Arcona Yachts are known to build some of the world’s best cruiser-racers in terms of design, speed, comfort and quality. The spirit of Arcona runs throughout our whole range of six models, 345 – 50. Each yacht is responsive and yet kind, a sailor’s dream. Buying an Arcona makes you part of a community of people that care about sailing, great design and each other.
Previous Models
Yachting World
- Digital Edition
Arcona 50 review: Luxury performance cruiser
- Toby Hodges
- December 13, 2023
A watershed design for the traditional Swedish brand, but does Arcona’s flagship have the X-factor to stand out in a crowd? Toby Hodges tests the new Arcona 50 to find out
Product Overview
Price as reviewed:.
Arcona – a Swedish yard with a sound reputation for producing traditional style cruiser-racers, designed by a little known Swede who had a gift of ensuring slippery hulls. If that sounds familiar, then be prepared for a redefinition, as pretty much all of that has changed with the launch of this new flagship Arcona 50.
Gone is the sweet, simple, stick-to-what-works idea. This is a big, contemporary new Arcona, one that sees the brand transition from its cruiser-racer heritage and classic interiors to a luxury performance sector. And it’s a stunner – inside and out, the Arcona 50 is a true showstopper.
It’s a bold move, but an understandable one. Long term designer Stefan Qviberg passed away in 2018, the same year when Arcona was bought by Najad and Orust Quality Yachts. Their owner then brought in former Olympic sailor Urban Lagnéus as CEO, a veteran manager who spent 18 years at Hallberg-Rassy. This new flagship is the first brand new design in that five year period and sees Arcona move much closer to the market trend.
However, that decision brings seriously stiff competition. Over the last decade or so I have often written about how many similar options there are for those looking for a quality fast cruiser in the 50ft sector. Arguably, the launchpad for this trend was the Solaris 50 in 2015, for which the Italian yard brought out a replacement last year.
The new Arcona 50 marks a change from the Swedish manufacturer. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud
Cantiere del Pardo has its equally sleek looking Grand Soleil 48P , then came the First 53 , which aimed to offer such performance rewards and style for less cost. Nautor Swan has since renewed its thoroughbred Swan 48 design, launched a new Swan 55 and announced a new Swan 51 for 2025. And then there’s X-Yachts, perhaps Arcona’s closest rival, with its X4.9 , for which it now has a MkII version.
All these models are, essentially, high end, aft cockpit, three-cabin performance cruisers.
Which brings us on to the elephant in the room. By moving to this market sector Arcona has pitched the Arcona 50 against these high profile fast cruiser brands, and one in particular. Some will say this Arcona 50 looks very similar to an X-Yacht – and deliberately so even, with the choice of its big name designer: X-Yachts co-founder and designer for 40 years, Niels Jeppesen.
Article continues below…
Solaris 50 review: fast, fun cruising
The drive to include all the features we now expect of new yachts, such as easy handling, big cockpits for…
Beneteau First 53 review: This French cruiser backs up its bold first impressions
There is big talk and bold talk, but often it is no talk that speaks loudest when it comes to…
So for the would-be buyer, has Arcona just made that selection all the more difficult? Unless it comes down to brand loyalty, it will be a decision based on the increasingly small margins of aesthetics, performance, layout and build quality. Or perhaps, in reality, cost could be the deciding factor – the Arcona 50 starts at nearly €200,000 more than the Solaris or X.
My mind was swimming with such stats as I caught the train to La Rochelle to sail the first hull Dancing Queen . But I was to discover that one thing that hasn’t changed about Arcona – the enjoyment of sailing one. I had two good trials on the boat in largely Force 3 and 4 winds, using a mix of jib, Code 0 and gennaker on various angles and in some swell, and can confirm this is a design that backs up its looks and price tag with performance.
On the test boat the helmsman can raise the main, unfurl the jib and trim the sails without leaving the wheel. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud
How the Arcona 50 looks
To stand out in this crowded marketplace then, first impressions of the Arcona 50 are critical, an aspect Arcona has seemingly nailed. And it includes many other firsts for Arcona: its first 50-footer; its first model with twin rudders, a tender garage, L-shaped cockpit benches and twin tables. It’s also the first to use cored woodwork/ furniture. And it’s the first Arcona designed by Jeppesen.
