Cruising World magazine has announced the winners of its 18th annual Boat of the Year awards. Topping this year’s list of winners for the most anticipated awards in the sailboat industry were the Catalina 355 and the Discovery 50. The Catalina 355 won the Domestic Boat of the Year award, and the Discovery 50 was named Import Boat of the Year.

Discovery 50 Catamaran named Import Boat of the Year

Four other boats also won awards from an independent panel of experts, who inspected and tested 19 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 2011 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 Catalina 355 was also named Best Midsize Cruiser, 30 to 39 Feet. “The judges were impressed with the 355’s sailing performance, accommodations, and overall construction quality,” said Boat of the Year director and Cruising World senior editor Bill Springer. “This boat strikes a good balance between cruising comfort and sailing performance in a 35-foot package.”

The Discovery 50 cruising catamaran from England was named Import Boat of the Year as well as Best Catamaran. “The Discovery 50 is well suited to withstand the rigors of offshore passage making, and the judges thought it had the best owner’s cabin of all the boats they tested,” said Springer.

2011 BOTY WINNERS:
Best Midsize Cruiser, 30 to 39 Feet, and Domestic Boat of the Year Catalina 355
Best Catamaran and Import Boat of the Year Discovery 50
Best Small Cruiser, 30 Feet and Under Beneteau First 30
Best Cruiser, 40 to 49 Feet Dufour 45e
Best Full-Size Cruiser, 50 to 55 Feet Beneteau Sense 50
Best Premium Cruiser Over 55 Feet Hylas 56
Cruising Spirit Award Presto 30