Bavaria Nautitech 40 Open: Review

OVERVIEW
The Bavaria Nautitech 40 Open is ideal for cruising in warm water places like Australia. The cockpit is where most sailors like to spend the day once the anchor drops. It's the logical place to be when there's a wrap-around waterfront view, the breeze is cool, you are not far from the transom for a swim, or stand-up paddle board.

The Nautitech 40 Open also has the galley located on the same level so the servicing of food and drinks to the cockpit dining table is easy. In summer, this 'outdoor saloon' will be the focal point of life aboard, and even in rainy or cool days drop ‘clears’ ensure its inviting.

We recently had the pleasure of sailing aboard one of the first Bavaria 40 Opens to arrive in Australia. The cat is owned by a happy syndicate of three friends who enjoy their 40 Open as a floating weekender. Being moored on Sydney's beautiful Pittwater saw us perform our 'test' in one of the iconic Royal Motor Yacht Club's Monday Twilight races.

While cruising is the primary purpose of this Marc Lombard design, the cat can produce a good turn of speed under sail. Her tall, powerful rig is especially effective once the breeze lifts above 10 knots.

Another attraction for the keen sailor is twin helm cockpits at the stern. Whereas most cats have the helm under cover, or offset to one side, the 40 Open has the helm stations located to the sides. This way, you can helm from the high side with a good view of the sails above.

At the same time, Bavaria’s Nautitech 40 Open is a relaxing craft to sail — no heeling to spill the drinks, of course — and the netted foredeck provides a great sun-lounging area, especially when you add some loose cushions.

The cat’s stubby-keel draft of only 1.35m lets you cruise over shallow waters and moor close to the beach. All of which makes this German catamaran perfect for lifestyle sailing.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
The standard, sail-away package for Bavaria’s Nautitech 40 Open was $650,000 ex-Sydney, commissioned and ready to go at the time of writing.

The cat comes equipped with a fixed alloy rig with double-diamond stay support and sail controls at the two helm stations, using Lewmar two-speed self-tailing winches.

The standard package also includes a set of sails including fully-battened Dacron mainsail with two-reefs and catcher bag, plus self-tacking jib with furler and UV protective strip.

There are also twin D2-20hp Volvo Penta diesels with three-blade Saildrive as standard. You can upgrade to more powerful 30hp or 40hp turbo models, however, I'm told the twin 20hp motors will do the job.

The Sail-away package includes an electric anchor windlass, remote control, helm chain-counter, Delta anchor and folding props on the Saildrives.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
Stepping aboard via transom steps, you enter the spacious cockpit/dining area with off-set dining table allowing room for loose deck chairs.

Going through sliding double doors you enter the deckhouse with a stylish galley and a comfort dinette cum-lounge. The dinette also includes a nav station with GPS chartplotter — it will be the place to enjoy your hot chocolate at night.

Passageways lead off to either hull and there is a choice of either the standard three or optional four double-berth layout. The former sees the whole portside hull taken up by a deluxe owner’s cabin with larger bathroom and study/office table. To starboard there's two double berth cabins sharing a bathroom.

Our test boat had the four-cab layout which sees the same two double berth cabins and central bathroom layout in each hull. This provides a total of eight berths, yet the bathrooms are still a reasonable size.

Yes, she is a production boat but the quality is pretty good especially in the German joinery and upholstery. A high quality Silvertex fabric is used in the cockpit upholstery and there's a choice of a woven fabric, leatherette or leather upholstery for interior seating.

In late 2017, the 40 Open has undergone a style 'make-over' that includes lager hull windows for more light. The galley has been reconfigured so the sink and a bottle rack are closest to the cabin entrance. The dinette/lounge is also bigger and can form a day-lounge.

There's an optional two-tone colour scheme for the hull (pictured) and a re-styled cabin roofline with grey trim. It's a more edgy, contemporary look and one that's refreshingly different in the cat world.

Other great feature of this cat include a drawer-refrigerator in the cockpit, plenty of ventilation hatches and a light, stylish Alpi white-oak woodwork. Other finishes are available including the chic apartment-look dark walnut finish and stone-grey upholstery.

However, best overall interior feature remains the roomy sleeping cabins with proper sleeping berths that are easy to access.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
Bavaria is one of the biggest yacht builders in the world and this shows in the cat's sophisticated construction. Hull and deck feature an advanced fibreglass/polyester sandwich infusion construction process.

Below the waterline there's solid fibreglass for added strength. The result is a very strong but light displacement craft of about 8.5 tonnes.

A key design feature is the long waterline formed by the distinctive axe-head bows. Step chines also reduce the hull width for less water drag and make the cabins more roomy.

First impression of our test boat Zephyr was the high freeboard and just how big she looks on the water. Her French-design pedigree is evident in the efficient hull form and she looks pretty nice under sail thanks to the low, stylish deckhouse and her modern rig with Tee-top mainsail.

ON THE WATER
A light east-north-east breeze was blowing as I took the helm and agent Andy Howden and co-owners Mark and Niki kindly did the crew work. Not that there's too much work to do when there's a self-tacking headsail and all sail controls lead back to the helm.

With the mainsail stowed in a boom bag and the jib on a furler, it took us only 12 minutes to get under sail. We were a little late for the start but with good tactics soon caught up with a few of the competitors on the first leg to windward.

Not having centre-boards we couldn't quite make the first mark in one tack like the faster performance cats yet we still weren't too far behind. It certainly was easy sailing the big cat from the windward helm and I soon got into the groove.

On the next leg with the wind on the beam, Zephyr picked up speed and seemed to be closing the gap. A broad reach on the final leg home from Mackerel Beach to Newport saw us gain further and score a first place on handicap. We were a happy crew and had enjoyed a few drinks along the way.

Overall, I find the 40 Open an easy catamaran to make the transition from conventional monohull yachts. The steering is reassuringly familiar and her easy sail controls make less work for the crew and needs fewer hands.

An electric winch next to the helm takes the effort out of hoisting the big full battened mainsail. For racing you could spark up performance with a larger jib. And perhaps the optional Gennaker sail and bowsprit (prodder) and spinnaker gear ($13,893) is a good idea as well.

Our speeds on the night were around 5-6.5 knots upwind and 6-8 knots reaching. However, a week earlier she had consistently notched reaching speeds of 17 knots offshore so she's definitely up for that trip to the Whitsundays!

VERDICT
The Nautitech 40 Open looks a good choice for sailors who likes to cruise local and coastal and are taking their first move to a catamaran. She's particularly safe for cruising with family members and not too large to handle.

The factory offers a number of different package levels and a vast options list so you can tailor the 40 Open very specifically to your needs.

There's the Holiday (Charter), Style and Exclusive Configurations and some more exotic items include air-conditioning, a washing machine, water-maker and electric toilets.

However, a few extra sails and the basic Nav-Pack ($12,578) would be all you'd need to head off into the sunset!