One thing you can say for sure about sailboat designers and builders, they are always up for a challenge—whether that’s finding new ways to provide comfort and glamour to a sailboat’s living spaces while delivering improved performance; seeking more environmentally sustainable propulsion systems, charging methods, or building processes; improving what’s tried and true; or stretching into new thinking about some aspect of sailing. All of this and more is reflected in the designs that are nominees for SAIL’s Top 10 Best Boats for 2024. From comfort and performance to size range and customizable options, we’re seeing production boats deliver more than ever before. It’s heartening to see solidly traditional bluewater designs that look like they could take us anywhere for a long time in even the toughest conditions, as well as models that thoughtfully consider how to make sailing more fun and inviting for sailors with different ambitions. Some may be entirely not your cup of tea, while others may be your floating holy grail. But no matter which, we can learn something from all of them—some persistent problem cleverly solved, some innovation making us rethink how we have sailed for decades, some new model that fulfills every dream a new sailor has and brings them to the water for the first time.
ASTUS 20.5
The sporty VPLP-designed Astus 20.5 from Redbeard Sailing is an update on the popular 20.2 design, which has sold over 120 models to date. As the smallest of this year’s nominees, the Astus 20.5 has one area in particular where it outshines the giants: transportability. A specially adapted trailer allows owners to move this boat from one body of water to another with ease. The outboard amas are retractable to convert the boat’s 14-foot 10-inch beam to a convenient 8 feet 2 inches when folded for transport or storage (potentially fitting in the garage for safekeeping during the cold months). The main hull is designed for streamlined gliding with a tuliped shape to deflect spray away from the crew. It can accommodate up to seven sailors, but is probably more comfortable with five. The boat comes in two models: leisure and sport. The former is set up for gentle, family sailing; the latter has a lighter, stiffer main hull thanks to vacuum-infusing the layup. Both options can support a main, jib, and gennaker.
LOA/LWL 19’6” Beam 14’10” Draft 6’11” (deep) 5’4” (shallow) Displacement 860 lbs (sport) 950 lbs (leisure)
