Prior to stepping aboard the Hanse 360 during the 2025 Boat of the Year contest, the last Hanse I’d sailed was a year earlier on the larger, quite imposing 510. It was a beast of a yacht with a seven-figure price tag, more than 50 feet of waterline, and a towering 77-foot spar. As a brand, Hanse had been concentrating on its larger offerings, and I have to say, I was a bit intimidated but also quite taken by the 510’s bold looks and massive platform.

So, stepping aboard the 360, I was highly interested in how the French design consortium of Berret-Racoupeau—the naval architects also responsible for the 510—would scale back their vision while remaining true to Hanse’s usual brand ­objective: Build comfortable production cruisers that sail well. 

I thoroughly inspected the 360 dockside and then took it for a spin on Chesapeake Bay, and I was actually somewhat shocked—because I liked it even more than its big sister. Size-wise, especially, it was a boat I could relate to. 

Aesthetically, to gain perspective on the 360’s generous girth, it’s perhaps wise to begin aft and work our way forward. The wide, open transom has a drop-down platform that serves as a handy back porch for boarding or swimming (a nifty attached swim ladder drops directly into the drink). The twin wheels are just forward and well outboard, with Jefa steering pedestals. The cockpit is flanked by settees/couches to port and starboard, and a ­flat-screen Raymarine chart ­plotter is mounted on the central table that also holds a handy day fridge. 

Going forward, as is de rigueur in so much contemporary production yacht design, there’s a pronounced chine that creates a lot of interior space. A trio of hull windows offers light and views down below while providing some visual accents to the tall freeboard. The coachroof, as with most Hanses, is low and understated, almost flush (you don’t need a tall deckhouse with all that volume below). 

The Selden spar ­package is deck-stepped, and the traditional, standard Doyle mainsail with slab reefing is fully battened and stashed in a slick stack pack on the boom. There’s a choice for the deck of optional real teak or synthetic Flexiteek, both of which offer good grip and appealing looks. Our test boat had the optional sprit forward—perched over the plumb bow—for ground tackle and tacking off-wind sails. From directly overhead, the 360’s outline bears a striking resemblance to an arrowhead, especially with its pointed entry. 

Not surprisingly for a ­contemporary design in the mid-30-foot range, the interior is laid out for a couple. In the standard accommodations plan on our test boat, the main stateroom is essentially an open floor plan, with a pair of double doors providing privacy for the forward V-berth in the event that there are guests occupying the double berth aft to starboard (to port, this opposing space is dedicated to stowage). There’s a central dining table fronting a U-shaped settee to port, with a straight-line settee to starboard. There’s also a nice galley and a single, opposing head to either side of the companionway. The overhead room is rather astounding, well over 6 feet, 5 inches. An optional layout in the 360’s brochure shows a pair of double-berth staterooms, two heads and an offset double berth in the bow; from the drawings, at least, this version appears incredibly busy for the length overall.

The construction laminate employs vinylester resin with a balsa core in the hull and the deck, which are bonded together for a bulletproof coupling. The cast-iron keel has an attached bulb and is available in a shoal-draft (5 feet, 5 inches) or deep-draft (6 feet, 9 inches) configuration. The single spade rudder is hung off an aluminum shaft with self-aligning bearings. The auxiliary is a 40 hp Yanmar diesel with saildrive. Solar power is an option; our test ride had several flexible deck panels. 

We tested the boat on a fall Chesapeake Bay afternoon in a moderate breeze of 8 to 12 knots. An electric winch used to hoist that big mainsail was a welcome feature. The boat is easy to sail and trim, with running rigging led aft and a double-ended German-style mainsheet. The 360 has a split backstay that allows easy egress to the swim platform, but it’s also a bit uncomfortable when leaning outboard behind either of the wheels. I was curious about that single rudder on such a wide stern, but it had plenty of bite and control. The helm was light, and the boat was pleasant to steer. 

The self-tacking jib made tacking easy, but the boat seemed a bit underpowered. Genoa tracks are an option for an overlapping headsail, and that would be an easy choice for me if I were keeping a boat on the Chesapeake. Still, we managed a hair over 6 knots in the puffs, as the hull was easily driven. Even if we didn’t maximize the 360’s sailing potential, it felt like it was clearly there.

