: Bavaria Yachtbau, 97232 Giebelstadt; www.bavaria-yachtbau.de

YACHT rating

Clear concept, good equipment. Considering all the criteria in the comparison, the Bavaria is slightly ahead

• Living comfort below deck
• + Functional layout
• + Clear, unadorned interior design
• + Largest aft berth in comparison
• Finishing quality and details
• + Solid workmanship
• + High-quality fittings and add-on parts
• - Little storage space in the pantry

• Used boat price: 69,000 to € 79,000 (as at 01/2024)
• Shipyard: Delphia Yachts Kot, 19-400 Olecko (Poland); www.delphiayachts.eu

Beautifully designed interior with many exciting details and clever solutions

• + Plenty of headroom in the saloon
• + High flexibility in expansion
• - Limited possibility for ventilation
• + Careful processing even on a small scale
• + Easily accessible storage compartments
• - Little light in the aft cabin

• Used boat price: (as at 01/2024)
• Shipyard: Dufour Yachts, 17187 Périgny (France); www.dufouryachts.com

The boat with the largest perceived volume below deck. Light, airy interior thanks to many windows and hatches

• + Maximum room volume
• + Largest forward berth in comparison
• - Little headroom in the foredeck
• + Access to the forecastle only through the wet room
• + Very functional navigation
• - Partly unsightly gap dimensions

• Used boat price: 135,000 to € 170,000 (as at 01/2024)
• Shipyard: Hallberg-Rassy Vervs AB, 47431 Ellös (Sweden); www.hallberg-rassy.com

The HR, with its special role, has an impeccable Scandinavian interior quality. However, it is also significantly more expensive than the other four yachts

• + Ship-like cosy interior design
• + Wide sofa beds in the saloon
• + Very comfortable upholstery
• + High-class finishing quality
• + Perfect ventilation options
• - No navigation

• New price ex shipyard: 199,900 € as an anniversary offer
• Shipyard: Chantiers Jeanneau, 85505 Les Herbiers (France); www.jeanneau.com
• Distribution : www.gruendl.de / www.aquamarin-boote.de

Modern ship concept with a sober but very functional interior design

• + Clearly structured interior design
• + Largest pantry in comparison
• + Large bathroom with shower compartment (only two cabins)
• + Fold-up navigation
• - No choice of wood
• - Partially inadequate processing

The comparison test first appeared in YACHT issues 16 and 17/2015 and has been revised for the online version.

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Cantiere Delle Marche DARWIN 86

2013 | €7,950,000

Midnight Express 37 Open

2019 | €360,000

Azimut 60 Next Level

2022 | €2,100,000

Cranchi 64 HT

2011 | €1,050,000

Windy 52 Graziella

2017 | €1,100,000

Beachclub 660

2019 | €3,070,000

2017 | €290,000

Princess 72

2015 | €2,100,000

Sunseeker 75

2015 | €2,985,000

Ferretti Navetta 26

2010 | €2,950,000

Riva DUCHESSA

2017 | €7,200,000

Riva VENERE SUPER

2017 | €3,760,000

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Mitena, US-10

Built in 1935 according to the International Third Rule.

BROKERAGE 

All boats for sale .

1904 Camper & Nicholson 34m 

One of the oldest Camper & Nicholson yachts sailing today, she offers elegance, style and history 

€3,950,000 

SIBYL OF CUMAE

1902 William Fife III 36 Clyde Linear

With her classic and very striking lines which could only come from the drawing board of Fife.

£235,000

FLEUR D'ECOSSE

1998 Aquastar 45 

Modern gentleman’s yacht which is capable of extensive cruising and completely self-sufficient

£159,950

ELENA MARIA BARBARA

1995 Replica 18th Century schooner 

Replica of an 18th century topsail schooner - Project 

£80,000

1937 Camper & Nicholson 12 metre

One of the fastest classic 12 Metre’s on the planet.

2002 Jacques Fauroux 8 Metre

A very impressive and successful 8 Metre for sale, race ready for the 2023 season

€240,000

1933 Johan Anker 6 Metre

The second 6 Metre built by Anker & Jensen in 1933. Today found in race trim and up to date

€35,000

1991 Lallows Wooden Dragon

Complete race ready dragon package

1949 Custom Dutch Cruiser 

Appealing vintage Dutch cruising boat

€295,000

1953 Baglietto 20m Marconi Cutter

EA is a remarkable classic race/cruiser yacht, launched in 1953 at the Baglietto Shipyard in Italy.

