After the 16.70 metre Bavaria C57, which celebrated its world premiere at boot Düsseldorf, the upmarket C range from the yacht builders in Giebelstadt is now being topped once again. The new flagship is called the C65 and is due to take to the water this autumn.
However, it is not a completely new design. Based on the plans of designer Jason Ker from England, the boat has already been built twice before as a Salona S650 a semi-custom project from the Croatian shipyard AD Boats, whose dimensions and lines are practically identical.
In fact, Bavaria boss Lutz Henkel, who himself moved from AD Boats to Giebelstadt two years ago, has the C65 built in the same hull shape. The deck design is also very reminiscent of the large Salona. The Italian Maurizio Cossutti, who had already developed the C57 for Bavaria, simply reworked Ker's design stylistically and redesigned parts of the cockpit and stern.
Similar to the C57, all halyards, sheets and trim lines are led below deck directly in front of the double steering columns. The cockpit is thus divided: Steering, trimming and working is done exclusively aft, while the cockpit with its two divided tables remains completely unobstructed and free of lines.
The two cockpit tables can be lowered and transformed into large sun loungers together with the seat recesses. The raised aft deck closes off the cockpit at the rear. A sink and a gas grill are integrated into it. A passageway on the port side provides access to the large, fold-down bathing platform via several steps. A dinghy with jet drive can be stowed lengthways between the waves of the double rudder blades in the stern garage.
Two keel variants are available, with an impressive 3.50 metres (standard) or optionally with a draught of 2.65 metres. Like its smaller sister, the C57, the hull and deck of the C65 are also built using the vacuum infusion process with carbon fibre reinforcements. The hull is also reinforced with a stainless steel frame.
The deck is to be covered with teak from the shipyard. The C65 is optionally equipped with an overlapping genoa (106 per cent) or a self-tacking jib. A gennaker or a code zero can complete the wardrobe for deeper courses or for light winds.
The standard layout below deck provides for three very generously proportioned double cabins, each with its own bathroom. In addition, the galley is positioned in front of the saloon as a large U directly against the main bulkhead. Alternative layouts are only available in the foredeck. An additional workplace, a further guest cabin with bunk berths, a walk-in wardrobe or a larger wet room with separate shower area can be realised there. As an alternative to the sailing load in the foredeck, the C65 can be fitted with a cabin for the skipper in the forepeak. The various layouts can be viewed in the image gallery below.
Unfortunately, Bavaria has not yet been able to provide any renderings of the interior fittings. The detailed specifications and prices are also not yet known. It will be exciting to see how the shipyard positions itself with the new flagship in comparison to the competition. Possible competitors include the Hanse 675 (YACHT 9/16), the Jeanneau 64 (YACHT 14/14), the Oceanis Yacht 62 from Beneteau (YACHT 15/16) or the Dufour 63 Exclusive.
