Sailing World announces 2015 Boat of the Year Winners

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — Sailing World magazine revealed the winners of its Boat of the Year Awards program, naming the Farr 280 as its 2015 Boat of the Year. The high-tech, 28-foot raceboat was designed by Farr Yacht Design, of Annapolis, MD, and built by Premiere Composite Technologies (Dubai, UAE).

The magazine’s independent judges—sailmaker Chuck Allen, boatbuilder Tom Rich, and naval architect Greg Stewart—tested 15 performance sailboats following the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis. When the inspections and sail tests were all said and done, the Farr 280 stood out for its construction, forward-thinking features, and performance under sail.

“What I like about the boat is that it’s innovative, and they’re not trying to be everything to everybody,” said Rich. “They made a grand-prix, go-fast, one-design boat—that’s it.”

“We had a diverse fleet this year,” said Dave Reed, Sailing World’s Editor and Boat of the Year Director. “One point the judges kept making was how each of the builders had advanced quality and innovation. Culling the best from the entries wasn’t easy, which is a testament to the outstanding quality and value among the finalists.”

The magazine’s other award-winning entries include:

  • Gunboat 55, Best Multihull
  • Topper Topaz Argo, Best Recreational Dinghy
  • RS Aero, Best One-Design
  • Seascape 27, Best Crossover

The judges lauded the Gunboat 55, built by Gunboat Catamarans of Wanchese, NC, for its groundbreaking construction and performance. The Gunboat 55 also garnered Cruising World Magazine’s Domestic Boat of the Year award. The Topaz Argo, from Topper Sailboats, in England, is an ideal design for sailing clubs, and the Seascape 27, imported from Slovenia, is a boat best suited for short-distance coastal racing, noted Reed. He then went on to add the RS Aero, a 13-foot dinghy from RS Sailboats, United Kingdom, earned the judges’ highest praises for its meticulous design and its potential to become sailing’s next great singlehanded dinghy.

Every year, Sailing World magazine recognizes its Boat of the Year winners, based on the results of inspections by an independent panel of three judges. The winning boats are determined by size and/or purpose, based on the build, sailing quality, and design execution.

For more information, visit www.sailingworld.com.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button