Built in Germany, the 360 found immediate success in the European markets, and it’s no mystery why. It’s a cool boat, and it’s roomy and quick—two traits that are hard to beat. 

CW Editor-at-Large Herb McCormick was a 2025 Boat of the Year judge.

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German yacht-builder HanseYachts AG has formally transitioned ownership, with entrepreneur Andreas Müller becoming the majority shareholder alongside CEO Hanjo Runde. The deal wrapped up just three weeks after the initial Share Purchase Agreement—markedly ahead of schedule—thanks to coordination with financing partners, the state of Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, and the works council.

Strong financial foundation amid broader uncertainty

In Q1 2025, HanseYachts posted approximately €41 million in revenue with a 12 % EBITDA margin and €2 million in profit. Despite these solid results, the broader leisure-boat market faces pressures from weakening demand in key regions, including the U.S. and Germany, compounded by global economic and geopolitical stresses.

CEO Hanjo Runde emphasized that the new ownership arrangement—“According to the builder, the replacement of previous bank liabilities gives us significantly more entrepreneurial flexibility and opens up new opportunities for the development of our company”.

Family-enterprise ethos at the core

Andreas Müller added that HanseYachts is now “facing a promising future,” noting his shared vision with Runde around “entrepreneurial pragmatism” rooted in sustainable, family-led business values. This pivot reflects a shift from private-equity to long-term stewardship, focused on innovation across its multiple brands—Hanse, Dehler, Moody, Fjord, Sealine, and Ryck.

Strategic production adjustment ahead

HanseYachts maintained full production through June to honor seasonal order volumes, but will reduce output thereafter to align with lower market demand—part of a broader strategy for financial stability. Runde noted that HanseYachts plans to resume normal operations by late 2025, aided by the new capital structure and streamlined debt.

Looking ahead

With a refreshed ownership structure and a clear intent to balance growth with resilience, HanseYachts appears poised to navigate market volatility while enhancing its product innovation and brand reputation. The blend of family-enterprise sensibilities and fiscal flexibility positions the German builder for its next chapter.

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HanseYachts AG, a leading European yacht manufacturer, is poised for transformation with family entrepreneur Andreas Müller taking a majority stake in the company. This transition signifies a pivotal change for the Greifswald-based yacht maker as it faces fluctuating global market dynamics.

New Ownership Brings Family Business Values

The company’s long-standing majority shareholder, Aurelius, has reached an agreement with Müller and current CEO Hanjo Runde on a key terms paper that establishes the framework for the acquisition. This term sheet lays the groundwork for continued negotiations toward a final purchase agreement.

The partnership between Müller and Runde aims to blend traditional family entrepreneurship values with forward-looking corporate management practices. Their collaboration represents a commitment to sustainable business practices and continued investment in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region.

Before the acquisition can be finalized, several conditions must be met, including agreements with the state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, financing banks, and the company’s works council. Discussions are currently underway regarding the restructuring of existing liabilities and potential workforce adjustments.

Balancing Strong Performance Against Market Headwinds

Despite current challenges, HanseYachts AG has demonstrated remarkable operational strength in early 2025. The company reported approximately €41 million in revenue for the first quarter, with an impressive EBITDA margin of around twelve percent and profits of €2 million. These figures underscore the success of an innovation program initiated by the executive board that has positioned the company competitively in the market.

However, the yacht industry faces significant external pressures that are affecting even well-performing companies like HanseYachts. The management team has identified three key factors creating structural challenges:

1. Global economic uncertainty
2. Weak economic conditions in core markets such as the USA and Germany
3. Ongoing geopolitical conflicts and military confrontations

These factors have combined to create a noticeable reluctance among consumers to invest in luxury items like yachts. While HanseYachts has experienced these effects later than some competitors—thanks to its robust innovation momentum and successful product portfolio renewal—the impact is now unavoidable.

Production Adjustments Planned as Strategic Response

The company plans to maintain full production capacity through the end of June 2025 to fulfill current seasonal demand. However, following this period, HanseYachts intends to adjust production levels in accordance with declining market demand to ensure the company’s economic stability.

