FR : 7

,90€ -

BE 

: 8,50

€ - IT

/ESP

/GR/

NL/P

ORT C

ONT :

8,90

€ AU

 : 9,50

€ - D

E : 9

,90€ -

UK 

: 8,50

£ - U

SA : 1

4,99$

CANA

DA : 1

5,99C

AD

COUV_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:59 Page1

102

T E S T

Text: Philippe Echelle - Photos: Gilles Martin-Raget / Fountaine Pajot

ASTREA 42

2

1

In 2009, the Lipari 41 took the place of the Lavezzi,condemned by its canvas bimini and mainsheet traveler inthe cockpit. An effective restyling in 2013 extended thecareer of this popular catamaran (nearly 200 were built),but the arrival of the new style (with the Helia 44) sounded the death knell of this previous generation. Between the future Lucia and Helia, the Lipari was nomatch, especially in terms of the interior design. The Astrea 42 now occupies a pivotal place within acompletely renewed range from going from 40 to 67 feet.Has the builder’s flagship yard at Aigrefeuille hit the bull’seye?

Ne quid nimis ?*

*(a self-indulgent Latin phrase, meaning nothingin excess, or moderation in all things)

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page102

FR : 7

,90€ -

BE 

: 8,50

€ - IT

/ESP

/GR/

NL/P

ORT C

ONT :

8,90

€ AU

 : 9,50

€ - D

E : 9

,90€ -

UK 

: 8,50

£ - U

SA : 1

4,99$

CANA

DA : 1

5,99C

AD

COUV_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:59 Page1

102

T E S T

Text: Philippe Echelle - Photos: Gilles Martin-Raget / Fountaine Pajot

ASTREA 42

2

1

In 2009, the Lipari 41 took the place of the Lavezzi,condemned by its canvas bimini and mainsheet traveler inthe cockpit. An effective restyling in 2013 extended thecareer of this popular catamaran (nearly 200 were built),but the arrival of the new style (with the Helia 44) sounded the death knell of this previous generation. Between the future Lucia and Helia, the Lipari was nomatch, especially in terms of the interior design. The Astrea 42 now occupies a pivotal place within acompletely renewed range from going from 40 to 67 feet.Has the builder’s flagship yard at Aigrefeuille hit the bull’seye?

Ne quid nimis ?*

*(a self-indulgent Latin phrase, meaning nothingin excess, or moderation in all things)

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page102

103

A new boat put into perspective

It’s easy to praise the exterior design of the As-trea because the Berret-Racoupeau design teamseems to have pulled out all the stops to achievetheir goal: to make a desirable new 42’ catama-ran! In terms of architecture, modern catama-rans were first inspired by their ancestors in thePacific before conquering a form of British-inspi-red western independence. In the 1980s,France, the new "Multihull melting pot" reallyfired things up, breathing life into the emergingworld of multihull racing taking foreign in-f luences and propelling more modern, fasterand trendier catamarans onto the market thantheir counterparts across the Channel.In recent years, layout and interior design issueshave become the main concern for most buil-ders: accompanying (or preceding) new uses:chartering / leasing, or customers with theirown vision of "yachting". The style of "body-work" is now a new issue. Builders need toshow imagination and know-how to adapt hy-drodynamics and rigs to these new and some-times contradictory requirements... So, has theAstrea managed this tour de force?

A silhouette in keeping with the times

Whether they work with styling software ornot, the new recipes from design firms all workrather well! On the Astrea, the delicate ratioof coachroof-hull proportions is sound. A dis-creet rib at the upper third of the topsides,rounded bows, a slight curvature of the deck-edge, and the creative portlight design shouldallow the hulls to assert a contemporary stylethat will last for years. The side sunshades of the

anthracite gray roof, the uprights, the blackwindshield frames and the choice of a dark-tin-ted polycarbonate significantly enhance the ap-pearance of the deck saloon, an element ofdesign which is always delicate on a catamaran.The care given to blending it with the deck alsocontributes to the result. The only downside isthat the roof’s “peak” does not appear to pro-vide much cover, and the angle of attack of thewindshield, expose the interior to UV. The goo-seneck setup remains elegant despite the heightunder the boom required for the sunbathingarea (and the helm position bimini option!). Thehelm-station (without the famous additionalhead cover, which is useful but not very sexy!)is perfectly integrated into the overall lines. Theindispensable forward cockpit looks good, thebimini remains f luid and the new aft cockpitlayout (equipped with upholstery developedwith supplier Serge Ferrari) plays a part in theboat’s overall attractiveness.

Well-mastered construction

The glass/balsa/polyester sandwich of the hullsand the underside of the nacelle is produced inan infusion process (with careful preparation ofthe composite in the female mold before eva-cuation and suction of the resin via a drainednetwork allowing diffusion-impregnation of thepolyester and an optimal cloth-resin ratio). Theend-grain balsa is retained for its numerous ad-vantages: it is a renewable resource endowedwith excellent mechanical qualities and adhesi-veness. Both the deck and the coachroof comefrom injection molding molds on PET foam(Airex). These manually prepared parts are pro-duced in a single operation: the composite is put

under a high pressure resin transfer molding(RTM) machine. This is exclusive to FountainePajot, and is a two-sided, high-pressure tool (abit like a waffle machine!). All in all, it is a high-tech production method, creating perfect partswhich require no retouching.

A Guided tour of a 42 footer... which seems much bigger!

