Europe's Yachts of the Year: What the jury says about the winners - Part 3: Hallberg-Rassy 50
YACHT Online
· 26.01.2022
So yes: social envy can arise! None of the candidates in the luxury yacht category cost less than one million euros (1,000,000 ...) in the version entered for the test. So you could also rename the group Dream Yachts, because that's what they all are without exception, albeit with different characteristics. Here are the nominees again:
- Hallberg-Rassy 50 - the balanced one
- Jeanneau Yachts 60 - the innovative
- Lagoon 55 - the spaceship
- Swan 58 - the noble one
- X 5.6 - the versatile one
The fact that the Swede drawn by Germán Frers won the coveted trophy was certainly not due to the alphabetical order. And the readers' vote on YACHT online, which she clearly won with a lead of around 600 votes, had no influence on the judgement of the expert jury.
But let's let the editors-in-chief and test chiefs of Europe's leading sailing magazines explain for themselves what impressed them most about the HR 50:
Axel-Nissen-Lie from the Norwegian sailing magazine"Seilmagasinet" says:
"Magnus Rassy has got most things right with his newcomer from Ellös: floating luxury that works in all weathers. It's just a shame that this kind of quality costs so much. I was lucky enough to sail the boat in sun, heat and light winds in France, but also in harsh weather in the winter cold in Sweden. A good blue water cruiser should work in all conditions, and the new 50-foot yacht from Hallberg-Rassy does. They have succeeded in creating a modern boat without sacrificing solutions that work well."
Lori Schüpbach from "marina.CH"from Switzerland came to this conclusion:
"The new Hallberg-Rassy 50 convinces with the usual virtues and at the same time surprises with various radical adaptations. The carbon mast with the black laminate sails is a real eye-catcher. This upgrade is not cheap, but it shows that Hallberg-Rassy goes one step further than the competition in terms of equipment and comfort. The volume below deck is also impressive - the width of the boat is utilised right up to the stern without compromising on looks."
YACHT editor-in-chief Jochen Rieker writes in his justification of the election:
"Oh, what a joy! In a dying breeze, this first-class 'hotel by the sea' type yacht glided silently along, simply creating her own wind. With her 25 metre carbon furling mast and a set of fine Epex sails, including a fantastic electric furling Code Zero, the Hallberg-Rassy 50 kept moving on the glassy Bay of Biscay off La Rochelle when others were already faltering. Whilst her heavy weather talents were to be expected, her agility in light winds provided one of several 'aha' moments that the Frers design created with the not so easily impressed jury. The great hull lines, outstanding ergonomics, spacious cabins and rock-solid Swedish build quality make the HR 50 a universally usable boat. Whatever your programme is - the HR 50 will fit it almost perfectly."
Morten Brandt-Rasmussen from the Danish Bådmagasinet says:
"With the 50, Hallberg-Rassy delivers a boat that is full of the right choices. With the size of 50 feet, there is enough space in the cockpit, on deck and below deck to really showcase the qualities of the Swedish shipyard. The owner's cabin, the galley, the saloon, the cockpit, the parts and components - everything just seems to be the right choice. The boat sails really well and the push-button functionality, rigging and sail design are almost flawless."
If you want to know more about Europe's Yachts of the Year, you can find the previous winners here (just click on the respective line!):
Tomorrow we will be presenting the Saffier SE 33 Life, which won the race in the Special Boat class. And you can read the comprehensive report on all the nominees and winners in YACHT 4 - available to subscribers from the end of the week, in well-stocked newsagents from Wednesday next week or order directly from the Delius Klasing shop ( please click! )
