Best in Class Special Yachts 2019

The magazine itBoat publishes a series of reviews of nominees for the «European Boat of the Year»award. We have already talked about family, luxury and racing cruisers as well as catamarans shortlisted for the main European sailing award. In this review - the fifth and last in a row - we will talk about nominees in the category Special Yachts. This category includes unique boats with some atypical functionality or innovative technologies.

Aira 22

The young Dutch shipyard Aira has tried to create a compact sailing boat for all occasions. The company has produced a yacht in three variations - ClubSailer, DaySailer and MatchRacer. They differ only in a set of options.

The Aira 22 has become a worthy solution both for beginners who want to learn how to sail, for professional yachtsmen, and for those who like a short rest on the water. This outdoor yacht is equipped with everything you need. The sailing boat stands out for its bright design, elegance and ease of operation.

Depending on the configuration, the boat can be equipped with an electric motor, table, rigid rubber bumper on board and bow and more.

Ikone 6.50

The French Ikone 6.50 attracts attention with its functionality. The 6.5 meter boat has two double beds, a small kitchen and storage space for supplies. Despite its modest size, this sailboat can even be used for long journeys.

The boat is available in two variations: the usual sloop for modern yachting and the catboat. Thanks to the last sailboat, it has a high surface, which also gives the small yacht a decent ceiling height of 1.65 meters. The Ikone 6.50 has an elevating keel with a minimum draft of 0.4 meters, so the owner can enter almost any water body.

LiteXP

The French LiteXP can truly be called a pocket boat. The sailboat is designed for a maximum of two people and has a small cabin to rest or shelter from rain. The weight of the model, including the mast and sail, does not exceed 150 kg, so it takes one person to launch the boat.

The mast of this six-meter miracle is detachable. The LiteXP can be prepared for transport or assembled on site in just a few minutes. Another distinctive feature of the boat is the presence of oars (not included in the basic package), which will rescue the owner in the absence of wind.

RS21

The British shipyard RS Sailing presented an inexpensive 20-foot sailboat made of environmentally friendly and recycled materials. But this is not the main feature of the model. The boat was created especially for yacht schools and competitions.

This easy to operate and thoughtful yacht has an open transom for fast draining and in the middle there is a special hatch where you can store the sail. The designers have tried to minimize the need to move around the boat as much as possible: practically all manipulations can be performed by the crew members without moving up from their seats.

Among the additional options it is worth noting the possibility to install a data logger on the boat, with which you can send information to a remote site.

Saffier Se 37 Lounge

The 37-foot boat from Saffier was designed specifically for comfortable sailing holidays. The control post on the yacht has been moved to the front of the cockpit, leaving plenty of space. All ropes are led through the clutches to the helm post, from where they can be easily operated without leaving the place.

To the right and left are placed handbags for cables, so the cockpit can actually be called a lounge area. At parking in a marina on an anchor this place is easily transformed to the present terrace. At the touch of a button, a spacious table can be laid out from the floor, where ten people can comfortably be accommodated.