hanse yacht opinie

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Hanse 315 review

• Philippa Park
• November 11, 2015

Hanse’s new smallest addition was designed to be affordable. Graham Snook tested her to see if she’s worth it

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

This test has unsettled me.

For the last few years, the Winner 9 has been the leader in her class.

No other yacht around her size could offer her excellent combination of performance, price, build quality and customisation.

Now Hanse has launched its 315, I’m not certain which boat is best.

The hull of the 315 is reminiscent of Hanse’s sportier brand, Dehler, and she sails very well.

But is she now top of the class?

I’m not sure I know myself.

Performance

A force 4-5 easterly whistled through Hamble Point Marina as we set off with full mainsail and self-tacking jib.

She handled the conditions well, her grip in the water was excellent.

Only when the mainsail was left sheeted as a gust hit would the toerail submerge and she’d gripe, but she has to be hard pressed even for that to happen.

At the helm

There’s a short stub of a transom behind the wheel, which gives some feeling of security.

Our test boat was yet to have the fold-down transom and aft guardrails fitted, which I expect would remove the worry of dogs, children or helmsmen disappearing off the back without notice.

With the aft cabin beneath it, the cockpit is slightly higher than normal, but unless you’re standing at the wheel it’s barely noticeable.

Sitting to leeward, the pushpit makes a very comfortable backrest.

On the windward side I was reliant on the grip from my bum on the coaming as the foot blocks were yet to be installed.

(These will be fitted where the owner wants them, once she is sold).

The feeling on the Jefa steering was delightful: light, with no slack or echo of movement from the opposite wheel.

The danger with a steering system this good is that you find yourself waggling the wheels around to enjoy her responsiveness, which does little for her speed or your course, but it is fun.

Design & construction

Her hull is designed by Judel/Vrolijk with an almost plumb bow and stern making full use of her 9.1m (28ft 8in) hull length.

She only loses 40cm at her waterline.

From aft it’s clear to see there’s less internal volume beneath the cockpit, making her waterline narrower.

She has a foam-cored hull above the waterline, solid laminate below, and her deck is balsa- cored.

The inner tray moulding makes up the seat bases in the saloon and provides recesses for the bulkheads.

Nine bolts hold the deep, L-shaped keel in place.

Her self-tacking jib makes the crew redundant during tacks.

She had the optional Elvstrom FCL laminate jib and fully-battened mainsail with single-line slab reefing.

The mainsail was on Seldén’s excellent MDS cars, the jib benefiting from vertical battens near the head, which stop the top of the leech falling away and flapping with a frequency from Harley Davidson to Vespa, depending on course and wind speed.

Deck layout

Halyards and jib sheet are controlled by the two Lewmar 40ST winches either side of the companionway.

There are two others further aft, which can be used for a German mainsheet system or for offwind sails.

The cockpit locker to port is a good size, it’s hull depth, but where the moulding from the aft cabin beneath impinges on the locker it actually makes a good shelf.

There’s washboard stowage at the front that looked vulnerable to attack from dinghies or fenders.

The cockpit coaming isn’t the most supportive, but it’s nice and wide to sit on or comfortable to rest against.

The pick of the seats is a lovely rounded and reclined seatback at the aft end of the coachroof.

Even without the luxury of a cockpit cushion it was still snug and comfortable.

Stepping over the wide coaming onto the deck, there are short handrails to help you to the swept- back spreaders (with chainplates taken to the toerail) but nothing further forward.

It’s still a short distance to the mast, so longer handrails would have been nice.

Living aboard

There are two interior layout options and having been on board both, it is a tough decision; both have advantages.

Without the forecabin door, but with a large aperture in the forward bulkhead instead, you have a vast saloon area giving space and light.

With the full bulkhead and door you have privacy and cupboard stowage.

Your choice will depend on your circumstances; either way there is still a large, athwartships berth (with a minimum size of 1.93m x 1.65m) in the fair-sized aft cabin.