It retains the galvanised steel frame to help ensure a stiff structure, and mahogany is the standard trim, but that’s where the similarities to previous Arconas trail off. The Arcona 50 has a much higher freeboard and a wider stern for more stability. The stemhead is also noticeably fuller, in line with modern trends. “It’s a win-win situation in my opinion to have these fuller ends,” thinks Jeppesen. “It gives better sailing qualities for the way our clients use their boats these days.”
So this is a big 50-footer, but one Arcona has set up to be push-button controlled and easy to sail short-handed. As soon as we had clear water, the sails were unfurled and trimmed from the pedestals and we were straight into some rewarding sailing.
Winches and traveller are within reach or controlled from the helms, while twin cockpit tables work well and keep clear central access. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud
The test boat had a few optional extras to help make this process extra smooth. The first is the Mainfurl in-boom furling system, a GRP shell with a carbon mandrel, which is controlled remotely from the helm. The optional recessed traveller is another neat feature as it gives good control and trim options for the mainsail, yet it’s contained below deck to avoid it being a trip hazard. It’s led via a flatwinder winch which is again controlled from the pedestal. The ability to dump the traveller at a higher speed would be useful though, as it’s a powerful mainsail (Arcona prefer large mains with jibs to overlapping genoas), and line tails need to be kept clear of the well.
Twin aft winches are used each side to trim sheets. The forward one is a two-speed powered model, again remotely controlled. With the sheets and running rigging led here, there are a lot of lines in a large, wide cockpit, but good, deep bins are designed in below the coamings to help deal with this. You still need to be organised with this though, as you never know when a quick halyard drop might be needed.
Into the groove
Sailing upwind in 10-12 knots, the Arcona 50 clocked speeds in the late 7s and early 8 knots, and tacked through 80°. In the lighter breeze of my second sail, this equated to 7 knots in 9 at 28-30° to the apparent wind.
The Arcona 50 is fast to find its groove and boasts plenty of grip, albeit for a very neutral feel on the helm (which Arcona is working to address). You really can leave the wheel and it keeps tracking along. Even when fully powered up, you can just keep a finger on the wheel, so it will certainly be easy on power consumption when under autopilot. However, without any traditional weatherhelm sensations, you need to be careful not to overload a yacht which carries a generous amount of sail.
Once the Arcona 50 heels onto its soft aft chine it stops leaning further and the power translates to acceleration at a consistent angle. The curved reverse stem and optional bowsprit look sexy at the pointy end, but studying our camera footage leads me to wonder if the balance on the test boat is a little bow down, with the wide stem pushing water and creating a bow wave.
Broad aft sections and a garage that can house a RIB up to 2.8m. Photo: Transform Media/Arcona Yachts
However, it maintained high average speeds and once you fetch off or set an offwind sail, double figures are easily achievable. Under Code 0, for example, in 14 knots true wind, we averaged 10 knots, making up to 11 in 1.5m waves.
A glance at the beamy stern sections will tell you it’s a design that should suit reaching, and with the big blue gennaker set we were treated to some gorgeous sailing in 13-17 knots during an unusually warm autumnal afternoon. The Arcona 50 then maintained over 10 knots at 70-80° to the apparent and, with a swell off our quarter, we hit 11.7 knots.
The ability of the boat to harness light- to mid-strength winds also stood out. During our second sail, as we relaxed into some mile munching, with Abba booming out of the cockpit speakers and the foot of that big blue gennaker skirting the water, we almost matched the 10 knot true wind.
When I finally relinquished the wheel and ventured below decks, it was noticeably quiet at heel. The keel is attached directly to a galvanised steel frame, which is bolted to solid GRP stringers, a longstanding backbone technique to Arcona builds.
On this Arcona 50, the bulkheads are in Divinycell foam sandwich, with honeycomb or foam also used to core some joiner work (doors/floors/lockers), a weight saving measure employed more on race boats. Arcona argues that the weight saved is put into lead in the keel, which helps translate to high stability and pointing, and a taller rig for more performance. “The aim is always to have a faster boat than our opponents, and we think we are,” Lagnéus commented.
Fine views forward for the helmsperson over uncluttered decks. Photo: Transform Media/Arcona Yachts
That said, the drawbacks a standard draught of 2.95m bring were patently evident as we headed back to port. Granted, the spring tides were particularly large that week, however the Arcona was the only yacht of the group we were testing for European Yacht of the Year trials not to be able to moor overnight in Port de Plaisance/Minimes, one of the world’s largest marinas with over 4,500 berths.
