Design and Construction
The Astréa 42 measures 41ft 4in overall, with a 23ft 8in beam and a lightship displacement of 23,000lb. It rides on small fixed keels, with rudders drawing just over 4ft.
The hulls have slightly inverted shapes reminiscent of serious racing machines, along with a slight sheer, rounded bows, a rib in the topsides, and sculpted portlights. Together, these details give the coachroof a distinctive, seductive appearance. The builder describes every line and curve as conceived in-house, although the exterior design credit belongs to Berret-Racoupeau.
Construction uses a PVC foam-core sandwich with vacuum-laminated outer skins. The deck and cabinhouse are built using Fountaine Pajot’s Resin Transfer Molding technique, with gelcoat sprayed on both sides to provide a finished appearance from any angle.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The Astréa 42 carries aluminum spars supported by stainless wire shrouds and stays. Its fractional sloop rig provides 1,141ft² of sail area between a 70m² mainsail and genoa.
Three Lewmar winches and two banks of sheet stoppers sit forward on the cabintop in a separate sail-handling workspace, leaving the helm uncluttered. The jib tracks are mounted well inboard on the cabintop. As on many catamarans, that placement can close the slot at deeper sailing angles. A distinctive hook system on the mainsail halyard automatically clips into the sail’s head as it rises and releases when the sail is dropped.
In light conditions, test crews recorded 3.6 knots in 7.1 knots of apparent wind at 60 degrees. Hardened up to 45 degrees off the wind, the boat maintained 2.8 knots in 6.3 knots of breeze.
Non-hydraulic steering provides direct feedback. The stable hull and exceptional maneuverability also allow the boat to spin neatly in tight quarters.
Engines and Motoring
Twin 30hp Volvo Penta diesels with saildrives pushed the Astréa 42 to 7.5 knots at just under 2,900 rpm. A more economical 6.5 knots was available at 2,400 rpm.
Accommodations
Fountaine Pajot offered two principal layouts: the three-cabin Maestro and the four-cabin Quatuor.
In the Maestro arrangement, the entire starboard hull forms the owner’s suite. It includes a walk-around island berth aft, an angled desk amidships, and a forward head with an enormous vanity and ample stowage. The head also has a doorless walk-in shower and a separate toilet compartment.
The test boat’s port hull contained two cabins and two heads. Fountaine Pajot offered several head configurations, ranging from two separate wet heads to an arrangement with a shared shower.
In the saloon, an angled navigation desk and low coffee table share an L-shaped seat, creating more of a lounge than a conventional dining area. The bright space connects to the cockpit through same-level glass doors.
The U-shaped galley is to port. Its equipment includes Vitrifrigo refrigerator drawers, a three-burner Eno stove, and an Italian Airlux oven mounted at counter height. An opening hatch sits above the stove, while two large forward windows can be used to pass drinks to the foredeck lounge.
Cockpit, Foredeck, and Helm
The cockpit has a port-side dinette for six to eight people. To starboard, the transom can carry an optional plancha grill.
Forward, a U-shaped lounge with a footwell seats four, alongside the trampoline. Its lockers can be opened without first lifting the cushions. The coachroof sundeck is reached by steps from the helm and has a double sun pad, with space for solar panels aft of the traveler.
The starboard helm pod is elevated into the bimini and can be reached from both the deck and cockpit steps. Its wheel angles aft, allowing the helmsperson to see the Garmin display while standing.
Equipment and Options
Garmin supplied the standard navigation electronics. Fountaine Pajot also offered a Smart Electric version intended to reduce the boat’s carbon footprint while retaining notable performance.
Available equipment included a Cummins 7.5 kW genset and a watermaker in the forward part of the port hull. Buyers could also specify an optional hydraulic swim platform or choose dinghy davits instead. New Serge Ferrari upholstery refreshed the cockpit seating.
Verdict
The Astréa 42 succeeds as a ground-up, midsize cruising catamaran that combines ocean-going intent with a residential sense of space. The Maestro layout sets a particularly high standard for owner privacy and stowage. Its same-level saloon-and-cockpit arrangement works well, while the separate cabintop sail-handling area should suit couples and small crews.
The inboard jib tracks compromise light-air performance somewhat, but the rig’s power and direct steering help make the boat forgiving and agile. For a private buyer seeking a modern, well-built French catamaran with lines intended to last, the Astréa 42 is a strong candidate.
Pros
- All-new Berret-Racoupeau design with inverted hulls and a timeless silhouette
- Maestro layout devotes an entire hull to the owner’s suite, including a walk-in shower
- Same-level, glass-door connection between saloon and cockpit
- Separate cabintop sail-handling workspace
- Direct, non-hydraulic steering
- Twin 30hp Volvo engines with good machinery access
Cons
- Inboard jib tracks restrict genoa-trimming angles compared with outboard tracks
- The skylight doesn’t open
- The bow lounge needs aftermarket shade at anchor
- Standard 30hp engines are modest for the boat’s 23,000lb displacement
