MORE 55: TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

The More 55 was one of the boats that I was more curious to visit at the Dusseldorf boats show. I had done several posts about the More 55, accompanied the Atlantic crossing of several of them on the ARC, where one of the boats was very fast, being the others reasonably fast and with one of the them losing a rudder.

Regarding that rudder it seems that the problem was only with the rudder blade that delaminated and was gone, they say, after having hit something. All steel structure remained in place and they were able to repair it with some floor boards.

They also said that on the Caribbean they had hit a reef hard and that the boat had not sustained any damage on the keel structure. Fact is that the keel structure, a huge massive steel grid that, on Dusseldorf boatshow, was visible through a plexiglass that substituted the floor boards, is an impressive one.

This is a new brand, owned by Swedish with boats built in Croatia, with the "savoir faire" of Salona, from where many  workers have come, including at high level, over a very good design by Cossuti. An improbable and curious story that started when a charter company, specialized on the charter of performance boats (More charter, that used mainly Salona yachts), decided to build their own boat.

The More 55 offers a dinghy garage of good dimensions and an interior very similar in quality to what Salona used to offer, even the design and choice of woods is similar and that means a good quality interior.

Unfortunately the layout is far from being the best for a boat with those dimensions and the saloon has much space wasted. It has a galley all along one side and a seating area and table on the other, resulting on a large space unused between the two sections. Worst, that large space makes it difficult to use the galley at sea, since no body support is possible, at least in one of the tacks.

Three layouts are offered (all with the same saloon), two for charter and one for private ownership use, that one with a big forward cabin and a  large sail locker that will provide the needed storage.

The big disappointment came when I was trying to understand what kind of core they use on the hull and after  a lot of confusion they said to me that even if this is a vacuum infused boat, they use a monolithic hull. Hard to believe in all those claims that they make regarding a very stiff hull with great resistance against torsion with a single skin hull!!!

It would help to explain how they manage to propose these boats at a very attractive price, being the one of the More 55 - 387 000 euros and the one of the new More 40 - 185 000 euros.

It would, but does not explain, because the boat, after all, and contrary to all information I received, has a sandwich hull!!! I am modifying this post after exchanging some emails with Leo Curin from Pulse Yacht design (that was an ex-Salona top technician). He has done the  production management on the More 55 and now he is behind the Bavaria revolution, in what regards the building process that is new too, namely the boat structure.His firm developed also the interior layout.

The More 55 has a sandwich hull with PVC closed cell core except on the place were stainless frame  is located  and on the engine area as well. Other small areas are also monolithic as the areas where there will be high slamming loads. There, a high-density core is used in combination with single skin laminate. Single skin laminates are also used in areas of through-hull fittings.

Comparing the More 55 with a Jeanneau 54 we will see that the Jeanneau is almost 2T heavier and costs about the same. The Jeanneau has an infused balsa sandwich hull on the sides, a monolithic hull below the waterline with an interior "contre moule" as structure on the bottom. The More is a technologically more evolved boat, with a PVC core instead of balsa, a fully sandwich hull (except on highly stressed areas) and a big steel structure that takes the loads from the mast, shrouds and keel and transfers them efficiently to the hull. The only point where the Jeanneau 54 is better is on interior design.

Jeanneau 54

The More 55 is a very impressive yacht that has made already several transats on the ARC with flying colors in what regards performance. Among the several More 55, that are used in charter, 3 have been violently grounded (one at full engine speed) to the point that the keels had to be changed but on two of them no damage occurred on the boat structure and on the other just an easily repairable small secondary  delamination happened.

Regarding that rudder problem on the ARC Leo Curin says: "About the rudder, it was a big shock for us too, but when the boat was out on Carribean it was visible that the rudder was damaged, probably before start of ARC, rudder shaft is still here in the factory and the lower first angled bar was twisted in one side, probably damaged in some marina on the way from Croatia to Las Palmas, thus the blade was opened and it was just delaminating during regatta, by the way all rudders are produced on duplex shaft, blade is made with epoxy and glass/carbon fibres, when closed filled with epoxy foam 170kg/m3 (not PU), front edge overlaminated before fairing, better than we did in Salona".