One of the reasons for my indecision is the clever use of space in the forecabin if you opt for the bulkhead and the three- in-one layout it gives.

The first layout is a standard V-berth (2.05m long x 1.55m at the head, 0.66m at the foot).

But lift the port-side cushion and a hinged board lifts and folds back, revealing a neat seat in the inner moulding, complete with cushion and backrest – and you’ve still got a full-sized single berth.

Lift the smaller starboard cushion, slide the bunk base under a locker and you now have a 1.39m long children’s double berth.

There is the question of what to do with the excess cushions: personally I’d relegate them to the oversized aft berth.

Sadly, if you opt for the open-plan interior, this innovative solution is done away with and the berth is full width and fixed.

Innovative touches

She has the touch-panel light switch found throughout the Hanse and Dehler range, so the lights can be programmed or dimmed – rare on this size of boat, as are LED lights in the recess of the overhead handrail.

The reading lights on stalks are also worth mentioning as they can be switched to red or white.

The saloon is a small (11cm) step up, the port-side seat is 1.93m long and would make a good sea berth with a leecloth added – and you will need one, because the starboard-side seat is a bit too short (1.65m).

Although it’s possible to sleep five, the saloon table again is a little frugal at 0.84m long, best suited to four diners.

The headroom is 1.74m (5ft 8in) in the saloon.

Although there are overhead handrails I felt a grab-handle aft of the chart table at a more accessible height would be an advantage, but any owner could easily add this.

Aft to port is a very large heads at the base of the companionway.

It’s a good storage place for wet oilskins, a fact not lost on the designers who have made a cut-out in the single piece GRP moulding to allow oilskins to hang and drain into the shower tray.

Further aft is the sink and inboard-facing toilet.

Chart table

The chart table has a minimum size of 0.65m x 0.51m and can be used seated, facing aft (beware of the corner by your thigh) or standing, facing outboard.

Opening the switch panel reveals a bundle of wiring all labeled with words, far better than the usual code numbers that have to be deciphered.

There are two bottom-hinged lockers outboard, and bookshelves will be added outboard of the saloon seating.

The small L-shaped galley is a good height to work and wash up at the single sink but the stove really needs a crash bar, because accessing the top-opening fridge on a port tack means leaning against the cooker.

The galley lacks workspace and stowage – the fiddled shelves outboard of the stove are OK, just.

One could say these details should be corrected, but she’s built to an attractive price.

Hanse said she’s more expensive than they had planned, but she is a better boat.

Maintenance

Access to the engine is from the front or either side.

Topping up the saildrive gearbox oil wouldn’t be the easiest of jobs, but neither is it impossible.

A single 90Ah service battery is under the starboard saloon berth (a second is optional).

The battery charger sits under the port berth.

All seacocks have neat slides on the handle to prevent them opening by accident.

OUR VERDICT ON THE BOAT

What’s she like to sail.

She’s a very easy boat to handle, thanks in part to her simple self-tacking jib arrangement.

Twin wheels on 31ft yachts seem here to stay, although she is available with a tiller, which keeps her cost down – but only one of the first 10 owners have opted for one.

The Jefa steering is as good as it is on many bigger, more expensive boats; it was light, silky smooth and responsive.

The leather-covered wheels were comfortable to use.

The cockpit sole occasionally felt a little high but this was minor and easily forgotten because the way she sails is very good indeed.

The mainsheet is ideally located between the wheels (but a German mainsheet or traveller are options).

It was easy to brace a foot on the table and heave in the sheet, or ease it out in gusts.

Not that the mainsheet needs much attention: only when water was washing down the side deck did she show any sign of disobedience – the angle of heel and increasing weight on the wheel gave fair warning well before we reached that point.

What’s she like in port and at anchor?

Her single and substantial bow roller sits well proud of her vertical bow.

The chain locker is deep, with stowage for fenders and plenty of chain for coastal cruising.

She’s manoeuvrable and will turn well in tight spaces.

There is a fair old distance between her saildrive and rudder, which causes a bit of delay between applying thrust and it being directed by the rudder, but it’s predictable.

