The first part of the test consists of Design, rigging and sailing characteristics of the Breehorn 55 takes centre stage. This demonstrates not only how smoothly and steadily the aluminium yacht sails on the IJsselmeer, but also where its heavy weight and steering system impose limitations.
The spacious pilothouse acts as the link between the cockpit and the living area – a sort of airlock, if you like. This sheltered area can be sealed watertight, keeping out damp, wind and cold. On the test vessel, it has been fitted out with two benches and a central table. Thanks to the wraparound band of double-glazed windows made of real glass, this creates a bright deck saloon with excellent views.
Breehorn also gives buyers a free hand when it comes to the layout of the pilothouse. One possibility, for example, would be a second navigation station with an interior helm and a clear view both ahead and of the sails.
Traditional ageing with little daylight
From the pilothouse, the path leads down several steps into the main saloon. It is a journey back to a time when heavy, dark, yet equally cosy and nautical interiors characterised yacht building. The Breehorn 55’s robust interior, featuring teak furniture and dark blue upholstery, has a deliberately traditional feel and conveys warmth and cosiness. You may like this, or you may not – it’s simply a matter of taste.
And the same applies here: the shipyard could, on request, make the interior more modern and airy by using lighter woods. On the test yacht, however, it is comparatively dark below deck, both in the saloon and in the cabins. There are no windows in the aluminium hull, and the openings in the superstructure are rather small. A plus point: all the superstructure windows can be opened. In general, Breehorn has Ventilation Considerable attention has been paid to this: all living areas, including the cabins and bathrooms, have at least two openings and can therefore be cross-ventilated.
The buyer decides on the cabin layout
The cabin layout within the slender hull remains classic. The owners enjoy very generous space in the foredeck and benefit from an equally spacious bathroom with a well-separated shower. Two aft cabins can be fitted with either double beds or two Pullman berths. Alternatively, depending on the owner’s wishes, the shipyard can convert one of the two aft compartments into a walk-in storage area, a changing room, a workshop or even an office. Once again, this means that there is no such thing as ‘standard’ at Breehorn; rather, it is the buyer who decides how their yacht is laid out and fitted out.
Wide service corridor between the eight cabins
A wide, central service duct runs between the two aft cabins. This houses the inboard engine, a generator and additional units such as a watermaker. Significant parts of the electrical installation and power distribution also converge in this area. Despite the slender hull lines, the service tunnel is still a considerable 66 centimetres wide.
Large inspection hatches in the aft cabins provide good access to the systems. This is particularly evident in the layout featuring stacked Pullman berths. In this configuration, the hatches can be opened fully, which makes working on the on-board systems much easier.
The price of the bespoke long-distance travel plan
Breehorn yachts do not have a reputation for being particularly affordable. However, for the base price of just under 1.77 million euros for the Breehorn 55, customers receive a well-designed, superbly equipped, impeccably built and largely ready-for-long-distance-cruising package from the boatbuilders in Friesland.
- Base price ex-shipyard: €1,461,440
- Price, ready to sail: €1,461,440
- Special offer price: €1,466,465
- Warranty/against osmosis: 2 years
For information on how the prices shown are defined as at 2026, please see here.
It is also difficult to put a price on it, as comparable boat designs are rare on the market. However, sailors who have sufficient capital and want to play it safe with their long-distance sailing plans will be willing to invest the money.
YACHT review of the Breehorn 55
A robustly built long-distance yacht, featuring high-quality construction and a bespoke design. More sedate than sporty when sailing close to the wind, but exceptionally well-equipped.
Design and Concept
High degree of individuality
Sturdy construction
Deep, secure cockpit
Sailing performance and trim
Solid sailing performance
Excellent handling on the high seas
Somewhat sluggish during manoeuvres
Housing and build quality
Sturdy build quality
A nautical atmosphere inside
Little natural light
Equipment and Technology
Easily accessible on-board technology
High-quality fittings
Limited storage space in the cockpit
Shipyard and Sales
Breehorn, 8551ML Woudsend, Netherlands; breehorn.nl
Great Freedom, but on a slightly smaller scale
With the new Breehorn 45, the Woudsend-based shipyard has adapted the Breehorn 55’s ultimate blue-water concept – featuring a pilothouse – to a smaller scale. As with the 55, the design is once again by Simonis Voogd. Compared to the previous 37- and 44-foot models, however, the stern is now wider. This means that twin steering wheels are also possible on the smaller boat. In addition, the Dutch builders are now fitting a stern hatch as a swimming platform as standard.
The layout below deck is carried over from the larger 55 in a compacted format. Compared to the older Breehorn 44, the new hull shapes will also make the two aft cabins more spacious. Breehorn is breaking new ground with the propulsion system: the 45 will feature a hybrid system comprising an electric motor and a generator for power supply. The first Breehorn 45 is being built with a GRP hull and deck.
The first boat has apparently already been laid down. Shipyard manager Lars van den Berg has also already quoted a price: he is asking for 585,150 euros gross.
Technical specifications of the Breehorn 45
- Fuselage length: 13.80 m
- Waterline length: 11.72 m
- Width: 4.15 m
- Draught: 2.10 m
- Weight: 14 tonnes
- Sail area when sailing close-hauled: 101 m²
Book recommendations
A Brief Guide to Blue-Water Sailing covers the preparation for a long-distance voyage, from choosing the yacht to everyday life on board. Rig, sails, equipment and energy management are covered, as are navigation, safety, provisions and costs. Anyone assessing a yacht for a long-distance voyage will find questions here that go beyond the hull and fittings and are important for its future operation.
The Yacht Workshop focuses on work to be carried out on your existing boat. The guides by the YACHT Technik editorial team cover care, maintenance and repairs, including the diesel tank, rudder bearings, spreaders and sandwich-construction components. When it comes to long-distance cruising yachts, the book thus adds a practical consideration to trip planning: which tasks can be identified, prepared for or carried out on board?
Is the dark, traditional interior of the Breehorn 55 timeless and cosy, or is it no longer in keeping with a modern long-range yacht? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology