It’s a long way from the shores of the Baltic Sea to Moreton Bay in Queensland but sailors know an exceptional yacht when they see one.

The Hanse 460 was the star attraction of a mini boat show held by Windcraft Yachts at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in the Brisbane bayside suburb of Manly.

The award-winning luxury cruiser’s exterior aesthetics were admired: angular looks, powerful hull lines, and reverse bow. There was high praise for the yacht’s huge cockpit, generous freeboard and ample beam. And its stylish interior and appointments..

The German-built Hanse 460 won European Yacht of the Year Award in the Family Cruiser category; and with 250 hulls sold to date it’s one of the most successful new yachts ever produced by Hanse.

Australian and Kiwi sailors have bought a dozen examples of the new model, with the first Australian 460 set-up for extended stays in Queensland’s cruising waters. Ohana boasts a T-top that shields the entire cockpit, along with extras including a fridge in cockpit, an additional freezer in the utility room which also contains a washer/dryer, an upgraded 80hp engine, solar panels, the very latest lithium-ion battery technology and B&G navigation systems.

The 460 is an all-new design from French naval architects Berret-Racoupeau.

A post-show test sail saw the boat easily achieve 8.5 knots in 12 knots of wind.

Changing trends are also factoring into the decisions of potential buyers, with the 460’s LOA of 14.6m. Many cruisers are finding larger marina berths over 15 metres increasingly difficult to secure.

The first hull destined for Auckland was commissioned and handed over in late November.

www.windcraftyachts.com