{"id":47540,"date":"2021-12-15T16:02:27","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T21:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=47540"},"modified":"2023-05-06T18:17:36","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T22:17:36","slug":"2022-boat-of-the-year-best-cruising-catamaran-over-50","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/sailboats\/2022-boat-of-the-year-best-cruising-catamaran-over-50\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 Boat of the Year: Best Cruising Catamaran (Over 50\u2019)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During and in the four days immediately following the US Sailboat show in Annapolis, Maryland, the <\/em>Cruising World judges inspected and sailed on 27 boats vying for recognition. Learn more about the boats in our 2022 Boat of the Year<\/a> \u00bb<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are they really all-around cruising sailboats, or are they luxurious and large party platforms that are best-suited for crewed charter vacations in tropical settings? That was once a fair, probing question to ask of the builders knocking off long, tall, beamy vessels balanced on a pair of cabin-filled hulls. But no longer. Despite their respective girths and displacements, not to mention a wide variety of windspeeds and sea states, this quartet of full-size cats performed admirably across the board in this year\u2019s BOTY sea trials. Yes, they now truck along like good, honest sailboats. All that room is icing on the cake. At the end of the day, however, it\u2019s how that space is utilized that separates the king and the contenders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Destined almost exclusively for the charter trade, the judges believed the Voyage 590<\/a> would truly excel in that role, so much so that they ultimately recognized it with a special award as the year\u2019s Best Charter Boat. But that didn\u2019t mean they did not consider it an innovative, exciting vessel on its total merits. \u201cIt\u2019s a \u2018techie\u2019 boat, and they\u2019re doing a lot of cool things with lithium batteries and 24-volt systems,\u201d judge Ed Sherman said. \u201cIn terms of systems integration, they\u2019re using high-end inverters to help out with things like variable-speed air-conditioning systems so they won\u2019t have to run generators for extended periods of times. It\u2019s pretty cool stuff. And under power, it\u2019s one of the quietest boats we tested. High marks all around!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Voyage <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Voyage Yachts\u2018 new 590 model is designed with private owners and charterers in mind, with six queen-berth staterooms, and two additional single berths, depending on whether a vacation includes a captain and crew.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Voyage <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Voyage Yacht Charters, a sister company, will have many of the 590s in its charter fleet in the British Virgin Islands, and colored lines make sail handling that much easier for guests.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Voyage <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The 590\u2019s saloon includes loads of counter space for preparing meals while crewmates relax on nearby couches or stroll to the foredeck through a forward door.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Lagoon Catamarans, as most multihull sailors know, was one of the era\u2019s true pioneers in the evolving world of cruising cats. Their new Lagoon Sixty 5<\/a> is another vessel that, not unlike the Voyage 590, will find plenty of duty in the serious business of having fun: in other words, the charter business. And it would be hard to find a better vessel for doing precisely that. The focal point of the boat, on multiple levels, is the epic flybridge, a feature that Lagoon first explored on a big cat with the firm\u2019s 620 but which they have fully realized on this massive 67-footer. It utilizes a pair of steering stations, which are handy indeed given the beam of the yacht. The overhead Bimini sports a glass window for trimming the mainsail, a welcome and innovative addition. Sofas, wet bar, grill, fridge: all combined, they ask an important question, one that strikes to the heart of the boat\u2019s clear purpose. Why would you ever go below?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Lagoon <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Lagoon Sixty 5 offers guests multiple places to gather and socialize, including the flybridge, aft cockpit, a foredeck lounge area, and of course the well-appointed saloon.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Lagoon <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Twin helms ensure the skipper has good visibility of either side of the Sixty 5 when maneuvering in tight quarters. All sail control lines are led to winches between the wheels.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Lagoon <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n A well-equipped galley that includes a dinette and all the conveniences of a modern kitchen is one of the layout options available for the Sixty 5.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

In many respects, Fountaine Pajot was unquestionably another pioneer in the realm of production cruising cats, and it\u2019s been fascinating to watch the company evolve. Tim Murphy has had a ringside seat for much of that decades-long evolution. \u201cIt\u2019s been interesting to watch their trajectory over the years,\u201d he said. \u201cThey started out as a very performance-oriented manufacturer. So, a lot of their thinking is about keeping weight out of their boats and creating cats that are going to perform well. Now they\u2019re more in a market that\u2019s moved in the direction of accommodation, and we\u2019ve watched them transition in that direction. But speed and elegance remain important, as shown here.\u201d A key selling point in the Samana 59<\/a> is the versatility offered in the several optional interior layouts. A pair of Maestro versions incorporate a roomy, stellar owner\u2019s suite. But for full-on chartering, who could resist the six (!) double cabins with, of course, a half-dozen accompanying heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Samana <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n An owner has options when buying a Samana 59 from Fountaine Pajot: five or six cabins, and a galley up in the saloon or down in a hull.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Samana <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Samana\u2019s large windows ensure a 360-degree view from the saloon, and a forward door provides easy access to a forward cockpit.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Samana <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Lounge around, sit and chat, grill a meal or drive the boat\u2014you can do it all on the Samana 59\u2019s flybridge.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

When all was said and done, though, the judges couldn\u2019t help but honor the efforts behind the Xquisite X5 Plus<\/a>; it must be noted that, unlike its competitors in the class, chartering wasn\u2019t part of the design brief. This is a dedicated cruising cat, through and through. And there\u2019s much to like about this 53-foot South African-built product. For judge Tim Murphy, the important details weren\u2019t necessarily the ones you could easily see, but rather the ones you couldn\u2019t. \u201cWhat I was most struck by on our tour of the boat was actually the service side of the whole equation,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are 40,000 man-hours invested in this boat. And you can see it\u2014those are solid hours of labor. One thing that was pointed out were two different marks on the heads of bolts showing they were torqued. And part of the Xquisite program is they spend two weeks with each owner, training them up with systems. All told, this is really one strong product.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Xquisite <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Xquisite X5 Plus comes loaded with solar panels and a three-headsail rig that features a self-tacking jib, genoa and code D sail, all set on electric furlers.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Xquisite <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The owners\u2019 suite in the starboard hull of the X 5 Plus features plenty of storage lockers and drawers for long-range cruising.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Xquisite <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Xquisite\u2019s helm station is protected by a convertible hood that can be easily opened and stored on the Bimini.<\/span>\n Jon Whittle<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Judge Ed Sherman agreed: \u201cThe business model here is exemplary. What they\u2019re really doing is emulating the high-end automotive market. I think they looked at the automotive sector for high-end cars like BMW and Mercedes and said, \u2018OK, this sounds good, it looks good, and we\u2019re going to do it, too.\u2019 And they are. So, I think that that aspect of his business plan where they\u2019re training the owners and then doing things like loading the boat up with spare parts as part of the original purchase, I mean, hats off to them. It\u2019s a great way to go. How can you argue against it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI couldn’t find anything that was done halfway,\u201d said Gerry Douglas. \u201cIt was done better than you’d expect it to be, just because they wanted the boat to be perfect.  And the quality of construction is excellent. It’s an infused hull but with a hand-laminated deck because there’s so many very tight corners and cavities. They didn’t think they could infuse that without adding a whole lot of weight. And I get that. So, they would hand laminate it, which makes sense when you have some of the very sharp corners that exist on that boat. It was all just perfectly done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes coming to a decision is hard. Sometimes it\u2019s obvious. And when the votes were tallied, it was the Xquisite X5 Plus that was the obvious choice as Best Cruising Catamaran (Over 50\u2019) for 2022.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A unique cruising cat with cool features galore and an impressive commitment to customer service, the Xquisite X5 Plus won the judges over and earned a victory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":47542,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Cruising World Editors","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","sponsored_image":false,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true,"ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true},"categories":[167],"tags":[282,1880,265,401,1891,195,1882,1884],"class_list":["post-47540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sailboats","tag-boat-of-the-year","tag-boat-of-the-year-2022","tag-fountaine-pajot","tag-lagoon-catamarans","tag-print-2022-jan","tag-sailboats","tag-voyage-yachts","tag-xquisite-yachts"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47540"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47540\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}