So, bottom point, the MORE 55 is not too good to be true....it is just a great boat at an incredible price. I certainly would prefer it to the Jeanneau 54: much more boat for the money even if I would have a big difficulty convincing my wife. The Jeanneau has just a better designed interior and even if the quality of the one on the Moore is as good or even better, the comfort, functionality and coziness has no comparison.

More about the More 55 :
http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.pt/2015/11/more-55-incredible-boat.html
http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.pt/2016/11/more-about-more-55.html

ELAN GT5, ON THE WATER

Yes, on the water, as you can see by the pictures, but not yet tested by any sail magazine. The boat was presented at the Paris boat show and I visited it in Dusseldorf.  I was agreeably surprised. It looks a lot better than on the (bad) drawings that were presented and has some refreshing new ideas.

I don't like those seats behind the wheel, that in what regards sailing are only useful when motoring, but when I found out that inside one there was a very practical barbecue, similar to the ones that are offered on the big Dufour and that on the other one there was a small basin with water to assist cooking, I changed ideas and started to think those seats are not a bad idea. I love grilled food but carrying a traditional grill on a boat is a drag😊.

Other innovation is a kind of a unusual cockpit table, divided in two smaller ones, that can be joined together, offering a huge one. Those two tables can be reduced to two very good hand holds, plus cup supports and feet support, useful when the boat is heeled, while allowing free access to the cabin, on the axis of the space between the two steering wheels. A really nice idea and a better solution than the central cockpit tables.

The GT5 offers a good cockpit storage, with a floor central locker, even if with a somewhat small opening and two under the seat lockers. Not much unless one chooses the 2 cabin version, the more interesting one, that transforms one of those under the seat lockers on the entrance into a huge locker (also with interior access). On this version the aft head gains a separate shower and the single aft cabin is considerably bigger than on the version with two aft cabins.  A well designed solution.

The innovation continues on the interior with a type of galley that I never saw used on a 41ft boat, the type it is used on some 50ft Dufours. At first look it seems small, but in the end it results very functional allowing for a surprising storage, with cabinets all around, allowing for a good working space. It has, on the blind corner , at the right side of the stove, another interesting storage space, a raising big cabinet, that can be used for a coffee machine or a micro wave.

All very interesting if someone had not forgotten about the exhaust fumes from the stove!!!! not even an opening hatch above???
Obviously this type of solution demanded a smoke extractor, like the ones that are installed in some yachts, even smaller than this one. As it is, it was clearly designed by somebody that does not cook. Better use the barbecue outside for cooking LOL.

Apart this "little" shortcoming, that I hope they solve with the addition of a smoke extractor, the interior is very nice, surprisingly big for a 41ft, airy, with lots of light and a big standing height. It has nice seats with two puffs that have been designed for people with hemorrhoids or other problems on the ass area. Seriously, I understand the need to hold the puffs under the table while sailing but there is something odd with that solution.

At first I thought this was the hull from the S5 but it does not seem the case since this hull is a bit longer. Anyway a very similar hull, a good one, on a boat that weights just a bit more (+ 800kg), has the same ballast and therefore a bit worse final stability and a bigger overall one. Anyway a good B/D ratio for that type of keel and draft (2.45m standard).  The draft can be optionally 2,25m, increasing then the ballast in 300kg.

The GT5 has a simple but efficient rigging, with two separate and angled points connecting the boom to the cabin, through a mainsheet, that allows some control over the main on the absence of a traveler. This system allows the use of a big bimini, covering most of the cockpit, a solution that is not possible with the traveler on the cockpit, that only allows a relatively small bimini.

All the lines are brought to 4 winches, two on each side, near the steering wheels and at easy reach from the helmsman. No winches over the cabin. A very simple boat to sail and a fast one even if not allowing the finer sail tuning of the S5 that is a faster and lighter performance sailboat.

The hull is a sandwich one, having as core closed cell foam, with a single skin on stress areas. They use vinylester resin and vacuum infusion lamination. The boat structure is also infused to the hull and the 3 main bulkheads, made also in sandwich, are laminated to the hull and deck.

A considerably superior building if compared with mass production cruisers and not substantially more expensive. The Elan GT5 has a basic price of 189 900 euros (without VAT) but that price will raise rapidly when extras are added, as in most boats unfortunately. Count with over 50 000 euros in extras to have a boat decently equipped.

