Design and Construction
Peterson's hand is evident in an IOR-derived hull paired with a powerful rig, a combination the builder described as engineered for both speed and safety anchor. The 42 DP was deliberately "detuned" from full racing specification and finished to cross oceans in comfort while retaining genuine performance, a brief that produced a low and narrow coachroof with small windows. That coachroof geometry, period reviewers noted, leaves the interior somewhat dark, though it preserves the clean deck profile the racing ancestry demanded. A simple yet well-equipped teak deck provided effortless sail handling and relaxed cockpit time. A very few centre-cockpit versions were built alongside the standard aft-cockpit layout, but the overwhelming majority followed the conventional plan.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop carries 843 square feet of sail area, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.35 — modest by pure raceboat standards yet ample for the 42 DP's cruiser-racer intent. The builder credited the design with outstanding sailing performance and a low rating under IOR, and the yacht earned the designation of ultimate IOR cruiser-racer in its era. Decades on, the design remains a sharp performer on the club circuit, confirming that Peterson's detuning sacrificed little of the underlying pace.
Accommodations
Below, right-angled bulkheads squeeze usable volume from every millimetre, joined to soft vinyl head linings and deep cushioning that the builder characterized as a fine atmosphere of Scandinavian elegance. The arrangement places an owner's suite aft and guest or crew quarters forward, with a huge saloon spanning the middle and housing a proper ocean-going chart table beside a well-appointed galley. The same source described the accommodation as spacious luxury, fitted out to take on the world's oceans in the greatest comfort — a claim consistent with the 42 DP's role as a bluewater-capable cruiser-racer rather than a stripped racer with berths.
Known Issues
The principal constraint a prospective owner lives with is the 8-foot draft, which the review flagged as restrictive in shallow anchorages and certain cruising grounds anchor. The dark interior imposed by the low, narrow coachroof and small windows is the other trade-off, a direct consequence of the profile that keeps the centre of gravity low. Neither is a defect; both are inherent to the design's racing-derived choices.
Ownership Profile
With only 30 built and production closed in 1985, the 42 DP is a scarce, focused design. Its Peterson pedigree, IOR hull, and comfort-oriented fitout mean it appeals to sailors wanting club-circuit speed without surrendering livable quarters. The rarity and the single-generation run argue for careful survey of any individual hull, but the yacht presents as a coherent, purpose-built design rather than a compromised evolution.
The Verdict
The Baltic 42 DP is a rare, purposeful translation of an Admiral's Cup racer into a 30-unit cruiser-racer that kept its edge. Peterson's first Baltic production design pairs a stiff, IOR-derived hull with a comfortable, Scandinavian-finished interior and a draft that demands respect. It rewards the sailor who values performance and build coherence over voluminous, brightly lit accommodation.
Pros
- Genuine cruiser-racer pace from a Peterson IOR hull with a powerful rig
- Low, narrow coachroof preserves clean deck profile and racing ancestry
- Owner's suite aft, forward guest quarters, and a huge saloon with ocean-going chart table
- Only 30 built, giving rarity and a clear design identity
Cons
- 8-foot draft restricts access to shallow waters
- Small coachroof windows make the interior relatively dark
