Design and Construction
Lombard specified a resin-infused construction technique that yields a light, strong, uniform composite with a clean finish on both sides. Sailboatdata records the hull material as fiberglass infusion with Klegecell foam core, a closed-cell sandwich that keeps the boat responsive without sacrificing structural integrity. The deck likewise uses closed-cell foam core throughout. Bavaria's acquisition of Nautitech brought the German builder's joinery expertise to the French yard, and the interior fit-out reflects that: light-toned oak, precisely fitted and finished, with solid wood cabin doors and foam-cored veneer locker doors to trim weight. The naval architect kept the topsides low and discreet; at 39ft 4in LOA with a 22ft 8in beam, the boat sits closer to the water than many rivals in her class, giving crew a sense of connection with the sea rather than the sensation of balancing on a moving high diving board.
Rig and Sail-Handling
The mast climbs 67 feet from the waterline, supporting a generous fully battened square-top mainsail over a Solent-configuration headsail arrangement. The standard setup pairs a self-tacking blade jib on an inner forestay with a light asymmetric on a top-furler at the bowsprit — a combination that covers coastal work efficiently without demanding a full crew. Running rigging leads cleanly to twin outboard helms, where battery-powered winches and stoppers put everything within reach of a shorthanded couple. The Yachting World test found the control-line leads to produce very little friction, a detail that distinguishes the boat from rivals where rope clutter and block angles sap effort from trimming. One practical limitation: the 65-foot air draft makes Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway transit difficult at several fixed bridges.
Performance Under Sail
The Open 40's sailing character was what impressed both test crews most. In six-knot puffs on the Chesapeake, the boat moved at 4.5 knots on a close reach under main and lightweight outer foresail with engines shut down — and then tacked cleanly under mainsail alone, twice in succession, something many cruising cats cannot achieve in such light conditions. Upwind in 12-16 knots on the Solent, the boat held a typical pace of 6-7 knots while mixing with a fleet of fully crewed monohulls. What she lacked in pointing she made up in pace, losing ground only through tacks when windage slowed her acceleration. Off the breeze with a Code 0, she sat readily at 8-9 knots on a reach and remained light and easy on the helm. The sail area-to-displacement ratio of 22.2 places her firmly in relatively high-performance territory for a production cruiser.
Cockpit and Deck Layout
The cockpit design is the conceptual heart of the boat. Nautitech positioned twin wheels in each aft quarter, wrapping the helmsman in a deep cockpit wall while preserving a superb forward view through wraparound coachroof windows. The mainsheet leads to a traveller on the hardtop, and the mainsheet and all controls reach both helms without compromise. Steps near the mast foot allow easy access to the full length of the boom for sailors of average stature, and the open step design at the forward cabin end improves saloon visibility. Forward, two large foredeck lockers swallow fenders and warps. A water catchment trough around the cabin-top edge doubles as a continuous grab rail along the side decks, collecting rainwater when the boat is away from marinas — an elegant solution to two separate problems. Husky davits between the hulls and well-proportioned transom platforms handle dinghy launches and swimming with equal ease.
Accommodations
The "Open" designation is a genuine design philosophy, not a marketing label. The enclosed portion of the boat is deliberately compact, with lounging, dining, and socializing happening aft under the hardtop in an outdoor saloon that flows into the cockpit. A builder-supplied full enclosure is available for less benign climates, as is air conditioning. Below, the galley was redesigned from the original model to improve traffic flow through the cabins, gaining a three-burner stove, generous refrigerator, and a convertible nav desk that slides on a rail to open into a large lounging seat. The boat is offered in three or four cabin configurations: the three-cabin owner's layout dedicates the entire port hull to a master suite with an enlarged head and shower, while the four-cabin version divides that hull for crew or charter. Both versions include provision for skipper or crew berths in the bows. Enlarged outboard hull windows and deck ports maintain a bright, friendly ambiance despite the necessarily slim hulls required for sailing performance.
Known Issues and Practical Considerations
No structural defects surfaced in the available test records, and Nautitech has never recorded a capsize across its full production run — a notable safety credential. Practical limitations are largely inherent to the type rather than specific to the design. Tacking performance with the self-tacking blade jib does not accelerate like a fully crewed monohull through stays, which matters more to racing sailors than cruisers. Line tail stowage at the helm stations was noted as an area that could use improvement on tested examples. The air draft restricts access through bridged inland waterways. Engine access through the aft end of the hulls is workable, and the test reviewer found reasonable maintenance space around the saildrives, though the arrangement is typical of the compromises inherent in catamaran architecture.
The Verdict
The Nautitech 40 Open is a rare production catamaran that delivers on the sailing promise the type so often implies but rarely fulfills. Lombard's low, purposeful superstructure keeps the center of effort modest and the handling predictable, the infused construction keeps displacement in check, and the cockpit ergonomics reward shorthanded sailing in a way that makes the boat feel like a real sailor's tool rather than a floating apartment. The outdoor-oriented saloon concept is a considered lifestyle choice, not a compromise — provided the buyer's cruising grounds include adequate warmth. Bavaria's joinery expertise elevated the interior finish above what the French yard achieved independently, and the result is a well-rounded cruiser that justifies its position as one of the stronger designs in the forty-foot catamaran class.
Pros
- Resin-infused hull and foam-core deck keep displacement genuinely light for the size
- Tacks and handles under main alone in light air — unusual for a production cat
- Twin helm stations with low superstructure deliver excellent visibility and helm feel
- Solent rig with inner self-tacker and bowsprit furler covers most conditions shorthanded
- Rainwater catchment/grab-rail doubles function elegantly
- Three or four cabin layouts accommodate both owner and charter roles
- No capsize recorded across the full Nautitech production history
Cons
- 65-foot air draft restricts access on bridged inland routes
- Self-tacking jib lacks drive through tacks compared with overlapping headsails
- Line tail management at the helm stations needs attention
- Outdoor saloon concept is less appealing in high-latitude or cold-season cruising without the optional full enclosure
