The SAIL Top 10 Best Boats Winners of 2026
By SAIL Boat Review Team
January 2, 2026
Beneteau First 30 – Beneteau Oceanis 52 – Excess 13 – J/7
Beneteau First 30
“I love a boat that’s built for someone specific, when the designers have a specific market in mind and really take the time to get to know their prospective owners so that they can innovate and truly create something perfectly suited for them.”
Let’s be honest, this is not going to be the biggest, flashiest, or most comfortable boat on the dock. Beneteau has other models for that. Instead, with this design brief, the company aimed for something else entirely: fun at an accessible price point. During our test sail, it was mentioned that this boat’s competition isn’t a similarly sized classic like the J/105 or something new like the Club Swan 28. Instead, it was a windsurfer or kite board. The designers recognized that there are nearly endless ways to enjoy your time on the water, so in order to bring and, crucially, keep people in sailing, it was going to take a fast, fun boat that planed easily, wasn’t too complicated, and could be sold at a price point that would entice first-time boat owners. (It’s not everyone who can stomach the yard bill or elbow grease of a fixer-upper.)
With the First 30, Beneteau delivered on that promise in a big way, as evidenced by the 100 hulls sold before the First 30 even made its U.S. debut. The sailing is intuitive without being dumbed down, and a small crew can manage it with space for passengers, beginners, or kids. We sailed the boat on a blustery day on the Chesapeake, and though helming (by tiller) took a little muscle, taking a reef did the trick to fix that without impacting the sporty feel. Belowdeck, things are super simple and designed to keep weight and cost down while still providing the necessary amenities to enjoy a short cruise. All in all, an excellent execution of a design brief targeting an underserved part of the market.
Click to learn more about the new Beneteau First 30.
Benteau Oceanis 52
“Each puff brought real acceleration of the slippery hull of the Oceanis 52, and the helm remained fingertip-light. We immediately started a race with the nearest boat, and she showed off what she can do on a breezy day.”
Beneteau ushers in the 8th generation of its Oceanis line as the “.1” series morphs into the next iteration. The Biscontini-designed Beneteau 52 replaces the 51.1 as the flagship, which squeezes in just below the “Oceanis Yacht Series” that starts at 54 feet.
Benefiting from dealer and owner feedback, the 52 offers a cockpit that’s 30% larger than her predecessor and a new layout that Beneteau is calling their “diamond shape.” Twin settees with two tables form a comfortable social space with enhanced line stowage below. Twin wheels and four winches create a well-designed working cockpit with the throttles atop the starboard binnacle. The transom seat between the wheel lifts to reveal an optional outdoor galley at the drop-down transom. All in all, the result is an elegant, comfortable boat with well-considered details.
Click to learn more about the new Beneteau Oceanis 52
Excess 13
“Our test sail on the Excess 13 was, hands-down, the highlight of a week of sailing lots of great boats. She’s self-assured, delivering double-digit speeds while building confidence in the crew.”
The Excess line of cruising catamarans launched just six years ago with a value proposition that was sketchy at first but changed with the arrival of brand director Thibaut de Montvelon, who made the design live up to its promise. The Excess 13 is now the third model in the current line, and the 43-footer hauled the mail on a cold and windy test day.
A signature mark of the Excess line is the twin helms aft on the hulls that are designed to contribute to the feeling of wind-in-the-hair sailing. The positioning of the wheels makes backing into a slip easy with excellent visibility. Surprisingly, you can actually see through the large salon windows to the opposite bow as well. With her low profile and angled coachroof, the Excess 13 looks more like a premium performance cat than a family-friendly cruiser, but she’s designed for easy handling and loads of comfort.
Click to learn more about the new Excess 13.
J/7
“It may have been a cold December day when we first sailed the J/7 out of Sail Newport, but the smiles and smooth maneuvers kept us warm and wanting more. From the moment I stepped on board, it was clear J/Boats put as much thought into this design as one of twice this size—everything just lines up and it’s beautiful to sail.”
The J/7 answers the call for honest and straightforward sailing. While it is similar in size to the J/22, that is about all it shares—it’s an entirely fresh design. The helm is beautifully balanced, with a perfect amount of feel, and whether stepping on the rail or sailing upwind, there is a considerable increase in stiffness. This design is quick and doesn’t hesitate to accelerate with the puffs. A spacious cockpit, with seating options to reflect the conditions or your preference (outboard or inboard), also includes comfortable seating aft of the helmsman, amidst the semi-open transom, giving it an edge on being an exceptional teaching platform. The J/7 is manageable alone or with friends, and with either the main, jib, or the combination. This concept of balanced flexibility extends to an optional sprit for an asymmetrical spinnaker, or the ability to use a conventional spinnaker and a pole. The rigging is straightforward, even forgoing a traveler for a bridle. The basic interior allows simple overnights in an anchorage of your choice, and the trailerable aspect places dry sailing and traveling to regattas within easy reach.
Click to learn more about the new J/7.
New Beneteau Sailboats For Sale
Pre-Owned Beneteau Sailboats For Sale
New Excess Catamarans For Sale
Pre-Owned Excess Catamarans For Sale
Since 1974