BEST NEW BOATS FOR 2021

It has been another bumper year for the boatbuilding industry. Sam Jefferson casts his eye over the latest launches in the last calendar year

- Sam Jefferson

DUFOUR 530

The latest addition to the Dufour range lays out a slightly new vision for the marque going forward. In the past, the company has generally offered a Grand Large and Performance range in each size bracket but with the 530 this has been discontinued. Instead, you now have one boat with three distinctly different deck layouts. These will be the ‘Easy’, ‘Ocean’ and ‘Performance’. Ok, I realise that has actually offered three options instead of two but, nevertheless, the three options make perfect sense. Aside from that, this is your classic Felci designed Dufour, with acres of space and a good turn of speed.

• dufouryachtsuk.com

HALLBERG RASSY 50

Hallberg Rassy continues the revamp of its range with a new centre cockpit 50-footer that sticks to the template drawn up by the Hallberg Rassy 57. As such, this is a German Frers design with a lot of beam aft, compared with the older generation of Hallbergs. To compensate, there are twin rudders and twin wheels. In common with the 57, this is a modern-looking boat that still manages to remain harmonious. Down below, there is a huge stateroom aft and a generous double forward. The rig is powerful and hints at pleasing performance.

• hallberg-rassy.com

CONTEST 55 CS