Design and Construction
The C42’s hull marks a break with Bavaria tradition. It’s the company’s first model with hard chines and a rounded V-bow, a combination the designer used to increase beam and freeboard and lengthen the waterline compared with the previous model in this size band. The chines skim the waterline forward, then rise and pinch in aft. This produces a noticeably rounded stern while adding both sailing stability and interior volume.
A low, flat-topped coachroof begins well forward to preserve headroom. Its low profile allows the high topsides to provide much of the space below decks. Non-slip moulded side decks and a large, solid toe rail run forward to the bow, while a coaming extends aft to enclose the cockpit.
Bavaria returned to hand lay-up rather than vacuum infusion for hull manufacture. One reviewer considered that a backward step, although the joinery felt solid and the sole panels remained quiet underfoot.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
Cossutti’s team paired the powerful hull with a tall, deck-stepped Seldén aluminium mast, rising about 20 metres above the waterline. The boat carries roughly 100 square metres of upwind sail. Yachting World reports that this is 30 percent more than a comparable 40-foot design and the largest sail area in its class.
The standard sail plan combines a 42.7 m² mast-furling Elvstrøm mainsail with a 37.5 m² self-tacking jib. Buyers seeking more pace can order a 109 percent overlapping jib, a 155 m² gennaker, and a Code 0. A two-spreader rig with a bridle backstay is standard. A German mainsheet system is also available, although the Yachting World test boat instead led the mainsheet to a companionway winch.
Twin wheels operate a single spade rudder through a minimal Jefa linkage. The single rudder is unusual amid the trend toward twin rudders, but it proved easy to manage in reverse, without the slamming tendency, and provided feedback when pressed. Steering is light, and the boat leans onto its chines as it comes upwind. Its polars show double-figure speeds when reaching in more than 20 knots and more than 9 knots in 16 knots true.
Accommodation
Buyers can choose between two or three cabins and one or two heads. The three-cabin layout reviewed by Boating New Zealand had a master berth forward with its own head and shower, plus two double quarterberths aft. A guest head sat to starboard, opposite the L-shaped galley.
The deck-stepped mast helps the saloon feel roomy. A settee runs along the port side, with a U-shaped sofa to starboard. An origami-style table doubles in size and can be lowered to form a berth. Headroom reaches two metres, and a forward-facing navigation station shares the forward end of the port settee.
In the forward cabin, the berth measures 1.80 by 2.07 metres and extends to the hull sides. The space beneath it allows for an optional 250-litre tank. High cabin-side windows, through-hull ports, and a large central hatch bring in light.
The fiddled galley is practical and includes a three-burner stove, single sink, large fridge, gas oven, and microwave.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The aft helm stations leave space for long cockpit benches with proper coamings. A generous central table houses a B&G chartplotter, and each wheel has a gimballed compass mounted ahead of it.
The centre section of the transom folds down on gas-strut hinges to create a boarding platform. It’s finished in Esthec teak-look decking, matching the cockpit floor and seats. A large bimini and dodger shelter the cockpit while retaining open sides and clear panels.
A bow thruster and electric cabintop winches aid short-handed docking and sail handling. The anchor sits in a moulded bowsprit ahead of a chain locker, which also holds fenders. A sunbed occupies the foredeck ahead of the mast.
Known Issues
On the Yachting World test boat, the shrouds went slack after a few tacks. The dealer attributed this to missed rig bedding and pre-delivery inspection during COVID restrictions rather than to a design fault.
The same review highlighted the square edges of the saloon and chart tables; the product manager said these would be modified. It also noted that electronics were installed in non-watertight lockers.
Although the sole has numerous access panels, they’re screwed down, making it slower to reach the bilge. Some bare plywood and veneered bulkheads were also judged unlikely to prove durable. Locker capacity is conservative, and the sail locker’s small hatch limits what can be stowed there.
Verdict
The C42 is a thoughtfully modern family cruiser that trades some construction refinement for interior volume, light-air performance, and easy handling. Its chined hull and tall rig provide a potent sail plan in a manageable package, while the choice of cabin layouts and the well-planned cockpit suit both charter and private use.
The fit-out caveats—including rig tuning, locker sealing, sharp interior edges, and some questionable finishes—are worth noting, but they don’t undermine the design’s central strengths.
Pros
- Class-leading upwind sail area and strong light-air performance
- Hard-chined hull and V-bow combine stability with interior volume
- Choice of two or three cabins and one or two heads
- Self-tacking jib, bow thruster, and electric winches simplify short-handed handling
- Fold-down transom platform and well-protected cockpit
Cons
- Hand-laid hull rather than vacuum-infused construction
- Screwed-down sole panels slow bilge access
- Some bulkhead finishes may not prove durable
- Electronics installed in non-watertight lockers
- Conservative locker capacity and a small sail-locker hatch
