Bavaria Yachts Ocean 42

The Bavaria range of production yachts from Germany has been something of an overnight success story for Pittwater-based company, North South Yachting. Set up by Ralph and Judith Hogg, building on their world cruising experience and Ralph's background with a production yacht builder in the UK, North South Yachting has sold more than 50 Bavarias since its first import arrived for the 1998 Sydney International Boat Show.

The choice of Bavaria as one the company's two initial ranges (alongside the Danish X-Yachts range; a more recent addition to the 'family' is the English Oyster Yachts line) has proven a wise business decision. Bavaria Yachtbau GmBH has been building yachts since 1978 and while Europe constitutes its established market, sales are growing via dealers further afield.

The company says it currently employs some 400 staff to produce around 1000 yachts per year, in the 31-51ft size range.

All the Bavaria yachts are designed by J&J, the European partnership of the Jacobin brothers who have designed a number of other popular production keelboats.

Bavaria prides itself on building strong, seaworthy hulls which are approved along every step of the production line by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, a German subsidiary of Lloyd's Register of Shipping. This allows the imported Bavarias to meet local survey requirements with a minimum of fuss when they arrive in Australia.

The hull lay-up is solid fibreglass below the waterline, incorporating Kevlar fabric in the for'ard sections, S-glass to reinforce the floor timbers and double laminate thickness in the keel flange, all for increased impact resistance in the event of collision or grounding. Above the waterline, the laminate is GRP/Divinycell foam sandwich.

THE CENTRAL OPTION
The overwhelming majority of Bavaria yachts landed in Australia to date are aft-cockpit models. But interest is growing in the Ocean range, which provides four centre-cockpit versions (38, 42, 47 and 51 foot) of the equivalent aft-cockpit Bavarias, using the same hull mouldings with different deck and interior configurations.

The most noticeable advantage of the centre-cockpit layout is its ability to provide a large master cabin in the aft section, with good headroom and ventilation. Other attractions are the possibility of all-round access to the inboard engine, excellent headroom throughout the interior, and good vision and distance from spray and waves in the high centre-cockpit.

The trade-off of added weight, with corresponding reduction in sailing performance, has counted against centre-cockpit models over the years, but gradual improvements in hull design, engineering and construction materials have lessened its impact.

Another major issue - added construction and material costs, producing a higher purchase price than that of an equivalent aft-cockpit model - may have reduced in recent years in relative terms, but remains an obvious consideration for buyers.

According to Ralph Hogg, the 42 Ocean is about a tonne heavier than the equivalent aft-cockpit Bavaria, but has a little more sail area to even up performance in lighter airs.

UP ON DECK
The 42 Ocean is well set up for cruising or casual twilighting. The rig is seven-eighths fractional with two sets of swept-back spreaders on the aluminium Selden mast. Backstay adjustment is via a Swedish Hasselfors unit which is adjusted using a winch handle.

Standard features include a battened mainsail with Selden RCB sliding system and lazy jacks, and furling genoa on a Furlex roller system. Elvstrom sails are supplied as standard.

Harken 40 two-speed self-tailing winches are provided for the halyards and sail controls, while the genoa sheets tail onto two-speed Harken 48 electric winches - included as standard issue and sure to be appreciated as labour-savers by cruising couples or indeed anyone who feels they've ground on their full share of headsail sheets over the years.

Teak cockpit seats and floor are supplied as standard, while the fully-laid teak decks seen on the test yacht are optional for around $12,000 extra. The substantial dodger was a combination of German structural components and locally-made protective flaps.

The test yacht was equipped with the recently introduced Raytheon ST6000 electronic instruments for speed, depth, wind and navigation, which are very easy to read in the large digital format.

The Whitlock cable steering system is set up via a substantial pedestal, which provides mounting area for the navigation instruments and a Suunto binnacle compass, as well as a hand-hold when moving around the cockpit. A small fold-down cockpit table is housed on the front of the pedestal.

Control switches for the 60hp engine are under the steering wheel on the aft base of the pedestal; requiring the steerer to reach in through the wheel spokes to start and stop the engine. I wondered if this might present problems, but in practice my concern proved unfounded. The throttle is mounted higher up, on the starboard side of the pedestal.