The forward end of the cockpit was made for lounging: back to the coachroof, looking aft over the transom and anchorage – perfect, for two people at least.

Down below, the galley worktops are higher than usual, thanks partly to the sunken floor (to gain headroom) but it’s actually a comfortable height to work at.

The heads is a large, all-in-one GRP compartment with a built-in shower and space for hanging oilskins; it works well.

The saloon is bright and benefits from simple, neat design.

The open-plan option, which does away with the enclosed forward bulkhead and door, increases the feeling of space – something often lacking on smaller yachts.

Would she suit you and your crew?

In the past, it’s fair to say that accommodation was a higher priority for Hanse than sailing performance.

While the 315 hasn’t crossed over to being performance-orientated, she strikes a good balance.

She might not have the interior quality of a few other boats in her class, but neither does she have their price tag.

The 315 benefits from Hanse’s bulk-buying power and technology trickling down from its other models.

She starts off at a low price (£70,000 Inc VAT), then options help you tailor her to your requirements and your finances.

She’s available with twin wheels or tiller, shallow keel or deep.

The galley and chart table are the only compromised areas and even they aren’t off-putting.

The saloon is good, as are the cabins and cockpit, but she could do with a few more grab handles and a crash bar at the galley.

She’s a versatile boat, the Hanse 315.

A good buy for anyone starting out with their first new boat, or downsizing from a larger yacht.

If coastal cruising is your main aim – unless you have a large, grown-up family or crew in tow – she’ll make a great boat to do just that.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Price £92,300 Inc VAT LOA 9.62m (31ft 6in) LWL 8.70m (29ft 8in) Beam 3.35m (11ft 0in) Draught 1.85m (6ft 1in) or 1.37m (4ft 6in) Displacement 4,700kg (10,361 lb) Ballast 1,500kg (3,306 lb) Ballast ratio 31.9(%) Sail area 47m2 (506sq ft) SA/D ratio 17 Diesel 160 litres (35 gal) Water 230 litres (50 gal) Engine 20hp Transmission Saildrive RCD category A Designer Judel/Vrolijk & Co Builder Hanse Yachts UK Agent Inspiration Marine  Tel +44 (0)2380 457008  Web Hanseyachts.co.uk

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The Hanse 460 marks the launch of a new model range that combines radically innovative design with traditional Hanse values such as fast cruising and easy sailing.

In an exciting pitch, the yacht designers from Berret-Racoupeau in La Rochelle stood out with a vision that offers a new hull design, as well as a highly versatile cockpit and interior design. Together with the development team from Hanse, a family cruiser was developed with the aim of setting new standards in terms of easy handling, individualisation and sailing performance. And all this in a sporty, modern exterior design as well as an outstanding interior design, equipped with exclusive details.

Andreas Unger, Hanse Product Manager: “Our new Hanse 460 is a Hanse through and through. With the flexible option list, the customer can configure the boat in countless variations, both on deck and below. Furthermore, we have put a lot of emphasis on a finely balanced sailing performance based on a tall rig with a large sail area, various keel options and a clever deck layout. Combined with the new, sporty design and the easy handling typical of Hanse, the result is an all-round winning package.”

Hull: The newly developed, hydrodynamic hull manages the balancing act between a narrow waterline, for better hull speed, and a wide hull above the waterline with chines fore and aft, giving the greatest possible interior space. The reverse bow makes the boat pitch less in strong winds, while the pronounced bow chines keep the foredeck as dry as possible.

Deck: The new deck design has 14 opening hatches and eight opening windows to offer maximum light and ventilation below deck. Many smart options allow the cockpit to be optimally customised. These include an electrically lowering bathing platform with stairs, a wetbar with sink and grill, as well as telescopic davits that can be lowered flush to the cockpit floor when not in use. The optional hardtop can be fitted with a fixed windscreen and solar panels to generate renewable power, and fits perfectly with the boat’s aerodynamic silhouette.

