Sasga Menorquín 48 FB, winner of the award "European Powerboat of the Year 2026"

On Saturday evening, 17 January 2026, during the official ceremony held as part of the Boot Düsseldorf boat show, the Sasga Menorquín 48 FB was proclaimed the winner of the European Powerboat of the Year 2026 award in the category of motor yachts up to 18 metres in length. This is one of the most prestigious awards in the European nautical sector, granted after an exhaustive and comparative technical evaluation process.

The European Yacht & Powerboat of the Year Awards have been organised for more than two decades by a consortium of leading European nautical magazines. What makes them unique is that the decision is not based on popular votes or commercial criteria, but on the professional judgement of a jury composed exclusively of leading specialist journalists from leading media outlets in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Each nominated boat is tested in real sailing conditions by the entire jury, which evaluates aspects such as build quality, seakeeping, design consistency, applied innovation and overall onboard experience.

A category of the highest international standard

In this edition, Sasga Yachts competed with the Menorquín 48 FB in one of the most demanding categories of the competition: motor yachts up to 18 metres, a particularly competitive segment due to the concentration of large international shipyards and high-level technical and conceptual proposals.

Alongside the Sasga model, other leading boats were nominated, such as the Fjord 490 Open, the SAY 52, the Itama 54 and the Invictus TT550, designed by brands with a strong global presence and a long history in the sector. The diversity of approaches—from more sporty designs to contemporary cruising concepts—underlined the high standard of the final selection and added value to the jury's decision.

The jury's decision and technical assessments

The jury decided to award the prize to the Sasga Menorquín 48 FB, highlighting its overall balance and its ability to reinterpret Mediterranean tradition from a contemporary and fully functional perspective.

Among the assessments gathered by the specialist media, Diego Yriarte (Náutica y Yates / Nautik, Spain), a member of the jury, stated:

"The Menorquín 48 from Menorca combines the tradition of the Mediterranean llaüt with modern shipbuilding technology."

This opinion was echoed by Ole Puls (Boote) and Roland Regnemer (Yachtrevue).

Ole Puls, Boote, Germany

Built in Menorca, it combines classic heritage with modern technology. Its refined semi-displacement hull, solid construction and handcrafted interiors focus on one thing above all else: slowing down and enjoying quality time on the water.

Roland Regnemer, Yachtrevue, Austria

The slowdown can be experienced, and even purchased. With the Sasga Menorquín 48 in its Flybridge version, the characteristic motor yacht design typical of the small Balearic island is brought into the present, combining modern technology with a heritage rooted in the old working boats. It is not about reaching top speed, but about spending valuable time on the water.

These statements accurately reflect the criteria that led the jury to choose the Menorquín 48 FB over other internationally renowned proposals, particularly valuing the coherence of the project, the quality of construction and the real sailing experience.

Collecting the prize

The award was collected on stage by José Luis Sastre, founder of Sasga, on behalf of the entire shipyard team. In his speech, Sastre emphasised the collective nature of the recognition and the company's way of working, expressly thanking everyone involved in the project for their effort and commitment.

His message highlighted the spirit with which Sasga approaches each new ship: an approach in which experience, craftsmanship and teamwork remain central elements, even in a context of top-level international recognition.

Recognition for a way of building ships

The European Powerboat of the Year 2026 award for the Sasga Menorquín 48 FB is not just a one-off success, but confirmation of the Menorcan shipyard's position on the international nautical scene. Competing and winning in a category dominated by big names in the sector reinforces the validity of a proposal based on identity, technical consistency and a clear vision of how the sea should be experienced.

From Menorca to Düsseldorf, the Menorquín 48 FB has demonstrated that well-understood tradition, supported by proven technology and solid sailing criteria, continues to have a prominent place among the best boats in the world.