Aft bench seats, a lounger in the cockpit andoutdoor dining are the essential attributes ofthis contemporary catamaran. Fountaine Pajotare showing off their maturity and style withtheir philosophy of the interactions between themultiple on-board activities. Access to the wateris neat with a nice rear deck and a solid anddeep swimming ladder (the optional electricplatform could be justified for some programs,but it is expensive and adds significant weight,so the traditional davits remain very relevant).Access to the helm-station is easy and thewatchkeeper’s seat is really comfortable andvery reassuring in a choppy sea. The large sun-deck on top of the coachroof is attractive ingood weather; and with the forward loungearea and cockpit, it offers a full range of outdoorsolutions! With this new range, Fountaine Pajothas deliberately detached itself from the “tradi-tional” style of layout, and has gone for a marinetake on "Urban chic" and has been doing sosince 2012. With the Helia, light begins to crossthe boat, the austere gelcoated surfaces havelargely been done away with, the contrast ofmaterials enhances the atmosphere, making itmore luxurious, and the owner’s cabins aremore welcoming. The Astrea continues this

3 4

1: A sleek and powerful sailplan for a 42 footer which is designed for comfort

2: The design work on the hulls (slight sheer, rounded bow, rib in the topsides, sculpted portlights) and on the coachroof gives the Astrea a seductive look

3: Under gennaker, the 42 shows great power, and the passage through the water is fluid and agile

4: A silhouette that will allow the Astrea to sail throughout the years without going out of style

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page103

102

T E S T

Text: Philippe Echelle - Photos: Gilles Martin-Raget / Fountaine Pajot

ASTREA 42

2

1

In 2009, the Lipari 41 took the place of the Lavezzi,condemned by its canvas bimini and mainsheet traveler inthe cockpit. An effective restyling in 2013 extended thecareer of this popular catamaran (nearly 200 were built),but the arrival of the new style (with the Helia 44) sounded the death knell of this previous generation. Between the future Lucia and Helia, the Lipari was nomatch, especially in terms of the interior design. The Astrea 42 now occupies a pivotal place within acompletely renewed range from going from 40 to 67 feet.Has the builder’s flagship yard at Aigrefeuille hit the bull’seye?

Ne quid nimis ?*

*(a self-indulgent Latin phrase, meaning nothingin excess, or moderation in all things)

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page102

103

A new boat put into perspective

It’s easy to praise the exterior design of the As-trea because the Berret-Racoupeau design teamseems to have pulled out all the stops to achievetheir goal: to make a desirable new 42’ catama-ran! In terms of architecture, modern catama-rans were first inspired by their ancestors in thePacific before conquering a form of British-inspi-red western independence. In the 1980s,France, the new "Multihull melting pot" reallyfired things up, breathing life into the emergingworld of multihull racing taking foreign in-f luences and propelling more modern, fasterand trendier catamarans onto the market thantheir counterparts across the Channel.In recent years, layout and interior design issueshave become the main concern for most buil-ders: accompanying (or preceding) new uses:chartering / leasing, or customers with theirown vision of "yachting". The style of "body-work" is now a new issue. Builders need toshow imagination and know-how to adapt hy-drodynamics and rigs to these new and some-times contradictory requirements... So, has theAstrea managed this tour de force?

A silhouette in keeping with the times

Whether they work with styling software ornot, the new recipes from design firms all workrather well! On the Astrea, the delicate ratioof coachroof-hull proportions is sound. A dis-creet rib at the upper third of the topsides,rounded bows, a slight curvature of the deck-edge, and the creative portlight design shouldallow the hulls to assert a contemporary stylethat will last for years. The side sunshades of the

anthracite gray roof, the uprights, the blackwindshield frames and the choice of a dark-tin-ted polycarbonate significantly enhance the ap-pearance of the deck saloon, an element ofdesign which is always delicate on a catamaran.The care given to blending it with the deck alsocontributes to the result. The only downside isthat the roof’s “peak” does not appear to pro-vide much cover, and the angle of attack of thewindshield, expose the interior to UV. The goo-seneck setup remains elegant despite the heightunder the boom required for the sunbathingarea (and the helm position bimini option!). Thehelm-station (without the famous additionalhead cover, which is useful but not very sexy!)is perfectly integrated into the overall lines. Theindispensable forward cockpit looks good, thebimini remains f luid and the new aft cockpitlayout (equipped with upholstery developedwith supplier Serge Ferrari) plays a part in theboat’s overall attractiveness.

Well-mastered construction

The glass/balsa/polyester sandwich of the hullsand the underside of the nacelle is produced inan infusion process (with careful preparation ofthe composite in the female mold before eva-cuation and suction of the resin via a drainednetwork allowing diffusion-impregnation of thepolyester and an optimal cloth-resin ratio). Theend-grain balsa is retained for its numerous ad-vantages: it is a renewable resource endowedwith excellent mechanical qualities and adhesi-veness. Both the deck and the coachroof comefrom injection molding molds on PET foam(Airex). These manually prepared parts are pro-duced in a single operation: the composite is put

under a high pressure resin transfer molding(RTM) machine. This is exclusive to FountainePajot, and is a two-sided, high-pressure tool (abit like a waffle machine!). All in all, it is a high-tech production method, creating perfect partswhich require no retouching.

A Guided tour of a 42 footer... which seems much bigger!