2017 DUSSELDORF BOAT SHOW IMPRESSIONS

Starting with a positive impression: Some brands had over the structure of the keel and keel bolts a plexiglas, instead of the normal floor, for visitors to be able to take a look at one of the more important parts of the sailboat, the boat structure and the keel bolts.

Azuree 41

Obviously I did not visit all boats but among the ones I visited the More 55 (picture above) and the Azuree 41 had that particularity. X Yachts had in exhibition the huge steel structure of the X6 and Grand Soleil had not only in exhibition the keel structure, but also it had many cuts of several parts of the LC 46 , not drawings but real pieces showing how the hull is made, how  the connection between hull and deck is done and how  the reinforcement on all the parts of the hull subject to stress, cleats and other items is achieved (  with special aluminium inserts).

Halberg Rassy 44

An example to follow, from boats that clearly have something to show of positive on that area, even if I doubt many that visit the boats will care or look at that. Maybe that will change in the future if sailors start to ask to have a look at the boat structure.

Passing to a negative point: the tendency to diminish storage space to an insufficient minimum, saving all the space for increasing the interior. And I am not talking only of mass produced main market boats but also about brands that are associated with offshore sailing and passage making and I am not talking about small boats but about 46 fters. One would think that a 46fter would have more than enough space for storage, but no, incredibly some don't have it and I am not asking for much space.

Saare 4

And the worse are precisely the ones that a certain type of sailors see as the more adapted to passage making, center cabin boats, with a relatively small cockpit area and a huge keen cabin on the transom...and that cabin is really the problem because it takes all the available space. Two examples of new boats that fit that bill, the Halberg Rassy 44 and the Saare 46, both with center cockpit and offering as storage only two deep but relatively small and unpractical outside lockers, on the aft part of the deck. Those deep narrow lockers are not really a good idea for storage, except for fenders.

The Halberg Rassy does not have an option to diminish that shortcoming even if on the version with two separate berths on the aft cabin (that I believe nobody will want) they have joined both the two small deep lockers on a central more practical one. The Saare 46 offers a version with a smaller head cabin to manage the space to provide a forward locker, and that is an improvement, even if the overall storage space is only now on the limits of the acceptable for a 46ft cruiser boat. A pity because I find the Saare 46 a great sailing boat, on a conservative way, especially at will on upwind passages, an overall fast and pleasant to sail yacht.

I find ridiculous that a boat that has the seaworthiness and strength to be considered especially suited for passage making to have less storage space on the outside lockers than my 41ft performance cruiser. That means clearly that boat builders know that most of the boats are bought by the interior, many with a decisive vote from the wife and therefore it is on the interior of the boat that they invest all the available space, even if does not make much sense to cruise extensively on a boat that has not a decent outside storage.

Regarding storage on main market boats, of about this size, two boats have impressed me in a positive way, an expensive one, the Contest 42 CS and a mass production one, the Bavaria Vision 42/46. They both offer a big voluminous saloon and a large storage area.

I was truly impressed by the Contest 42 CS, a boat different and more modern than its bigger brothers, so impressed that I will make a post about it soon. I would say for now that it is hard to find a 42ft boat with so much (nice) space, with a bigger saloon, with a bigger storage space, so well rigged for solo sailing and so well built and finished. Truly a surprise...and I know, that for that type of boat, it is a fast one too....they even call it a performance cruiser on the shipyard 😉

Bavaria Vision 46

Finally a word regarding multihulls that were this year more present than ever. A big number of small sportive cats, several with flying foils, a considerable number of small cruising trimarans, from the Dragonfly to the Corsair passing by the Tricat and several condo cats, being the more interesting the new Nautitech 46 made by Bavaria and I say more interesting because it is the fastest and less condo of all cruising cats in exhibition.

Unfortunately the one I wanted to see was not there, the Outremer 4x, that won the European Yacht of the year on the multihull category. It seems that Europeans have a clear preference for trimarans in what regards performance small cruising multihulls, a preference that justifies each year a bigger number of trimarans on the show, while performance cruising cats never appear in Dusseldorf, contrary to condo cats that are on the rise and increase their number every year.

