Beneteau 34-Cruising World Boat of the Year Winner
Cruising World Magazine announced their Boat of the Year Winners (BOTY) today. The New Beneteau 34 was the receipient of the Best Value Category. We are very exited for this boat on Lake Michigan as she competes in a size range that has been strongly represented by Beneteau models on Lake Michigan.
Another Beneteau the 43.3 which is Moorings version of the Beneteau 43 also won the award of "Best Special Purpose Cruiser".
To read the Full Review see the text below
To view the Cruising World write-ups on the Beneteau 34 click on the following Links:
Beneteau 34- Best Value 2009
Beneteau 34- Mini-Review
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For Immediate Release:
Cruising World Announces ’09 BOTY Winners
Newport, R.I. – Cruising World magazine announced today the winners of its 16th annual Boat of the Year awards. Topping this year’s list of winners for the most anticipated awards in the sailboat-building industry were the Island Packet 460 and the Malö 37 Classic. The IP 460 took home the Domestic Boat of the Year award, while the Malö was named Import Boat of the Year.
The Island Packet 460, the Malö 37 Classic, and six other boats won awards from an independent panel of experts who inspected and tested 21 nominated boats during the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis earlier this year. Decisions were based on extensive inspections and sea trials of the boats. All of the winners, along with the rest of the ’09 BOTY nominees and several other boats reviewed by the magazine’s editors, will be featured in the January issue of Cruising World.
Following their deliberations, the judges decided this year to add an award for Best Value. Taking home this honor was the Beneteau 34. “The Beneteau 34 was the least expensive and one of the smallest of the cruising boats we looked at, yet under sail was a pure delight and handled well in the rather boisterous conditions we encountered,” said Pillsbury.
In addition to claiming the Domestic Boat of the Year award, the Island Packet 460 was also named Best Long-Distance Cruiser.
“The judges felt the IP 460 was a boat well designed and executed for a cruising couple,” said Cruising World senior editor Mark Pillsbury. “The builder took care with construction, stuck to the design brief, and provided the sort of storage room and amenities needed by a voyaging couple. Under sail, the boat performed quite well.”
The Scandinavian-built Malö 37 Classic was named Import Boat of the Year for its performance on the water and luxurious attention to detail throughout.
“The Malö is a semicustom sailboat that’s built to exacting standards and is ready to sail any ocean,” said Pillsbury. “The boat is elegant below and purposeful on deck. Under sail, performance was top-notch.”
Other noteworthy categories and their winners in the 2009 BOTY competition: Best All-Purpose Cruiser, 30 to 40 Feet: Catalina 375; Best Midsize Cruiser: Dufour 40 Performance+; Best Full-Size Cruiser: Dufour 525; Best Racer/Cruiser: X-34; Best Special-Purpose Cruiser: Moorings 43.3.
For more information on the winners and other nominees, please visit Cruising World’s website (http://www.cruisingworld.com/).
Cruising World, published monthly by Bonnier Corp., is considered the bible for bluewater sailors. Cruising World nurtures cruising sailors’ dreams with practical how-to information and stirring real-life adventure articles.
CRUISING WORLD 2009 BOTY WINNERS:
Best Special-Purpose Cruiser: Moorings 43.3 - BUILT BY BENETEAU
Best Value: Beneteau 34
Domestic Boat of the Year: Island Packet 460
Import Boat of the Year: Malö 37
ClassicBest All-Purpose Cruiser, 30 to 40 Feet: Catalina 375
Best Midsize Cruiser: Dufour 40 Performance
Best Full-Size Cruiser: Dufour 525
Best Racer/Cruiser: X-34
Best Long-Distance Cruiser: Island Packet 460
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