The Fountaine Pajot shipyard has taken advantage of the Düsseldorf Boot 2018 to announce the launch of its next 42-foot catamaran. A project that has been kept secret for a long time, since the boat will be presented to the general public at the Multihull Boat Show in La Grande Motte in April 2018 (in less than 3 months!). In other words, the boat is in the finishing phase in the workshops in Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis.
In the tradition of the big brothers
Like the rest of the range, the New 42 (which will only reveal its definitive name when it is launched) is designed by the Berret Racoupeau naval architecture firm. It takes up the lines that appeared on the Saona 47 (150 units sold since its launch in 6 months) and the Lucia 40 (already 200 units sold).
In terms of exterior design, note the straight bows, and the shearing of the deck aft. But also the break in the deckhouse, crossed out by a black band in the continuity of the portholes.
Probably a fast catamaran
Looking at the characteristics, the New 42 seems quite light (11.5 t when a Lagoon 42 weighs 12.1 t). But this catamaran is also less wide (7.20 m compared to 7.70 m for the Lagoon). One might have thought that being less wide and therefore less steep, the sail area would be smaller. This is not the case since the New 42 has 106 m2 of sail area upwind (compared to 90 m2 for the Lagoon 42). Lighter, more sail area, without a doubt faster..
Let's celebrate cooking!
The layout is designed for sun cruises. Thus the cockpit receives a table for the meal while the saloon is designed as a lounge with a coffee table with the possibility to watch TV. The chart table is facing the road.
Fountaine Pajot has also provided an ENO plancha integrated into the aft beam accessible from the cockpit. This type of outdoor galley is becoming very fashionable. It must be said that the plancha galley allows almost any type of cooking (meat, fish, vegetables...).
In fact, the kitchen is in the spotlight on this catamaran. Arranged in a U-shape in the saloon, it has large work surfaces, which are very useful when there are many people on board.
Up to 12 possible layouts!
For the bathrooms, the shipyard has provided a modular space in the centre of the hull between the two cabins. In this space, you can choose a large bathroom with separate toilet and shower. Or opt for 2 separate (each smaller) independent toilet cubicles. Or, have 2 bathrooms that share the same shower. Three layouts combined with the possibility of 3 or 4 cabins offers no less than 12 different layout versions!
Sunbathing without hindering the manoeuvre
On deck, the helm station is halfway up on the starboard side (no flybridge). All manoeuvres return to this position. The arrangement with the recessed helm already used on the Saona 47 is practical enough to allow free movement in front of the helm and to ensure that manoeuvres do not hinder the helmsman.
Sunbathing is also legion on board. There is the traditional sunbathing area on the foredeck (just aft of the trampoline) and a sunbathing area on the deckhouse. Be careful, if this sunbathing area is ideally placed near the helm station, sunbathers should be warned of the presence of the boom just above them, especially when tacking or gybing..