Sailing Oscars: These are Europe's yachts of the year 2023

• European Yacht of the Year in the cruising yacht category
• European Yacht of the Year in the Performance Cruiser category
• European Yacht of the Year in the luxury yacht category
• European Yacht of the Year in the Multihulls category
• European Yacht of the Year in the Special Boats category

The international vote for Europe's best yacht of the year, initiated by YACHT, has now been running for exactly 20 years. Neither the financial and economic crisis nor the pandemic have ever been able to stop the European Yacht of the Year Award. Only the award ceremony had to be postponed in the past two years: Because boot Düsseldorf was cancelled, where the presentation of the boatbuilding Oscars in front of a good 400 invited guests from the water sports industry always marks the start of the trade fair, the festive finale was held online as an exception.

Elaborate tests

However, the tests, the linchpin for determining Europe's Yachts of the Year, could always be carried out even in times of severe travel restrictions. They are what make the award the most valuable honour in the world. No other choice follows such an elaborate procedure. This is also appreciated by the shipyards, which not only present their own boats at the multi-day Seatrials, but can often also sail against their direct competitors in the market. "It's an impressive event," says Yann Masselot, Head of Brand at Beneteau, who had four nominees at the start this time. "Very professional, very well organised. And regardless of whether you win or not - it's always worth taking part."

Last autumn, the twelve jury members first met in La Rochelle in the west of France and a few weeks later in Port Ginesta in Catalonia, not far from Barcelona; two destinations that have already hosted Europe's Yacht of the Year on several occasions and once again offered the best test conditions.

The world's most important yacht-building nation cemented its exceptional position with two victories for boats from French brands. France has a practically unassailable lead with 36 titles, ahead of Germany with ten and Denmark and Italy with eight each. In the brand rankings, Beneteau has increased its lead by one to nine victories - almost as many as all German manufacturers combined. Strictly speaking, the most recent title winner, the First 36, actually comes from Slovenia.

94 times Europe's Yachts of the Year

That's how many boats the judges have chosen since the most recognised mode for selecting the winners celebrated its premiere 20 years ago. More than 400 yachts were nominated in total.

The most successful nations by title

• 1. france 36
• 2 Germany 10
• 3. Denmark, Italy 8
• Slovenia 4 7
• 5 Netherlands 6
• 6 Sweden 5
• 7 Switzerland 4
• 8 Austria 2
• Finland 2
• Great Britain 2

37,500 nautical miles for Europe's Yachts of the Year

This is the distance travelled by the judges during the tests. This corresponds to around ten Atlantic passages or more than the route around the world in The Ocean Race (32,000 nm).

The most successful brands in Europe's Yachts of the Year

• 1. Beneteau 9
• 2. jeanneau 5
• 3. dehler 4
• Dragonfly 4
• Hanseyachts 4
• Outremer 4
• Saffier Yachts 4
• X-Yachts 4
• 4. dufour 3
• Elan 3

European Yacht of the Year in the cruising yacht category

Linjett 39

Can do everything, and practically flawlessly. The no-frills Swede impressed in the test - despite its price

• You can read the complete test report of the Linjett 39 here

This is the one boat that pretty much fulfils the wish list of many sailors. The Linjett 39 combines robustness and stability with the desired balance on the helm, which conveys control, pleasure and self-confidence. She reacts vividly in light winds and does not make the crew nervous even in 20 knots of wind when they set the large asymmetrical spinnaker. On the contrary: she invites you to explore the extremely high stability limits.

The Swede sits comfortably in the sweet spot between the cruising, luxury and performance segments and excels in so many areas that you can recommend her to your favourite friends without a doubt. Below deck, with her fine woodwork and great ergonomics, she conveys the cosy feeling of a truly handcrafted yacht. As the quantities are small, the distances are short and the hierarchies are extremely flat at the Rosättra shipyard north of Stockholm, she also offers future owners a wide range of customisation options. This means that you can configure your own unique yacht without having to experiment.

With its slightly tapered stern and long superstructure, sloping stem and wide running decks, the Linjett 39 looks like a modern classic. Swans looked something like this 20 or 25 years ago. But it would be wrong to describe the boat as a retro design. The freeboard of the Swan has also increased and the length-to-width ratio has decreased - but not to the same extent as mass-produced yachts, which are more in tune with the spirit of the times and have long since adapted more extreme hull shapes.

The Linjett deliberately goes its own way. This applies to her lines as well as her inner values, which seem uncompromising. The shipyard builds very elaborately, very robustly, but relatively light for a cruising boat. The foam cores in the hull are CNC-milled and fit so precisely that there are no cavities that could fill with resin during lamination. And that is just one of many examples that make the Linjett 39 a class of its own.

European Yacht of the Year in the Performance Cruiser category

First 36

For Beneteau, this is an unusually bold new development - and a triumphant success

• You can find more about the First 36 and many pictures here

It's a category full of marvellous sailing boats. So it's all the more surprising that the yacht that made it to the top this year is the most modest - at least in terms of design and, more importantly, its displacement. The First 36 from Beneteau owes its victory, which it won by some margin, not least to the fact that it is the only one of the nominees that can be planing upwind even in a moderate breeze. But that's not all.

