The designers from Maurizio Cossutti's office are also responsible for the design of the latest Bavaria. The Italians have been involved in the development of Bavaria's new, upmarket C-Line from the very beginning and have characterised the Bavaria C45 (test in YACHT 19/2018), C50 and C57 models not only visually but also conceptually. Now the range is being expanded further downwards with a C42, a new volume model that is set to add twelve metres of hull length to the particularly market-relevant cruising yacht class.
Size is important because it is equally interesting for owners and the charter market. Accordingly, the competition is fierce. The leading manufacturers of the large shipyard series (Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hanse, Dufour) serve the market segment with current and exciting models. Bavaria Yachts was previously represented in the highly sought-after class with the Cruiser 41 (test in YACHT 19/2013), a design by Farr Yacht Design. This boat, which is particularly popular in the charter sector, will therefore remain part of Bavaria Yachtbau's range for the time being, even after the introduction of its sister model, the C42.
With the launch of the C42, Bavaria and the designers at Cossutti are now also breaking new ground in terms of design language. For the first time ever, the shipyard in Giebelstadt is building a boat with chines and is also realising a strikingly full bow section. On the one hand, the yacht builders want to create even more volume in the ship for even more living space, but on the other hand they also want to favour the sailing characteristics and performance. The edges in the aft hull area enable a longer waterline and create more buoyancy and therefore more dimensional stability. Additional volume in the bow compensates for the buoyancy of the wide stern and ensures less trim when heeling, making the boat sail more balanced. The yacht builders in Giebelstadt have even created their own name for the special bow shape: Bavaria V-Bow.
Thanks to its high dimensional stability, the C42 can carry a relatively high and sporty rig. With a sail area downwind of over 100 square metres, the sail carrying capacity is 4.7, which is above average for a cruising boat. The customer can choose whether they want a larger, overlapping genoa or a self-tacking jib. Additional space sails such as a gennaker or code zero are attached to the relatively long, fixed bowsprit. The bowsprit also serves as an anchor holder. The sporty L-keel with ballast bomb is available in versions with draughts of 2.10 metres (standard) or 1.70 metres (short keel).
The Katjüt roof is flat and can be used as an extended sunbed in front of the mast. Upholstery for this will be available as an option. Easy access to the water is provided by a large bathing platform at the stern, which, judging by the first views, is very low and will be quite close to the water surface when open.
The standard layout below deck provides for three cabins with a shared wet room amidships. As an extension option, owners can order an additional bathroom in the foredeck, but will have to accept that the bunk in the foredeck will be shortened slightly in the footwell. It will also be possible to use one of the two aft cabins as a walk-in cockpit. Due to the Bavaria C42's voluminous shape and its enormous width of 4.29 metres (it will be the widest ship in the competition), the double berths fore and aft appear to be particularly spacious, as the first layouts that have now been made public by the shipyard promise.
The shipyard has also already announced an initial price: the Bavaria C42 will cost 187,900 euros, including sails and 19 per cent VAT - a very competitive price. The competitors' offers (Beneteau Oceanis 41.1 / Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410 / Hanse 418) are roughly at the same price level. The first C42 is now under construction in Giebelstadt and will be ready for its world premiere in January at the boat show in Düsseldorf prepared. It will be interesting to see.
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Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
