Hallberg-Rassy 370: Sailing and living at the highest level in the YACHT test

A slightly brighter spot in the sky - that's all we can see of the promised autumn sun when we arrive at the shipyard harbour in Ellös, Sweden. Instead, the archipelago is covered in a grey, damp and windless soup. Barely a dozen sailing yachts are still in the basin, all of them white and blue and with fixed windscreens.

Nevertheless, two boats stand out. One is the HR 69, which impresses with its sheer size. The other is the brand new Hallberg-Rassy 370, which fits almost seamlessly into the current model programme and closes the gap between 34 and 40 feet, but also sets new accents. The windows are larger and the lines appear more graceful, especially in comparison to her twelve-metre sister. The pronounced deck projection is particularly effective on the 37 and gives the foredeck additional headroom.

More from the shipyard:

• Hallberg-Rassy 29: Solid ship, solid investment - the used boat test
• Hallberg-Rassy 340 on test: Agile and good-natured sailor - the ideal cruising yacht?
• Hallberg-Rassy 342: Popular used boat offers the usual quality
• Hallberg-Rassy 40C: Cruising tourer of impeccable quality in the YACHT test
• Hallberg-Rassy 69 on test: The queen of cruising yachts

Heading

The deck looks extremely tidy - in fact, the open foredeck area is only four centimetres shorter than on the 40. The teak-coloured PU coating on the running deck is an option that costs around 38,000 euros. Gelcoat with an anti-slip structure is standard. In the cockpit, however, the teak-coloured replacement is standard. The material looks very similar to fresh wood and has a beautiful texture. It should not age and is easy to repair: damage is moulded out with the liquid material and nothing is visible after sanding.

The running deck is very easy to walk on and is nice and wide. The main and lower shrouds do not converge on the same shroud, but the lower shrouds are offset inwards. This makes it easy to walk between the stays. Another special feature is the sail load in the foredeck, which is explicitly designed for code zero or gennaker. Sails that are indispensable for modern rigs with a relatively small headsail on room sheet courses, but for which there is rarely enough storage space.

The dark-coloured superstructure roof of the 370 is striking, as it is a permanently installed solar system with a full 486 watts of peak power. The panels are from Solbian and are electrically divided into port and starboard sides to improve the charging performance despite unavoidable partial shading.

Measured values of the Hallberg-Rassy 370

Sumptuous inner values

In the absence of wind, let's first look at the inner values of the Rassy: when you come down the wide companionway, you are greeted by a very pleasantly bright atmosphere. This is mainly due to the large windows, which let in plenty of natural light. Even at first glance, the European oak interior looks very elegant. The moulded edge banding and coamings around the galley and navigation corner are not only pleasing to the eye, but also to the hand, as they also serve as handrails. The silk-matt paintwork is flawless.

The test boat is equipped with the optional armchairs and Alcantara upholstery. A classic layout with longitudinal benches is provided as standard. The armchairs are very comfortable and can be folded away to access the storage space behind them. Storage space is not only plentiful in the saloon in the form of wall cupboards and easily accessible compartments. The galley is also lavish. The U-shaped module takes up more than a third of the length of the saloon and offers large, interconnected work surfaces.

In addition to the standard toploader refrigerator, there is an optional second one with a front door - a dishwasher can also be installed here as an alternative. An additional small freezer is located under the navigation table.

The sliding door cupboards behind the hob are also accessible when cooking and can hold crockery and provisions. Bottles can also be stored upright in the lower compartment. There is a large cutlery drawer, but there are no other drawers. Instead, there are large, sometimes very deep compartments and a pull-out chopping board. The position of the gas stopcock is less well chosen. It is installed under the hob and can only be reached with your fingertips.

Not quite so opulent: the wet room

Opposite the galley are the bathroom and the equally generously dimensioned navigation corner. It makes a good workplace. The control panel is concealed behind two small doors and can be folded out to provide easy access to the very neatly laid wiring.

The wet room is not quite as opulent. The bathroom is not really cramped, but other boats in this size category offer more spacious solutions. The shower area is located directly behind the door and can be separated from the rest of the room with a Plexiglas door. However, this does not leave much room for manoeuvre. In addition, a curtain must be drawn in front of the bathroom door, as this opens outwards and any shower water that runs off would otherwise end up in the saloon.

Positive: There is sufficient storage space in the bathroom for sanitary and hygiene products. In our opinion, the cupboard next to the toilet is only suitable for dry oilskins, as there is no drainage and the heating outlet directs the warm air past the outside of the cupboard.

Light, air and comfort below deck

The layout is consistently designed for a crew of two with up to two guests. This is why there is only an aft cabin on the port side. This is airy and bright, not least thanks to the white wall panelling, the large hull window and the opening superstructure window. As there is no locker above the cabin, there is plenty of headroom above the berth.

