Although rare, the 55 is a serious bluewater platform presented in the marque’s restrained Scandinavian style. It carries a CE Category A rating for unlimited ocean voyages and a STIX of 66.
Design and Construction
The hull measures 54' 9", with a 46' 11" waterline and a 15' 6" beam. Displacement is 26.3 tonnes, balanced by 9.75 tonnes of lead ballast on a deep bilge.
The 55 differs from its HR 54 predecessor mainly above the waterline. Its entirely new deck is cleaner and less cluttered, with flush hatches and no garage for the sliding entrance hatch. The cockpit is also about a foot longer, allowing easier movement at the helm.
A lower sheerline aft and a correspondingly lower transom give the boat a more elegant appearance than the earlier model. Hallberg-Rassy also lowered and refined the forward superstructure. The yard’s signature wraparound windshield remains, with side panels curved slightly in the manner of the newer 412. The cabin top moves forward and has fewer but larger windows, while four additional hull portlights bring in more ambient light.
The rudder, skeg, and aft stiffener were reworked to accommodate a stern thruster.
Rig, Power, and Handling
The 55 retains a high, three-spreader masthead rig. Its spreaders are swept only about three degrees, with fore-and-aft lowers and chainplates set mid-side-deck. The headstay is dropped slightly to provide clearance for an asymmetric chute.
Sail options include a 125-percent working genoa or a 140-percent alternative. The standard wardrobe covers a jib, genoa, and code zero. An optional jumpstay provides additional stability behind a permanent hydraulic cutterstay, which the builder cites as offering freedom and comfort on ocean crossings.
Under power, the Volvo Penta D4-180 and Gori overdrive folding propeller deliver 8 knots at 1,400 rpm. The spade rudder can be paired with available bow and stern thrusters, while an optional joystick docking system makes close-quarters work undemanding for a small crew.
Accommodations
Hallberg-Rassy offered three interior layouts. Each has three staterooms, with different berth arrangements, and all use a single-level floor to make movement easier.
In the standard arrangement, the aft owner’s cabin is vast and has an en-suite head identical to the one aboard the HR 64. An alternative layout divides this space into two aft cabins. Forward, the choices include a Pullman double with heads to port, a twin cabin, or a skipper’s cabin.
The saloon has larger tempered-glass portlights and benefits from seven flush skylights, three of them in the saloon itself. White-painted wooden alcove panels further increase the sense of space. A starboard saloon table and two armchairs to port for watching television suit the boat’s couple-plus-guests brief. The chart-table bulkhead doubles as storage for almanacs.
A fridge is located in the center cockpit. Overall, the interior is bright and inviting, with an arrangement intended to keep a small crew comfortable.
Engineering and Systems
A walk-in engine room sits beneath the center cockpit, reached through a large door. It is carefully sound-insulated and lined with perforated aluminium.
Alongside the low-RPM Volvo Penta D4-180 are a low-RPM generator with a soundshield, an AquaDrive flexible shaft coupling, double heaters, a freshwater pressure equalizer, and a watermaker high-pressure pump. A Mastervolt inverter switches seamlessly between shore power and the batteries. Standard 24-volt engine-room lighting can be supplemented by an optional 230-volt fixture.
A large, gas-strutted teak washboard makes the companionway easier to use. At the helm, a ship-bridge console brings together the furlers, thrusters, navigation lights, and push-button tacking winches.
Recognition
The Hallberg-Rassy 55 was named Sweden’s Sailboat of the Year 2014 in the luxury category. It also received a European Yacht of the Year nomination for 2013/2014 in the luxury cruiser class, reflecting its reception among contemporary reviewers.
Verdict
The Hallberg-Rassy 55 refines the yard’s proven center-cockpit formula with a cleaner, brighter deck and a rig and systems package intended for serious ocean sailing. Its production run of only nine boats, however, makes it a rare brokerage find.
Pros
- Based on the HR 54, with HR 64-inspired details and an entirely new, cleaner deck
- Three-spreader rig with an optional jumpstay and a permanent hydraulic cutterstay for ocean comfort
- Walk-in, well-insulated engine room with redundant comfort systems
- Bright, single-level interior with three staterooms
Cons
- Only nine were built, limiting brokerage availability
- Optional automated tacking and joystick docking systems add complexity to inspect