Aft bench seats, a lounger in the cockpit andoutdoor dining are the essential attributes ofthis contemporary catamaran. Fountaine Pajotare showing off their maturity and style withtheir philosophy of the interactions between themultiple on-board activities. Access to the wateris neat with a nice rear deck and a solid anddeep swimming ladder (the optional electricplatform could be justified for some programs,but it is expensive and adds significant weight,so the traditional davits remain very relevant).Access to the helm-station is easy and thewatchkeeper’s seat is really comfortable andvery reassuring in a choppy sea. The large sun-deck on top of the coachroof is attractive ingood weather; and with the forward loungearea and cockpit, it offers a full range of outdoorsolutions! With this new range, Fountaine Pajothas deliberately detached itself from the “tradi-tional” style of layout, and has gone for a marinetake on "Urban chic" and has been doing sosince 2012. With the Helia, light begins to crossthe boat, the austere gelcoated surfaces havelargely been done away with, the contrast ofmaterials enhances the atmosphere, making itmore luxurious, and the owner’s cabins aremore welcoming. The Astrea continues this

3 4

1: A sleek and powerful sailplan for a 42 footer which is designed for comfort

2: The design work on the hulls (slight sheer, rounded bow, rib in the topsides, sculpted portlights) and on the coachroof gives the Astrea a seductive look

3: Under gennaker, the 42 shows great power, and the passage through the water is fluid and agile

4: A silhouette that will allow the Astrea to sail throughout the years without going out of style

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page103

trend in which outdoor spaces meet the expecta-tions of a hedonistic customer, rather than marinecustomer. Both crew and guests will appreciate it.The upholstery is quite revolutionary in its aban-doning of straight ergonomic cuts. Springy cus-hions are becoming widespread, but thisabundance will require more attention to be paidwhen it comes to the maintenance! The bathroomis also one of the new spaces the interior designershave conquered, and on the Astrea, they are al-most unimaginable aboard a 42 footer! She isbeautiful, practical and absolutely functional.

Engine compartments

Here, the Astraea really does well! Despite thebattery bank being located in the starboard enginecompartment, the accessibility of everything me-chanical, the visibility of the essential verificationpoints (coolant level, water filter, saildrive) is verygood. A welded aluminum bracket bolted to the watertight bulkhead supports the upper

bearing of the rudder tube, the quadrant arm, theautopilot ram and the transmission cables for thesteering. All these features seem resistant, well-dimensioned and remain accessible without requi-ring contortions or disassembly. A glance in theengine compartment allows quick and frequentchecks that prevent future worries.

Seatrial

I had the opportunity to discover our model follo-wing the end of the International Multihull Showat La Grande Motte in the South of France. It wasa luxuriously refurbished demonstration model(carbon mast, fiber rigging, membrane sails by In-cidences Sails), but the electric platform, generatorand air conditioning options on this boat don’tmake it the lightest Astrea! We had few hours atsea to familiarize ourselves with the boat, but theconditions were too light to bother making a se-cond trip. So the next opportunity came in Mar-seille at the end of June. We had plenty of fuel andwater tanks 50% full, perfect for a test in realconditions. The carbon mast provides a better me-chanical response and reduced weight up high, andthe f iber rigging reduces cable inertia and whipmovement which can be so harmful to stainless

104

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL SEAWIND 12,60 CATANA 42 BALI 4.3 LAGOON 42BUILDER SEAWIND CATANA BALI LAGOONUPWIND SAIL AREA IN M2 90 102 89,5 94WEIGHT IN KG 8 240 8 900 11 300 12 000BASIC PRICE IN €, £ OR $ EX-TAX 410 000 $ 543 080 € 350 440 € 314 000 €

THE COMPETITION

5

6

Architect and designer: Berret-RacoupeauBuilder: Fountaine-PajotConstruction: Balsa / glass / anti-osmosis

polyester resinLength: 12.58mBeam: 7.20mDraft: 1.25mLight displacement: 11,580kgMaximum displacement: 15,600kgMainsail area: 66m²Genoa: 40m²Water: 2x350lFuel: 1x470l Motors: 2x30hp (2x40hp option)Transmission: Saildrive Price ex-tax: € 345,000 in 3-cabin Maestro version(€349,000 in Quatuor version)Price ex-tax of the boat we tested: € 480,000

Principal options in Euros ex-tax 40hp motors + three-bladed folding propellers: 3,902Carpeting in the cabins: 1,162Outdoor grill: 2,233Garmin 1electronics pack with autopilot:

13,000Oven: 1,6135kg-load washing machine: 1,841400W solar panels: 4,246Gennaker + deck hardware and bowsprit:

11,066 Electric genoa sheet winch: 2,827 Carbon mast: 60,314Antifouling on epoxy primer: 2,884Commissioning and training: 13,600

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page104

103

A new boat put into perspective

It’s easy to praise the exterior design of the As-trea because the Berret-Racoupeau design teamseems to have pulled out all the stops to achievetheir goal: to make a desirable new 42’ catama-ran! In terms of architecture, modern catama-rans were first inspired by their ancestors in thePacific before conquering a form of British-inspi-red western independence. In the 1980s,France, the new "Multihull melting pot" reallyfired things up, breathing life into the emergingworld of multihull racing taking foreign in-f luences and propelling more modern, fasterand trendier catamarans onto the market thantheir counterparts across the Channel.In recent years, layout and interior design issueshave become the main concern for most buil-ders: accompanying (or preceding) new uses:chartering / leasing, or customers with theirown vision of "yachting". The style of "body-work" is now a new issue. Builders need toshow imagination and know-how to adapt hy-drodynamics and rigs to these new and some-times contradictory requirements... So, has theAstrea managed this tour de force?

