If last year was the year of smaller boats, this is the year of bigger boats—almost 50 percent of the fleet launched this year is above 40 feet. But this year’s fleet has more than just big boats; it includes a 16-foot sailing proa, a healthy list of cruising monohulls in the 30-foot range, and what has been a rarity in the past, sub-40-foot cruising catamarans. As with years past, performance cruisers continue to proliferate, more and more equipment that was once optional is now standard, and builders continue to build bigger, faster, more comfortable ocean passagemakers with one hull and two.

What makes this year’s fleet really stand out is fresh thinking across the board >>> MORE