The Best in Boats: Cruising World and Sailing World Announce Nominees for ‘09 BOTY Awards

For the past quarter-century, the sailboat industry has recognized the best in sailboat building through Sailing World and Cruising World’s annual Boat of the Year awards. At the recent United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, the ‘09 BOTY awards took center stage as the two magazines announced the latest nominees.

Boat models introduced to the North American market between the 2007 and 2008 Annapolis Shows were eligible to be nominated. First-round nominating judges scrutinized the latest boats at the Newport International Boat Show in Rhode Island, and before the U.S. Sailboat Show got underway; then nominees were evaluated by independent judging panels during dockside inspections and sail testing on Chesapeake Bay.

Sailing World has nominated 16 performance-oriented models for its awards as follows: Archambault 35, Archambault 40, Andrews 28, Bavaria 38, BC 27, Bug, Dufour 40 Performance 40 +, Grand Soleil 43, Jeanneau Sun Fast 3200, Melges 20, Open 6.50, RS Tera, Santa Cruz 37, Summit King 40, Summit MD 35, and the X-34.

Cruising World nominated 21 boats, split into 6 categories:

• All-Purpose Cruisers (30 to 40 Feet): Beneteau 34, Catalina 375, Bavaria 38 Cruiser
• Mid-size Cruisers: Dufour Performance 40+, Grand Soleil 43, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 44i, Hunter 45 DS
• Full-size Cruisers: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49i, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS, Dufour 525, Beneteau 54
• Long-Distance Cruisers: Malo 37, Southerly 42 RST, Island Packet 460
• Racer/Cruisers: Archambault A40, Santa Cruz 37, X-34
• Special-Purpose Cruisers: Hunter’s The Edge, Moxie M37 Island Hopper, Moorings 43.3, Sunsail 44

“This year’s new models offer innovative design, good value, and, in more cases than usual, outstanding performance,” said John Burnham, editorial director for the magazines.

The winners will be announced in the January issue of Cruising World and the January/February issue of Sailing World, both available on newsstands in mid-December. The 2009 awards mark the 25th anniversary of the BOTY awards from Sailing World and the 16th for Cruising World. For more information on the ’09 BOTY awards, visit www.sailingworld.com/09boty and www.cruisingworld.com/09boty.

The Catalina 375 and Hunter’s The Edge are among
the nominees for ’09 BOTY Awards

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