Innovations 2025: What to expect this year. Part 2 - the Performance Cruiser

• Part 1: The innovations in cruising yachts.

Dragonfly 36

The trimaran experts from Quorning Boats in Denmark have surprisingly announced the Dragonfly 36 as a new product for 2025. The exciting tripod has now been presented as a world premiere at the Boot trade fair in Düsseldorf. The tri is available in two versions, as a touring version with an uncomplicated layout for easy handling and as a performance boat with a higher rig, more sail area and better trimming facilities. The Dragonfly 36 also has two helm stations in the cockpit. And of course, the floats on the new boat can also be swivelled to reduce the width of the harbour.

• The world premiere of the Dragonfly 36 at the trade fair in Düsseldorf.

Grand Soleil 52 Performance

The new Grand Soleil 52 adopts the concept of its smaller sisters 40, 44 and 48 and is also available in two versions. Like all current yachts in the range, the new boat is also available in two versions as a performance cruiser or as a powerful racer. The Performance version comes as standard with a self-tacking jib, aluminium mast and the cruising-oriented "Easy Sailing" cockpit layout with sheets, halyards and trim lines consistently led aft. The Race version of the boat is also available for demanding regatta sailors. This very sporty version can be optionally equipped with a jib or an overlapping genoa (106 per cent) and, on request, with a higher and even more powerful rig made of carbon fibre.

• More about the new Grand Soleil 52.

Nautor Swan 51

The new Swan 51 adopts the general concept of its larger sister Swan 55 (test YACHT 23/2023), but is slightly more compact in design. The hull is a good metre shorter in comparison, but only 15 centimetres less wide. As a novelty for Nautor, the Swan 51 can be fitted with an optional tare bracket above the cockpit to guide the mainsheet. Three keel variants are available, with draughts of 2.45, 2.05 and 3.20 metres. Thanks to the double rudder blades, it is also possible to store a small inflatable dinghy transversely in the spacious aft cockpit. The layout below deck includes a total of three double cabins and two heads with separate shower area.

• The bigger sister Swan 55 in a detailed test at YACHT online.

J/36

Two world championship titles, two European championship titles and three victories at Cowes Week in England. The J/112 E has brought the J/Boats brand many successes. Now the boat has been given a new deck layout based on the larger J/45 and J/40 models - and a new type designation: J/36. The US brand J/Boats is thus rounding off the bottom end of its ambitious Elegance programme in close cooperation with the licensed production facility of J Composites in western France. A new feature is the cockpit design with twin wheel steering instead of the large wheel as before. Below deck, the layout remains unchanged apart from minor adjustments.

• The detailed presentation of the J/36 at YACHT Online.

Linjett 36

The larger Linjett 39 was awarded the title of European Yacht of the Year last year. Now the yacht builders in Sweden are shortening the successful package by around one metre to create the new Linjett 36. There are hardly any changes to the design or the general appearance. On deck and in the cockpit, the tried-and-tested layout remains the same, with all lines deflected aft to the helm stations. The shipyard is also essentially adopting the conventional layout of the larger 39 for the new Linjett 36.

• More about the Linjett 36

Saffier SL 46

Saffier Yachts is taking bold steps to further expand its programme and is leaving the traditional niche of daysailers and weekenders for the first time ever. With the new Saffier SE 46 performance cruiser, the enterprising Dutch company is now also positioning itself as a new competitor to the established brands in the upper market segment. The concept envisages two variants, with an open and a closed stern.

• The world première of the new Saffier SL 46 Med at the trade fair in Düsseldorf.

Solaris 55

The new 55 now comes as the successor to the 2017 model of the same name. Although the change in model development remains manageable in direct comparison, it is nevertheless significant in parts. The sporty, performance-orientated and regatta-compatible DNA of Solaris naturally remains the same in the new model. At the same time, however, the concept also focuses on the simplest possible handling for easy handling of the boat, especially for a small crew.

• The new Solaris 55 in detail

XR 41

She is causing quite a stir in the regatta scene: with the new XR41, the yacht builders at X-Yachts in Denmark are returning to their roots. The design and concept are specifically geared towards optimising the ORC rating. The exciting Danish yacht will then show what she is made of at the ORC World Championship 2025 in Estonia. However, X-Yachts decided early on not to create an ultimate one design with the new boat, i.e. not a pure one-size-fits-all class. Instead, the concept of the XR41 is intended to offer a high degree of flexibility so that it can be modified as required and adapted to the personal needs of regatta sailors. This means that the boat can be competitive in a variety of different racing formats, not just ORC.

• The XR 41 - an exciting and much-visited premiere at the Boot trade fair in Düsseldorf.