BAVARIA C46 is European Yacht of the Year 2024 – Best Family Cruiser
On the opening night of the Dusseldorf Boat Show, Bavaria C46, designed by Cossutti Ganz Yacht Design, was crowned European Yacht of the Year 2024 in the Family Cruiser category. This is our third European Yacht of the Year award, following victories in 2021 with Bavaria C42 and 2013 with Italia Yachts 13.98. In other categories, the winners are the Arcona 50 (Luxury Cruiser), Outremer 52 (Multihull), and Saffier SE 24 Lite (Special Yachts). Special mention for sustainability goes to the Bestevaer 36. Read the article with the jury’s reasons.
Established in 2003 by the German magazine Yacht, the European Yacht of the Year award is considered the Oscar of the sailing industry, becoming one of the most significant recognitions not only in Europe but also globally.
The award is given by a jury of twelve journalists from the most important European industry magazines. They determine the winners after sea trials of all the finalist boats. The goal is to reward boats that best meet the objectives for which they were designed and built in four categories: Family Cruiser, Luxury Cruiser, Multihull, and Special Yachts (this year, no boat was selected for the Performance Cruiser category). A novelty of this year’s edition was that the category was assigned only after sea trials. The trials took place last autumn in La Rochelle, France, and Port Ginesta, Spain, where all twelve journalists tested the 21 competing boats.
The award ceremony took place last Saturday during the Flagship Night, organised by Delius Klasing Verlag in collaboration with Boot Düsseldorf at the beginning of the fair.
We are thrilled and proud to have won this extraordinary recognition, our third “European Yacht of the Year” award and the second with a Bavaria boat, following the C42’s victory in 2021. We thank everyone who made this success possible, starting with our fantastic team. But also all the people at Bavaria Yachts who worked with us on this ambitious project. And, of course, the German shipyard that continues to place its trust in us.Check out the Bavaria C46 at the Bavaria Yachts stand at Boot 2024 in Dusseldorf until Sunday, January 28. Read more about the Bavaria C46 project.
Bavaria C46 European Yacht of the Year 2024 – Jury’s comments
Here are the comments from the twelve journalists of the EYOTY jury who tested the BAVARIA C46 last fall in Port Ginesta (Barcelona). Let’s discover why they chose C46 as Boat of the Year 2024 in the Family Cruiser category.
“The Bavaria C46 triumphs as a meticulously crafted, spacious, and well-performing yacht, which sets new standards for finish and craftsmanship quality in series-produced boats.” Morten Brandt-Rasmussen, Denmark.
“There is no doubt that this yacht has the potential to become a new benchmark in the field of cruising yachts under 15m.” Lori Schüpbach, Switzerland.
“While other boats within the category may look sleeker and boast more modern interior design none delivers as much in solidity, practicability, volume, or sturdiness and few reach as high a level in all-round sailing sensations.” Jochen Rieker, Germany, added “The boat builders from Giebelstadt in Franconia already proved three years ago that something has changed. Back then, after a long break, the C42 designed by Maurizio Cossutti won the title of European Yacht of the Year with overwhelming clarity. Now the C46 is following suit, and despite the many well-known competitors, it is once again a clear winner. Although it follows the same basic concept, in many respects it sets the bar even higher than its sister, which won in 2021.”
Toby Hodges from “Yachting World” explains the triumph of the C46 with its substance: “Bavaria has increased its quality to such an extent that other large shipyards find it difficult to keep up.“
Joakim Hermansson from “Praktiskt Båtägande” in Sweden: “Sailing them is simply fun!“
Discover all the winners and jury’s comments on Yachting World Magazine.
Photo © Ludovic Fruchaud