Instead it had to move into the town’s locked-in marina with the IMOCA 60s and other large craft. The 2.5m option will likely be the more popular choice, while a 2.2m shallow L-shape option is also offered.
An 80hp Yanmar saildrive is fitted as standard. The test boat had the 100hp upgrade, which is perhaps overkill for a performance cruiser such as this, but adds plenty of torque, which could be useful for motorsailing. It allowed us to record 7.5 knots at just 2,000rpm or hit 10.5 knots flat out. For those concerned with manoeuvrability, bow and stern thrusters are offered.
Arcona 50 styling
The deck design helps indicate the primary purpose for the Arcona 50. It’s very much on trend for this style of yacht, and will more suit warm weather sailing than offshore cruising.
Lagnéus stressed how important the tender garage is, for instance. When you go to the effort of design styling that they have, davits would spoil the lines, he thinks. This decision helps define the shape, the broad aft sections and twin rudders. He predicts that owners will want to use a large dinghy frequently on this size of yacht while at anchor in Med and Baltic waters, and therefore a garage makes most sense (housing a RIB up to 2.8m).
Reaching hull speed. The test boat has a painted aluminium John Mast. The stepped sprit helps create a lower aesthetic and increases the Code’s luff length. Photo: Transform Media/Arcona Yachts
Other deck features point towards warm weather coastal sailing and are in line with the competition. The coamings are shallow and the coachroof is flat for example, so there is very little cockpit protection unless you raise the sprayhood from its recessed well. There is also currently no option to close off the transom, while the gas locker and tankage is on the moderate size for a 50-footer.
Practical features include the deep sail locker and dedicated liferaft locker. The rudders are on separate quadrants and independent Jefa steering connections, so if you lose one you can still steer using the other. And the vacuum infused composite watertight bulkheads both forward and aft will aid peace of mind.
Comfy settees and plenty of natural light in the main saloon. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud
Light and light
In a similar vein to the exterior styling, the interior is very much on trend, especially in the light oak finish of the test boat. The bright, spacious and welcoming design features plenty of natural light thanks to the long coachroof and hull ports and tasteful down and indirect lighting.
And it’s been finished to a high standard, especially when you consider what you can’t see. The foam cored bulkheads, doors and lockers save 60kg (over typical plywood), says Lagnéus, while the plywood honeycomb structure used in the companionway steps save another 30kg.
Galley is thoughtfully laid out for ergonomic use and is well equipped. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud
A second galley layout is offered, one which closes off the access from the companionway and links the galley to saloon. Other than that, layout choices are minimal – a larger wardrobe in the forward cabin and double or twin berth options for the aft cabins.
Arcona offers the space saving Gastronorm system from galley experts GN Espace, an ergonomic solution designed to use the sink, workspace and oven most efficiently and one I’m always surprised more new yachts don’t employ. It uses cooking trays that are designed to maximise the oven size and to stow neatly in or on the sink, for example.
Airy owners’ cabin. The aft section of the berth lifts on struts. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud
The galley has more smart solutions in a coffee area, and a large bin section which can open out hands-free. A large locker below the sink can be used for stowage or a dishwasher. Extra refrigeration space is offered on top of the standard 120lt top opener, while there’s also an option to fit a washing machine instead of the practical wet locker in the aft heads shower compartment.
Shelving on the main bulkhead and tasteful lighting helps make for an attractive saloon. It’s comfortable too. The starboard sofa berth suits relaxation, with its thick, lower cushioning, and the saloon’s bench seat slides out to starboard so you can use it as a footrest. This berth remains separate to the navstation, which has its own swing out stool for working facing outboard.
Aft cabins can be twin, doubles, or twins with a fill-in. Photo: Ludovic Fruchaud
There were still a few modifications needed on the test boat. While the integral rail above the navstation and starboard sofa is a standard fit, some more handholds would be useful at heel or in a seaway. A handrail can be specified on the headlining and Arcona is considering adding a rail to the galley countertop. The yard will also likely change the aft heads door to open outwards as it’s currently quite tight to close the door once you enter.
The cabins are all of generous size, again with plenty of natural light and dimmable LED lighting. The owner’s ensuite cabin includes a neat forward facing coachroof window, plus there are double hatches above the berth.
While the double locker in its entrance is not wardrobe depth, it does have a removable panel to access a deeper section for hanging longer clothes, and the bed lifts easily on struts to give access to the large stowage space below.