The sleeping area is a good two metres long, but the shoulder width of 1.26 metres is tight for two adults. As we were able to test at night, sleeping alone is extremely comfortable here. The mattress is thick and very comfortable. Storage space can be found in a narrow wardrobe with clothes rail, a locker and a storage shelf above the hull window. The rear battery and starter battery are located under the bunk.

The side access to the engine and technical compartment is generously dimensioned and the hatch is fitted with quick-release fasteners. The steering system can also be reached from the bunk.
from the bunk.

The bow is even more comfortable than the aft cabin. There you can choose between a 1.42 metre wide island bed and a bunk that extends across the entire width of the hull. Two hull windows and the comparatively large deck hatch provide light and air, and there is also a mushroom vent for continuous ventilation. Lockers and two large cupboards provide sufficient storage space even for longer trips. The forward area under the bunk houses the batteries, bow thruster and electrical installation, all of which are easily accessible. The aft area is accessible through two doors and can be used as storage space.

With half the wind, solid values are possible under sail

In the afternoon, the sun actually comes through and bathes the archipelago in beautiful autumn light, high time to set sail. As there is still hardly any wind, this is no great challenge. Especially with the retractable bow and stern thrusters. One push on the joysticks and the Rassy gently pushes off the pier.

Together with the necessary battery upgrade, the system costs around 54,000 euros. With twin rudder systems, manoeuvring from a standstill is more difficult because the propeller jet does not hit the rudder blades. However, as soon as the boat has some speed, the 370 can also be manoeuvred very well with the rudders. The rudder blades are comparatively large and respond well even at low speeds.

Thanks to the furling mast with electric drive and electric winches, setting the sails is done at the touch of a button. We are sailing with the optimised furling main from Elvström. It is fitted with vertical battens and the leech is very rounded. The furling genoa is also an Epex membrane.

However, with just six knots of wind, the boat is underpowered with this set-up. We therefore resort to the Code Zero. Its additional 64 square metres have an effect - at least when the wind picks up to eight knots, the boat picks up noticeably. Up to 6.6 knots are possible at half wind speed, a solid value. According to the shipyard, the Rassy displaces eight tonnes empty. With the additional equipment on the test boat, it should easily be possible to accelerate 8.5 tonnes.

The steering position behind or better next to the wheel is comfortable. You can sit comfortably on the side coaming, and footrests can be folded out of the cockpit floor when the boat is heeling. The optional carbon wheels on the test boat feel good in the hand; stainless steel wheels with leather covers are fitted as standard. The position of the backstay, which runs upwards from the stern as a large V, is not quite ideal. Depending on the seating position, the stay can put pressure on the back if you lean to the side to see the wind lines.

Balanced control behaviour

The genoa is sheeted on generously dimensioned Lewmar winches, which are located in the helmsman's grip area. The mainsheet, trim functions and halyards run to the forward winches, which are located at the end of the fixed disc. As the helmsman, you can only get there if you activate the autopilot. On the positive side: despite the many deflections, the concealed lines run smoothly, and stowage boxes set into the cockpit coaming swallow up the excess rigging.

The steering behaviour is very balanced. On the one hand, the boat runs like on rails at the cross and sails straight ahead for minutes even without a hand on the wheel. Nevertheless, the steering responds very directly and reacts agilely to the smallest rudder deflections. This pleases the autopilot and promotes relaxed sailing. Jefa's special control system contributes to the sensitive response behaviour. The rotation of the wheels is transmitted by cable to a traveller carriage mounted between the rudders and from there to the rudder shafts via a push rod.

This sounds complicated, but it saves on deflections and the large quadrants compared to conventional cable controls. In addition, the push rod solution enables a changing geometry, which reduces the control forces for large rudder deflections and improves the response around the centre position.

Prices of the Hallberg-Rassy 370

As expected, the HR 370 is no bargain. The basic price is just over 500,000 euros. With the comfort equipment we demanded, it is around 546,000 euros. That's a lot of money, but comparable yachts such as the Saare 38 are in similar spheres.

• Base price ex shipyard: 500.365 €
• Standard equipment included: Engine, sheets, railing, navigation lights, battery, compass, sails, cushions, galley/cooker, bilge pump, WC, fire extinguisher, electric cooler, holding tank with suction, rubbing strake, fixed windscreen, sprayhood, furling system.
• Price ready to sail: 500.365 €
• Guarantee/against osmosis: 2/2 years
• Surcharge for comfort equipment: Line-adjustable anchor points incl.; Traveller with line guide incl.; Electric anchor windlass € 20,628; Pipe kicker incl.; Backstay tensioner incl.; Jumping cleats incl.; Sprayhood incl.; Teak in cockpit incl.; VHF radio € 3,664; Log and depth sounder incl.Wind measuring system incl.; autopilot € 9,994; charger see shore connection; shore connection with RCD € 3,391; 230-volt socket incl.; 12-volt socket in the sat nav incl.; heating € 6,948; pressurised water system incl.; hot water boiler incl.; shower WC room incl.; cockpit shower € 913
• Comfort price: 545.902 €
• Included in the price: Additional batteries with 640 Ah, second battery in the rear, second alternator, inverter, isolation transformer. VHF radio station in the cockpit.