“With family entrepreneur Andreas Müller, we would gain a sustainably-minded partner who can support our strategy in the long term,” said CEO Hanjo Runde. “My entry into the group of shareholders represents a clear commitment to HanseYachts AG and its employees as well as to the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the region of Greifswald. We will do everything we can to find responsible solutions together with the state, the banks, and the works council. We will shape the upcoming transformation with the greatest possible transparency and responsibility.”

As HanseYachts navigates this transitional period, the company’s leadership remains focused on leveraging its strong brand reputation and product innovation to weather current market conditions while positioning itself for sustainable growth when global economic conditions improve.

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German boatbuilder Hanse Yachts has announced the launch of the Hanse 360 ST, a performance-enhanced variant of its award-winning Hanse 360. The new model was presented to the media at the Ancora Yachtfestival in Greifswald, Germany, on May 6, 2025.

Developed in collaboration with French naval architects Berret-Racoupeau, the 360 ST builds on the original platform introduced in 2023, which was a finalist in Cruising World’s Boat of the Year competition and recently won European Yacht of the Year 2025 honors.

The new “Sport Talent” version of the 360 is aimed at sailors seeking a more dynamic, hands-on sailing experience. Key performance upgrades include a deeper T-keel, increased sail area, a race-style rudder, and optimized rigging. These changes are designed to deliver up to 10 percent more performance under sail, according to the builder.

On deck, the 360 ST features a mainsheet traveler, upgraded winches, and black deck hardware for a sleeker appearance. The deck and coachroof surfaces have also been refined with a sportier aesthetic. Below, the boat retains the flexible interior layout options of the original 360 but adds design enhancements such as upgraded upholstery and ambient lighting.

“The ST version is our answer to sailors who want Hanse simplicity, but with an edge,” said Andreas Unger, Hanse’s product manager. “The enhancements offer a more athletic sailing experience, while keeping the comfort, layout options, and ease of handling that define the Hanse brand.”

When it debuted last year, the standard Hanse 360 was noted for its spacious interior relative to size, ease of handling, and thoughtful design. The two-cabin layout and traditional slab-reefed mainsail with self-tacking jib helped distinguish it in a growing field of under-40-foot cruisers.

With the 360 ST, Hanse adds a new dimension to its midsize offerings—aiming to appeal to performance-minded sailors without compromising the brand’s hallmark simplicity.

What are the key differences between the Hanse 360 and the new 360 ST?
The Hanse 360 ST builds on the original design with several performance upgrades, including a deeper T-keel, increased sail area, race-style rudder, and a mainsheet traveler. These modifications aim to improve upwind efficiency and responsiveness without sacrificing comfort or ease of handling.

Is the 360 ST suitable for cruising as well as performance sailing?
Yes. While the 360 ST incorporates sportier sailing features, it retains the same interior layout flexibility and volume that made the original 360 popular for cruising. It’s designed for sailors who want a more hands-on sailing experience but still value onboard comfort.

Where can I learn more about the Hanse 360 ST or find a local dealer?
Visit hanseyachtsag.com for full specifications, design details, and contact information for dealers and regional representatives.

The post Hanse Yachts Unveils Performance-Focused Hanse 360 ST appeared first on Cruising World.

It wasn’t all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things, when a 35-foot boat was deemed more than adequate for bluewater sailing. Hal Roth won the Cruising Club of America’s prestigious Blue Water Medal for his adventures aboard his Spencer 35, Whisper. World cruiser Alvah Simon roamed the planet on a 36-footer called Roger Henry. Heck, Lin and Larry Pardey’s Taleisin wasn’t even 30 feet long. In more recent times, production builders have eschewed the Midsize category in lieu of larger boats that are more profitable, but the Boat of the Year judges have a soft spot for modest-but-capable boats. For the 2025 contest, happily, they had a solid trio of nominees from which to choose.

