Excess 13 Wins 2026 European Yacht of the Year for Family Cruising

Excess 13 was named European Yacht of the Year 2026 in the Family Cruiser category after sea trials and jury evaluation praised the boat for combining sailing pleasure with everyday ease of use. The award highlights a growing demand in the catamaran community for designs that sail well without sacrificing the livability families expect on board.

The jury singled out the model’s balance of form and function, praising the boat’s “sporty sailing performance and sleek lines” and saying it is “at ease both upwind and in open sea.” Testers also noted the Excess 13 as “a true mile eater on any point of sail,” while remaining accessible and easy to handle for family cruising. Excess published the announcement on January 28, 2026, framing the recognition as a milestone validating the brand’s ambition to design family cruising catamarans that retain strong sailing characteristics while delivering comfortable shared life on board.

Practical value for buyers and owners is straightforward. The Excess 13’s recognition signals a rig and hull layout that perform in real conditions, not just on paper. Families evaluating catamarans should expect responsive helm feel and credible upwind performance, plus the everyday ergonomics needed for safe, manageable cruising with children or crew new to multihulls. Charter operators looking to refresh fleets can point to the award as a selling point for guests seeking both comfort and a more engaging sail.

Local dealers and brokers will find the award useful when marketing pre-delivery test sails and demo weeks. Sea trial reports that supported the jury decision came from real-life passages, which matters when a family is weighing berthing space, bridgedeck clearance, cockpit usability, and the tradeoffs between outright speed and onboard comfort. The Excess 13’s blend of attributes should also influence how skippers inspect handling systems, sail plan balance, and deck ergonomics during walk-throughs.

For the catamaran community, the Excess 13’s win reinforces a trend toward performance-minded cruisers that still prioritize liveability. Expect boat shows and broker listings this season to feature the model prominently, and dealers to schedule more demo sails as interest grows.

Schedule a sea trial if you’re in the market, pay close attention to upwind behavior and helm balance, and compare the Excess 13 to other Family Cruiser entries to decide how much performance you want alongside everyday comfort.