A silhouette in keeping with the times

Whether they work with styling software ornot, the new recipes from design firms all workrather well! On the Astrea, the delicate ratioof coachroof-hull proportions is sound. A dis-creet rib at the upper third of the topsides,rounded bows, a slight curvature of the deck-edge, and the creative portlight design shouldallow the hulls to assert a contemporary stylethat will last for years. The side sunshades of the

anthracite gray roof, the uprights, the blackwindshield frames and the choice of a dark-tin-ted polycarbonate significantly enhance the ap-pearance of the deck saloon, an element ofdesign which is always delicate on a catamaran.The care given to blending it with the deck alsocontributes to the result. The only downside isthat the roof’s “peak” does not appear to pro-vide much cover, and the angle of attack of thewindshield, expose the interior to UV. The goo-seneck setup remains elegant despite the heightunder the boom required for the sunbathingarea (and the helm position bimini option!). Thehelm-station (without the famous additionalhead cover, which is useful but not very sexy!)is perfectly integrated into the overall lines. Theindispensable forward cockpit looks good, thebimini remains f luid and the new aft cockpitlayout (equipped with upholstery developedwith supplier Serge Ferrari) plays a part in theboat’s overall attractiveness.

Well-mastered construction

The glass/balsa/polyester sandwich of the hullsand the underside of the nacelle is produced inan infusion process (with careful preparation ofthe composite in the female mold before eva-cuation and suction of the resin via a drainednetwork allowing diffusion-impregnation of thepolyester and an optimal cloth-resin ratio). Theend-grain balsa is retained for its numerous ad-vantages: it is a renewable resource endowedwith excellent mechanical qualities and adhesi-veness. Both the deck and the coachroof comefrom injection molding molds on PET foam(Airex). These manually prepared parts are pro-duced in a single operation: the composite is put

under a high pressure resin transfer molding(RTM) machine. This is exclusive to FountainePajot, and is a two-sided, high-pressure tool (abit like a waffle machine!). All in all, it is a high-tech production method, creating perfect partswhich require no retouching.

A Guided tour of a 42 footer... which seems much bigger!

Aft bench seats, a lounger in the cockpit andoutdoor dining are the essential attributes ofthis contemporary catamaran. Fountaine Pajotare showing off their maturity and style withtheir philosophy of the interactions between themultiple on-board activities. Access to the wateris neat with a nice rear deck and a solid anddeep swimming ladder (the optional electricplatform could be justified for some programs,but it is expensive and adds significant weight,so the traditional davits remain very relevant).Access to the helm-station is easy and thewatchkeeper’s seat is really comfortable andvery reassuring in a choppy sea. The large sun-deck on top of the coachroof is attractive ingood weather; and with the forward loungearea and cockpit, it offers a full range of outdoorsolutions! With this new range, Fountaine Pajothas deliberately detached itself from the “tradi-tional” style of layout, and has gone for a marinetake on "Urban chic" and has been doing sosince 2012. With the Helia, light begins to crossthe boat, the austere gelcoated surfaces havelargely been done away with, the contrast ofmaterials enhances the atmosphere, making itmore luxurious, and the owner’s cabins aremore welcoming. The Astrea continues this

3 4

1: A sleek and powerful sailplan for a 42 footer which is designed for comfort

2: The design work on the hulls (slight sheer, rounded bow, rib in the topsides, sculpted portlights) and on the coachroof gives the Astrea a seductive look

3: Under gennaker, the 42 shows great power, and the passage through the water is fluid and agile

4: A silhouette that will allow the Astrea to sail throughout the years without going out of style

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page103

trend in which outdoor spaces meet the expecta-tions of a hedonistic customer, rather than marinecustomer. Both crew and guests will appreciate it.The upholstery is quite revolutionary in its aban-doning of straight ergonomic cuts. Springy cus-hions are becoming widespread, but thisabundance will require more attention to be paidwhen it comes to the maintenance! The bathroomis also one of the new spaces the interior designershave conquered, and on the Astrea, they are al-most unimaginable aboard a 42 footer! She isbeautiful, practical and absolutely functional.

Engine compartments

Here, the Astraea really does well! Despite thebattery bank being located in the starboard enginecompartment, the accessibility of everything me-chanical, the visibility of the essential verificationpoints (coolant level, water filter, saildrive) is verygood. A welded aluminum bracket bolted to the watertight bulkhead supports the upper

bearing of the rudder tube, the quadrant arm, theautopilot ram and the transmission cables for thesteering. All these features seem resistant, well-dimensioned and remain accessible without requi-ring contortions or disassembly. A glance in theengine compartment allows quick and frequentchecks that prevent future worries.