Interior: No fewer than 48 layout combinations give customers every opportunity to configure their Hanse 460 to suit their needs. Whether as an owner’s yacht with a master cabin including ensuite bathroom and two comfortable aft cabins; or as a charter yacht with 10 berths and three bathrooms – everything is possible. The galley can also be fully adapted to the customer’s wishes. In addition to various refrigerator and freezer options, there is also room for a wine cooler, dishwasher and a three-burner gas cooker with oven in the longitudinal or U-pantry, which can be customised with various colours and surface materials. Another optional highlight is the fully equipped navigation area with forward-facing seat, which is unparalleled in this class. The extensive options list, ranging from a washing machine in the utility room to flatscreens in the master cabin and saloon, is crowned by the Flagship Package, which includes exclusive fabrics and materials as well as a hidden bar behind the folding backrest in the saloon.

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Hanse 315 boat test – packing a lot into a small space

• Toby Hodges
• February 10, 2016

As other builders go up in size, Hanse looks to the smaller end of its fleet to bring in the customers. And the Hanse 315 packs a lot in a small space, says Toby Hodges

All photos Paul Wyeth Credit: Paul Wyeth

Product Overview

Manufacturer:.

Winner of the Family Cruiser category of the European Yacht of the Year Awards 2015. Read more here

What do Tesco Metro, iPad Mini and a Hanse 315 all have in common? They are the result of big firms concentrating the best of their products into a more compact, feature-rich, yet user-friendly version.

Take Tesco, UK’s biggest superstore chain. Its success, from the 1980s to today, is linked with its ability to adapt quickly to consumer trends using the size, range and variety of its stores. Its smaller, compact Metro branches, which first appeared in 1994, are a clever example of the company’s versatility.

Hanse Yachts was founded at around the same time (early 1990s) and soon developed a wide range of modern production cruising yachts with broad appeal. But recently you could be forgiven for thinking that its success with large yachts would tempt the Greifswald yard to focus on the top end of the scale. Hanse has sold over 175 of the 575 in three years, and has taken six orders for the yet-to-launch 675.

However, Hanse’s 315 shows that keeping equal focus on the smaller sizes is smart. It attracts people into a brand where, as with supermarkets, retaining loyalty becomes key.

The same applies to other large yacht builders, so why should you be interested in this particular 30-footer? In my opinion, the Hanse 315 is the best recent example of a compact big yacht. It takes many intelligent ideas seen on larger modern designs and includes them in a size that is both practical and fun to sail.

The 315 has more volume than the 325 it is replacing, a larger sailplan and deeper L-keel (providing CE category A). As Tesco’s Metro branches have done to larger stores, Hanse’s 315 could render many larger yachts obsolete.

The shape of things to come

Many of the best features of the 315 stem directly from her hull shape. Judel Vrolijk has given her a modern performance profile that closely resembles that of her sister brand Dehler. Benefits from this shape are felt in the cockpit space and generous volume aft. Broad aft beam creates the option of twin wheels – she’s the smallest production yacht to have this.

But the prime advantage of her hull design, the calling card of the 315, is her superb sailing ability. It is the reason why I wanted a second sail after a brief autumn outing during the European Yacht of the Year trials.

Her flared quarters look aggressive and, together with a near plumb stem and stern, help maximise waterline length when heeled. The result is that she is simply a delight to sail, aided by steering that is superlight and responsive.

The 315 is a surprisingly addictive boat to helm. Most yachts take some getting used to, as you try to get the balance right, tweaking the control lines. The Hanse is instantly playful, encouraging you to throw her through tacks and maximise your time on the water.

UK agent Phil Dollin thought a reef or two might be prudent with the wind gusting over 20-25 knots as we left the Hamble River. But with flat water and an interest in seeing how she responds when pushed, he agreed to keep full sail. It helped to demonstrate how manageable this 30-footer is.

