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The 54th annual sailboat show featured a fleet of 155 boats, including 16 exhibiting for their first time in the United States.
Guests of this year’s Annapolis Sailboat Show hailed from more than 3,000 cities in 38 countries.
Catalina 356
Catalina Yachts announced its all-new 6 Series a few months before the model line premiered at the fall shows. The line includes the 316, 356, 386, 426, and 456 models, all with designs that seem to diverge from the newest European-built production sailboats.
In a climate where sailboat builders continue to move toward lighter, airier interiors and sleek, empty-appearing decks with wide, square transoms, Catalina took a more nuanced approach to its new 356. Attempting to meld that luxury, high performance feeling with its traditional look, Catalina created a modern – yet fundamentally American – cruiser.
The 356 comes in at 36 feet, 6 inches (LOA) with a 12-foot beam, and 4 foot, 6-inch (shoal) or 6-foot, 8-inch (fin) draft, and still looks like a Catalina. Lines run aft but remain above the deck. The Selden rig claims to be both lighter and stronger than previous Catalina rigs, and the shrouds land inboard of the side decks, allowing for tighter upwind angles and easier transiting fore and aft. Catalina redesigned the keel for the 6 Series, creating what they’re calling a “cruising bulb” to reduce drag. All the 6 Series models also keep the single helm instead of the wider, flatter transoms with the twin helms and rudders found on comparable European boats.
The comfortable aft cabin. Photo: Kelsey Bonham
Dufour 44
The new Dufour 44 doesn’t vary much from the other models in Dufour’s current lineup, but it does nicely fill the gap between the 41 and the 48. Coming in at 45 feet, 7 inches (LOA), with a 14-foot, 6-inch beam, and 7-foot, 2-inch max draft, the 44 is a platform fit for a variety of sailing styles, except probably gunkholing (a shoal draft version at 5 feet, 9 inches is also available). Layout options abound with choices between three or four cabins and between a longitudinal or forward galley.
There's abundant space down below. Photo: Kelsey Bonham
Smart interior design was clearly a priority, starting in the forward owner’s suite that includes storage above in white cabinets that don’t close in the space. A hexagonal salon table nestles down into the settee and provides more dining space than a circular table while keeping the walkway open and sharp, square corners to a minimum. White cabinets continue into the main salon, keeping things bright.
On deck, the transom mini galley station is a highlight for sunset grilling on the mechanical drop-down swim platform. Faux teak decks contribute to a luxurious feel. Double helm stations each come with plenty of space for electronics. With Dufour’s emphasis on performance and that race-ready feeling, they loaded on more than 1,000 square feet of sail area, so she’s built to move. Call for pricing | dufour-yachts.com
Seawind 1370
The new Seawind 1370 is an open-feeling sailing catamaran with huge windows through the main salon that provide wide, clear sightlines. The double helm with throttle controls on both sides is an underrated feature on a catamaran, and a solution some may find more appealing than the helm towers on other makes. Both helm seats take notes from modern powercruisers, with flippable backrests that allow you to face aft toward the cockpit dining area when not underway. Line handling and storage was also taken into consideration, so much so that a capable operator could singlehand the 1370 nearly entirely from the helm, living up to Seawind’s claim that they designed the 1370 specifically for shorthanded couples.
A saloon table with a 360-degree view!
Below, Seawind prioritized storage as much as berthing, with the master cabin boasting an entire walk-in closet. The 1370 comfortably sleeps seven. The show version featured separate stand-up showers, both propane and electric cooktops, and an abundance of thoughtfully placed outlets and fans, suggesting a boat that would be equally comfortable as a weekender or longer-term cruiser, especially in warmer climes.
Coming in at 45 feet overall with a nearly-25-foot beam and 4-foot, 3-inch draft, the 1370’s 27,000-pound displacement is slightly lighter than other 45-foot catamarans. And with over 1,200 square feet of sail area and a square top main, cruisers can feel good about loading up the tools and provisions without overly compromising performance. Call for pricing | seawindcats.com
Birdyfish
“Foiling for everyone!” That’s the genesis behind the Birdyfish, which made its North American debut in Annapolis with its only present American dealer, North Carolina-based East Coast Sailboats. Unlike other dinghy foilers relying on the single foil keel and rudder, Birdyfish takes notes from the latest iteration of foiling America’s Cup monohulls, with twin outboard J-foils designed to make the dinghy more stable the faster you go. The foils and rudder slide up or can be removed altogether for easy trailering. The manufacturer claims that anyone who can sail can foil the Birdyfish on their first outing, and with a scow bow, you’re more likely to land with a gentle plop than a slamming pitchpole if you eat a wave.
The birdyfish is a simple, but efficient design.
Mackay VXTwo
“All this tech is too much – I don’t want an airplane for a boat, I just want to sail a fast dinghy and have fun.” If you find yourself thinking that as you watch racing dinghies become more and more advanced, Mackay’s new VXTwo may be just the thing. Designed as a smaller version of the VXOne which (perhaps counterintuitively) is designed for three sailors, the VXTwo was conceived as a fun, fast dinghy for two adults to race or just blast around the harbor.
The VXTwo addresses your need for speed.