2017 DUSSELDORF BOAT SHOW: THE PRETTIEST OF THEM ALL 2

Out of water is even more beautiful. A true piece of art not only in what regards building (cold molded mahogany) but also in what regards design (Martim Menzer/Berckemeyer yacht design).

These beautiful weekenders/daysailers are built by a small German boatyard (La Yachts) specialized in high tech wood boat building and I remember to see their boats on past boatshows,  beautiful built but averaged designed. Well, not anymore, and when you join top design with top building the results are truly amazing.

They had the two newly designed yachts at Dusseldodf, a 28 (the one on the pictures) and a brand new 35, that was not even properly finished on the inside. The inside is like the outside, plain varnished hull, a bit on the dark side, with the sort of equipment you expect to find on a weekender but nobody is going to buy this boat on account of the interior. This boat is about sailing and about sailing beauty and in what regards that the hull is so beautiful that you have a urge to pass your hand over it, to caress it.

A yacht for protected waters that will be able to sail at the  slightest puff of wind and that with weak winds will be able to go easily over wind speed, sailing already fast. These boats are very, very light and what is not cold molded wood  is mostly carbon, including the foil that holds the torpedo, with the lead ballast, the rig, the tiller, the geenaker pole and so on.

Starting with the smaller one, the L28, a 8.5m boat with a beam of 2.5m, a draft of 1.75m, it displaces only 1.5T from which 40% is ballast and includes a 2.5kw interior electric engine. The bigger one, the L35, has a length of 10.5m, a beam of 2.95m, displaces 2.8T, 43% of it ballast on a torpedo, at the end of a carbon foil. It has a lifting keel (2.10m - 0.9m) and the SA/D upwind is a staggering 31.7.

Two boats that will make any owner proud and that will deliver a sparkling performance, for a price that obviously cannot be a low one: 120 000 euros for the little one and 220 000 euros for the big sister. Price includes VAT but not sails. Expensive? off course, but excellency and perfection is always expensive and this one is not only a sailing boat but a work of art that can decorate your backyard during the winter 💓 

2017 DUSSELDORF BOAT SHOW : THE PRETTIEST OF THEM ALL 1

The sexiest boats are rarely very practical cruising boats, even if they do better than none what they are designed for: sailing. This year on Dusseldorf there were lots of beautiful boats, but two stand out clearly in what regards beauty and one of them was a Swan Club 50:

Swan come to the boat show with two boats, a 54ft and a 50ft, a Duck and a Swan. I will not say more about the 54 than that it has a very nice interior on an outdated hull, built with outdated techniques (single skin), clearly a comercial attempt to capitalize on all those that like old Swans, building a less expensive boat with the looks of something coming out of the early 90's.

Shame on Swan to have made a Duck 😈. But the new cruiser racer, the Club Swan 50, is really something out of the ordinary, a very advanced design, really state of the art.

Looking at that hull from below is looking at an art work: very fluid shapes on a hull that looks narrower than what it is, all soft curves with very fine entries and a transom that is narrow at the water level but beamy at the deck level, a boat that upwind will sail very asymmetrically taking advantage of the increased hull form stability that beamy transom will provide and that's the reason for the two rudders on a relatively narrow hull.

The rudders are like whale fins and not perfectly rounded, to diminish drag. The hull has a very soft chine, from the bow to the transom. On the bow it will increase lift and will contribute to a dryer boat, opening the spay, on the transom will make it slightly easier to control downwind, increasing a bit the stiffness without adding any significant drag while deeply heeled close upwind.

A master piece of Design by a master NA, JK, with an interior to match the exterior, absolutely zen, all carbon, like the hull, with lots of leader on a mixture that is very light but also cozy and agreeable, much more agreeable than what looks like on the photos.

This boat will be used mostly for racing but I do not see any reason not to be used  exclusively as a performance cruiser, for a couple or even two. A nice galley, completely enclosed, that will be great for cooking without spreading the smell for all the boat, a good head with separated shower, two cabins, a big storage locker and a big saloon will provide more than enough amenities to cruise comfortably.