Seatrial

I had the opportunity to discover our model follo-wing the end of the International Multihull Showat La Grande Motte in the South of France. It wasa luxuriously refurbished demonstration model(carbon mast, fiber rigging, membrane sails by In-cidences Sails), but the electric platform, generatorand air conditioning options on this boat don’tmake it the lightest Astrea! We had few hours atsea to familiarize ourselves with the boat, but theconditions were too light to bother making a se-cond trip. So the next opportunity came in Mar-seille at the end of June. We had plenty of fuel andwater tanks 50% full, perfect for a test in realconditions. The carbon mast provides a better me-chanical response and reduced weight up high, andthe f iber rigging reduces cable inertia and whipmovement which can be so harmful to stainless

104

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL SEAWIND 12,60 CATANA 42 BALI 4.3 LAGOON 42BUILDER SEAWIND CATANA BALI LAGOONUPWIND SAIL AREA IN M2 90 102 89,5 94WEIGHT IN KG 8 240 8 900 11 300 12 000BASIC PRICE IN €, £ OR $ EX-TAX 410 000 $ 543 080 € 350 440 € 314 000 €

THE COMPETITION

5

6

Architect and designer: Berret-RacoupeauBuilder: Fountaine-PajotConstruction: Balsa / glass / anti-osmosis

polyester resinLength: 12.58mBeam: 7.20mDraft: 1.25mLight displacement: 11,580kgMaximum displacement: 15,600kgMainsail area: 66m²Genoa: 40m²Water: 2x350lFuel: 1x470l Motors: 2x30hp (2x40hp option)Transmission: Saildrive Price ex-tax: € 345,000 in 3-cabin Maestro version(€349,000 in Quatuor version)Price ex-tax of the boat we tested: € 480,000

Principal options in Euros ex-tax 40hp motors + three-bladed folding propellers: 3,902Carpeting in the cabins: 1,162Outdoor grill: 2,233Garmin 1electronics pack with autopilot:

13,000Oven: 1,6135kg-load washing machine: 1,841400W solar panels: 4,246Gennaker + deck hardware and bowsprit:

11,066 Electric genoa sheet winch: 2,827 Carbon mast: 60,314Antifouling on epoxy primer: 2,884Commissioning and training: 13,600

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page104

T E S T

105

7

8

THE ASTREA 42 BY ISABELLE RACOUPEAU,INTERIOR DESIGNER

Our work on the interior design wascoordinated between upgrading theliving spaces, harmonizing the linesand integrating the functions to makeeverything clear and intuitive to use. I rely on strong, visual lines thatmake it possible to understand andorganize the spaces in a logical wayand to delimit the living areas. On theAstrea 42, the galley is a U-shape,and it offers great opportunities forstorage and accessories. Its volumeis housed within the ergonomics andspace of the saloon. The large baywindows onto the cockpit contributeto a very fluid life on board, by pro-moting circulation inside and outside.The owner's hull is very spacious and offers an innovative, refined ba-throom, with redesigned ergonomics.Lines, colors and materials are allelements that intuitively indicate thefunction of each space. Our work onthe evolution of the interior style wasdone simultaneously with the work onthe exterior design in order to bringtrue coherence in the development of the range of the Fountaine Pajotsailboats.

5- The helm station is a success, allowing the trimmer and helmsman toact effectively without hindering eachother or even solo for interveningquickly without needing to call a crew

6- The lounge-cockpit at the bow wouldbenefit from a shade-sail at anchor

7- The outdoor areas have been particularly well designed

8- There are still new spaces toconquer: the coachroof sundeck is niceand its accessibility well thought-out

steel swages. On the day of our test (1.50mof westerly swell), this argument rang true.Leaving from Le Vieux Port (the dealer fromMidi-Nautisme welcomed us and accompa-nied us on his home waters), we encounte-red a rough sea which had shifted relative tothe axis of the wind (in fact a head sea), a lef-tover from strong northwesterlies. The areabetween Frioul, Planier and the tower of theChâteau d'If is a real water sports stadiumthat offers 25-30 miles of varied and invigo-rating sea and wind conditions which werethe best of the week in Marseille. The wes-terly wind was well established around 15knots true, and our perfectly dimensionedmembrane made the most of this, proving it-self to be the ideal material, with the genoaclew just flush with the coachroof, giving the

illusion of a downward effect... and perfectfor excellent cruising upwind. There is ge-nuine support on the water, and the boatpicks up within the f irst few lengths withconviction. Close-hauled at more than 8knots average reveals the platform’s good ba-lance and pleasant movement despite the re-latively high speed for a cruising catamaran(especially one with a generator in thetrunk)! Further offshore, the sea was stillbuilding and from the bows, I could see howeasily the hulls were passing through thewater in this big chop: pretty astounding!The first time we sailed the boat in the Baied’Aigues Mortes, I felt the agility of this 42footer, but here it was confirmed! With aminimum of effort we were doing between8 and 9 knots, which was not bad at all! Later

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:37 Page105

trend in which outdoor spaces meet the expecta-tions of a hedonistic customer, rather than marinecustomer. Both crew and guests will appreciate it.The upholstery is quite revolutionary in its aban-doning of straight ergonomic cuts. Springy cus-hions are becoming widespread, but thisabundance will require more attention to be paidwhen it comes to the maintenance! The bathroomis also one of the new spaces the interior designershave conquered, and on the Astrea, they are al-most unimaginable aboard a 42 footer! She isbeautiful, practical and absolutely functional.

Engine compartments

Here, the Astraea really does well! Despite thebattery bank being located in the starboard enginecompartment, the accessibility of everything me-chanical, the visibility of the essential verificationpoints (coolant level, water filter, saildrive) is verygood. A welded aluminum bracket bolted to the watertight bulkhead supports the upper

bearing of the rudder tube, the quadrant arm, theautopilot ram and the transmission cables for thesteering. All these features seem resistant, well-dimensioned and remain accessible without requi-ring contortions or disassembly. A glance in theengine compartment allows quick and frequentchecks that prevent future worries.

