Quotes from the European Yacht of the Year jury, who elected the Hallberg-Rassy 50 winner in the prestigious Luxury Cruiser category:
Jochen Rieker, Yacht, Germany:
Oh, what a joy! Slipping along in a dying breeze this first-class hotel by the sea type of yacht simply generated her own breeze. With her 25 meter tall carbon furling mast and a set of fine Epex sails including a fantastic furling Code Zero the Hallberg-Rassy 50 kept moving on the glassy Biscay off La Rochelle when others already stalled. While her heavy-weather talents were to be expected her agility in the light was one of several wow effects the Germán Frers design evoked in the not so easily impressed jury. Magnificent hull lines, great ergonomics, spacious cabins and the rock solid Swedish build quality all combine to something universally great. Whatever your program – the Hallberg-Rassy 50 will be a near perfect fit.
Pasi Nuutinen, Vene, Finland:
This new 50-footer is amongst the best ones even among Hallberg-Rassy's undeniably high legacy of cruiser yachts. Performance, reliability and dignity of both sailing and living are found in balance which is served with the excellent ergonomics of electrically powered deck hardware.
Toby Hodges, Yachting World, Great Britain:
A beautifully refined Hallberg-Rassy. The Swedish yard’s best model yet in its modern hullshape generation, it’s one that uses every inch of Germán Frers’ cunning design while still delivering highly impressive performance across the wind ranges.
Roland Duller, YachtRevue Austria:
No other shipyard has mastered the balancing act between contemporary, modern yacht building and the retention of traditional values better than Hallberg-Rassy. The HR 50 perfectly embodies this skill.
Morten Brandt-Rasmussen, Bådmagasinet, Denmark:
Hallberg-Rassy delivers with the 50 a boat that is full of the right choices. With the size of 50 foot there is enough space in the cockpit, on deck and down below to truly showcase the qualities of the Swedish yard. The owners cabin, the galley, the salon, the cockpit, the parts and components – everything just seems to be the right choice. The boat sails really well and the push button functionality, rig and sail design is close to flawless.
Germán de Soler, Nautica y Yates, Spain:
Whoever wants to get literally everything on a 50 foot cruiser this is the boat for everyone willing to pay the price. In the Hallberg-Rassy 50 luxury is not at odds with the main variable required in a sailboat: her capacity to sail well and fast. For everything else, you would have to do an extraordinary criticism exercise to find a single reproach.
Loic Madeline Voiles & Voiliers, France:
So much space in this hull designed by Germán Frers. Moreover Magnus Rassy wanted the interiors to be on one same level from the rear cabin to the front cabin, so you don’t even have to mind any step when moving along. Compared to what was done on previous models, mast was a bit shifted to the rear, so that the saloon can be even wider. Of course we liked the nice woodworks everywhere, but we also appreciate the very large chart station. On deck, you find two helm stations (just like on the Hallberg-Rassy 57). And the new 50 doesn’t need much wind to reach 7 or 8 knots.
Axel Nissen-Lie, Seilmagasinet, Norway:
Magnus Rassy got the most things right with his newcomer from Ellös, floating luxury that works in all weathers. It's just a shame that this kind of quality costs so much. I was lucky to sail the boat in sun, heat and light wind in France, but also during hard weather in the winter cold in Sweden. A good blue water cruiser should work in all conditions, and so does Hallberg-Rassy's new 50-footer. They have managed to create a modern boat without letting go of well-functioning solutions.
Joakim Hermansson, Praktiskt Båtägande, Sweden:
Year after year Hallberg-Rassy yachts are the absolutely most desired among German magazine YACHT’s readers, and when boarding the brand new Hallberg-Rassy 50 we really understand why. From the perfectly finished interior woodworks of select Nordic light oak together with all the comfort and storage needed for long-range cruises, to the very well utilized space in the roomy cockpit and the performance-enhancing outer lines of designer Germán Frers this brand new 50-footer is by far leaving not only her older 55-foot sister behind but also most of the competition.
Lori Schüpbach, Marina.CH, Switzerland:
The new Hallberg-Rassy 50 convinces with the usual Hallberg-Rassy advantages and at the same time surprises with various radical adjustments. The carbon furling mast with the black laminate sails is eye-catching. This upgrade is not entirely inexpensive, but it shows that Hallberg-Rassy goes one step further than the competition in terms of equipment and comfort. The volume below deck is also impressive - without compromising on looks the boat's width is exploited right to the stern.
See further at https://www.hallberg-rassy.com/yachts/new-hallberg-rassy-50