The draft is clearly excessive for cruising ( 3.50m) but the it would not be difficult to diminish that draft for 2.6m, increasing substantially the ballast and maintaining a similar stability curve and since this beauty weights only 8500kg, more 800kg will not make a big diference, in what regards cruising. With 9300 kg  it would still be 2300kg lighter than a XP 50!!! and only 400kg heavier than a Pogo 50.
Off course, it would not make much sense since the boat could only be sailed, solo or with a short crew, very far away from his true sailing potential, while a boat like the Pogo 50 could be exploited much more easily, but upwind or on light winds, what a blast and what a lot of fun...and that huge deck space aft the steering wheels would be more than enough for several reclining deck chairs...well, we can always dream LOL.

A very curious hull comparison between an old Swan (ahead on the photo) and the new Swan 50:

More about the Swan 50 here:

http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.pt/2016/10/swan-50-test-sail.html

http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.pt/2015/10/swan-is-back-swan-50-club.html

2017 EUROPEAN PERFORMANCE CRUISER: POGO 36

Quite incredibly, after the RM 970 having won the family cruiser title, it was another small shipyard, that won the prize for 2017 best performance cruiser, with the Pogo 36. Pogo, like RM, makes cruisers that a few years ago were niche boats, very marginal boats that were preferred by few sailors. But now the Structures Shipyard, that won this year the prize with the Pogo 36 and Fora Marine, with the RM 970 are doubling victories in recent years, with the RM 1260 in 2013, and with the Pogo 12.50, in 2012. This double victory in recent years is as significant as they having won again this year.

Cruising boats that  some years ago were very marginal, are being considered, in the last 5 years, repetitively, by a jury of 11 test sailors representing the best European sailing magazines, the best new boats on their class, 4 times in 5 years. This means these boats are not marginal anymore, not only because the ones that know more about the boats on the market, having test sailed most of them, are preferring them, as the best choice for a given market sector, but because they are among the boats with a bigger waiting list. About the Pogo I don't know the waiting time but with several dozens of Pogo 36 already on command I bet it will not be a short one and the RM has a waiting list of about 18 months, while most boats I visited have a waiting list of 3 to 6 months for delivery.

Let's give the word to the ones that tested the Pogo 36 - The jury:

"This is what the community of offshore fans have been waiting for: Pogo Structures brings a new mid-size yacht. The boat is suitable not only for having fun going fast, but also for voyaging."

http://www.boot.de/cgi-bin/md_boot/lib/pub/tt.cgi/Pogo_36_-_Performance_Cruiser_nominiert_als_EYOTY_2017.html?oid=58958&lang=1&ticket=g_u_e_s_t

Bert Bosman. Waterkampioen, Netherlands:

"This French sailing machine provides tons of sailing potential in a civilized manner. It offers the possibility to enjoy many miles with the family and a well thought out and practical interior."

Joakim Hermansson. Båtnytt, Sweden:

"It is impossible to sail a Pogo without a big grin and the new 36 has inherited the same sailing joy of their race brothers, built by the French shipyard. One feels safe and protected in the cockpit, with many intelligent solutions to make the maneuver easier. The interior defines a new standard in Pogo, in design as well as in finish and functionality, although they are still a bit minimalist."

Roland Duller. YachtRevue, Austria:

"A boat with a strong looking design and exciting performance both in light or stronger winds, upwind and downwind. We liked how it moves on the waves, the rigging and the ergonomics of the cockpit. In the interior there is more comfort than expected and it has some really nice details."

Pancho Pi-Suñer Oses. Nautica & Yachts Magazine, Spain:

"Impressive is the word that defines this high performance cruiser. The new Pogo36 has everything to excel in its category. With a spacious and comfortable cockpit, it allows calm and relaxed sailing in all conditions.  The interior is spacious and well thought out in every detail. It also stands out by the swing keel that provides a wide range of possibilities of use, especially when trying to reach the most remote Mediterranean coves."

Loïc Madeline. Voiles et Voiliers, France:

"The long  awaited Pogo 36 has not failed its objective. With more than 35 boats sold before being shown to the public, the shipyard can expect a bright future. The 36 is a real Pogo: really fast and different from all other production sailboats. The look is very particular, with a curious cabin and a larger stern than what you can imagine. Also the layout is unique, intelligent and very functional. And once more, some will love it, while others will not even think about sailing it."