Advantages of a self-tacking jib

The 315 brings sailing back to basics, thanks in part to her single-point mainsheet and a self-tacking jib. Admittedly, there were times when Dollin needed to play the main as we headed into chop and Force 6 gusts around Calshot, or when I would feather the main if I were sailing her solo. But she only rounded up once, ever so politely, when over-pressed.

The vang and backstay are sufficiently adjustable to flatten the large main to keep it driving rather than overpowering the boat.

The self-tacking jib helps make sailing smooth and easy. It also aids confidence, especially with the breeze up. Instead of gybing, for example, you can just throw in a handbrake turn – a 270° tack – which only requires the helmsman to spin the wheel.

One problem we found when doing this with the single-point mainsheet was that it can get caught on the (optional) primary winches when it goes slack.

I was surprised to hear that few Hanse owners in the UK opt for a downwind sail. A furling asymmetric at least would top my extras list to help compensate for the small headsail area and its poor sheeting angle when sailing deep – the narrow width of the track is dictated by the coachroof to which it is mounted.

I would also welcome the ability to trim the jib from the wheel, by creating a lead from the coachroof to a primary. For couples, or those intending to sail solo, the standard tiller steering might be a more practical option for adjusting main and jib trim.

The Hanse 315 is sprightly and spirited to sail, particularly upwind and close reaching. We averaged around 7 knots close-hauled, where 32° to the apparent wind (45° true) was the sweet spot. Pinch more and the mainsail loses power and speed drops off quickly.

Reaching speeds touched 8 knots, well heeled – nothing to get worried about, just enough to give a safe thrill. The twin wheels help maintain the sporty feel with direct feedback via Jefa linkage.

The down sides of entry-level

Building a compact cruising yacht with a wealth of positive features for an entry-level price invariably involves drawbacks.

The pushpit is the first downside I took issue with. Hanse offers a beamy swim platform, above which is just a single guardwire to protect the cockpit. We were quick to point out this safety deficiency during our trials of an early 315 model in La Rochelle.

During those same trials, the fitting supporting the optional genoa sheet arrangement became detached – it turns out there was no backing plate below the deck. Hanse has since addressed both problems on later models.

The starboard steering column on the Hanse test boat in the Hamble also had play in it and it felt as if the mounting needed better reinforcement. Hanse commendably builds ten prototypes at this size, but these are issues that should be seen and resolved before production begins in earnest.

The test boat had a lot of optional extras, including an upgraded engine, twin wheels, laminate sails, sprayhood, heating, etc. It served as a good example of how the finish price of a production yacht bears little resemblance to its base price. With everything included, the test boat cost double the £50,000 standard price.

Looking through the spec sheet, I’d still want an offwind sail as well – and, having seen one hull in metallic blue, perhaps even a vinyl wrap.

Standing room

Pause at the foot of the companionway and you’ll notice something rather unusual for a yacht of this size – you can stand. By lowering the sole to the minimum height above the bilge, Hanse has created 6ft 3in headroom here.

This has a greater impact than you might imagine; it really gives the impression of a much larger yacht below. You can stand to work at the galley or chart table. The only problem is that you soon forget you are on a 31ft yacht, and promptly bump your head when going forward.

The layout is beautifully in proportion. The design team has been particularly clever with the cabins. Rather than just have a vee berth and open bulkhead forward, they have created an option for a cabin with a door. To achieve this, the length of the berth is reduced and insert boards used each side aft. This creates three different options: a child’s berth, a single berth with changing seat, or a full double vee berth.

However, it is the aft cabin that will be used by owners – if they can get into it. The entrance is short and narrow, but once there, you are rewarded with a giant athwartships double berth that extends under the cockpit.

It is wide enough, in fact, to be used as a longitudinal single berth should you want to. An angled backrest against the hull encourages you to recline comfortably in the area with most seated headroom.

The port saloon sofa is long enough to sleep on and the saloon is generous in size. Although the heads is also large, it feels rather bleak. It’s simply a wet room, a glassfibre pod that brings home the mass-production nature of the build. But there is plenty of light and 6ft headroom and it puts practicality first, including space to hang wet weather gear over the shower tray.

