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Cruising World Announces 2012 BOTY Winners

Five outstanding sailboats are the winners of Cruising World's 2012 Boat of the Year awards.

BOTY 2012

Middletown, R.I. — Cruising World magazine announced today the winners of its 19th annual Boat of the Year awards. Topping this year’s list of winners for the most anticipated awards in the sailboat industry were the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379 and the Leopard 44. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379 won the Domestic Boat of the Year award, and the Leopard 44 was named Import Boat of the Year.

Three other boats also won awards from an independent panel of experts, who inspected and tested 22 nominated boats following the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Md., earlier this year. Decisions were based on extensive dockside inspections and sea trials of the boats. All of the winners, along with the rest of the 2012 BOTY nominees and several other boats reviewed by the magazine’s editors, will be featured in the January issue of Cruising World.

In addition to claiming the Domestic Boat of the Year award, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379, built for U.S. and Canadian markets in Marion, South Carolina, was also named Best Midsize Cruiser, 36 to 40 Feet. “The Sun Odyssey 379 was the whole package, a boat that sails exceedingly well with a smart, functional layout,” said Boat of the Year director and Cruising World senior editor Herb McCormick. “The judging panel was particularly impressed with the boat’s dual helms and outstanding maneuverability under sail and power.”

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The Leopard 44 cruising catamaran from South Africa was named Import Boat of the Year as well as Best Multihull. “The layout was particularly impressive, with a dedicated steering pod, a forward cockpit, and a nifty owner’s stateroom in the starboard hull with spacious accommodations and a private office space,” said McCormick.

For more information on the winners and other nominees, visit Cruising World‘s website (www.cruisingworld.com).

Cruising World, based in Middletown, R.I., is published monthly by Bonnier Corp. As the largest sailing magazine in the world, Cruising World is considered the bible for bluewater sailors. The magazine seeks to nurture cruising sailors’ dreams with practical how-to information and stirring real-life adventure articles.

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Bonnier Corp. (www.bonnier.com) is one of the largest consumer publishing groups in America and is the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences through 49 special-interest magazines and related multimedia projects and events. Bonnier Corp. is the U.S. division of the Bonnier Group (www.bonnier.com), a 200-year-old family-owned media group based in Sweden with business operations in 25 countries.

CRUISING WORLD 2012 BOTY WINNERS:

Best Midsize Cruiser, 36 to 40 Feet, and Domestic Boat of the Year
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379

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Best Multihull and Import Boat of the Year
Leopard 44

Best Compact Cruiser, 30 to 35 Feet
Hunter e33

Best Midsize Cruiser, 40 to 45 Feet
Tartan 4000

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Best Full-Size Cruiser, 45 Feet and Above
Passport Vista 545 CC

View a PDF about BOTY, including a list of the nominees.

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