Axel Nissen-Lie. Seilas, Norway:

"It is always a nice experience to sail a Pogo. The 36 has created many expectations. I was not disappointed. I was surprised by the size of the boat, possibly the biggest 36 feet on the market. Spacious under deck, plenty of cockpit space and plenty of power to sail."

 

Jochen Rieker. Yacht, Germany:

"The Pogo 36 behaved exceptionally well in water. Both downwind  and close upwind all the sail pressure is efficiently transformed into speed. Above 15 knots of true wind, downwind, the Pogo sails always over 10 knots of speed, easily reaching 12-14 in the gusts. But I also managed to get a high VMG going against the wind. To navigate alone you need an autopilot because all the winches are mounted around the cabin, from where you can work very safely. Where I was most surprised was inside and not only because of the amount of space it offers but on account of the details. Finally a Pogo with a suitable head and many more features to enjoy sailing and cruising with the family."

Alberto Mariotti. Vela e Motore, Italy:

"The Pogo 36, that replaced the 10,50, is an agile, fun, safe and easy to maneuver boat. The interior is simple and without decorative elements. It is however complete and spacious with everything you need to do long range cruising. The quality of construction is another of its strengths. In 12 to 18 knots of true wind sailed downwind at about 13 knots and close upwind to bout to 7,8K. Thanks to the two rudders the Pogo 36 transmits very precise sensations allowing the helmsman to always have a good control, even in high angles of heel. The space and comfort on the cockpit are also very good."

Troels Lykke, BadNyt, Denmark:

"The Pogo 36 is a breath of fresh air: very simple, light and fast, set to surf the Atlantic or to cruise anywhere in the world. If you like traditional boats with lots of wood, do not buy a Pogo."

 Lori Schüpbach, Marina.ch, Switzerland:

"With the new Pogo 36, Structures, the French shipyard, has taken a decisive leap forward in what regards interior functionality and comfort without sacrificing their identity. The impressive sailing performance  has always been the main characteristic of the shipyard that also builds racing yachts. The Little 36 combines speed potential with an adequate cruising interior with three cabins and a separated head. This makes the boat more "European" and will cause more than one to remain open-mouthed, not only in France."

Toby Hodges. Yachting World, Britain:

"Pogo Pogo Pogo. The one we always get excited about. The contemporary new shape of the 36 helped cause more of a stir than any of its predecessors. And boy does it not disappoint. Gone are any past notions of these beamy designs being sticky in the light breeze. The Pogo will match any ‘traditional’ narrow hull shape upwind – then smoke it offwind. A Pogo guarantees fast cruising fun – but the performance in light airs of the 36 was a pleasant surprise. The build quality throughout is also first class. Pogo have made a concerted effort to make their interiors more comfortable for cruising and it shows. For me it’s the most exciting monohull of 2016."

http://www.nauticayyates.com/barcos/european-yacht-of-the-year-2017-ganadores/

And that is why I have made so many posts about it LOL.

More posts about the Pogo 36:

http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.de/2016/10/pogo-36-some-more-information.html
http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.de/2016/10/pogo-36-first-images.html
http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.de/2015/07/pogo-36-designer-comments.html
http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.de/2014/12/pogo-36-pogo-1050.html
http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.de/2014/12/more-about-pogo-36.html

2017 EUROPEAN FAMILY YACHT OF THE YEAR : RM 970

After the success of the RM 890 it seems that RM managed to do even better with their new baby and that was not easy. The RM 970 won not only the competition on the contest, as it was praised by all testers with great compliments regarding its sailing potential, its comfort and the excellency of its cruising interior, in what regards functionality and enjoyment. Think I am exaggerating? listen to what the test sailors of the main European sail magazine said about it:

The Jury:

"RM970, more beauty, more speed, more comfort: this is a highly customizable sailboat that offers many options to the customer . In addition to the ten standard hull colors available, the future owner can choose between tiller or double-steering wheels. Also two keel variants can be chosen, a monokeel or a twin keel that allows the boat to dry out. An aluminium mast comes as standard with a carbon mast as an option.

