European Yacht of the Year 2027: A look at seven compact contenders

Among the 21 nominees for the European Yacht of the Year 2027, these seven yachts make up the category for those with a hull length of up to 11.50 metres. However, they have little in common. The J/7 focuses entirely on the joy of sailing, the ‘Tricat 8.50’ features three hulls, and the Mojito 32 centres its design around a wide scow bow. At the top end of the group are three very different cruising yachts. The Dufour 39 focuses on ample volume and a versatile interior layout. The Linjett 36 and Hallberg-Rassy 370 set higher standards in terms of build quality, sailing performance and comfort. ​

​Among the medium-sized nominated yachts Versatile driving concepts meet sportier designs. Among the leading candidates The field ultimately extends to particularly luxurious and extraordinary yachts.

The jury will only decide which categories the candidates fall into after the joint test week. At that point, even those yachts for which only data, designs and initial impressions are currently available will have to prove themselves on the water.

J/7: Sailing, nothing more

With the J/7, J Boats is bucking the trend towards ever-larger and more complex yachts. This 7.04-metre-long daysailer is not intended to be a small cruising yacht that somehow manages to fulfil as many roles as possible. It is built for a few intense hours on the water. A spacious cockpit, simple rigging, minimal technology.

The Test of the J/7 demonstrated just how well this reduction can work. Weighing just over a tonne, the boat responds lively and heels early in gusts, whilst remaining controllable. Single-handed, it reached six knots on the reach. The test boat’s high-quality laminate sails are likely to have contributed to this performance, as J Boats supplies simpler Dacron sails as standard. It is remarkable how well-balanced the J/7 sails under mainsail alone. This allows the load to be taken off the boat in stronger winds and even enables manoeuvring in harbour without the engine. Up to four people can sit comfortably on the windward bench in the 2.60-metre-long cockpit. However, there are no lockers or dedicated storage space for an outboard motor or gennaker. The design is simple, but the price is by no means low. The good standard equipment and impressive performance on the water put this into perspective.

Saffier SE 28 Leopard: The bar is set high

With the ‘SE 28 Leopard’, Saffier has set itself the challenge of surpassing one of its own successful models. Its predecessor, the ‘SE 27 Leisure’, had already won the European Yacht of the Year title in 2021. The new model retains the same hull length of 8.40 metres, but is wider and taller. A fuller bow, the negative stem and a mast that is around one metre taller give it a significantly more powerful appearance. The shipyard offers an unusually wide range of options. The SE 28 Leopard comes as standard with a tiller and a self-tacking jib. Those who prefer a sportier style of sailing can order a genoa, additional winches and a carbon-fibre rig. Two small steering wheels are also available. Sheets, halyards and trim lines run all the way to the helm stations, meaning the yacht can be operated single-handed.

Review of the Saffier SE 28 Leopard In winds of 12 to 15 knots, she made 6.2 knots upwind under a self-tacking jib. The measured tack angles of around 70 degrees are impressive for a day sailer of this size. Under gennaker, the log approached the ten-knot mark. The full-bodied bow settled gently even in waves around one metre high. Below deck, there is sleeping space for up to four adults. A washbasin, cool box and an optional toilet extend the boat’s versatility for weekend use. There are no plans for a lifting or swivelling keel. Fixed keels with draughts of 1.70 or 1.30 metres are available. This makes the Saffier less flexible when it comes to launching and trailering, but gives it a sleek, sporty profile.

Tricat 8.50: Big plans for three hulls

The Tricat 8.50 boasts the highest sail area-to-weight ratio of all 21 nominees. It has a sail area of 52 square metres and weighs just 1.95 tonnes. This promises impressive performance, yet the French shipyard did not design the trimaran purely as a sports craft. With up to five berths, a split galley, a separate toilet compartment and over 1.80 metres of headroom in the saloon, it is designed to be suitable for longer cruises too.

Its floats are swung out via a cable pull. In sailing mode, the beam increases to 6.50 metres; in harbour, it is just 2.95 metres. This means the Tri fits into a standard trailer box and can be towed with a suitable towing vehicle. The centreboards and rudder blade can be stowed, reducing the draught to 45 centimetres. Below deck, too, the Tricat 8.50 is brimming with ingenious features. The companionway steps can be converted into a seat at the navigation table or an armchair at the saloon table. The extended floats provide additional storage space. A test will soon reveal whether the trimaran lives up to its theoretical potential and proves to be manoeuvrable in practice.

Mojito 32: A tiny idea grows to ten metres

IDB Marine is already building a successful Mini Transat racer with a scow bow, the Maxi 6.50. Designer David Raison, who helped shape this hull type in offshore sailing, worked with Pierre Delion to adapt the concept to a performance yacht measuring almost ten metres in length. The result defies familiar ideals of beauty and places volume where other yachts taper in.