WINNER: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 Performance
Groupe Beneteau

This new Midsize offering from Jeanneau has a tough act to follow, as judge Tim Murphy explained: “The 350 replaces the brand’s Sun Odyssey 349, which was introduced in 2014 for $150,000, and was a commercial and critical success. They produced some 2,200 units, and it was the Overall Boat of the Year Winner that year. The 350 brings the company’s popular walkaround deck down to its smallest model. In practice, this feature contributed to good ergonomics at the helm station beyond merely walking forward. It allowed you to sit aft outboard facing forward, with room for your legs. The pushpit provided a brace for your hips when in optimal ergonomic winching position. This Marc Lombard design (one of three fetching sets of lines in the fleet) looked great across the water, both at rest and in motion. Only the slightest curl of a wake peeled back from the bow as she moved through the water.”

Herb McCormick added: “I was a huge fan of the 349, but I think they’ve really upped the game with this 350. We tested the Performance version, which was tricked out with great sails, floating jib leads and so forth. This is one fine sailboat, exquisitely executed. It’s definitely a couple’s boat, but it shows what you can accomplish in a smaller footprint. Plus, it was the only boat in this category with a price tag under $300,000. Bravo.”

Finalist: Catalina 356
Catalina Yachts

Catalina has introduced the “6 Series,” an evolution in its line of sailboats derived from in-house R&D and direct owner feedback. For the 2025 Boat of the Year contest, two of the six updated models earned nominations: the 426 and this smaller Midsize entry. Tim Murphy was on the judging team when the model was originally introduced, and recalls it well: “In the 2011 Boat of the Year competition, the Gerry Douglas-designed Catalina 355 took top honors that year from the entire fleet. And for good reason. Douglas described the boat as a coastal cruiser for owners with ambitions and aspirations, and that resonated with us. The 356 takes that same wholesome premise and adds subtle adjustments, including swept-back spreaders and interior treatments. While innovation can produce eureka ideas that others go on to copy, sometimes the most wholesome boats are composed of long-tested ingredients. And here we are.”

Finalist: Hanse 360
Hanse Yachts

The prodigious German builder has been a consistent presence in Boat of the Year for the past decade, mostly with full-size go-anywhere cruisers. The 360 is something completely different, as Herb McCormick pointed out. “I was really excited to check out the 360 for a couple of reasons,” he said. “First, it’s a creation from the Berret-Racoupeau design consortium, and I’m always impressed by their approach. Second, because I’m so used to testing the larger Hanse yachts, with their voluminous interiors and tall freeboard, I was eager to see their take on a Midsize boat. I wasn’t disappointed. The two-cabin layout is very practical. With its long waterline and ample freeboard, it by far delivered the most interior space and accommodations of any boat in its class. And I’m impressed by the fact that the standard sail plan is a traditional mainsail—I’m no fan of furling mains—coupled with a self-tacking jib. It really delivered a delightful sailing experience. It’s just so good to see that the marketplace has so many fine offerings under 40 feet.”

Click here to return to the 2025 Boat of the Year main page.

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So you want to head offshore for true bluewater sailing. You want a vessel that will get you to your destination swiftly and safely. You want an inviting layout and all the amenities for comfortable, gracious living once you arrive. 

If that’s the case, then the big-boat category for this year’s Boat of the Year fleet has a pair of offerings that provide different platforms and approaches, but check all the relevant boxes with style and panache. 

For many sailors, this will be a straightforward choice based on tastes and experiences. Do you want the open layout and broad vistas of a deck-salon layout, like the Moody DS48? Or the inherent strength and security of an aluminum hull, like the Allures 51.9? 

You could easily make the case both ways, which left the judges with a difficult decision.

WINNER: Allures 51.9
Allures Yachting 

Judge Herb McCormick was smitten from the outset. “I’ve sailed through the Northwest Passage and through Patagonia. I love high-latitude sailing, and I reckon the way to go is with a metal boat,” he said. “But on our trip, we sailed a rather rough, home-built, utilitarian workboat, and this Allures is anything but. We toured this cutter-rigged beauty with the very experienced Swiss couple who were on an extended cruise with theirs, and the fit-and-finish was astounding. Yes, it was a go-anywhere yacht, but it was also a very cozy home.” 