In general, stowage is practical, especially in the raised lockers which run through the boat. The tanks are fitted below the sole, leaving largely stowage space below the saloon berths. Between the aft cabins is a narrow but valuable service locker. Aboard Dancing Queen this contained the optional 10kW generator, which Lagnéus considers the best choice for those who want to run aircon or a watermaker. The battery bank meanwhile is below the navstation and starboard saloon berth, with the upgraded three lithium batteries providing 640Ah at 24V.
If you enjoyed this….
Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.
This is a sparkly new addition to the luxury performance cruiser market, and one that’s been executed very well. Its looks are backed up by high build and finish quality and performance on the water. While I doubt it’ll be raced (like the smaller Arconas often are), or will suit typical bluewater use, it offers a purity of performance push-button sailing. Where the Arcona is a handsome prospect upwind in a light breeze, it transforms into a powerful reaching machine with stacks of control. The €1m+ question is whether there’s room for yet another premium cruiser brand at this size? Time will tell. Arcona obviously feels there’s space to play here – and by pricing this above its direct competitors yet below Swan, it’s suggesting exactly where this model sits. Having sailed No1 Dancing Queen, I’d have little hesitation in recommending this model. Yet I’m equally excited about Arcona’s revival and to see how this flagship helps propel its mainstay 35-45ft models in the years to come.
Yachting Monthly
- Digital edition
Arcona 345 review: 24 hours onboard Arcona’s latest
- Theo Stocker
- April 11, 2023
There wasn't much wrong with its predecessor but could the new Arcona 345 get even closer to the ideal performance cruiser?
Product Overview
Price as reviewed:.
Bigger isn’t always better. Yes, the longer the boat the faster you go, theoretically, and the more space you get on board, but the bills go up exponentially, and the further you are away from the water and the beautiful feeling of wind and water balancing to create speed. In many ways, the best boat is the smallest boat you can get away with for the cruising you want to do, and for many the Arcona 345 is just what’s needed.
I was excited to take the baby of the Arcona range out for a spin last summer not just once, but twice, including an overnight, giving us over 24 hours aboard, letting us properly put the boat through her paces in a test that included night sailing through the Hurst Narrows, anchoring in Newtown Creek in the dark, swimming off the boat in the morning, making breakfast, washing up and even using the heads. In short, experiencing the boat as she is meant to be used.
The Arcona 345 is an update of the Arcona 340 , first launched a decade ago. When YM tested her then, we loved the boat and her sailing could not be faulted, but there were a few niggles and rough edges; the Arcona 345 promised to have addressed these.
On this latest model, twin wheels control the single deep rudder, replacing the single large wheel, making a clear walk through to the transom, which is now open. The transom lockers have been replaced by a wide, deep lazarette and there is now space for a full-width main traveller ahead of the wheels.
There’s also now a permanently fitted bow roller, with the option of a GRP bowsprit, both of which provide a point from which to rig furling offwind sails. Other than that, the changes are cosmetic, such as the addition of hull windows, a window from the aft cabin into the cockpit, and an opening window above the galley.
There’s space for helm and crew aft, but the main winch and traveller is in easy reach of the helm. Photo: Richard Langdon
Setting sail from Lymington not long before sunset, we still had plenty of midsummer light left. With a glorious northerly Force 4 and flat water, the Code Zero pulled us out towards the Needles at 7-8 knots. I could have kept going all night. With the helm light and precise in my hands, the boat felt powerful and purposeful beyond her size.
The Arcona 345 relished the fetch back upwind too, as we picked out boats to test our speed against, sailing through the lee of some much larger boats. On the our first sail, while the boat was still being commissioned, the helm had felt heavier than other Arconas I had sailed. Whether this was to do with the autopilot or steering quadrant, it had been fixed by the time I sailed her again, and the helm felt as light and precise as an Arcona should.
Sharp and assured
With the clouds turning baroque oranges and pinks, the sky behind studded with early stars, we cleared Hurst Narrows to find a slight seastate. There was enough chop to make itself felt – one downside of a smaller boat is that it will respond to seastate sooner than a larger boat – but it was also proof that the Arcona 345’s fine entry, modest beam and absence of hard chines does indeed make light work of such conditions, slicing onwards through the small waves, maintaining both boatspeed and a light, responsive helm.