Review of the Mojito 32 Off Concarneau, winds of 15 to 20 knots were blowing, with Atlantic swell of at least two metres. On the reach, the wide bow revealed the well-known drawbacks of the scow hull shape. It dug in hard in short waves, and the turning angle remained in excess of 90 degrees. Nevertheless, the boat made 6.7 knots at 50 degrees to the true wind. The twin rudders responded immediately, and the deck remained surprisingly dry. Excellent structural stability and the deep pivoting keel ensure the Mojito 32 sails with good rigidity. Its strengths lie primarily on half-wind and broad-reach courses. The cockpit is designed for single- and two-handed crews; almost all functions are within easy reach. The electro-hydraulic keel reduces the draught from 2.73 metres to one metre. With optional mud supports, the yacht can be beached.

The wide foredeck pays off below deck. There is an almost rectangular double bed, 1.60 metres wide. The saloon, wet room and storage space make the boat suitable for cruising, whilst the galley remains compact. The build quality of the test boat was less impressive. Some surfaces, berth panelling and electrical fittings did not appear to have been finished as carefully as the rest of the design.

Dufour 39: A lot of yacht in just eleven metres

The model name suggests a longer boat. In fact, the Dufour 39 measures eleven metres at the hull and therefore still falls within the 36-foot class. At 4.10 metres, however, it is unusually wide. The voluminous foredeck and wide stern create plenty of space, but also give the new Felci design a decidedly powerful appearance. Dufour offers three configurations. The basic ‘Easy’ version is fitted with a self-tacking jib and just two winches on the cabin roof. The ‘Ocean’ version features an overlapping genoa and additional winches on the coamings. The ‘Performance’ version includes, amongst other things, larger laminate sails, Dyneema rigging and an aftstay tensioner. The hull is constructed using vacuum infusion, whilst the deck is built using the RTM process.

The interior is particularly versatile. The “Dufour 39” can be ordered with two or three cabins and one or two wet rooms. If the third cabin is omitted, a large storage locker remains aft. For the foredeck, there is a choice between a second wet room, a small office or a walk-in storage compartment. It remains to be seen how the combination of high displacement, a wide hull, a single rudder and a comparatively small standard sail plan will perform. The The Dufour 39 is said to be a versatile cruising yacht, which caters to as many preferences as possible, from ease of use to a more sporty sailing experience.

Linjett 36: Lightweight construction meets Swedish comfort

In the awards, each yacht is judged on its own merits. Nevertheless, with the Linjett 36, it is almost impossible to avoid comparing it with the Hallberg-Rassy 370. Their size, origins, target audience and quality standards are very similar. The Linjett has a lighter, sportier design, without compromising on the practical comfort of a Scandinavian cruising yacht. The YACHT test of the Linjett 36 demonstrated just how much spirit the Swedish yacht possesses. Under gennaker, she typically sailed at between 7.5 and 8 knots in winds of 15 to 16 knots, with speeds of up to 10.2 knots recorded in the gusts. Despite having a single rudder blade, she remained easy to handle. On the upwind leg, the direct steering system provided early and clear feedback of an impending stall. The cockpit is consistently designed for small crews. All sheets, halyards, as well as trim and reefing lines run to the two helm stations. The helmsman can carry out practically all tasks without leaving the wheel. With a larger crew, however, this high concentration of lines becomes a bottleneck.

Below deck, the Linjett 36 combines plenty of natural light with a meticulously crafted wooden interior. The second part of the test It features a practical galley, a spacious forward cabin and a roomy bathroom with a separable shower. There is scope for improvement when it comes to storage space in the saloon and access to the aft keel bolts. Overall, the yacht appears well thought-out and remarkably well-equipped.

Hallberg-Rassy 370: For small crews and long voyages

The Hallberg-Rassy 370 strikes an attractive balance. It remains compact enough for small crews and sailing areas with short legs, whilst offering storage space, sturdiness and living comfort for long crossings. The layout is primarily designed for two people who occasionally take guests on board. Below deck, the crew are greeted by a light-coloured interior finished in European oak. The U-shaped galley takes up a lot of space but offers generous work surfaces and ample storage. In the fore cabin, there is a choice between a 1.42-metre-wide island bed or a berth spanning the full width of the hull. The head is of a rather average size compared to the rest of the space on board. The build quality and technical fittings are of a high standard.

For the Review of the Hallberg-Rassy 370 The wind was too light to realise the yacht’s full potential. With the Code Zero hoisted, the yacht reached speeds of up to 6.6 knots on a half-tack in eight-knot winds. Its steering performance was particularly impressive. The yacht held a steady, straight course on the reach, yet still responded immediately to even small rudder movements. The furling mast and electric winches simplify operation. However, some lines terminate at the forward winches and can only be reached from the helm if the autopilot is engaged. The price tag of over half a million euros significantly limits the pool of potential owners. In return, the Hallberg-Rassy 370 has very few serious weaknesses. A direct head-to-head with the lighter Linjett 36 is therefore one of the most intriguing match-ups of this model year.

Book recommendation

Buying a boat by Ralf Neumann is aimed at readers who wish to take a systematic approach to choosing their own boat. The guide covers buying new and second-hand boats, costs, financing, contracts, CE certification, insurance and mooring.

Radically streamlined, unusually wide or uncompromisingly comfortable: which of the seven contenders is your favourite? Join the discussion.