Judge Tim Murphy added: “We’ve seen expedition-style aluminum monohulls from French builders before—Boreal, Garcia, Alubat and others—but those tend to be hard-chined purpose-built machines that communicate that workboat look that Herb described. This lovely, round-hulled vessel comes from a builder who decided 21 years ago to craft a safe, bluewater cruising boat that was also elegant. One trick was to put a composite deck on the aluminum hull because composite structures are able to keep paint longer. The version we sailed came to Annapolis on her bottom sailed by her owners by way of Scotland, Iceland and Greenland. It was outstanding.”

Mark Pillsbury cast the unanimous third vote for this winning entry: “I thought the Allures 51.9 was this year’s dream boat. By that I mean it had everything a cruising couple could want, and looking at this year’s entire fleet of nominees, it was by far the most capable of taking adventurous, long-legged wanderers to their dreamed-of landfalls. Under sail on a fairly blustery day, I stepped below and sat down for a few minutes to imagine being off watch. Thanks to the foam-cored hull and deck, it was noticeably quiet, and it just felt solid there in the salon, which is what a crew needs to stay rested. Back on deck, I found comfortable places to settle into at the twin helms, and there were handholds wherever I needed them. It was a really well-thought-out boat.”

Finalist: Moody 48DS
Hanse Yachts AG

Judge Mark Pillsbury found the latest offering from this long-established brand to be in keeping with the quality and workmanship we’ve come to see in other models in the line: “The Moody 48 will make a tremendous liveaboard option for an owner who wants a roomy, comfortable boat that can still sail well. We got to meet the new owner of the Moody we took for a sea trial in Annapolis, and that’s exactly what he plans to do with the boat: sail it south and spend the winter island-hopping, sometimes on his own and sometime with friends. It’s a boat that’s well set up for a shorthanded crew, with electric furlers for the jib and genoa. I liked the solid stainless-steel rail and high bulwarks that wrap around the entire deck too. Another feature on the 48DS that I really liked was the inside nav/helm station that offered excellent visibility and even had throttle controls so that the skipper could stay out of the weather in boisterous conditions.”

The 48DS is the second deck-salon Moody that has been nominated in recent BOTY contests, which judge Herb McCormick remembered fondly: “There are a lot of similarities between this boat and the 41DS that we tested for the 2023 competition, a boat that actually won the Full-Size division. We sailed both boats with their new owners, both of whom had long-range, liveaboard cruising in mind and were really satisfied by their choices. I think the beamy, deck-salon approach is a viable alternative for someone who might be considering a catamaran but is more comfortable and familiar with a monohull. In many ways, it’s the best of both worlds. You get the big salon and wraparound windows that you’d get in a cat, but you also get a boat that performs well, especially upwind. And make no mistake, this Moody is a fine, very able sailboat.”

Click here to return to the 2025 Boat of the Year main page.

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Fifty years ago this month, the first issue of Cruising World magazine debuted at the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland. It was an ideal time to launch a cruising and sailing periodical, as a revolution in production fiberglass boatbuilding was underway. Huge numbers of sailors were eager to purchase new boats, and the choices in size, price and purpose were plentiful. 

Sure, there were lots of imports on the market, especially from France and the Far East, but there were plenty of great boats born in the USA. The builders and their brands were practically synonymous: Hunter (Warren Luhrs), Catalina (Frank Butler), Morgan Yachts (Charley Morgan), Irwin Yachts (Ted Irwin), Pearson (Bill Shaw), Sabre (Roger Hewson), Shannon Yachts (Walter Schulz), and on and on.

Why bring all this up? Well, of all those companies, only Catalina still builds sailboats, and in limited sizes and numbers. All those other former household maritime names are little more than fond memories. The once-powerful US production-sailboat industry has basically ceased to exist. 

But cruising remains as ­alluring as ever—nature abhors a vacuum—and several of the production-boat builders that have filled it are conglomerates aimed at serving the nautical masses. 

One of the most notable, with a trio of popular lines (Hanse, Dehler and Moody), is Hanse Yachts AG, the German manufacturing colossus based on the Baltic Sea. This past fall, in our annual Boat of the Year competition, we tested their latest offering to the US market, the Hanse 510. It’s a rangy, state-of-the-art marvel that on many levels will never be confused with your basic Catalina 30. 

