Design and Construction
The Cruiser 56 shows a sporty sloop profile built around a plumb bow and a long waterline, with the hull described as newly designed for maximum sailing performance newly designed hull. Her 51.3-foot waterline and 15.6-foot beam give her volume without sacrificing the turn of speed that the long waterline and dual rudders are meant to deliver. The twin-rudder, spade-configuration underbody and bulb keel with 12,125 pounds of iron ballast place her firmly in the modern performance-cruiser camp, and the builder claimed the hull produces maximum sailing performance while maintaining easy-to-handle characteristics despite her size. A fold-down transom reveals a garage that houses a full-size inflatable built exclusively for Bavaria, stowed partially deflated, folded in half, and with its four-horsepower motor left in place; a stern-compartment compressor inflates it for launch.
Rig and Handling
Aloft, the boat carries a five-batten in-mast furling main trimmed by a double-ended German-style mainsheet, paired with a slightly overlapping genoa tended by a pair of electric Lewmar reversible winches. The reconfigurable cockpit wraps around two steering wheels with long bench seats, and the line layout is kept easily accessible so the boat can be steered while sitting. In testing off Alaçatı, Turkey, the sloop drove near 7 knots upwind in 12 knots of breeze and jumped to better than 10 knots of speed over ground on a beam reach. The dual rudders and twin helms give the crew push-button tacking control from either wheel, with the loaded winch automatically easing as the boat bears through the wind.
Accommodations
Below, the tested layout held two generously sized aft cabins with queen berths, a third cabin to port at the companionway foot with double bunks, and an enormous owner’s cabin forward of the saloon with a separate head and shower. Bavaria cites extra-wide berths in the aft cabins and comfortable sleeping throughout, and the flexible interior reconfiguration systems allow numerous layouts adapted to individual tastes. Amidships, a spacious nav station to starboard can double as a breakfast nook, while just forward a deep U-shaped galley gives the cook a secure footing under way.
The Verdict
The Cruiser 56 is a big, nimble flagship that translates Farr’s hull thinking and Bavaria’s production discipline into a 54-foot platform with genuine pace and a clever tender garage. Her accommodations are generous and configurable, and the cockpit ergonomics make a large boat manageable short-handed. The in-mast furling and electric winches trade some purist control for ease, but the speed and handling numbers from sea trials back up the builder’s claims.
Pros
- Long waterline and dual rudders deliver excellent handling and a good turn of speed
- Fold-down transom garage stows a full-size inflatable with motor in place
- Configurable four-cabin interior with extra-wide aft berths and secure U-galley
- In-mast furling main and electric genoa winches make her easy to handle despite size
Cons
- Slightly overlapping genoa and in-mast furling favor convenience over tuning range
- As flagship of the outgoing Cruiser line, she precedes the later C-Line redesign