Seatrial

I had the opportunity to discover our model follo-wing the end of the International Multihull Showat La Grande Motte in the South of France. It wasa luxuriously refurbished demonstration model(carbon mast, fiber rigging, membrane sails by In-cidences Sails), but the electric platform, generatorand air conditioning options on this boat don’tmake it the lightest Astrea! We had few hours atsea to familiarize ourselves with the boat, but theconditions were too light to bother making a se-cond trip. So the next opportunity came in Mar-seille at the end of June. We had plenty of fuel andwater tanks 50% full, perfect for a test in realconditions. The carbon mast provides a better me-chanical response and reduced weight up high, andthe f iber rigging reduces cable inertia and whipmovement which can be so harmful to stainless

104

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL SEAWIND 12,60 CATANA 42 BALI 4.3 LAGOON 42BUILDER SEAWIND CATANA BALI LAGOONUPWIND SAIL AREA IN M2 90 102 89,5 94WEIGHT IN KG 8 240 8 900 11 300 12 000BASIC PRICE IN €, £ OR $ EX-TAX 410 000 $ 543 080 € 350 440 € 314 000 €

THE COMPETITION

5

6

Architect and designer: Berret-RacoupeauBuilder: Fountaine-PajotConstruction: Balsa / glass / anti-osmosis

polyester resinLength: 12.58mBeam: 7.20mDraft: 1.25mLight displacement: 11,580kgMaximum displacement: 15,600kgMainsail area: 66m²Genoa: 40m²Water: 2x350lFuel: 1x470l Motors: 2x30hp (2x40hp option)Transmission: Saildrive Price ex-tax: € 345,000 in 3-cabin Maestro version(€349,000 in Quatuor version)Price ex-tax of the boat we tested: € 480,000

Principal options in Euros ex-tax 40hp motors + three-bladed folding propellers: 3,902Carpeting in the cabins: 1,162Outdoor grill: 2,233Garmin 1electronics pack with autopilot:

13,000Oven: 1,6135kg-load washing machine: 1,841400W solar panels: 4,246Gennaker + deck hardware and bowsprit:

11,066 Electric genoa sheet winch: 2,827 Carbon mast: 60,314Antifouling on epoxy primer: 2,884Commissioning and training: 13,600

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:36 Page104

T E S T

105

7

8

THE ASTREA 42 BY ISABELLE RACOUPEAU,INTERIOR DESIGNER

Our work on the interior design wascoordinated between upgrading theliving spaces, harmonizing the linesand integrating the functions to makeeverything clear and intuitive to use. I rely on strong, visual lines thatmake it possible to understand andorganize the spaces in a logical wayand to delimit the living areas. On theAstrea 42, the galley is a U-shape,and it offers great opportunities forstorage and accessories. Its volumeis housed within the ergonomics andspace of the saloon. The large baywindows onto the cockpit contributeto a very fluid life on board, by pro-moting circulation inside and outside.The owner's hull is very spacious and offers an innovative, refined ba-throom, with redesigned ergonomics.Lines, colors and materials are allelements that intuitively indicate thefunction of each space. Our work onthe evolution of the interior style wasdone simultaneously with the work onthe exterior design in order to bringtrue coherence in the development of the range of the Fountaine Pajotsailboats.

5- The helm station is a success, allowing the trimmer and helmsman toact effectively without hindering eachother or even solo for interveningquickly without needing to call a crew

6- The lounge-cockpit at the bow wouldbenefit from a shade-sail at anchor

7- The outdoor areas have been particularly well designed

8- There are still new spaces toconquer: the coachroof sundeck is niceand its accessibility well thought-out

steel swages. On the day of our test (1.50mof westerly swell), this argument rang true.Leaving from Le Vieux Port (the dealer fromMidi-Nautisme welcomed us and accompa-nied us on his home waters), we encounte-red a rough sea which had shifted relative tothe axis of the wind (in fact a head sea), a lef-tover from strong northwesterlies. The areabetween Frioul, Planier and the tower of theChâteau d'If is a real water sports stadiumthat offers 25-30 miles of varied and invigo-rating sea and wind conditions which werethe best of the week in Marseille. The wes-terly wind was well established around 15knots true, and our perfectly dimensionedmembrane made the most of this, proving it-self to be the ideal material, with the genoaclew just flush with the coachroof, giving the

illusion of a downward effect... and perfectfor excellent cruising upwind. There is ge-nuine support on the water, and the boatpicks up within the f irst few lengths withconviction. Close-hauled at more than 8knots average reveals the platform’s good ba-lance and pleasant movement despite the re-latively high speed for a cruising catamaran(especially one with a generator in thetrunk)! Further offshore, the sea was stillbuilding and from the bows, I could see howeasily the hulls were passing through thewater in this big chop: pretty astounding!The first time we sailed the boat in the Baied’Aigues Mortes, I felt the agility of this 42footer, but here it was confirmed! With aminimum of effort we were doing between8 and 9 knots, which was not bad at all! Later

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106

T E S T

15

� The overall lines � Agility on the water� The outdoor spaces and the interior

layout� Effective reefing system

� The system for securing the exteriorupholstery

� The lifting platform (optional, butheavy and expensive)

� The aesthetics of the bowsprit � Lack of clutches for the genoa sheets

10

11

12

13

9 : The new upholstery designed with Serge Ferrari renews the level of comfort in the cockpit

10: An "urban-chic" style deftly transposed on board.The layouts on catamarans are going through arevolutionary change

11: The Alpi furniture is pretty, and the carpentry neat:Great design!