Designed in Slovenia by Seascape and built under licence, the Beneteau also offers the best working cockpit: with ideally positioned winches, blocks and excellently placed steering wheels that support sailing with both a small and a full crew. Her responsiveness at the helm is fantastic and her speed potential is outstanding. This is another reason why she won the YACHT comparison test of performance cruisers with a hull length of eleven metres last summer. The only thing she has yet to prove is her performance in terms of racing value. Those who primarily want to sail regattas will have to wait for meaningful results, which the shipyard says will follow this season.

For ambitious cruising sailors, however, the case is clear: you will hardly find a better overall package in this size on the market. Even the space below deck feels great - despite two shortcomings: the lack of easily accessible storage space in the saloon and the rather tiny bathroom. On the other hand, the berth dimensions, light and visibility as well as the clear, timeless design below deck are just right.

So here it is: the truly modern fast cruiser that dares to be different and that not enough large-scale production yards dare to build. The First 36 will undoubtedly put a broad smile on her owners' faces as soon as the wind picks up just a little and the boat lets her own wave system out aft. Having already won several awards, she has added the most important one to her trophy collection by winning the European Yacht of the Year: Oscar-worthy!

European Yacht of the Year in the luxury yacht category

Oyster 495

The smallest in the British company's established programme was the biggest for the judges - despite its extravagant design

• Read more about the Oyster 495 here

The boat that the judges sailed during the tests off Port Ginesta was like its owner: eccentric. It belongs to Eddie Jordan, the former Formula 1 racing team owner who loves the sea but has a pronounced aversion to white yachts. So he had his 495 wrapped in a wild graffiti style on the outside and clad in highly exquisite but psychedelically patterned upholstery below deck. Because this looks very idiosyncratic, we show pictures of a yacht in its standard state here - and mention the styling of Eddie Jordan's boat, which you can see on YACHT online, only as proof of how far the British luxury shipyard goes in fulfilling owners' wishes. This kind of customising is in demand in the luxury category, and hardly any other brand in the top segment is as open as Oyster. The willingness to customise goes far beyond the merely visual. The British brand also offers plenty of scope when it comes to technical equipment.

On the other hand, you could order the 495 in the standard configuration and go on a long voyage. This is because it is pleasingly fully equipped, right down to the electric sheet winches, which is reflected in the very high basic price. In the hull lines, she is currently the most modern and tidiest yacht in the Oyster fleet. The large beam, which extends all the way aft, and the high freeboard create an enormous amount of volume below deck. The wide running decks and the relatively flat deck saloon superstructure nevertheless convey class and classiness. The construction is beyond reproach: so reassuringly strong, so unshakeable in rough seas, so great to steer from the two helm stations, so easy to handle and so, so comfortable when you retreat to her living quarters! As Oyster's smallest offering, you don't have to make any major compromises with her. In some ways, she offers even more luxury than her larger siblings, as she is easy to handle alone or by the owner couple, without the need for an extra hand. And then there's the highly polished stainless steel fitting on the companionway hatch, which locks the boat like a safe. In a class of its own!

European Yacht of the Year in the Multihulls category

Nautitech 44 Open

The brand, which belongs to Bavaria, has developed a marvellous all-rounder with its latest Cat. Chapeau!

• You can find more about the Nautitech 44 Open and many pictures here

The demand and supply on the market for multihulls is enormous. This also applies to the variety of new models, ranging from offshore performance designs to sailing holiday homes. Nautitech's new 44 Open lies right in the middle, and its broad spectrum and convincing quality make it the undisputed winner of this year's hotly contested multihull category despite strong competition.

The cat with the two aft steering positions comes very close to a monohull in terms of its precision on the rudder. Its speed potential and turning angles do not disappoint either. At the same time, the build quality, the excellent strength of the GRP composite laminated with vinylester and the details of the equipment are well above standard. With the 44 Open, Nautitech is targeting a very attractive segment of the catamaran market with this new boat and is downright dominating it.

The only compromises that the owners have to accept are the small saloon seating area and the rather narrow hulls - both restrictions that are easy to come to terms with. On the one hand, the boat compensates for the limited space under the central cockpit with the large outside saloon, which can be completely closed off with canvas. Secondly, the 44 Open has two special features that are not available everywhere: the bar table in front of the galley, which is perfect for a drink or snack both at sea and in the harbour, as well as an optional multifunctional room in the bow area of the starboard hull. This so-called Smart Room serves as a workshop and laundry room and also offers ample additional storage space. An option that will be particularly appreciated by owners on long voyages. All this makes the Nautitech around 15 per cent more expensive than comparable cats. But it is definitely worth it.

European Yacht of the Year in the Special Boats category

Not awarded

The jury did not find a winner in the small category - and yet
good reasons for an award

They are so special that they definitely deserve to be nominated. However, none of the three yachts selected this year met the criteria for a win - either due to a lack of series production or a lack of quality. The result was a special prize for sustainability.

The Ecoracer 25 is an impressive sports boat - also in terms of its ecological footprint. It is almost completely recyclable - hence our honourable mention for sustainability.

• You can find out more about the Ecoracer 25 here

• Hhere you can see all the nominated boats