The cockpit is a decent size and is sensibly laid out. Photo: Richard Langdon
Even though her displacement is relatively light at a smidge over five tonnes, with a long waterline length, relative to her length overall, she demonstrated a seakindly motion. She also remained dry on deck despite what is, by current standards, a low freeboard; you’d need worse to get the decks wet.
Turning to run back downwind under white sails with the moon in our wake, The Arcona 345 was easy to keep on course even when concentration lapsed, albeit in benign conditions.
We anchored for the night in Newtown Creek, seeking deep water to accommodate her 1.95m draught. The deep keel is one of the reasons she sails so well, but may put some off, as it does restrict the anchorages you can visit, or how far upriver you can venture.
This boat’s new owners told me they are still getting used to these limitations, having previously owned a Corsair 31 trimaran for 20 years. They were, however, eager to venture further afield in a boat in which they could head offshore and keep punching to windward even when it blows up rough. For them, the Arcona 345 was the best compromise of seaworthiness and performance, and the length means the boat squeezes under the size limit for their local mooring.
A cavernous cockpit locker will swallow all your cruising clobber. Photo: Richard Langdon
Seaworthy comfort
Anchored up at last, it was time to go below for a well-earned drink and some food. There’s a high sill to the companionway hatch to keep water on deck from going below. Step over this and down the four steps (the bottom two are a removable box around the engine to give excellent access, as well as via the aft cabin) into a comfortable and seaworthy layout, with the right features close to the companionway.
An L-shaped galley is to port, with a double sink (a splashback needs adding to protect the saloon upholstery), top-opening fridge, and two-burner gas oven with a crash bar, and plenty of stowage.
To starboard is a cavernous heads, enlarged from the Arcona 340, with separate shower stall, wet locker, and access to the hull-depth cockpit locker. Forward of the heads, the chart table is now aft-facing, using as a seat the aft end of the starboard settee, which doubles as a full-length (200cm) berth. The table is big enough to stow leisure folio chart packs, and has instruments and electrical panels to hand; the wiring for these is immaculately done.
Engine controls are to starboard, as is the deck shower. Photo: Richard Langdon
More generally, handholds abound, with deep wooden fiddles around furniture, good handles in the companionway, and discreet wooden grabrails along the coachroof-deck join, low enough even for shorter crew.
Talking of height, I’ve mentioned that this boat has a sleek, low freeboard; the only downside of this is that, in a boat of this length, headroom is limited. At its highest, there’s 183cm (6ft 0in) at the bottom of the companionway, in the heads, galley and aft cabin. Move forward though, and this drops to 170cm at the forward end of the saloon and 168cm in the forward cabin. This might not be a sacrifice worth making for some, though once aboard I didn’t particularly notice it even though I’m 185cm (6ft 1in) tall.
The saloon of the Arcona 345 is much the same as the 340 but with a few key changes. There’s a large drop-leaf table amidships, aft of the keel-stepped mast, with a straight settee to starboard and newly C-shaped seating to port, thanks to the seat backs having been pushed wider. Outboard of these either side are generous lockers and bookcases, above which small, rectangular hull windows have been added.
There’s stowage behind the settee backs and beneath the seats with the 130-litre water tank under the port settee. This is a generous social space, seemingly larger in every way than aboard the Arcona 340, that also offers two good seaberths and works well under way.
The low freeboard keeps weight down and looks right, but provides less headroom than some high-volume boats. Photo: Richard Langdon
The space below is in part thanks to the fact that the Arcona 345 only comes in a two-cabin layout; Arcona has resisted the temptation to squeeze more berths in. If you use the saloon berths, you can still sleep six aboard, or four if you just use the cabins.
The forward cabin has standing space inside the door, with a seat to port and locker space either side, as well as two long shelves above the berth. Although headroom is a little limited, the berth is generous at 200cm long and 196cm at the head end, with 64cm at the foot end.
Similarly, the double in the port aft cabin is also large at 200cm long, 180cm wide at the forward end, and narrowing to 140cm aft. They’ve managed to avoid the engine box stealing space from the berth, and there’s 182cm of headroom, plus a hanging locker and long shelf on the outboard side. The absence of a third cabin frees up space for the large heads, and a hull-depth cockpit locker aft of it.
Cruising at pace
After a good sleep, a morning swim and breakfast the following day, we were ready to continue the test. The Arcona 345 is billed as a performance cruiser but Arcona says this doesn’t mean she is tricky to handle. While Arconas perform very well on the race circuit, their turn of speed is conceived as a means of extending cruising range. Sail faster and in more comfort and you’ll get into harbour sooner and fresher, or cover more ground in the same time.
