European Yacht Of The Year 2026: Newcomer Pure 42 is Bluewater Cruiser of the Year 2026
Jochen Rieker
· 20.01.2026
"We didn't want to be just another company that builds aluminium boats," says Matthias Schernikau. Instead, the aim was to "fundamentally rethink" the genre of robust all-weather boats. And they did, and how! The decision taken just two years ago to build innovative explorers for global voyages in Kiel has quickly matured into a fairytale success story. Schernikau, formerly a lift manufacturer, has now gathered two other partners and 20 hand-picked boatbuilding specialists around him, who leave no stone unturned in their endeavours to achieve unparalleled top performance. Hardly anywhere else in the European shipyard scene can you find so much expertise, such exquisite technical prerequisites and so much enthusiasm as here.
The Pure 42, designed by Martin Menzner/Berckemeyer Yacht Design, is the almost logical result: a blue-water yacht that not only takes its crew safely wherever they want to go, but is also more fun to sail than all of the well-known competition. The jury, which brings together well over 200 man-years of testing experience, has never experienced a launch model of such quality and maturity. And no aluminium yacht in this segment has ever sailed with such agility. A performance explorer in a class of its own!
What the jury says
"For me, of all the winners, she is the one I would most like to keep," says Alberto Mariotti from Superyacht24.it. Diego Yriarte from Spain's Náutica y Yates particularly liked "her ability to master demanding conditions without compromising on comfort".
Strengths
Unique alignment
For Explorer top sailing performance
Outstanding construction quality
Very good basic equipment
Overwhelming amount of storage space
Weaknesses
High base price
Slightly too tight control
Technical data of the Pure 42
- Torso length: 12,90 m
- Width: 4,20 m
- Max. draught/min: 1,20 - 3,00 m
- Weight: 9,7 t
- Ballast/proportion: 3,3 t/34 %
- sail area: 99,0 m²
- Base price ex shipyard: 1.129.310 €
Status 2025, how the prices shown are defined, read here!
Also nominated in the "Bluewater Cruiser" category
Boreal 56
The aluminium hull is up to 12 millimetres thick and insulated with 80 millimetres of insulation. The water tank holds 1,500 litres, the diesel tank 1,150 litres. The door to the dodger closes like a safe. The new Boreal is a boat for cruising in the roughest waters. Behind the raw, ultra-rugged shell, however, it hides more finesse than before. The boat from North Brittany is predestined for extreme areas, but is altogether more rustic than the Pure 42. Hull length 16.0 m; width 4.24 m; draught 1.20 - 3.18 m; weight 20.5 t; sail area 143 m²; price 1,605,890 euros.
Kraken 58
Kraken Yachts calls the scope of the standard equipment "world circumnavigation standard". And it is indeed unrivalled in its completeness. The new 58 comes from the shipyard with a generator, heating, air conditioning, watermaker, electric winches and many other expensive extras that are not included here. Dick Beaumont, founder and head of the shipyard, wants to build nothing less than the best blue water yachts. He goes the extra mile to achieve this. His boats are as safe as they are easy to operate and, on top of that, well heeled. Buyers should be too. Length 17.67 m; width 5.20 m; draught 2.30 m; weight 27.5 tonnes; sail area 230.1 m²; 2,754,850 euros.
Another aluminium explorer joins the ranks of the finalists from Italy, like the Pure 42, also under a new flag. However, the Stem 50 is being built at an established shipyard with decades of experience that previously specialised in workboats. Visually and conceptually, it is reminiscent of the long-distance competition from Allures or Ovni with its large dodger, cockpit bow, high freeboard and angular stern. However, it has a large sail area, a deep fixed keel and therefore promises agile sailing characteristics. An experienced blue water sailor was involved in the development. Exciting detail solutions, decent sailing performance. Length 14.99 m; width 4.99 m; draught 2.40 m; weight 13.2 tonnes; sail area 140.5 m²; price 1,023,400 euros
