Design and Hull Form
The 57's hull reflects current thinking without chasing novelty. Frers gave her a plumb bow, twin rudders, and beam carried aft to maximize interior volume without sacrificing handling. Perry calculated a displacement-to-length ratio of 174 on a cruise-ready basis — textbook moderate for a well-found offshore cruiser at this displacement. The length-to-beam ratio of 3.42 is textbook moderate, and the wide stern makes twin rudders not merely fashionable but structurally necessary to keep rudder area in the water when heeled. Notably, Perry observed that if you damaged one rudder you'd still have a spare, a genuine safety argument for the arrangement.
The keel is all-lead with a heavy bulb weighing 9.9 tonnes, bolted to a deep bilge for both structural integrity and a low center of gravity. A shoal-draft variant is available for sailors who need to negotiate shallower anchorages without sacrificing the boat's offshore character.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The 57's sailplan is fractional, with swept three-spreader geometry and cap shroud chainplates set outboard while diagonal shroud chainplates remain inboard, creating a wide slot that lets the working jib sheet in tight. No runners are required, even when carrying the inner heavy-weather jib — a meaningful simplification on a shorthanded offshore passage. A hydraulic backstay tensioner is standard, and the under-deck Furlex TD headstay furler operates at the push of a button.
The performance figures Frers published are not marketing fiction: a loaded 57 will log 8.75 knots at 90 degrees true wind angle with only 10 knots of true wind. In practice, Cruising World's sea trial in just 8 knots of breeze produced fairly steady 6-knot GPS readings — solid numbers for light air with a 28-tonne displacement boat. Yachting World's test crew found themselves sailing at 8 to 8.5 knots upwind in Force 4 and reluctant to turn back. Perry, noting the Frers pedigree, observed that the boat can safely be assumed to be a very good performer.
Cockpit and Deck Arrangement
The center cockpit is 2.90 metres long and notably deep, offering excellent protection at sea while the slightly elevated helmsman position gives both forward visibility and headroom in the aft cabin below. Twin wheels appear here for the first time on a center-cockpit Hallberg-Rassy, enabling free passage through the cockpit and a fixed, sturdy table between the helm stations. Each pedestal has space for a full-size chartplotter.
Forward of the mast, the deck is flush, with all hatches flush-mounted and the anchor windlass hidden below deck level. The jib furler itself lives under deck. The result is clean and uncluttered topsides that make working the foredeck in a seaway straightforward. Deck storage is extraordinary: ten cubic metres distributed among six separate lockers, from an anchor locker forward to aft side lockers and a large stern locker that can house an optional retractable gangway. A push-button fold-out bathing platform completes the stern.
Accommodations
Below, Cruising World's Mark Pillsbury reached for the word "stunning" and did not walk it back. The standard interior finish is European oak or traditional mahogany, both in clear varnish with horizontal grain, and hull ports, cabin-top ports and side ports ensure that the saloon and aft cabin receive lots of natural light. The entire sole is one-level — comfortable and safe both at sea and in a marina.
Layout options are generous. Buyers can configure a forward stateroom with island queen berth, a midship guest cabin and the owner's aft cabin, accommodating three couples with two full heads and shower stalls. The aft cabin is wide, airy and worthy of the description king-size; the galley is set up for serious passage cooking, with Corian countertops, two refrigerators, a freezer, electric induction range and oven. A washer and dryer appear on the options list. The walk-in engine room houses the Volvo Penta D4-175 and a 17.5 kW generator, both carefully sound-insulated behind perforated aluminium panels.
Construction and Systems
Hallberg-Rassy builds the 57's hull and deck hand-laid, with Divinycell foam coring for sound and heat insulation and solid glass where hardware is mounted. The electrical architecture is 24-volt, fed by a substantial lithium battery bank and the onboard generator; Cruising World noted the 57 was the most striking long-range voyager among recent Boat of the Year entries partly on the strength of its redundant systems, high-output watermaker, and tankage sufficient for an extended offshore range. Fuel capacity stands at 277 US gallons; fresh water at 271 US gallons — meaningful reserves for extended passages.
The optional Seldén carbon-fibre mast and boom reduce weight aloft by 30 percent compared with the standard aluminium rig — a worthwhile investment for buyers who prioritise upwind performance and roll damping.
Known Limitations and Considerations
Perry noted that the wide aft sections make twin rudders structurally necessary, and raised the question of whether outboard, unprotected rudder blades are more vulnerable to damage. His conclusion was pragmatic — you are unlikely to damage both simultaneously, and the redundancy is a reasonable trade. The air draft of 26.9 metres (88 feet 4 inches) will close off canal passages and bridges available to smaller boats; buyers planning extensive European inland waterway cruising should note the transport height with windscreen removed is still 15 feet 8 inches. The centre-cockpit configuration also means volume added to the cockpit comes at the cost of accommodation — a limitation Hallberg-Rassy has managed well, but a physical constraint nonetheless.
The Verdict
The Hallberg-Rassy 57 is a rare boat: one that delivers on its promises at every level. Yachting World called it arguably the best-looking Hallberg-Rassy to date, and Sittbrunnen's Swedish test concluded it is the best sailing performance yet seen in a Hallberg-Rassy. Pillsbury's summary — a head-turner both on deck and sailing — captures what the 57 actually is: a thoroughbred offshore voyager that happens to be exceptionally liveable. For the sailor who wants to cross oceans without sacrificing comfort, and who can operate a large, complex boat shorthanded, the 57 makes a compelling case.
Pros
- German Frers design delivers genuine performance figures rarely matched at this displacement
- Push-button sailing system enables true shorthanded offshore operation
- Walk-in engine room with excellent access to all mechanical systems
- Ten cubic metres of deck storage — exceptional for the class
- Flush deck, under-deck furler and recessed windlass keep topsides clean and seaworthy
- CE Category A unlimited ocean voyage certification
- One-level interior sole improves safety and livability at sea
- Optional carbon rig reduces weight aloft by 30 percent
Cons
- 26.9-metre air draft limits passage under bridges and into canals
- Outboard twin rudders are more exposed to grounding damage than a protected single rudder
- Complexity and system count demand a capable owner or professional crew for maintenance
- Centre-cockpit layout inherently limits cockpit volume relative to the boat's overall length
