“Sometimes a boat comes along that does so many things well, and is such a downright joy to sail and maneuver, that its excellence simply cannot be denied. In 2019, one such yacht — a blend of innovation, intelligence and execution — rose to the top over a slew of worthy competitors. In a year when production boats ruled the roost, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 — designed, conceived and built in France — took on and surpassed all the others, and in doing so, has been named 2019’s Import Boat of the Year…
…“They’ve done so many really nice things,” said Tim Murphy. “It’s easy to move around the split backstays. Going forward, it’s the same with the inboard shrouds. And in those very gusty conditions, those twin rudders really worked. The boat answered its twin helms throughout the test sail. It was a real treat to sail.”
