Today, there are different types of sailboats designed for various purposes. Here are the sailboats you can encounter on the water, their intended uses, and the different design categories of pleasure sailboats.
Since the early days of sailing, boats have evolved significantly to become what they are today. And this evolution continues. There are many types of sailboats, each falling into distinct categories. Beyond classifying them as multihulls or monohulls, dinghies or keelboats, it is possible to categorize them based on their size and intended use.
Pleasure boating today offers a variety of sailboats to suit all programs and budgets. From a transportable day-boat to a steel ketch for a round-the-world trip, every sailor can find a boat that meets their needs. But how do you classify these different types of boats? Does the ideal boat exist? I propose a classification into 10 categories of pleasure sailboats, each designed for very different purposes.
Light Dinghies and Sport Dinghies
For some, dinghies are the way to learn sailing. For others, they are a sport in their own right, with French championships, world championships, and Olympic events. This is the case for the Laser, Finn, and Moth, among others.
The most famous dinghy is the Optimist. This small sailboat, which looks a bit like a box or a soap dish, is a must for all young sailors. It is present in all sailing schools. This does not prevent it from having its own European championship. Other popular classes include the 420 and the 505. There are countless 420s that hibernate in garages all winter, ready to be used again, whether brand new or 30 years old.
Sport Multihulls
The sport multihull is a bit like the dinghy for grown-ups. These catamarans fascinate with their speed and the sensations they offer. The most well-known series are the Hobie Cat, Dart, and Nacra.
While the vast majority of these catamarans are designed for sailing schools and competitions, some sailors have attempted impressive records aboard these boats. Yvan Bourgnon sailed around the world on his Louloute before breaking crossing records with his son. Others, more modestly, use them as raid sailboats, adapting them with tents and other equipment.
Dayboats for Cruising and Sport
The day-boat is the ultimate pleasure sailboat. It is simple to rig and launch, allowing you to sail as soon as possible. Day-boats are larger than small dinghies and are generally better ballasted and more stable. These sailboats are designed for boaters who want to sail for the day. There are two types of programs: some boats allow you to sail with your family for a day, picnic on an island, and return, while others are much sportier.
The most famous day-boats include the Fun, built by the Jeanneau shipyard in the 1980s. More recently, and in very different styles, there are the Saffier SE26, XO 26, and Drakkar 24. Sport day-boats often participate in many regattas like the Spi Ouest France. You will find the First 22 or the Open 7.50. These boats are very technical and require an experienced crew. Other day-boats, small classic sailboats, are much simpler to sail and offer a different boating experience.
Small Cruisers, Often Transportable
Small sailboats under 8 meters have been the most popular for many years. Many boaters learned to sail on these small sailboats. These small cruisers have many advantages: they are easy to handle and their maintenance cost is relatively low. When they are transportable, which is generally the case up to 7 meters, you can sail anywhere, even visit all of Europe. This would be much more complicated with a large sailboat. Most small sailboats are equipped with a centerboard or a lifting keel, allowing them to slip into the shallowest bays and beach on the shore.
The smallest sailboats offer camping-style cruising, with 4 berths and a small sink. But from 6 meters, and even more so on 7-meter sailboats, comfort is ensured with two double berths and a closed toilet area.
These boats were designed by famous architects such as Jean Jacques Herbulot, Eugène Cornu, Philippe Vaton, or Maurice Edel. It is impossible to list all the stars of the 1980s, like the Fantasia, First 22, Kelt 7.60, or Brio. These boats are still numerous on the water. They are excellent bargains at low prices.
Today, the small sailboat market is dominated by Polish shipyards like Northman and its Maxus range or the TES shipyard. But the French are not left behind with the famous Django, the small Djinn dinghies, or the Breton Pabouk. However, we must not forget small coastal cruising multihulls.
Fishing-Cruising Boats
If there is a boat that has its unconditional fans and detractors, it is the fishing-cruising boat. Some consider it ugly, with poor performance and outdated. Yet the fishing-cruising boat has many advantages. It is an ideal boat for people living near the sea year-round. Indeed, these boats are at sea more often than any other type of boat. They are seaworthy, solid, and comfortable in all weather.
The first models were offered by the Bénéteau shipyard and the Kirié shipyard at the end of the 1970s. As the name suggests, this sailboat is designed for frequent sailing and enjoyable fishing trips. The deep cockpit, without lifelines, is designed for this activity. They are equipped with a pilot house to steer sheltered from spray and rain. The most famous are the Evasion series from Bénéteau and the Fifty from Kirié. They are no longer built since the late 1980s. Only one Polish shipyard still offers this type of boat today.
