Rarely do boatbuilders start with a genuinely blank sheet of paper. The time and capital required to develop an all new boat make it a serious commitment, and the stakes…
Boat test
Saare 41.2 review: ‘One of the best cruisers you will ever sail’
You could be forgiven for not having heard of Saare Yachts. After all, they only build half a dozen or so yachts a year, in just three sizes – 38ft,…
Broadblue 346 review: A cat with nine lives (well two actually)
Sometimes, if you stick around for long enough, you will see things that appear and then disappear before reappearing some years later. It happens in all areas of life, including…
Corsair 880 review: Fantastic, sporty, trailable trimaran
Some boat tests are more memorable than others. Sometimes it’s the boat, sometimes the weather and sometimes a combination of the two. When I tested the Corsair 880, it was…
Beneteau First 44 review: Docile herbivore of a boat, or a meat-hungry carnivore?
Disney princesses may not be the first thing that come to mind when sailing in mid December, but as we stepped aboard, the boat’s stereo was belting out Elsa from…
Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 review: Easy, enjoyable, and forgiving
The Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 is the latest model in the Beneteau Oceanis range – one of the best-known and recognisable in cruising yachts today. Sixty different models or variations have…
Arcona 50 review: Does the new Arcona flagship impress?
Does a metre really make that much difference when it comes to boat length? It may be one small step up in size, but it represents a giant leap for…
Dufour 44 review: Roomy and competitively-priced cruiser
There are many questions to ask when assessing a boat, whether as a journalist or a potential purchaser, but perhaps the most important question is how well it does what…
Nordic Folkboat used boat review: One of the most iconic boats ever designed
It’s hardly surprising Richard Gregson owns a Nordic Folkboat, there was only ever one sort of boat he could reasonably buy the owner of the Wooden Ships brokerage firm in…
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 review: Striking the right balance
When it comes to building successful cruising yachts, there are few yards that can match the might and scale of Jeanneau. If the number of hulls sold is any measure…