The cockpit is an elevated, comfortable place to be, as is the aft deck, behind the mainsheet traveller.

At the stern there are seats provided in each corner of the pushpit, large storage compartments to either side under flush-mounted hatches, and a two-step boarding/swim platform with stainless steel boarding ladder and a Whale hot and cold shower/tap unit.

At the bow is a split pulpit with timber step which makes boarding easier when moored bow-to, plus a solid self-stowing arrangement for the anchor. An electric windlass is supplied as standard, along with anchor chain, warps and fenders. The guardrails have entry/exit openings amidships on either side, with the stanchions mounted on the broad teak gunwale strake which runs along the forward-rising bulwarks.

BELOW DECKS
The interior layout is fairly standard for a centre-cockpit yacht. There's a private double cabin at the bow, with double vee-berth forward, shelved storage, hanging locker and bench seating to starboard and an ensuite bathroom with sink, toilet and shower to port.

The saloon has settee seating to either side, around a large timber table with drop leaf. To starboard of the companionway is the well-equipped navigation station, behind which is a door into the main bathroom. This has a separate shower compartment and is a walk-through arrangement, with an aft door leading into the master cabin. This large area includes a big double berth, bench seating, storage shelves and compartments, and 'his and hers' hanging lockers to either side.

Access back into the main cabin along the port side is via a door into the walk-through galley, which has a double sink, a large refrigeration unit, plenty of benchtop space with high fiddles for food preparation, and a neat protective panel over the oven/stove, which can be hinged out of the way when you want to use the two-burner cooktop.

The interior fitout of the test yacht was in dark-toned mahogany veneers and solid timbers, with bright blue soft furnishings and white padded vinyl headliners secured with timber battens. With lots of headroom, opening hatches and lighting throughout, the interior is well ventilated and lit, and therefore manages to avoid the sombre tones the dark wood might create in a smaller space.

There is lots of shelf and cupboard space and some nice small features. For example, it's possible to lock the bathroom doors for a little privacy if required. Cupboards, lockers and drawers are all fitted with positive locking mechanisms to avoid them flying open and spilling their contents in a seaway. There is even a special rack behind the base of the companionway to hold the washboard when it's not being used.

The nav station in particular is well thought out, as the mounting areas for radios, navigation instruments, CD players, etc, are timber panels which can be opened out or up, to allow direct access to the wiring at the back of each unit.

There is very good access to the 60hp Volvo marine diesel (and the hot-water system) from the galley on the port side, by removing a large timber panel. Mind you, manhandling this into position would be a job for two people in any sort of seaway.

UNDER SAIL
We sailed the Bavaria 42 Ocean on the flat waters of Pittwater, in a gusty southerly reaching 20kt at times, but dropping to 10-12kt in the lulls.

This was a fun sail; everything worked well as far as the rig and deck hardware was concerned, and the electric winches made life a breeze for the headsail trimmer, although a bit of grunt was required to trim on the mainsail in the freshest gusts.

Steering was undemanding and enjoyable. Seating and vision are very good at the helm, and the 42 proved very responsive. It will round up into the breeze if you press it too hard, but you get plenty of warning and the eventual round up is gentle rather than savage.

The yacht had a gentle motion which I believe would translate to seakindliness in an ocean seaway.

The dodger provided excellent protection for the cockpit crew, making the sailing conditions very pleasant in spite of the blustery weather around us.

Perhaps it was sheer coincidence, or rather an indication that the centre-cockpit option is building in popularity; in any event this test followed hard on the heels of my test sail of the Moody 42 centre-cockpit yacht for last month's Trade-A-Boat. Comparisons were inevitable, and both boats came out looking good.

Both the Bavaria 42 Ocean and the Moody 42 appear to be solidly constructed and both sail well; breaking free of the old image of centre-cockpits as all interior, little performance.

Both offer aft master cabins which are big and sumptuous enough to be called staterooms, lots of headroom, well-appointed interiors, excellent engine access, decent rigs and quality deck hardware.