Perfect comfort below deck: with a length of 10.57 and plywood epoxy construction the French from RM yachts delivered to the market a cruising yacht for the entire family. The articulated program results in a modern elegant design that is optimized by the shipyard for performance and speed. In doing so, the French managed to create a spacious, light-flooded atmosphere under the deck, which invites you to feel good."

http://www.boot.de/cgi-bin/md_boot/lib/pub/tt.cgi/RM970_-_Family_Cruiser_nominiert_als_EYOTY_2017.html?oid=58896&lang=1&ticket=g_u_e_s_t

Bert Bosman. Waterkampioen, Netherlands:

"The most beautiful and best sailer from the RM so far. The contemporary and striking interior is fresh and as bright and transparent as a greenhouse."

Joakim Hermansson. Båtnytt, Sweden:

"The plywood and epoxy construction sound a little weird in what regards building method in the era of GRP, but they, in the RM shipyard at La Rochelle know very well what they are doing. Their new 970 is relatively expensive but with a very good sailing performance, a great feeling at the helm and definitely safe, with enough capacity to navigate with a large family. It is understood why sailors faithful to RM buy their boats over and over again."

Roland Duller. YachtRevue, Austria: 

"A boat with a modern look, very habitable, both on the cockpit and inside. Impressive sailing performance in 20 knots of wind: very stable in close upwind and very fast in planing mode downwind." 

Pancho Pi-Suñer Oses. Boats & Yachts Magazine, Spain:

"May seem a small boat from the outside but inside it achieves an incredible feeling of space, thanks to the design of the bow window, with its large size, providing plenty of light and feeling of spaciousness. Fast and comfortable sailing on the cruise mode, completes the range of RM between 890 and 1070."

Loïc Madeline. Voiles et Voiliers, France :

"The RM 970 is very attractive and a bit pricey as a family cruise. But it is a pleasure to sail it, really quite fast and it offers a very nice and aggressive look. We also enjoyed the interior layout, with lots of light and a great outward view. The table card and the technical room are great features and the pieces of varnished wood are beautiful: the RP 970 punctuates in all the boxes."

Axel Nissen-Lie. Seilas, Norway:

"The French Atlantic coast is very demanding. Here sailors require high standards of building quality and functionality. The RM meets these requirements. It's a boat you can push on while sailing fast. At RM they are also masters of design. Both the interior and the exterior stand out and mark a trend."

Jochen Rieker. Yacht, Germany:

"In a varied mix of nominees, the RM wins thanks to its innovative design and practicality. It has one of the best cockpit distributions, a cool interior and sails convincingly. All that put together makes it a very versatile boat. You may not like the cabin open to the bow and the somewhat limited space in it, but it gives you a great feeling of volume."

Alberto Mariotti. Vela e Motore, Italy:

"A family cruiser that is comfortable even if offering  a lot of fun and emotion at the wheel, especially downwind. In a breeze of 18 to 25 knots it sailed close upwind at seven knots and went over 11 downwind with the gennaker. Some doubts about the large window that is slippery in wet conditions and not very effective against cold and high temperatures. The position at the rudder, seated, is a bit tight. The interiors are bright. There are two double cabins and a nice fixed chart table table that is there to properly navigate, a rarity in this type and size of boat nowadays."

Troels Lykke. BadNyt, Denmark:

"I really like the RM 970 concept of construction using plywood. The RM 970 has a good sailing performance, offering at the same time lot of space on cockpit and inside. The salon is resolved in a minimalist way with lots of light coming from the large frontal panoramic window."

Lori Schüpbach. Marina.ch, Switzerland:

"With the RM 970 the naval architect Marc Lombard has landed again a new bombshell. A spacious and comfortably equipped family cruiser that is impressive while sailing, with a surprising potential for speed and a great level of stability. Another plus: customers have the option of ordering their RM 970 with tiller or double wheel, as well as with a monokeel or a twin keel."

Toby Hodges. Yachting World, Britain:

 "Again the plywood specialists have produced a worthy winner, a model that demonstrates perfectly why the designer Marc Lombard is so astute in the middle segment, with boat lengths around 30 feet. The 970 packs an all-in-one thrilling performance on a fun, voluminous, versatile, refreshing, simple family cruiser. The design of the deck, including the rig solutions and the distribution of the winches only deserve praise, as does the feeling at the helm. It provides a really sporty feel but also offers the ideal balance for a quick family cruiser."

http://www.nauticayyates.com/barcos/european-yacht-of-the-year-2017-ganadores/