Hanse owners can escape the ‘cloned’ feel to some extent thanks to the numerous options on offer. There is a multitude of colour options inside and out, including gelcoat tints or vinyl wraps, upholstery and veneer finish. I was impressed to see big boat features as standard too, such as LED lights that can be dimmed or controlled from a smart touch panel.

As Tesco’s slogan says: ‘Every little helps.’

Specifications

LOA 9.62m/31ft 7in

LWL 8.70m/28ft 7in

Beam (max) 3.35m/10ft 11in

Draught 1.85m/6ft 1in

Disp (lightship) 4,700kg/10,362lb

Ballast 1,500kg/3,307lb

Sail area (100% foretriangle) 49.8m 2 /563ft 2

Engine 11.8hp Volvo Penta saildrive

Water 230lt/51gal

Fuel 160lt/35gal

Sail area:disp 19.0

Disp:LWL 199

Price ex VAT: £54,092

Price as tested: £99,195 inc VAT

Design: Judel/Vrolijk & Co

www.hanseyachts.com

Be realistic, how many large cruising yachts would you really want to take out for a quick spin, two-up? I don’t know of many that I could or would want to do what we did during our test sail: hop aboard for a photoshoot, throw her around and sail her solo at times while over-canvassed. Yet the Hanse 315 was a joy, despite the dull winter conditions.

The price might not be quite as attractive as it might seem at first glance – not exactly ‘entry level’ by the time you’ve ticked enough boxes to make the boat comfortable – but the 315 still represents good value.

There were a few concerns with build quality on deck, signs that Hanse is perhaps cutting corners to keep cost down, but this is related to the larger issue of trying to create a truly affordable new yacht.

That aside, if you want a small family cruiser or a sporty, compact yacht, look no further. The Hanse 315 has the space and pace of a 35-footer with the price and practicality of a 30-footer. She puts the basics back into enjoyable sailing. Light and manageable, easy and fun, she has a shape that ensures an entertaining ride.

When done well, it is the convenience of a compact model, whether that be electronics, supermarkets or cruising yachts, that attracts the customers to come back.

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Hanse 588 Review

• By Herb McCormick
• Updated: January 9, 2019

To my eye, perhaps the cleanest-looking yacht to be introduced in 2018 was the Hanse 588, the second-largest offering from the German builder in a line that now encompasses a range of boats from 31 to 69 feet. Look, I enjoy a clipper bow and sweeping sheer line as much as any traditionalist, but lately I’ve derived as much optical pleasure from the lines of all-business performance cruisers like the 588. Perhaps it’s because function follows form, and a yacht like this — with features that include a straight bow and stern, ample topsides, wide beam, maximum waterline, minimalist deck jewelry and razor-sharp sheer — is nothing if not a flat-out sailing machine. You can just see it.

And then there’s this: At first glimpse, it looks rather simple. But on closer inspection, it’s anything but. And I also find broad appeal in that dichotomy. But make no mistake: For all of its ultramodern Euro styling, this is a well-constructed, systems-rich, state-of-the-art vessel, with a host of elements that will make sailing and cruising safer, and more efficient and fun.

Let’s start with the sail plan and rig, a triple-spreader Seldén aluminum spar with no traveler and a self-tending jib. Straightforward, right? Well, not so fast. The ­mainsheet is actually a German-style setup that’s double ended and led aft, port and starboard, to cockpit winches adjacent to the helmsman. The main itself on the boat

I sailed is a powerful, fully battened number stashed on an optimal in-boom FurlerBoom furler. The ­aforementioned jib is unwound from a Furlex manually controlled furling unit, and the code zero genoa riding shotgun in the twin headsail configuration is set off a Reckmann electric furler. All sails are built using composite-­laminate sailcloth by Elvström. In other words, like everything else, they’re high tech.