Where the two yachts diverge is in their price range, with base prices of $408,000 for the Bavaria and $446,000 for the Moody. This difference is largely in the interior detail - the standard of joinery on the Moody is excellent throughout, putting this boat into the luxury class, while it is possible to find the odd rough edge or untreated timber surface if you poke around the deepest recesses of cupboards and lockers in the Bavaria. Nonetheless, the overall standard of the German yacht is impressive.

On deck, the Bavaria does offer some pleasant 'extras' over the Moody, particularly the electric winch power for the primaries.

While a selection between the two would ultimately boil down to the buyer's personal requirements, taste and budget, it's good to see these centre-cockpit yachts widening the options for Australian cruising sailors.

The Bavaria 42 Ocean would appear to offer very good value for money, and given North South Yachting's success to date with this yacht's aft-cockpit cousins, it will be very interesting to watch its reception Down Under.

HIGHS
Sturdy construction: Bavaria hulls have an excellent reputation for strength and quality.
A centre-cockpit yacht that can sail, too: The interior benefits are obtained without sacrificing decent cruising performance.
Electric genoa winches: A standard inclusion which makes shorthanded sailing much more pleasant.
Price: Not cheap by most people's standards, but you get a lot of boat and quality inclusions for your money.

LOWS
Dark interior timbers: A matter of personal taste, really; our choice would be for a lighter-hued fitout if given the option.

Big boat dreaming

The Bavaria 51 Ocean adds something extra to the top end of the German centre-cockpit range...

From onboard, the view aft is sensational - overlaid teak decks sweeping astern in a style reminiscent of the J Class yachts which ruled the Big Boat era. From off the boat, the perspective changes and that graceful counter stern of your imagination becomes something far more prosaic, described by the builders as "a bathing platform with integrated gangway, stowage for life raft and boarding ladder".

Bavaria has transformed the look - and function - of its Ocean 51 with the addition of this optional platform. According to importer Ralph Hogg, it is a response to the typical stern-to mooring arrangements in popular cruising stopovers around the Mediterranean. It also extends the 51-footer to a 57-footer, with the additional deck space (outside of the lifelines), manoeuvring and mooring demands that this entails. And it is a definite head-turner, whether the look pleases or offends your eye.

With or without the bathing platform, the Ocean 51 would attract attention. The largest yacht in Bavaria's range is a handsome and comfortable centre-cockpit cruiser with the full-bodied, clean lines characteristic of J&J designs. Its sailing performance is impressive and below decks there seems to be acres of space, which the well-appointed layout puts to good use for short or longer term cruising, daysailing or entertaining.

The interior arrangement provides three private cabins sleeping six, plus extra space on the saloon settee. The master cabin aft is a true stateroom, with its big double bunk, office space with fold-down stool and private access to a large bathroom with separate shower compartment.

Access to the master cabin is via the walk-through galley to port of the engine and companionway. The navigation area is opposite, providing a well-upholstered, cosy and functional workstation. Forward of this is the saloon with its lashings of dark timber panelling and plush furnishings. There is a U-shaped settee and well-finished timber dining table to starboard, plus two armchairs divided by a storage unit with table top to port.

The forward section houses a second bathroom with integrated shower to port, a cabin with twin bunk beds to starboard and a separate double berth cabin in the bow.

The standard lead/antimony keel is deep draft at 2.05m and the masthead rig towers some 21m above the waterline.

Powered up with the large overlapping genoa and full main in gusts to 20kt on the flat water of Pittwater, the Ocean 51 felt like a big, powerful creature, but not a wild thing. It tracked straight and responded politely to the helm, even when pressed on a tight reach, and happily forged along at 10kt-plus on a broader angle to the breeze.

Roller furling for the headsail and optional in-mast furling for the mainsail were ready and waiting if the breeze increased.

The decks seemed spacious and remarkably uncluttered, with a very large area aft for less experienced visitors, who would like to see what's going on while feeling safe from flailing sheets.

While standard issue teak decking is restricted to the cockpit seats and floor, it would seem a shame not to select the full teak decks option (adding about $23,000 to the base price of $709,500). If only to sustain that Big Boat dreaming...