Family Cruiser: Which will be the European Yacht of the Year?

5:30 AM Fri 13 Nov 2009 GMT

'European Yacht of the Year - which yacht will win?' .

I am not sure if it's true that 11 sailing journalists can't be wrong, but this month in Barcelona journalists from 11 yachting magazines have the enviable task of testing and judging finalist yachts in the 'European Yacht of the Year 2009/2010'.

This week we look at the finalists in the 'Family Cruiser' category.

Some testing has already been done in Ijmuiden in the Netherlands, and after this month's judging in Barcelona, the winners will be announced at the D?sseldorf boat show, Boot, in January 2010.

In the meantime, here are the five finalists in the Family Cruiser category:

The Bavaria 32, The Delphia 47, The Dufour 405, The Ovni 445 and the Sunbeam 30.1, and a small description of each.

Can YOU pick the winner?

Bavaria 32 - .. .

The Bavaria 32 Cruiser has an improved interior, a new hull and new deck in a modified layout. Aspects include: two central hatches in the saloon, six opening port-lights, six working winches, larger head, new chart table layout and, surprisingly for a 32ft yacht, an electric bathing platform that lowers from the transom.

This new model will replace the highly successful Bavaria 31 Cruiser.
Length (LOA): 32'
Beam (width): 11.1'
Draft (depth): 6.1'
Dry Weight: 4700 kg
Fuel Capacity: 22 Gal
Water Capacity: 40 gals
Holding Tank: Yes
Engine Make: Volvo D1-20
Configuration: Sail Drive
Horsepower: 18 hp
No of Engines: 1
Fuel Type: Diesel
Cruising Speed: 5kts

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Delphia 47 - .. .

The Delphia 47 is the brand new flagship of the Delphia range. This stunningly beautiful cruising yacht is available in 3, 4 and 5 cabin versions and will therefore appeal to charter operators as well as owners.

The Delphia 47s is available in two different deck layouts. A self tacking jib, ideal for short handed sailing, is standard on the Delphia 47 and an upgrade is available to a standard Genoa. Both deck layouts feature dual steering positions.

The engine offered as standard with the Delphia 47 is the excellent 55hp Volvo Penta D2-55 Sail-drive and with a 260 litre fuel tank your cruising grounds can be far and wide.

The Delphia 47 is an attractive and cost efficient alternative to many so called prestige marquees.

Length overall: 14.03 m
Beam: 4.48 m
Total draft: 2.30 m
Yacht's weight: 13 500 kg
Mast's height over the waterline 20.45 m
Ballast: 4 450 kg
Engine: VolvoD
Power: 53 PS
Fuel tank: 260 L
Water tank: 460 L
Mainsail: 56.25 m2
Genoa: 38 m2
CE category: A - 12 pers

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Dufour 405 - .. .

The Dufour 405 is a family yacht conceived for long distance sailing with a maximum of comfort and security. It is designed to be easy to sail and manoeuvre, specially short handed. The cockpit is spacious and all line and winch control handling comes back to the helmsman. It has a two steering wheel system, and each has its own compass. For comfortable cruising is features a tilting bathing platform with a very long and telescopic swim ladder.

The interior is very light and airy. The yacht features a new coachroof and portlight design, and comes optionally equipped with central teak or iroko strip. There is exceptional headroom in all cabins, and it is well ventilated owing to double port holes.
The galley is large and functional, and the refrigerator has both top and front opening doors. The aft head has a separate independent shower, with lots of storage, and the forward cabin also has an ensuite head.

There are two versions of the yacht:
* 2 cabins: Spacious saloon, L shaped galley with easy access to sail and wet gear locker.
* 3 cabins: longitudinal galley, big size chart table, 3 spacious double cabins

Technical specifications

Length overall: 12,17 m 39'93'
Length hull: 11,90 m 39'05'
Length waterline: 10,63 m 34'87'
Maximum beam : 3,98 m 13'06'
Draft : 1,75m/2,03m 5'74'/6'66'
Ballast: ~2.336/2414kg ~5,150/5,322 lbs
Displacement: ~8.000 kg ~17,800 lbs
Sail surface: 80 m? 861 sq ft
Engine: 40 hp (40kW)
Version: 2 / 3 cabins
CE Certification: CE Category A

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Ovni 445 - .. .

The Ovni 445 , has, like the rest of the Ovni series, an aluminium hull, built in a multi-chine form, featuring shoal draft with a large centreboard. There are three chines per side. The large, hydraulically operated centerboard is steel and increases the draft from 3 feet, 5 inches board up to 9 feet, 10 inches board down.

The hull is beamy which will help with stability. Twin rudders further reduce the need for draft. There is lots of beam aft and plenty of freeboard to ensure interior volume.

There are two layouts available. You can have twin double staterooms aft or a single double stateroom to port with a much larger aft head to starboard. When you eliminate the starboard stateroom you also get much larger cockpit lockers to starboard.

The rig is interesting in that it features double swept back spreaders. In addition, there are forward lowers with their chainplates on the side of the cabintrunk. This opens up a slot for the jib and staysail to set through. Running backstays are for the staysail.

This design has a really big, broad cockpit, with plenty of space for a fixed dining table. The side decks are wide and the jib tracks are inboard. The swim platform is big with a seat and lockers - good stowage. There is a deep well in the foredeck for ground tackle.

Length overall: 45'3";
Length hull: 44';
Length waterline: 41'7"
Beam 14'1"; Draft 9'10" (centerboard down), 3'5" (centerboard up)
Displacement 23,430 lbs.
Ballast 7,040 lbs.
Sail area 883 sq. ft.
SA/D 17.68; D/L 146; L/B 3.21
Auxiliary Volvo D2-55
Fuel 130 gals.
Water 140 gals.
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Sunbeam 30.1 - .. .

The Sunbeam 30.1 features good skylights, a sporty bow, a very distinctive deck layout and a well designed cockpit. There is also a good balance between ballast and sail area, giving the boat an overall sporty feel.

The modern hull of the 30.1 guarantees easy handling in challenging wind conditions. The handling is further improved by a state of the art 9/10 fractional rigging with a 103% overlapping genoa.

The yacht can be handled easily from the safety of the cockpit and the deck fittings are ergonomically positioned to assure comfortable and fast sailing. The boat has tiller steering and is ideal for short handed crews for lake and coastal cruising.

The interior is light and airy from the two large windows and the skylights help to create the atmosphere of a bright and open interior. All interior timbers are mahogany - which is standard across all the Sunbeam yachts. Both V-berth and aft cabin offer generous space for crew and guests as well as ample stowage.

Length overall 9.5 m
Length waterline 8.5 m
Beam 2.96 m
Draft 1 m
Displacement 4.3 t
Total area on wind 51.5 m?
Mainsail 29 m?
Genoa 22.5 m?
Motor 21 PS
Water Tank 120 Lt
Fuel tank 80 Lt
Waste tank 58 Lt

by Cruising roundup/Nancy Knudsen