12: The interior-exterior connections as well as thefunctional ergonomics were the object of much attention, and the results are remarkable

13: Neat decor, with carefully studied light and volumesand access to attractive beds. Note the large sliding drawer under the bed for your travel bags!

14: Astrea by Fountaine Pajot! An pleasant atmospherein only 42 feet

15: For a 42 footer, it’s an amazing shower room!

under screecher (a gennaker in spinnaker cloth) in a slightly gentlerbreeze, we bore away to 140° off the wind which was between 8 and9 knots, sometimes, 10 and instruments reported a peak at 12.1 knotsthat honestly I did not feel (the comfort in the galley during lunch wasmisleading!). The autopilot did sterling work in a well-formed sea, a signthat the effort that went into hydrodynamics had borne fruit. Despitethese very positive results on the water, there is still the small regretof not accelerating more downwind, but we have to put all this in thecontext of a very comfortable boat that hides some of the sensation ofspeed, whilst remaining very real. Sliding across the water will occurlater downwind in a bigger breeze, no doubt.

Conclusion

A beautiful cruising machine which is comfortable and accessible (tech-nically)! The relationship between ease of handling, maneuverability incongested marinas and (interior-exterior) benefits is remarkable. Steal-thy enough to slip into a small Greek port; agile and seaworthy enoughto create long wild blue wakes or taking a quiet trip on the coast, theAstrea is a multihull full of qualities. I appreciated its dynamic qualitiesand think the owners who have the wisdom not to overload it will enjoya catamaran which easy to live on and to set off on (subject to the bud-get of course!).

9

14

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:37 Page106

T E S T

105

7

8

THE ASTREA 42 BY ISABELLE RACOUPEAU,INTERIOR DESIGNER

Our work on the interior design wascoordinated between upgrading theliving spaces, harmonizing the linesand integrating the functions to makeeverything clear and intuitive to use. I rely on strong, visual lines thatmake it possible to understand andorganize the spaces in a logical wayand to delimit the living areas. On theAstrea 42, the galley is a U-shape,and it offers great opportunities forstorage and accessories. Its volumeis housed within the ergonomics andspace of the saloon. The large baywindows onto the cockpit contributeto a very fluid life on board, by pro-moting circulation inside and outside.The owner's hull is very spacious and offers an innovative, refined ba-throom, with redesigned ergonomics.Lines, colors and materials are allelements that intuitively indicate thefunction of each space. Our work onthe evolution of the interior style wasdone simultaneously with the work onthe exterior design in order to bringtrue coherence in the development of the range of the Fountaine Pajotsailboats.

5- The helm station is a success, allowing the trimmer and helmsman toact effectively without hindering eachother or even solo for interveningquickly without needing to call a crew

6- The lounge-cockpit at the bow wouldbenefit from a shade-sail at anchor

7- The outdoor areas have been particularly well designed

8- There are still new spaces toconquer: the coachroof sundeck is niceand its accessibility well thought-out

steel swages. On the day of our test (1.50mof westerly swell), this argument rang true.Leaving from Le Vieux Port (the dealer fromMidi-Nautisme welcomed us and accompa-nied us on his home waters), we encounte-red a rough sea which had shifted relative tothe axis of the wind (in fact a head sea), a lef-tover from strong northwesterlies. The areabetween Frioul, Planier and the tower of theChâteau d'If is a real water sports stadiumthat offers 25-30 miles of varied and invigo-rating sea and wind conditions which werethe best of the week in Marseille. The wes-terly wind was well established around 15knots true, and our perfectly dimensionedmembrane made the most of this, proving it-self to be the ideal material, with the genoaclew just flush with the coachroof, giving the

illusion of a downward effect... and perfectfor excellent cruising upwind. There is ge-nuine support on the water, and the boatpicks up within the f irst few lengths withconviction. Close-hauled at more than 8knots average reveals the platform’s good ba-lance and pleasant movement despite the re-latively high speed for a cruising catamaran(especially one with a generator in thetrunk)! Further offshore, the sea was stillbuilding and from the bows, I could see howeasily the hulls were passing through thewater in this big chop: pretty astounding!The first time we sailed the boat in the Baied’Aigues Mortes, I felt the agility of this 42footer, but here it was confirmed! With aminimum of effort we were doing between8 and 9 knots, which was not bad at all! Later

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:37 Page105

106

T E S T

15

� The overall lines � Agility on the water� The outdoor spaces and the interior

layout� Effective reefing system

� The system for securing the exteriorupholstery

� The lifting platform (optional, butheavy and expensive)

� The aesthetics of the bowsprit � Lack of clutches for the genoa sheets

10

11

12

13

9 : The new upholstery designed with Serge Ferrari renews the level of comfort in the cockpit

10: An "urban-chic" style deftly transposed on board.The layouts on catamarans are going through arevolutionary change

11: The Alpi furniture is pretty, and the carpentry neat:Great design!

12: The interior-exterior connections as well as thefunctional ergonomics were the object of much attention, and the results are remarkable

13: Neat decor, with carefully studied light and volumesand access to attractive beds. Note the large sliding drawer under the bed for your travel bags!

