Despite its cruising brief, the 42 LC is no sluggish barge. Testers found it exceptionally versatile, surprisingly stiff under sail, and quick to respond to the helm.
Design and Construction
Lostuzzi specified a hand-laid GRP sandwich hull with vinyl ester resin. An iron keel fin carries a lead bomb in a deep L-shaped profile, paired with a single deep rudder abaft it. The L-keel and lead bulb keep the centre of gravity low, while the wide stern gives the hull strong dimensional stability. Together, these features help explain the boat’s balanced and predictable behaviour in rough seas.
The 42 LC is rated CE Category A (Ocean). Shipyard principal Gigi Servidati conceived it more for Mediterranean cruising and trade-wind passages than for high-latitude expedition work.
Rig and Handling
Lostuzzi placed the mast slightly farther aft than on the larger sisterships, creating a long J dimension. The boat can carry either a 43.5 m² self-tacking jib or a 49.5 m² Genoa 3 on the coachroof. A removable cutter stay accepts 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.
A carbon-fibre arch spans the cockpit, securing the mainsheet and providing keder rails for the sprayhood and bimini. The mainsheet runs aft to separate winches on either side, while the self-tacking jib requires almost no work from the crew. The upper shrouds land on the hull wall and the lower shrouds on the cabin superstructure, leaving the side decks clear all the way to the foredeck.
Performance Under Sail and Power
YACHT’s test crew recorded around 5.5 knots in a moderate breeze under the standard rig. With a light following wind and the Code Zero set, the boat touched 8 knots. It later planed briefly at 9 to more than 11 knots with support from the waves.
Yachting Monthly recorded 4 knots in little more than 5 knots of true wind and 5.5 knots in 8 knots true at 35º apparent. The testers predicted 6.5 knots once the true wind reached 10–12 knots, and the boat tacked through 100º true.
Under power, the Volvo Penta D2-50—rated at 50 hp and driving through a saildrive—produced 6.5 knots at 2,000 rpm and a top speed of 7.7 knots at 2,800 rpm. Testers found the helm direct and responsive, and reported that the boat willingly followed steering input in a good 5 Beaufort.
Accommodations and Storage
The standard layout has three cabins and two heads. The two-cabin version is downright lavish: the aft cabin becomes wider, the galley longer, and the port-side locker gains more than 1.5 m³.
Headroom ranges from 1.87 to 1.93 m, and the berths are full-width doubles. Storage is generous, with roughly 400 litres in each aft compartment and in the galley, plus more than 800 litres forward. Behind the chain box, the forepeak contains a two-part locker for sails and fenders.
In the cockpit, the benches measure 59 cm wide and 1.94 m long. Twin wheels are set well outboard for clear sightlines, with a foot brace on the coaming. Below, Whisper textile headliners are stretched over frames to create a soft, even finish.
Known Issues
The cockpit’s side coamings are narrow and slope toward the winches, providing little secure support to lean against at sea. The stoppers are also set a little too far from the aft drums to be reached safely from the helm.
Testers noted two other irritations: a rattling Corian cooker cover and harsh engine noise under way. Both detracted from an otherwise strong comfort score.
The Verdict
The Grand Soleil 42 LC is a thoughtfully engineered cruiser that delivers an unusual amount of space for its 42-foot hull length, yet 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 contribute to stiffness and predictability
- Generous, well-finished accommodations with practical forepeak storage
- Led-aft controls and a self-tacking jib simplify short-handed sailing
Cons
- Side coamings offer poor support at sea, and the stoppers are awkward to reach from the helm
- Engine noise and a rattling galley cover detract from comfort under way