€395,000 

1966/2024 58ft Feadship

A truly unique opportunity to join the elite club of Feadship owners, the Gentleman’s yacht of the sea.

£300,000

AMALI OF LONDON

1991 McMillan 48ft Motoryacht

A beautifully elegant gentleman’s yacht, Amali of London was built in 1991

SPRING BREEZE

1982 Fred Parker Bermudan Cutter

Spring Breeze is a very strong and capable cruising yacht

£39,500

1983/2008 Ian Howlett 12 Metre

Widely considered the best conventional 12 Metre in Newport.

1932 Sparkman &  Stephens 6 Metre

Another Olin Stephen's magical 6 Metre's. Nancy is presented in beautiful condition

1937 Costaguta Shipyard 6 Metre

Very well looked after 6 Metre in her current ownership.

€15,000

1974 Yachting World Seahorse 

Bermudan or gaff rigged bandit, an excellent cruiser/racer

£12,000

ATLANTIC RIB 

NEW Atlantic RIB 7.6m

The best priced RIB on the market. 

£48,900

1937 John Bains 48ft Motoryacht

A true classic Gentleman’s motoryacht from a bygone era

£195,000

1943 Germàn Frers 52ft Ketch

Designed by the famous Germán Frers Sr and built in Argentina 

€195,000

1978 Compass 47

A great combination of classic looks and practical layout

€145,000

1926 Mylne/Glen-Coats Q Class

Duet is the perfect combination of a cruiser racer

£39,000

ANGÖDOMEN

1907 9 Metre Class

Unique International 9 Metre sailing yacht, she was the first to be built to the new International Rule 

€55,000

GITANA JUNIOR II

1986 Jean Grobéty 6 Metre

Gitana Junior II was one of Rothschilds 6 Metres in the 80's, now fully restored

€49,500

TSCHÜSS

1971 Borresen Wooden Dragon

Professionally restored dragon to racing specification 

£29,500

1989 Mini J Class Yacht 

Extremely rare and collectable Mini J Class yacht

2017 Williams 280 Jet Tender 

The very popular Williams 280 Mini Jet 

£14,000

Superyachts of 130m (427 ft) In Length

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First look: Meyer Yachts reveals interior of first 150m ultra-sustainable concept

Related articles.

Meyer Yachts, the superyacht division of commerical shipbuilder Meyer Werft, took the opportunity at the Monaco Yacht Show to reveal the first interior renderings of its 150 metre concept known as ONE50. 

The concept was first announced at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2021 and is the first design launched under the superyacht division. ONE50 spans six decks with a 20 metre beam and a herculean volume of 15,000 GT. The yacht is also designed to be powered by fuel cell technology and battery banks, powered by 25,000 kilowatts of electricity to deliver a top speed of 23 knots.

Her interior design has been developed in-house and is home to several first-of-its-kind features. One such feature is a cavernous spa set over two levels encompassing several hundred square metres of floor space. A retractable swimming pool can be found on the starboard side that slides out to sit above the water, alongside a wellness bar, massage parlour, sauna and hammam. 

"The wellness and health aspect has been a trend in the superyacht segment for years. With this extravagant spa, we want to set an example and show what is possible for us," said Lars Kruse, head of sales at Meyer Yachts. 

Elsewhere, the top deck is reserved for the owner's use only and is home to forward facing suite and private forward terrace. "They [the owner] can practically step straight out of bed into the pool, which is designed as an indoor-outdoor variant and connects the suite with the foredeck," Kruse added. Other features include a private lounge with a TV and audio system as well as a number of private dining options. 

“We are opening the next chapter in our history and entering the market for mega yachts,” said Meyer Group chief executive Bernard Meyer. “We can realise almost limitless ideas and ship sizes - even the craziest ones. We are currently seeing that the demand for mega yachts is increasing and there is room for another shipyard in this segment”.

The company's commitment to alternative fuels underpins the vision of Meyer Yachts. "We see a lot of potential in mega yachts for new environmentally technologies and we attach great importance to this," the group said.

With its roots in the cruising sector, Meyer Group already has the facilities to build yachts up to 500 metres in length and will position itself at the top end of the market with the aim to build the "world's largest and greenest mega yachts".

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