Design and Construction
Lostuzzi’s hull is a GRP sandwich built by hand lay-up with vinyl ester resin, carrying an iron keel fin with a lead bomb and a deep L-shaped profile that Cantiere del Pardo pairs with a single deep rudder abaft it. The L-keel with lead bulb pulls the centre of gravity low, while the wide stern lends the hull strong dimensional stability, a combination that helps explain the boat’s balanced and predictable behaviour in rough seas anchor. The 42 LC is rated CE Category A (Ocean) and was conceived by shipyard principal Gigi Servidati more for Mediterranean cruising and trade-wind passages than high-latitude expedition work.
Rig and Handling
Lostuzzi shifted the mast slightly aft of the larger sisters’ placement, producing a long J dimension that lets the boat carry a 43.5 m² self-tacking jib or a 49.5 m² Genoa 3 on the coachroof, with a removable cutter stay accepting an 18 m² heavy-weather jib. The Sport version trades the furling main and cockpit bow for a taller aluminium mast, rod rig, and nearly 15 per cent more upwind sail area anchor. A carbon-fibre arch spans the cockpit, securing the mainsheet and providing keder rails for sprayhood and bimini; the sheet runs aft to separate winches on each side, and the self-tacking jib asks for almost no crew work. Upper shrouds land on the hull wall and lower shrouds on the cabin superstructure, leaving the side decks unobstructed to the foredeck.
Performance Under Sail and Power
YACHT’s test crew logged around 5.5 knots in moderate breeze under standard rig, and with a light following wind and Code Zero touched 8 knots, later planing briefly at 9 to over 11 knots with wave support. Yachting Monthly saw 4 knots into little more than 5 knots true, 5.5 knots in 8 knots true at 35º apparent, and predicted 6.5 knots once 10–12 knots true arrived; the boat tacked through 100º true. Under power, the Volvo Penta D2-50 (50 hp, saildrive) turned 6.5 knots at 2,000 rpm and topped 7.7 knots at 2,800 rpm. Testers judged her direct and responsive on the helm and willing to follow steering input in a good 5 Beaufort.
Accommodations
The standard layout gives three cabins and two heads, while the two-cabin version reads as downright lavish: the aft cabin widens, the galley stretches, and the port-side locker grows by more than 1.5 m³. Headroom runs 1.87 to 1.93 m, berths are full-width doubles, and storage is generous—roughly 400 litres in each aft compartment and galley, over 800 litres forward. The forepeak holds a two-part locker behind the chain box for sails and fenders. Cockpit benches are 59 cm wide and 1.94 m long; twin wheels sit far outboard for clear sightlines, with a foot brace on the coaming. Whisper textile headliners stretch over frames for a soft, even finish.
Known Issues
The cockpit’s side coamings are tight and slope toward the winches, giving little secure lean at sea, and the stoppers sit a bit far from the aft drums to reach safely from the helm anchor. Testers also noted a rattling Corian cooker cover and harsh engine noise under way that undercut an otherwise strong comfort score.
The Verdict
The Grand Soleil 42 LC is a thoughtfully engineered cruiser that punches above its 42-foot hull length for space and sails with unexpected verve. Lostuzzi’s aft-mast, long-J rig and carbon arch make short-handed sailing quiet and controlled, while the two-cabin layout rivals the 46 LC for volume.
Pros
- Exceptionally versatile cruiser-to-sport configuration
- Low centre of gravity and wide stern aid stiffness and predictability
- Generous, well-finished accommodation with smart forepeak storage
- Led-aft controls and self-tacking jib ease shorthanded sailing
Cons
- Side coamings poor for leaning at sea; stopper reach from helm awkward
- Engine noise and rattling galley cover mar comfort under way
