lan’s first sporty “Grand Turismo” yacht, the 43ft GT5, launched in 2017, and was actually a bit of a mash-up. It combined an existing go-fast hull from Elan’s sexy E5 racer with a new deck and interior optimized for cruising comfort, and a somewhat detuned rig to create a modern, fun-tosail cruiser. In this latest offering, the veteran Slovenian builder has upscaled its GT concept to 49ft, but started with a clean slate: a new design from the ground up, with all new tooling. For the boat’s hull design and naval architecture, Elan handed the pen to Rob Humphreys, their go-to man for the last quarter century. To ensure the boat’s aesthetics are first rate, they also turned to Studio F.A. Porsche, the iconic auto brand’s Austrian design affiliate. The result? Among other accolades, the boat ended up 2022 Best Boat winner in the 40-50ft monohull cruising category.