Looking for a used sailboat?
Discover a large number of used sailboats in our boat listings section. Your future boat might be there…
Habitable Sailboats, or Cruisers
The cruising sailboat includes all boats from 8 to 18 meters, or more. On board these sailboats, you can plan a week-long cruise or longer. This category of sailboats is vast. Some 8-meter sailboats will allow you to sail peacefully for a family cruise along the Breton coast. Other 10-meter sailboats will allow you to consider crossings to Corsica, the English Channel, or even transatlantic voyages from units over 11 meters.
All types of programs are available. These boats are at the heart of the pleasure boating market, dominated by shipyards such as Bénéteau, Hanse, Jeanneau, or Bavaria.
Other shipyards specialize in specific programs. Among these, there are cruising races. These boats are designed to participate in many races, leaving more or less room for cruising. Some shipyards will maintain a certain level of comfort, like the X-Yachts shipyard, while others, like the French Structure and its Pogo range, will lighten the boat as much as possible.
In a completely different program, some shipyards offer high-quality boats, prioritizing comfort, such as the Nordic Hallberg Rassy or the French Wauquiez.
These sailboats became popular in the early 1980s, thanks to French shipyards like Jeanneau and Bénéteau from Vendée, as well as Yachting France, Kelt, or Kirié and its Feeling range. They contributed to the development of the nautical industry, accompanied by great names in naval architecture, including Jean Marie Finot, Jean Michel Joubert, Philippe Harlé, and many others.
In short, here you have options for all budgets and programs, with all types of ballast, from centerboard to twin keel. Obviously, you can choose between:
- Monohull
- Multihull
Long-Distance Cruising Sailboats
As we have seen, habitable sailboats can be excellent boats for long-distance cruising. However, there is a type of sailboat dedicated to this program. Although it is difficult to precisely describe a long-distance cruising sailboat, they do have some particularities. These boats are often heavy, made of fiberglass, steel, or even aluminum, or cement in the past. These boats prioritize safety at sea over performance. This has changed somewhat in recent years. Shipyards like Allures Yachting prove this with fast aluminum boats or the entire range of Eric Lerouge designs. In a different style, the RM range, made of epoxy plywood, is highly appreciated by candidates for the great voyage. However, these boats remain generally heavier than average and have a powerful engine to handle all situations. Currently, shipyards like Garcia, Alubat, Amel for monohulls, or Outremer and Catana, are references in their categories.
At the same time, the layouts are designed for life on board. This implies a technical room, plenty of storage, and well-insulated cabins. Outside, there must be space to install wind turbines and solar panels.
These boats arrived on the market in the 1970s. All boaters have in mind the Rêves De Mer, the Vulcain, Chatam, and other designs by Gilbert Caroff, Bernard Veys, or Jean Pierre Brouns.
Classic Sailboats
Classic sailboats are part of the history of yachting and pleasure boating. These sailboats are easily recognizable at sea. Their oversized sails and fine, slender hulls are of unparalleled elegance. These boats have contributed to the history of regattas, offshore racing, and pleasure boating. Great names have given these boats their prestige, such as Fife, Sparkman & Stephens, and Nicholson, among others. In France, the most famous is undoubtedly the Pen Duick by Eric Tabarly.
Beautiful Pleasure Boats
Beautiful pleasure boats are an intermediate category between classic sailing and modern sailing. These boats helped to democratize sailing by making boating more accessible. Less elitist than classic yachts, these boats are just as elegant, but with a hull more often made of fiberglass. These boats are recognized by their fine and narrow hull, hence their nickname “knife,” and their foresails with significant overlap. Their beam is very forward and their stern very narrow.
Among these beautiful pleasure boats, there are many Herbulot designs, Van De Stadt, Contessa, Centurion 32, the First 30 by André Mauric, and the Karaté. These boats are the beginning of the history of popular pleasure boating in France and England.
Offshore Racing Sailboats
To conclude this list of different types of sailboats, we cannot forget racing sailboats. How far we have come since Joshua by Bernard Moitessier and Suhaili by Robin Knox-Johnston. Racing sailboats, from the Maxi Trimaran to the Imoca, including the Class40 and the Multi50 trimaran, have become true competition machines. Like Formula 1 for automobiles, these different classes of boats are laboratories for innovation and the future of pleasure boating. The world of competitive sailing is no longer just a gathering of passionate friends; it is above all a world of professional athletes.