There are twin wheels, each led to the quadrant independently of each other. Stashed below the cockpit, accessed via the transom’s drop-down boarding gate/swim platform when lowered, is a Williams jet-drive tender (I am not making this up), which answers the always intriguing dinghy question (both the type and its storage) in a major way. There are thrusters in the bow and the stern, both retractable, very handy items when pivoting or docking a boat this big. Are you recognizing a recurring theme here? With the Hanse 588, on multiple levels, what you don’t see is what you get.

A raised bulwark rims and ­accentuates the flush deck, which can be specified as real teak (an ­option) or synthetic teak, with a choice of eight different finishes. On our test boat, the sight lines from the dual helms were fabulous, thanks largely to the low coachroof and the absence of a dodger or Bimini. (A fiberglass “T-top” hardtop that covers the cockpit is optional, as is the sort of windscreen seen on many Scandinavian cruising boats.) There are six windows on each side of the hull; the company says it used the largest ones possible that do not ­compromise structural integrity. The windows serve dual purposes, emitting plenty of light into the interior and offering great views while breaking up the expansive hull from a visual perspective.

The boat is well put together, with balsa core employed in the topsides of the hull and deck in a laminate rich in polyester resin and coated with vinylester as a hedge against osmosis (the layup is solid glass below the waterline). The chainplates are reinforced with carbon in high-load areas, and the vacuum-bagged bulkheads are cored for a combination of lightness and strength before they are tabbed into the deck, floors and hull. The iron keel (there are three different sizes and drafts available, ranging from a shallow L-shaped model that draws 7 feet 5 inches to a deep, T-shaped version drawing 9 feet 4 inches) is anchored to keel plates embedded in the integrated floor grid.

Down below, there are literally dozens of choices to make with regard to upholstery colors and fabrics, carpeting, and woods for flooring and furniture, which gives owners an incredible amount of leeway to personalize the interior to their own liking. Our test boat’s ­furnishings were finished in cherry, which was quite pleasing. Likewise, with the floor plan, there are multiple layouts for accommodations from which to choose. The boat we inspected had the single spacious owners cabin forward, with an island berth and a single roomy head (this space can also be two cabins and two heads); a crew’s quarters in the bow (which can also be a gargantuan sail locker); and a big head to port at the foot of the companionway (this can also be a workroom or another sleeping cabin). There were also twin double cabins aft with en-suite heads. The central saloon of our test boat featured large settees to port and starboard, with the U-shaped galley also to starboard. A straight-line galley with an incorporated central island is also available.

Alas, the day of our sea trials on Chesapeake Bay last fall, in conjunction with the 2018 Boat of the Year contest, dawned ­absolutely windless, and we were unable to conduct a test sail. But the boat performed more than admirably under power, registering better than 9 knots at 2,150 rpm. And, in terms of decibel level, it was one of the fleet’s quietest boats, a fact that was not lost on BOTY judge Ed Sherman.

“One of the factors that I have always used to help me sort out a very broad-based quality issue is how noisy the boat is when you’re motoring along,” Sherman said. “All that’s indicative of all these parts — doors that don’t fit right, floorboards that move — that can induce harmonics that go through the whole boat when you’re under power. And here, we have a boat that’s right down there with the highest quality and most expensive yachts in terms of the noise level down below. I guarantee that’s a derivative of the efforts that have been taken in designing and executing all the assembled components in the interior. For Hanse, the tolerances are getting tighter. Whatever they’re doing, it’s really working.”

Yes, Mr. Sherman. It ­certainly is.

Herb McCormick is CW’s executive editor.

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Hanse 455 – tested and reviewed

With its bold, muscular looks, hanse’s new 455 is proving to be one of the big winners of 2015..

A few years ago, a 35-footer was about the standard size for a cruising yacht – the happy medium that many of us aspired to.

Times have changed, however, and I would venture to suggest that nowadays that measure of the average-sized yacht we aspire to own is closer to 45ft.

The new Hanse 455 was launched towards the end of last year by the German boatbuilder with the aim of cornering this lucrative sector of the market. On recent evidence you’d have to say it has done just that, with sales of the yacht in the UK in 2015 well into double figures.