In contemporary cruising boats, some five decades down the track, the names aren’t the only things that have changed. One huge difference? The relative cost. Of the 19 nominees in the 2024 Boat of the Year fleet, over a third sported price tags at over a million bucks, including the Hanse 510.

From a design perspective, the 510 represents a new direction for Hanse. For many years, the Judel/Vrolijk design office was the firm’s principal naval architecture firm. But in 2021, Hanse handed the keys to the French team of Berret-Racoupeau. They delivered the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Hanse 460, with more than 230 boats sold.  

“The next logical step,” says US Hanse importer Doug Brophy, “was to replace our 508 with the 510. The 508 originated with the Hanse 490 and then went through a series of facelifts. We decided not to do facelifts anymore, but to develop a new boat with a new launch. And I think it would be harder to find a larger cockpit on a 50-foot boat than this one.”

Berret-Racoupeau has become a major force in the industry, with a client list that includes most of the top French and European catamaran and monohull builders. In a way, they’ve become a 21st-century Gallic version of Nathanael Herreshoff. However, where Capt. Nat generally reveled in rounded curves, low freeboard and overhanging sterns, the Frenchmen opt for hard angles, maximized beam and length, and voluminous interiors. Metaphorically speaking, comparing the Herreshoff school (or, for that matter, any of the designs of the 1960s and 1970s inspired by the Cruising Club of America’s CCA Rule) with contemporary production boats is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. 

Want proof? Check out the profile of the 510. The waterline is completely maxed out, with a reverse wave-piercing bow forward and a straight, razor-sharp transom astern (a drop-down transom gate serves as a swim platform and opens to a dinghy garage to stash a nearly 9-foot fully inflated tender). There’s not one but two sets of chines, forward and aft, an element that considerably opens up the interior floor plan. There are three windows in the hull, and, with 14 opening hatches on deck, the belowdecks staterooms are flooded with natural light and fresh air. 

Our test boat was adorned with a hardtop Bimini, which covered the entire cockpit with shade and had a sliding panel on Ronstan cars to open things up; a forward glass windshield linked to a fiberglass arch via an acrylic panel that shielded the cockpit from the breeze; and a barbecue and sink. All of which are options (as is a solar array), but these are such worthy, well-executed features that I couldn’t really imagine going without them. There are split cockpit tables, but you can also specify a high/low adjustable table that converts into a lounge, which would go along well with the foredeck sun pad. For the decks, there’s a choice between real teak and synthetic Flexiteek; for the hull colors, the choices in gelcoats are white and gray.  

The freeboard is as tall and considerable as the coachroof is low and sleek; aesthetically, it’s almost an afterthought. Bow and stern thrusters are practically a must because that freeboard represents considerable windage in tight quarters with the breeze on the beam. A forward sprit does double duty as the tack for a reaching sail and home to the ground tackle (a hefty Delta anchor). The single rudder is a deep blade (there are twin helms with Jefa steering), and a significant ballast bulb is attached to the keels (both the shoal and deep versions). Even dockside, the 510 looks raring to go. 

Construction is robust and straightforward. The hull and deck are balsa-cored, while the laminate is solid glass below the waterline. There’s a significant interior fiberglass grid to which the keel is anchored. The hull and deck are bonded and integrated with the toe-rail bulwarks. Additional fasteners are beneath each stanchion. The bulkheads are taped and bonded to the hull, and there are aluminum backing plates beneath each deck fitting. The main bulkhead is a reinforced composite laminate that serves as a compression post for the deck-stepped Seldén rig.

Our test ride sported a 12-volt electrical system with AGM batteries, but a lithium package is available. This boat was loaded with an air conditioner, a Fischer Panda generator, and a 110 hp Yanmar diesel with sail drive that trucked along at almost 8 knots with the throttle down to 2,500 rpm. The smooth emergency-­steering setup was as good as or better than anything we tested for the 2024 contest. 

Accommodations are equal to or roomier than a comfy shoreside condo. Our test boat was set up with the owner’s stateroom forward and a pair of good double-berth staterooms aft. The straight-line galley is to starboard, forward of the navigation desk, AC/DC panels and so on. There are a trio of fridges along with a freezer. (You will never want for a cold beverage on the 510.) To port, there’s a long settee with a high/low table that drops and converts to a berth. There’s a central island down the middle of the main cabin that includes, among other things, a pop-up television set. 