As of 2025, as the prices shown are defined, you will find here!

The enormous surcharges for some options, such as the docking system or the additional batteries, are at least partly explained by the choice of components used. The workmanship is excellent throughout - from the GRP surface to the fine woodwork and the service-friendly installation.

We were unable to utilise the full sailing potential in the light wind conditions. However, based on our experience with the other models, some of which we have tested in much more demanding conditions, there is no reason to doubt that the 370 can be sailed just as balanced and confidently as its smaller and larger sisters in stronger winds.

Details from the construction phase

Hallberg-Rassy has a considerable vertical range of manufacture. Hulls and decks as well as the other GRP parts are laminated at Hallberg-Rassy Marinplast AB in Kungshamn, about an hour's drive north of Ellös, which belongs to the shipyard. The complete fitting out and outfitting is carried out at the headquarters in Ellös. The solid wood parts for the interior fittings are sawn from planks and further processed in the carpentry workshop there. Some of this is done on machines that date back to when the shipyard was founded or even from Harry Hallberg's predecessor company.

In addition to these almost museum-like departments, the shipyard has state-of-the-art five-axis CNC milling machines, laser cutters and automatic painting lines. Nevertheless, a lot of manual labour is required for the elaborate, glued door frames, coamings and armchairs. The same applies to the electrics, whose cable harnesses are also produced on site. Hull lines and laminate calculations have been supplied by Germán Frers for years. The shipyard develops the interior design and technical equipment in-house. This enables direct coordination between design and practical realisation.

YACHT review of the Hallberg-Rassy 370

The HR 370 is an excellent cruising yacht, it offers an elegant, usable interior and is very easy to steer. We were unable to realise its full potential during the test due to the light wind. The workmanship is first-class, as is the price.

Design and concept

Solid construction

Sophisticated layout

Very good double rudder system

Keel bolt difficult to reach

Sailing performance and trim

Relaxed steering behaviour

Good height on the wind

Speed potential

Moderate one-handed suitability

Living and finishing quality

Good amount of space

Very beautiful woodwork

Excellent paintwork

Average wet room

Equipment and technology

Good basic equipment

Very good installations

High-quality components

Options very expensive

The Hallberg-Rassy 370 in detail

Technical data of the Hallberg-Rassy 370

• Design engineer: Germàn Frers
• CE design category: A
• Torso length: 11,32 m
• Total length: 12,13 m
• Waterline length: 10,59 m
• Width: 3,75 m
• Draught/alternative: 2,00/1,69 m
• Mast height above WL: 18,10 m
• Theor. torso speed: 8.0 kn
• Weight: 7,6 t
• Ballast/proportion: 2,73 t/36 %
• Mainsail (optimised): 43,6 m2
• Furling genoa ( optimised): 34,3 m2
• Machine (Volvo): 37.5 kW/51 hp
• Fuel tank: 270 l
• Fresh water tanks (3): 470 l
• Holding tank: 70 l
• Batteries: 1 x 240 AH + 1 x 75 AH

Hull and deck construction

Hand lay-up method, Divinycell sandwich. Hull-deck connection laminated over.

Anchor windlass

The anchor windlass is included in the options list at around 20,600 euros. The very high price is also due to the necessary battery pack, which is exceptionally extensive.

Deep freezer

A 29-litre freezer can be installed under the navigation seat.

Manoeuvring aids

Extendable bow and stern thrusters are optional, they are recommended and make manoeuvring in the harbour much easier. Together with the necessary batteries, they cost around 54,000 euros.

Shipyard

Hallberg-Rassy Varvs AB, SE-474 31 Ellös; www.hallberg-rassy.com

Distribution

Hallberg-Rassy Deutschland GmbH Horst von Hörsten, 23730 Neustadt; www.hallberg-rassy.com

Alternatives on the market

Arcona 385

The 385 offers excellent sailing characteristics and a very high-quality interior. It is available with two or three compartments and carries a lot of sail area. YACHT test: Issue 14/2022

Linjett 36

As with the HR, there is only a two-chamber layout. The cockpit is designed for one-handed operation. Despite the solid design, it is lightweight. See first impressions of the Linjett 36 here.

Saare 38

The Saare is available in different layouts and comes with extremely comprehensive basic equipment, which relativises the basic price compared to the Rassy. Read the test of the Saare 38.2 here.

X 4.0

Two or three compartments are available. The steel frame and tempered epoxy infusion hull ensure a stable structure that can withstand high rigging forces. Read the detailed test here.