The saloon has increased seating with a C-shaped settee to port and a 2m-long berth to starboard. Light oak is an option. Photo: Richard Langdon
Soon we were sailing upwind, making 4.5 knots in just 6-8 knots of true wind, and that was punching tide. In these conditions, she was light and precise to helm, but with a groove that was easy to find and stay in. Later, in 8 to 10 knots of true wind we were nudging over 5-5.2 knots at 28-300 to apparent wind, and we could probably have pointed higher.
On a close reach at 600 we topped out at 8.2 knots in 10-11 true, 12-13 knots apparent. These weren’t conditions that would push the boat hard, but the rudder’s grip on the water felt secure, and even when oversheeted, there was no suggestion of letting go; she won’t bite your hand off if you get it wrong.
The chart table is now aft facing, but is still large enough for leisure folio charts. Having a multifunction display and chartplotter to hand is useful for navigation, seeing instrument data, and controlling networked devices. Photo: Richard Langdon
On deck, the layout is clean and sensible. There’s an open transom with an offset bathing ladder and central 48:1 purchase backstay, aft of a large, deep lazarette which also houses the 100-litre diesel tank. Engine controls and a deck shower are to starboard, with gas bottle stowage to port (a spare bottle will have to go in the anchor locker). Twin carbon 70cm wheels sit on Jefa pedestals with instrument pods housing dual chartplotters and protected by steel grabrails, with a helm seat on the sidedeck coaming.
From here, you can lean forwards to trim the German mainsheet winch or tweak the traveller. Hefty primary winches and coachroof halyard winches are out of reach from the helm, so you’ll need a crew, or to engage the autopilot to go forward for these. Bench seats are a decent length with good back support from the coamings, though I’d have liked some bracing on the cockpit sole midships when heeled.
The forward berth is generous in size, although the headroom in here is restricted to a maximum of 168cm. Photo: Richard Langdon
Moving forward, the decks have the trademark moulded grey non-slip, which I think is as smart as any heavy teak deck, and there’s a good clear foredeck. The anchor locker is deep, with a shelf for the windlass, and a baffle to separate chain from fenders, as well as the under-deck headsail furling gear.
Top-end construction
Building a small boat is tricky because the costs and overheads are almost exactly the same as those of a larger boat, save slightly less resin and wood, but with a price tag significantly lower – there’s £100,000 difference in price between the Arcona 345 and the Arcona 385. It is encouraging to see that finish on this boat is every bit as good as on the larger Arconas.
Code Zero sailing brings the boat alive in light winds through the Hurst Narrows. Photo: Richard Langdon
I could find no discernible difference in build quality or spec. How Arcona have managed this I’m not sure, but I’m very glad they still see a market for high-quality small cruising yachts. Like her bigger sisters, the Arcona 345 is constructed in epoxy resin vacuum-infused over a 20mm Divinycell core. A galvanised keel matrix takes the load from the 1.9m keel, the rig and hull, with bulkheads laminated into the hull and deck, making the boat light and extremely stiff.
This kind of quality doesn’t come cheap, and at £300,000 all-in, it’s a lot of money for a 34-footer, although this doesn’t seem quite so much when you look at what other boats on the market cost. What you’re getting for the price is an Arcona that might just fit your budget.
Enjoyed reading this?
A subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price .
Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals .
YM is packed with information to help you get the most from your time on the water.
- Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our experts
- Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment
- Cruising guides to help you reach those dream destinations
Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.
Like one of James Bond’s suits, this boat is understated, beautifully crafted, and sharp as a knife. Even in areas not on show I couldn’t fault the workmanship. Scandinavian in its straightforward, clean and practical design, this is a boat that doesn’t need to flounce about with dramatic hull shapes, preferring to let her performance on the water do the talking. She is light, stiff, and well-built. Her slim lines and sharp bow make her weatherly and more than able to take chop in her stride, and the low topsides and subtle sheerline make the Arcona 345 a boat that looks just right for her length. The improvements made in this version – the twin wheels, mainsheet traveller, cockpit layout and saloon modifications – all make this a materially better boat than what was already a cracking little yacht. A few small complaints remain: I'd like locker stowage for two gas bottles; the cockpit needs a centreline foot brace; and I missed the rope-tail bins of her bigger sisters. Below, the headroom is a compromise you’ll have to decide if you’re happy to live with or not.