Until recently it would have been easy to assume the pioneering cruising trimarans of the 1960s and 1970s showed that cruising on three hulls has too many drawbacks to be…

There’s something surprising and quite brilliant about the new Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54, which I bet you won’t notice at first. I certainly didn’t. It’s not the powerful looks or…

Jeanneau-Sun-Fast-35 review-in-action-credit-Ocean-Images

Can the Jeanneau Sun Fast 35 live up to the impressive legacy left by her predecessors? She certainly has big boots to fill. Creating a design that becomes an icon…

Jeanneau-Sun-Fast-37-review-in-action-credit-Christel-Clear

While the hardcore racing world has been squabbling over everything from handicapping systems to whether people really want to go offshore racing, a growing army of less vociferous but fiercely…

Elan-Impression-444-review-in-action-credit-R-Langdon-OceanImages

The newly launched Elan Impression 444 is born from the 434, a design that made an impression itself when it launched a successful line of big-volume cruisers in 2004. Over…

Oyster-575-review-in-action-credit-Richard-Langdon:Ocean-Images

A 220nm passage on the new Oyster 575 certainly provided quality time aboard to assess whether this might be a worthy heir to Oyster’s most successful model ever, the 56,…

Oyster-54-review-anchored-credit-Ocean-Images:ywpix

For once, there was no need to remove every cushion, lift every floorboard and squeeze into the engine room for a boat test. Having acted as the owner’s consultant in…

Dufour-36P-review-in-action-credit-Richard-Langdon:Ocean Images

Video footage from Yachting World's test of the new Dufour 36P performance cruiser. The full report is in Yachting World August, out now

Bavaria-Vision-46-review-in-action-credit-Paul-Wyeth

Video footage from Yachting World's test aboard Bavaria's new Vision 46 – an innovative family cruiser from the board of Farr Yacht Design and Design Unlimited. The full report is…

Yacht design has made enormous strides in the past decade: the best of today’s new boats are safer, easier to handle, faster and a lot more spacious than older models…

Beneteau-Oceanis-523-review-in-action2-credit-Malcolm-White

When most yards talk of success in this size range they’re talking of tens, maybe scores of boats built. Beneteau talk in hundreds. The predecessor of the Beneteau Oceanis 523,…

Beneteau-Oceanis-323-review-in-action-credit-Beneteau

The appearance of the Beneteau Oceanis 323 suggests simple, economical family sailing, lots of room and a modest performance – or does it? Closer inspection makes you think again, because…

Beneteau-First-34.7-review-in-action5-credit-Beneteau

Beneteau are clearly very proud of the new Beneteau First 34.7 have issued several bold statements about the complexity of the new boat in their ever expanding stable. How could…

X-Yachts-X-35-review-in-action5-credit-X-Yachts

When it comes to serious numbers in one ­design yachts, the X-99 rates as one of the most successful designs of modern times, with 600 built since 1985. But after…

Beneteau-First-47.7-review-in-action3-credit-Christel-Clear

The Beneteau First 47.7 looks set to follow in the footstep of the latest yachts that have come before. Cost has clearly been a big factor but there are other…

Their prevalence at regattas shows how much the design has caught the imagination as a performance boat at a good price. Nowadays there’s another reason for its success-with so many…