14: Astrea by Fountaine Pajot! An pleasant atmospherein only 42 feet

15: For a 42 footer, it’s an amazing shower room!

under screecher (a gennaker in spinnaker cloth) in a slightly gentlerbreeze, we bore away to 140° off the wind which was between 8 and9 knots, sometimes, 10 and instruments reported a peak at 12.1 knotsthat honestly I did not feel (the comfort in the galley during lunch wasmisleading!). The autopilot did sterling work in a well-formed sea, a signthat the effort that went into hydrodynamics had borne fruit. Despitethese very positive results on the water, there is still the small regretof not accelerating more downwind, but we have to put all this in thecontext of a very comfortable boat that hides some of the sensation ofspeed, whilst remaining very real. Sliding across the water will occurlater downwind in a bigger breeze, no doubt.

Conclusion

A beautiful cruising machine which is comfortable and accessible (tech-nically)! The relationship between ease of handling, maneuverability incongested marinas and (interior-exterior) benefits is remarkable. Steal-thy enough to slip into a small Greek port; agile and seaworthy enoughto create long wild blue wakes or taking a quiet trip on the coast, theAstrea is a multihull full of qualities. I appreciated its dynamic qualitiesand think the owners who have the wisdom not to overload it will enjoya catamaran which easy to live on and to set off on (subject to the bud-get of course!).

9

14

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107

The foresails are secureddown to a structural bowsprit

which is connected to the compression beam.

An excellent solution, but the design could be reviewed

Thumbs up forthe area set

aside for solarpanels

The shape of the bows is elegant

The forward sunbathing area, a new, much-appreciated outdoor space. The temperature here could be controlled with ashade at anchor

The helm station is a real success:the position of the wheel (cable linkage), clarity of the deck layoutand ease of sail handling (reefing,tacking)

Beautiful sails! Without going as far asmembrane sails, a little bit extra investedin sail power increases the appeal… butmaybe at the expense of other options!

The “eyebrows” of the anthracitegray gelcoat of the coachroofand the black uprights contri-bute positively to the look ofthe coachroof

The helm seat is wideand comfortable, anddoesn’t hinder accessto the sunbathingarea or sail trimming

With a slightly rounded deck-edge, a break in the stem, and a rib running along the upper third, the design of the hulls really adds to theseductive outline

The comfort of the aft bench seat perfectly illustratesthe new approach of the upholstery no longer beingan accessory, but an important comfort factor.

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:37 Page107

106

T E S T

15

� The overall lines � Agility on the water� The outdoor spaces and the interior

layout� Effective reefing system

� The system for securing the exteriorupholstery

� The lifting platform (optional, butheavy and expensive)

� The aesthetics of the bowsprit � Lack of clutches for the genoa sheets

10

11

12

13

9 : The new upholstery designed with Serge Ferrari renews the level of comfort in the cockpit

10: An "urban-chic" style deftly transposed on board.The layouts on catamarans are going through arevolutionary change

11: The Alpi furniture is pretty, and the carpentry neat:Great design!

12: The interior-exterior connections as well as thefunctional ergonomics were the object of much attention, and the results are remarkable

13: Neat decor, with carefully studied light and volumesand access to attractive beds. Note the large sliding drawer under the bed for your travel bags!

14: Astrea by Fountaine Pajot! An pleasant atmospherein only 42 feet

15: For a 42 footer, it’s an amazing shower room!

under screecher (a gennaker in spinnaker cloth) in a slightly gentlerbreeze, we bore away to 140° off the wind which was between 8 and9 knots, sometimes, 10 and instruments reported a peak at 12.1 knotsthat honestly I did not feel (the comfort in the galley during lunch wasmisleading!). The autopilot did sterling work in a well-formed sea, a signthat the effort that went into hydrodynamics had borne fruit. Despitethese very positive results on the water, there is still the small regretof not accelerating more downwind, but we have to put all this in thecontext of a very comfortable boat that hides some of the sensation ofspeed, whilst remaining very real. Sliding across the water will occurlater downwind in a bigger breeze, no doubt.

Conclusion

A beautiful cruising machine which is comfortable and accessible (tech-nically)! The relationship between ease of handling, maneuverability incongested marinas and (interior-exterior) benefits is remarkable. Steal-thy enough to slip into a small Greek port; agile and seaworthy enoughto create long wild blue wakes or taking a quiet trip on the coast, theAstrea is a multihull full of qualities. I appreciated its dynamic qualitiesand think the owners who have the wisdom not to overload it will enjoya catamaran which easy to live on and to set off on (subject to the bud-get of course!).

9

14

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:37 Page106

107

The foresails are secureddown to a structural bowsprit

which is connected to the compression beam.

An excellent solution, but the design could be reviewed

Thumbs up forthe area set

aside for solarpanels

The shape of the bows is elegant

The forward sunbathing area, a new, much-appreciated outdoor space. The temperature here could be controlled with ashade at anchor

The helm station is a real success:the position of the wheel (cable linkage), clarity of the deck layoutand ease of sail handling (reefing,tacking)

Beautiful sails! Without going as far asmembrane sails, a little bit extra investedin sail power increases the appeal… butmaybe at the expense of other options!

The “eyebrows” of the anthracitegray gelcoat of the coachroofand the black uprights contri-bute positively to the look ofthe coachroof

The helm seat is wideand comfortable, anddoesn’t hinder accessto the sunbathingarea or sail trimming

With a slightly rounded deck-edge, a break in the stem, and a rib running along the upper third, the design of the hulls really adds to theseductive outline

The comfort of the aft bench seat perfectly illustratesthe new approach of the upholstery no longer beingan accessory, but an important comfort factor.

102-107 Astrea 42_MM190-US.qxp_Mise en page 1 17/07/2018 15:37 Page107