Summary Table of Different Types of Sailboats:
| Category | Example Boats |
|---|---|
| Light Dinghies | Optimist, Laser, Finn, Moth, 420, 505 |
| Sport Multihulls | Hobie Cat, Dart, Nacra |
| Dayboats for Cruising and Sport | Fun, Saffier SE26, XO 26, Drakkar 24, First 22, Open 7.50 |
| Small Cruisers | Fantasia, First 22, Kelt 7.60, Brio, Maxus, TES, Django, Djinn, Pabouk |
| Fishing-Cruising Boats | Evasion 25, Evasion by Bénéteau, Fifty by Kirié, Polish models |
| Habitable Sailboats | Bénéteau, Hanse, Jeanneau, Bavaria, X-Yachts, Structure, Pogo, Hallberg Rassy, Wauquiez, TES shipyard |
| Long-Distance Cruising Sailboats | Allures Yachting, Eric Lerouge designs, Garcia, Alubat, Amel, Outremer, Catana |
| Classic Sailboats | Pen Duick by Eric Tabarly, Fife, Sparkman & Stephens, Nicholson, famous French designs |
| Beautiful Pleasure Boats | Herbulot designs, Van De Stadt, Contessa, Centurion 32, First 30, Karaté |
| Offshore Racing Sailboats | Maxi Trimaran, Imoca, Class40, Multi50 |
What Are the Different Design Categories of Sailboats?
All boats, sailboats, and motorboats sold in Europe must comply with European standards. A certificate is mandatory for any boat produced or imported into Europe since 1998, allowing boats to be classified by category.
Design.
Before being put into service, all boats (sailboats, motorboats, etc.) undergo an evaluation of their compliance with European standards. They must be compliant with safety provisions as well as pollution prevention provisions. Each boat sold or imported must therefore have a certificate of conformity. This provision applies not only to new or imported boats but also to a boat modified by its owner.
To obtain this certificate of conformity, the manufacturer, owner, or importer must provide the authorities with a technical file presenting the details of the boat’s design and construction (sailboat or motorboat). This file must demonstrate its compliance with the safety and pollution prevention standards it must meet. The shipyard, importer, or amateur builder who submits the file and thus assumes responsibility for this compliance is required to keep this technical file available to the authorities for 10 years.
Modification of a Boat.
During major work or a significant refit, an owner may undertake work on their boat that significantly modifies its rigging, hull, etc. For example, converting a centerboard boat to a keelboat. It should be noted that before being put back into service after major modifications, a boat must have a new certificate of conformity.
Modifications requiring a new certificate of conformity are those that change:
- structural integrity
- stability or buoyancy
- the propulsion system (engine and/or rigging)
- a significant modification of the engine
- a modification of the boat to such an extent that it is considered a new boat.
Design Categories of Sailboats
- A boat in design category A is considered designed for winds that can exceed force 8 (on the Beaufort scale) and for waves that can exceed a significant height of 4 meters, excluding exceptional conditions such as storms, violent storms, tornadoes, extreme sea conditions, or rogue waves.
- A boat in design category B is considered designed for winds up to force 8 and waves up to a significant height of 4 meters.
- A boat in design category C is considered designed for winds up to force 6 and waves up to a significant height of 2 meters.
- A boat in design category D is considered designed for winds up to force 4 and waves up to a significant height of 0.3 meters, with occasional waves up to a maximum height of 0.5 meters.
| Design Category | Winds (Beaufort Force) | Waves (Significant Height) | Exceptional Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | > 8 | > 4 m | Storms, violent storms, tornadoes, extreme sea conditions, rogue waves |
| B | ≤ 8 | ≤ 4 m | – |
| C | ≤ 6 | ≤ 2 m | – |
| D | ≤ 4 | ≤ 0.3 m | Occasional waves up to 0.5 m |
In conclusion, all these sailboats meet very specific programs. You can then refine your search by classifying these sailboats by type of rigging and type of hull. And you, would you add a complementary list?
What Budget for Renting a Pleasure Sailboat?
For a relaxing and original vacation, it is possible to go boating in Corsica if you want to discover the wonders of this region of France. To do this, you can rent a pleasure boat. This will allow you to travel in complete privacy. To prepare your trip well, it is important to know the factors that influence the cost of such a rental. These include:
- The type of rental: if you are able to sail alone, you can rent a sailboat without a crew at a lower cost. However, if you need the services of a skipper, it will cost you much more.
- The duration of your navigation: the longer your stay at sea, the more you will have to pay. However, if you start your stay during the week rather than on the weekend, the rate will be reduced.
- The age and size of the sailboat: the larger and newer a boat is, the higher the rental cost. So, for a minimal budget, opt for a smaller and older sailboat.
- The chosen period: if you want to discover sailing with a private sailboat at a lower cost, it is preferable to avoid the high season.
Receive our newsletter every Friday at the end of the day