Each member of the jury tested each yacht, in each category, over two separate weeks, in two different locations: La Rochelle in September and Santa Margherita in October. The characteristics of the nominees that make up the 2016 European Yachts of the Year shortlist were truly high. The votes in the multihull, Family Cruiser and Special Yacht categories were particularly close.
The winners of the five categories received an Oscar at the award ceremony during the opening night of the Boot Dusseldorf 2016, the flagship night.
The Hanse 315 in the Family Cruiser category
Small family cruiser, the Hanse 315 has an attractive hull shape, combining sailing pleasure with sufficient width for a spacious cockpit and aft cabin. The 315 is an attractive entry-level boat in terms of layout and price. The space is judiciously distributed with an owner's cabin and a large aft cabin. The Hanse 315 is a very versatile and impressive new compact cruiser.
The other nominees in the category are :
- The Dufour 460
- The Jeanneau 54
- The Maxus 26
- The RM 1070
The Solaris 50 in the Performance Cruiser category
The design of the new Solaris 50 is the most current and desirable, a trend setter with engineering that matches its appearance. It represents a harmonious blend of South American design and Italian style. The result is a luxury performance. The Solaris 50 is sexy, elegant, sophisticated and a real pleasure to sail.
The other nominees in the category are :
- The Django 980
- The Ice 52
- L'Italia 9.98
- The J112/E
The Grand Soleil 46 LC in the Luxury Cruiser category
Cantiere del Pardo's first real cruiser in over 40 years is something a little sexier, a little more luxurious, a little classier and a little faster than the norm. This bold, angular Italian production is combined with a bright, spacious and welcoming interior. The Grand Soleil 46 LC is particularly suited to warm weather cruising. The deck design offers both comfort at anchor and practicality at sea. It is easy to maneuver and quite agile when sailing.
The other nominees in the category are :
- The Adventure 55
- The Maxi 1200
- The Oyster 475
- The Sunbeam 40.1
The Dragonfly 25 in the multihull category
Jens Quorning, founder and designer of Dragonfly, has kept the characteristic lines of the Dragonfly while adding a modern touch to the Dragonfly 25. Particularly with its two floats with an inverted bow, while the central hull has a classic bow. In addition to being truly towable, the smallest model in the line is perhaps the most sporty and fun. Innovative outrigger design ("out" and "rig" refer to the two spars that act as spreaders mounted on the deck of a boat) and the ability to steer from either float, ensures an exhilarating ride.
The other nominees in the category are :
- The Bali 4.3
- The Comet Cat 37
- The Dazcat 1495
- The Slyder 47
The Quant 23 in the Special Yachts category
The Quant 23 is a design that promises a lot, but somehow offers even more. Even if you run the boat with the foils retracted, you'll feel like a blast on this super cool boat. It just goes to show that scows continue to be a cult favorite. Add the new DSS (Dynamic Stability System) foils and you have a sports boat on steroids, a boat that allows for serious fun and makes the foils approachable. The Quant 23 fits this Special Yacht category completely.
The other nominees in the category are :
- Le Bente 24
- The Corsair Pulse 600 (Boat Presentation)
- The Fareast 28R (Boat Presentation)
- The Farr 280