Performance : 4/5 Comfort : 5/5 Bluewater : 3.5/5

Price : £151,000 (ex-VAT)

www.hanseyachts.com

Insure this boat from £611.56

Modern looks

The new 455 comes as a surprise: with her plumb bow, vertical transom and hard, angular coachroof, this yacht comes from a school of naval architecture that is almost brutalist.

Follow on from the 445

She therefore shares a good many of her predecessor’s attributes: plenty of beam carried well aft, masses of volume and Hanse’s trademark self-tacking headsail set-up married to a tall, powerful rig.

Finishing touches

Four carpets, three floorings, four joinery and 30 upholstery choices offer nearly 1,500 options. Huge portlights and numerous flush hatches make the saloon among the brightest you’ll find.

Clever storage

There is a huge locker behind the anchor locker which could happily swallow up whole dinghies if required. The bathing platform is huge and slips down on its hydraulic strut with a pleasing hiss and conspicuous lack of effort.

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Pure emotion is yours on the Hanse 548. Impressive maritime lines and an elegant aerodynamic deck emphasise the amazing performance and easy sailing. Below deck, the space is airy and bright. This yacht is equipped with two forestays, an elegant T-top and a spacious tender garage. All in all, the style of modern sailing.

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Choose from five layout variants for the space that best suits your individual wishes and needs. The Hanse 548 offers eight to nine cosy berths, a comfortable first-class owner’s cabin with a large, stylish bathroom, as well as up to four showers and a separate crew cabin.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

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Moscow: City, Spectacle, Capital of Photography

April 30–june 21, 2003.

Moscow: City, Spectacle, Capital of Photography , an exhibition of 20th-century photographs of Moscow, opens at Columbia University's Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 and remains on display through Saturday, June 21, 2003.

Moscow has been a powerful magnet for many Russian photographers of the 20th century. Moscow: City, Spectacle, Capital of Photography presents the work of 31 photographers, whose images have defined the visual experience of Moscow from the 1920s to the present. Diverse in form and strategy, the 90 photographs chosen for the exhibition trace the history of Russian documentary photography and offer insight into individual practices. From Aleksandr Rodchenko's constructivist visions and Evgenii Khaldei's humanist landscapes to Igor Moukhin's scenes of urban spectacle and alienation in the works of Russia's key 20th-century photographers, Moscow ventures beyond the expected image as a site of famous landmarks, architectural treasures and dramatic lifestyles.

Early 20th-century photographers Boris Ignatovich and Arkadii Shaikhet saw themselves in the vanguard of an emerging mass-media culture, defining with their cameras the visual experience of Soviet modernity. For nearly 70 years, Soviet photography was assigned the duty of maintaining the ideological rigidity of the Soviet State. Yet, as examples of the work of Iakov Khalip, Anatolii Egorov, Mikhail Savin, and Mark Markov-Grinberg show, Soviet photographic practices were much more complex than has been previously acknowledged. The works of these photographers remain intensely compelling to a modernist eye.

Contemporary Russian photographers, such as Lev Melikhov, Valerii Stigneev and Sergei Leontiev, engage with the legacy of the Soviet documentary photography. But for them the documentary is a complex and multivalent genre, which incorporates subjectivity, ambiguity and reflexivity and comments on social and cultural issues without losing sight of the position from which that commentary is made. In the recent photographs by Vladimir Kupriyanov, Igor Moukhin, Anna Gorunova and Pakito Infante, the "real" space of Moscow is replaced by an imaginary and optical spaces of virtuality.

The works in the exhibition are on loan from Moscow's Cultural Center Dom, and many are being shown outside Russia for the first time. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Wallach Art Gallery is publishing an illustrated catalogue with a scholarly essay by the exhibition curator, Nadia Michoustina, a Ph.D. candidate in Columbia University's Department of Slavic Languages. The essay presents a nuanced history of Russian photography of the 20th century, and contributes to an interpretation of extraordinary images.