BASS HARBOR – A new, 42-foot cruising sailboat from Morris Yachts has received top honors from Cruising World magazine.

In its January issue, the magazine names the Morris 42 the Domestic Cruising Boat of the Year. A Swedish boat, the Hallberg-Rassy 62, was named the Import Cruising Boat of the Year by judges who inspected and sailed the 26 finalists during the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Md., in October.

“Absolutely awesome,” was how judge Suzanne Giesemann described the sailboat, according to the magazine. “What sailing should be. I think it’s the best America has to offer with the quality craftsmanship. It takes you back to the art.”

The Chuck Paine-designed sailboat has a traditional appearance above the waterline, a modern underbody and great sailing characteristics along with above average volume for a traditional boat, according to judge Bill Lee.

“You were supposed to be able to take it to opening day at the yacht club, and it’s supposed to look right. Then it’s supposed to sail right. And I think they got it right,” Lee said in the article.

The award was not an unexpected honor, according to Cuyler Morris, son of company founder Tom Morris.

“We are exceedingly pleased to have been chosen, although not surprised,” Morris said in a prepared statement. “Our crew and owners take pride in knowing that we are the best out there. We appreciate being formally recognized.”

Models introduced to the North American market between the 2004 and 2005 U.S. Sailboat shows were eligible for Cruising World’s contest.

The new Morris line was launched this summer with two hulls based on a successful 40-foot sailboat and designed to meet a growing demand for a larger performance sailing yacht that can still be handled by two people, according to spokeswoman Marnie Read.

“Tom and Cuyler are passionate sailors, and they are always interested in improving their offerings,” Read said Tuesday.

The boat is intended as a fine, short-handed offshore cruising yacht with sufficient speed for racing potential, according to Read. It carries all the amenities for long-distance cruising with a spacious interior designed for two couples with the occasional guest or two. The Morris 42 sail plan eliminates the need to carry what can be a hard-to-handle genoa jib.

The award will solidify Morris Yachts’ reputation in the marketplace and with current and future Morris owners, Read said.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” she said. “We were one of six American builders and 20 foreign builders who were finalists. That’s pretty rarefied air. It means a lot to all owners who own a Morris Yacht now that their builder has the Boat of the Year. And it’s terrific in terms of recognition for Morris Yachts’ position in the marketplace.”

Purchasing a yacht is a big investment, Read said, and when people look at making that kind of investment, factors including awards, such as Cruising World Boat of the Year, are part of the decision-making process. And it has an impact beyond just the new Morris 42.

“The 42 won the award, but it has an overall advantage for the company and anything we put out there,” she said.

The Morris 42 has a base price of $635,000, but most of the company’s offerings are highly customized at the Trenton production facility. Hull No. 2 of the line, the boat that the judges toured and sailed in Annapolis, left the facility with a price tag of $695,000.

The company, founded in 1972, is a complete yacht service organization that includes a brokerage, chartering and custom yacht construction. In addition to the production facility in Trenton, the company has a deepwater facility in Bass Harbor offering indoor heated and cold storage and maintenance, restoration and rebuilding services, and a service facility in Northeast Harbor.