NEWPORT, R.I. (Dec. 6, 2021) – Cruising World magazine today announced the winners of its 2022 Boat of the Year competition. The top prize was awarded to the Hylas H57, an uncompromising blue-water cruising boat designed by prolific British naval architect Bill Dixon, which was named the Overall Boat of the Year for 2022.
“The Dixon-designed Hylas H57 is somewhat of a departure for the Hylas team,” said Herb McCormick, Cruising World Boat of the Year director, who noted that the judges were thoroughly impressed by its handling, with twin rudders, and the innovative cockpit layout. “Everyone felt it not only lived up to its design brief as a go-anywhere world cruiser, but it is also an aspirational boat, something our readers could imagine delivering them to the far horizons of their sailing dreams.”
“The H57 has a hard dodger built in, a very successful one, which I think is quite useful when you’re in the cockpit,” added longtime BOTY judge Tim Murphy. “By and large, this is just a very nice, functional cruising boat. The berths are big and luxurious, but they’re also set up for lee cloths. This is a boat meant to go places. And it’s lovely to be aboard. It’s just a very, very strong boat in many ways.”
In addition, Cruising World presented awards to winning boats in eight categories. After last year’s cancellation of the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the BOTY team once again staged the entire contest in brilliant fall weather on Chesapeake Bay. The 2022 edition of the annual competition drew 27 nominees from the U.S., France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden and Taiwan.
The other winners were the Beneteau First 27 (Best Pocket Cruiser/Daysailer); the Hallberg-Rassy 340 (Best Midsize Cruiser Under 40’); the Grand Soleil 44 (Best Performance Cruiser); the Hylas H57 (Best Full-Size Cruiser); the CNB 66 (Best Luxury Cruiser); the Leopard 42 (Best Cruising Catamaran Under 50’); the Balance 482 (Best Performance Catamaran); and the Xquisite X5 Plus (Best Cruising Catamaran Over 50’). In addition, the judging panel gave Special Awards to the Kinetic KC54 performance catamaran (Judges’ Special Recognition) and the Voyage 590 catamaran (Best Charter Boat).
2022 Overall Boat of the Year
Best Pocket Cruiser/Daysailer
Best Midsize Cruiser Under 40’
Best Performance Cruiser
Best Luxury Cruiser
Best Cruising Catamaran Under 50’
Best Performance Catamaran
Best Cruising Catamaran Over 50’
Judges’ Special Recognition
Best Charter Boat
The 2022 Boat of the Year contest will be featured in full in a 24-page special report in the January 2022 issue of Cruising World. For further information, visit www.cruisingworld.com or contact Herb McCormick (herb.mccormick@bonniercorp.com).
About Cruising World
Cruising World is sailing enthusiasts’ passport to exploring the world’s coastlines and oceans while voyaging under sail. Its contributors inspire and entertain through stories, pictures and videos that underscore the beauty and adventure of sailing, while providing instruction on the disciplines of seamanship, navigation and boat handling. The Cruising World community is made up of experienced, committed sailors and boat owners. Cruising World’s mission is to nurture dreams with practical how-to information and stirring real-life adventure features. For more information, visit cruisingworld.com.
