Design and Construction
White's Atlantic series earned its reputation as fast cruising catamarans, and the 42 follows the house formula of epoxy, fiberglass, and carbon composites chosen for strength, rigidity, and low weight anchor. The hull itself is built from foam core with epoxy and glass, introducing carbon only in high-stress zones anchor. Each vessel works from a standard basic structure of amas, bridge, and pilothouse, yet every example is customized within that shell. With a 28.5-inch underwing clearance and daggerboards giving a draft range from 2 feet 8 inches to 7 feet, the platform is built to combine shallow exploration with deep-weatherly performance under sail.
Rig and Handling
A trademark of the series is a second cockpit set between the cabin and the mast, positioned to give the crew superior sightlines for watching sail trim anchor. On the 42 this forward cockpit sits waist-high, just aft of the mast and reached from the pilothouse through a full-size door, letting the helmsman move protected between inside and outside steering. The pilothouse doubles as both an inside steering station and a navigation station. Owners love her ease of handling, and the boat can be had with a conventional sloop rig—preferred by most customers—or White's MastFoil arrangement of two rotating wing spars carrying staysails on booms for a self-tending plan, with electric furlers on the headsails so a mooring can be slipped and sail set within moments. The standard sloop carries 620 square feet in the main and 370 in the jib beneath a 62-foot mast; the sail plan and light displacement let the boat bang along at 12 knots with a confidence owners describe as unforgettable.
Accommodations
The pilot house, forward cockpit, excellent galley, and sleeping cabins are classic Atlantic Cat elements. The layout draws on the considerable beam to place three double-berth staterooms and a spacious saloon around the inside steering alternative to the forward helm. The boat carries 80 gallons of water and 80 gallons of fuel for extended cruising.
Ownership and Custom Builds
About 17 of these catamarans have been built and all are still sailing, a small fleet that reinforces the loyal following. Because the design is offered on a custom basis even now, no two interior fit-outs are identical, and the standard structure of amas, bridge, and pilothouse gives buyers a known skeleton around which to specify cabins and systems. The boat is out of production in its original run, but the custom channel keeps the name alive for those who want a new one built to order.
The Verdict
The Atlantic 42 is a specialized, light-composite cruising cat that rewards sailors wanting visibility and easy handling through its forward cockpit and protected pilothouse steering. Its custom nature and tiny production count make it a rare find, but one with a coherent design logic and an enthusiastic owner base.
Pros
- Light epoxy/carbon composite construction with carbon in high-stress areas
- Forward cockpit and pilothouse inside steering for excellent trim visibility and shelter
- Custom-buildable even though out of series production
- Lively handling with 12-knot capability and easy sail handling via MastFoil or sloop rig
Cons
- Only about 17 built, limiting brokerage availability
- Daggerboard draft up to 7 feet complicates some shallow anchorages
- Custom interiors mean no standardized layout to compare between boats