A four-stateroom, four-head layout is aimed at the charter trade. It includes a taut skipper’s cabin forward, which is a sail locker in the three-­staterooms configuration.  

Topsides, that aforementioned bowsprit opens up a foretriangle that accommodates a double-headsail rig: an outer stay with a genoa and an inner stay with a self-tacking jib, both easily controlled with Furlex furling drums. On our test boat, an in-mast furling mainsail was set off the tall spar (77 feet), though a traditional main is another option. The German-style double-ended mainsheet is a midboom arrangement. All the running rigging is led through belowdecks channels to winches and clutches well aft in the cockpit, and then to the dual steering pedestals. It’s a clean and tidy assemblage. 

In 10 to 12 knots of autumn breeze on Chesapeake Bay, the 510 acquitted itself very well. With the big headsail unfurled, it made close to 6 knots on a deep reach and scooted up to more than 8 knots coming up with the wind on the beam. Swapping over to the jib, the boatspeeds were equally favorable, making anywhere between 6 and 8 knots closehauled as the pressure fluctuated in the lulls and puffs. That deep rudder provided a lot of bite, and for pure performance, you can’t beat a long waterline. It was a very pleasant sail.

From soup to nuts, the yacht did everything you’d expect it to, with speed and dispatch—and it’s stylish to boot. There are good reasons that the big yards have come to dominate the big-boat marketplace. The Hanse 510 is a solid example why.

Herb McCormick is a CW editor-at-large and was a 2024 Boat of the Year judge.

Hanse 510 Specifications

Take the next step

Price: $1,050,000
Contact: hanseyachtsag.com

The post Sailboat Review: Hanse 510 appeared first on Cruising World.

If you’ve watched Hanse Yachts’ development over the past decade or more, you’ll see something entirely new in the Hanse 510. For many years the German boatbuilder has offered simple-to-sail, good-performing monohulls in the 50-foot range, beginning with the 495, then transitioning through the 505 and finally the 508. Each of those boats was designed by design firm Judel/Vrolijk out of Bremerhaven, Germany. With subtle changes along the way, those models shared the common traits of a pronounced freeboard, low coachroof, and plumb bow.

By contrast, the new 510 breaks that trend, carrying on instead from something Hanse Yachts started in 2021 when it launched the 460: a new working partnership with French yacht designers at Berrett-Racoupeau. This boat emphasizes powerful horizontal lines, particularly at the waterline, with a reverse bow that suggests a Volvo Ocean Race boat. A chine—subtle forward and more pronounced farther aft—confers low wetted surface near the waterline yet ample volume above. Meanwhile, the freeboard is more traditionally proportional.

Cruising World’s Boat of the Year judges test-sailed the 510 in Annapolis, Maryland, in October, and they were immediately struck by the generous cockpit space. The boat they sailed had an optional tempered-glass windshield and hardtop that sheltered the long cockpit settees yet opened to let in the light in fine weather.

In this boat, the social cockpit is at once separated from and connected with the working cockpit. Twin helm pedestals, outboard to port and starboard, create a subtle separation without in any way blocking eye contact or conversations; primary and secondary winches are placed in the space between the helm stations and the settees. All sailhandling lines are led to these positions, which can be reached by the helmsman alone or by crew from the settees. This, plus a self-tacking jib, keeps the sailhandling as simple as can be. It’s safe too: The mainsheet terminates forward of and entirely clear of the social cockpit.

To keep seawater out of the cockpit, Hanse built ample drainage into the side decks. An integrated step leads from the cockpit to the side deck, while also providing a line bag for sheet tails and other spaghetti. The hardtop provides an excellent handrail for this transition. Optional barbecue and sink, as well as shower, round out the Hanse’s cockpit amenities. A tender bay with Hanse’s tender arm system provides a place for the dinghy—off the deck, without davits, and out of the way.

For more information on the Hanse 510, visit hanseyachtsag.com/hanse/us/yachts/hanse-510/

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