Top-tier Yachts of 2025: Impressive Daysailers and High-Octane Sportsboats
In the world of yachting, the Bay Cruiser 21 from Swallow Yachts has made a significant splash, being crowned the Best Specialist Yacht at the European Yacht of the Year Awards in 2025. Test Editor Toby Hodges bestowed this prestigious accolade upon the Bay Cruiser 21, recognising its unique blend of lightweight construction, multifaceted design, and engaging performance.
The Bay Cruiser 21 stands out as the only specialist yacht winner in the European Yacht of the Year Awards between 2023 and 2025, according to the available data. No information about the awards for 2023 or 2024, or for years beyond 2025, was found in the search results.
This lightweight, entry-level yacht offers a shoal draught, easy towing ability, and can be rigged in minutes, making it a practical choice for sailors. The Bay Cruiser 21's carbon mast and boom, Dyneema standing rigging, and halyards are testament to its focus on performance, while its water ballast as standard ensures a dry, double-digit surf in strong winds.
Other notable yachts in the specialist category include the Tofinou 7.9, a daysailer with modern lines designed for warm weather sailing, and the Flaar 24, a lightweight carbon composite one-design sportsboat suitable for lake sailing and racing.
The Tofinou 7.9 boasts an iroko tiller with the throttle integrated into its end, an infused hull with PVC foam to keep weight to 1,200kg, and no engine as standard. The Flaar 24, on the other hand, is easy to launch and trailable, with a carbon mast rigged with diamond shrouds, a large genoa, and a long extendable bowsprit to boost performance.
Meanwhile, the Sun Fast 30, a lightweight racer, aims to make offshore sailing more fun, accessible, and sustainable by being the first production yacht built from recyclable composite materials. Its monolithic hull and infused sandwich deck using PET foam are evidence of this commitment to sustainability.
The Shogun 43, a fast cruiser designed for short-handed sailing but capable of racing fully crewed, is another standout. Its stiff hull structure, timber clad flax fibre interior, carbon for structural parts, and a carbon hull, deck, rudders, and keel blade make it a formidable vessel.
The Cape Cod 767, a modern trailable dayboat, offers innovative features such as a kick-up rudder, a retractable electric drive mechanism, and a pop-up cockpit table. The Saffier SE 24 Lite, winner of the Best Specialist Yacht award in 2024, provides easy speeds, addictive sailing, and a distinctly low freeboard for a dinghy-like sailing experience.
The Pointer 30, a daysailer from a Dutch yard with over 70 years of experience in building open dayboats, also deserves mention. Its large cockpit, V-berth, quarter berths for overnighting, chemical head, and fridge make it a comfortable choice for day trips and weekend getaways.
In conclusion, the European Yacht of the Year Awards has recognised the Bay Cruiser 21 as the Best Specialist Yacht in 2025, highlighting its unique blend of performance, practicality, and sustainability. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a beginner, the Bay Cruiser 21, along with other specialist yachts like the Tofinou 7.9, Flaar 24, Sun Fast 30, Shogun 43, Cape Cod 767, and Saffier SE 24 Lite, offers a wide range of options for those seeking to embark on a nautical adventure.
The Bay Cruiser 21's exceptional performance, due to its focus on sailing techniques, makes it an appealing choice for bluewater cruising. Another sports boat, the Flaar 24, comes with innovative features for racing, such as diamond shrouds and a long extendable bowsprit to enhance its performance.
