king of bavaria yacht

The Rütli fan

Bavarian King Ludwig II was a somewhat eccentric monarch. But he was a fan of Switzerland, and of Central Switzerland in particular. He even wanted to buy the Rütli.

Michael van Orsouw

Michael van Orsouw has a PhD in history and is a performance poet and author. He regularly publishes historical books.

On 20 October 1865, the Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne was already quite full. When a traveller from Bavaria asked for rooms for himself and his companions, there were only three rooms left. The Bavarian was given an ordinary room on the fourth floor, and his companions two rooms on the second floor. When the hotel management discovered that the German guest was Ludwig II, the King of Bavaria himself, they were deeply embarrassed and immediately offered the monarch the ‘royal’ suite on the first floor. But the King declined the offer with thanks; perhaps he was also pleased that, for once, his incognito travelling had worked. The young Bavarian King was visiting Switzerland not officially as a state guest, but unofficially, as a private citizen. He had been King for just a year. But he had already tired of the politics. The intrigues in the German Confederation were of no interest to him, and as a result he was rarely seen in Munich playing his kingly role. He much preferred to devote himself to culture.

Historic photograph of the Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne. The photo was taken around 1875. Swiss National Museum

Ludwig was more interested in art than in politics. He was particularly taken with William Tell. He therefore travelled to Central Switzerland in 1865.

After seeing Giacomo Rossini’s opera William Tell, the locations of the Tell epic held a magical attraction for him. Ludwig was something of a quixotic personality type, and had already idolised Tell. As a 15-year-old, he bought a statuette of William Tell out of his own modest pocket money. Three years later he bought the book The Legend of Tell. Now he was 20 years old, and walking in Tell’s footsteps. From Lucerne, the crowned head of state travelled on to Brunnen, where he stayed at the unpretentious ‘Weisses Rössli’, close to the pier. With the Tell book in his luggage, in the following days Ludwig II visited the Rütli, the Stauffacher Chapel, the ‘Hohle Gasse’ in Küssnacht, the principal town of Schwyz, and Seelisberg and Bürglen. He also went three times to the famous ‘Tellsplatte’ or Tell’s Slab, with its Tellskapelle, the old Tell’s Chapel, in which he was particularly interested.

WATER FROM THE RÜTLI SPRINGS

He was just as enraptured by the Rütli, where the Rütli oath is alleged to have been sworn at the confluence of three water sources. Ludwig II knelt there in order to drink from all three springs at the same time. He also climbed up to Seelisberg to admire the view of ‘the mirror of the blissful lake lying far below and the place where a heroic, freedom-loving people swore the overthrow of tyranny’, as he put it in a somewhat turgid letter to Richard Wagner. The King ignored the fact that at home in Munich he tended to struggle with liberal advances of any kind. Instead, he envisioned how he could build a castle at this mythically charged place. The young King expressed an interest in buying the Rütli. That would have been quite something: if Ludwig II had bought the Rütli and built one of his fairy-tale castles on it! His Neuschwanstein Castle, pulling in more than 1.5 million visitors per year, is the most visited travel destination in Germany. But Ludwig was several years too late. The Rütli has enjoyed ‘inalienable national property’ status since 1860, and has been put in the care of the Schweizerische Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft (Swiss Society for the Common Good) for administration.

The Tell myth not only made an impact on the King of Bavaria, but has also been cited or depicted in artworks time and again all around the world, as in this painting by Anton Zucchi. Swiss National Museum

Neuschwanstein Castle in a photograph dating from 1886 or 1887. It was built for Ludwig and is an idealised medieval castle. Wikimedia

Ludwig also had another vision for the Tellsplatte, whose mystical story he loved just as much as that of the Rütli. For the Tellsplatte, he envisioned the construction of a gigantic statue of Tell. He planned for this statue to be on such a huge scale that the big steamships would be able to pass between its legs. But this idea too came to nothing. The Bavarian King wanted at least to be involved in the restoration of the paintings in Tell’s Chapel on the Tellsplatte.

In addition, Uri natives attempted to foist on the Bavarian King the Wirtshaus Tell, a tavern in Bürglen – they called it the ‘original home of William Tell’, although nobody could say that with any certainty. They were asking 100,000 francs for the tavern, which for the rates at the time was a vastly overinflated price. Negotiations with the innkeeper, Franz Epp, were already well advanced when the abrupt arrival of dismal October weather drove the monarch out of Switzerland. The sale fell through, but at least Ludwig left with some landscape paintings of Uri scenery, painted by Jost Anton Muheim, in his luggage.

Print of Bürglen. The work was produced in 1825. Swiss National Museum

Painting of the Häderlis Bridge over the River Reuss, by Jost Anton Muheim, around 1890. Wikimedia

A DESIRE TO BE AN HONORARY CITIZEN OF URI

In the course of his contacts with people from Uri and Schwyz, the monarch had mentioned in passing that he would be very pleased to be granted honorary citizenship ‘by the Cantons of Schwyz and Uri’. But the Uri government baulked. On 5 March 1866, 12 Uri citizens submitted a petition. They requested that Ludwig be granted honorary citizenship ‘in view of his truly noble disposition towards the original Switzerland and his proven especial veneration of the founder of our liberty, Wilhelm Tell’. The petition was signed by, among others, Bürglen innkeepers Franz Epp from the ‘Tell’ and Anton Lauener from the ‘Adler’, the politician Anton Müller and the landscape painter Jost Anton Muheim, who had sold Ludwig his paintings – the initiators were thus all people who would profit by him. The Zuger Volksblatt newspaper considered the proposal to be very unrepublican: ‘We see in it a fawning play for royal favour – perhaps for filthy gold and gifts!’

But before the Landsgemeinde (cantonal assembly) was able to discuss the request, Federal Councillor Jakob Dubs intervened: foreigners should only be given honorary citizenship if they renounced their existing citizenship. Well, it was unthinkable for a Bavarian king to renounce his citizenship of his own country, so the Uri petitioners withdrew their petition after the intervention from Bern. After 12 days in Switzerland, the Bavarian King returned to Hohenschwangau. He had thoroughly enjoyed his trip: ‘I was enraptured.’ He was less enthusiastic about the people, however, as he wrote in one letter: ‘Regrettably, the people there are not as ideal as the wonderful country. – They are indeed pious, worthy and industrious, but completely lacking in special talents, without the merest impetus of the intellect.’ Officially, however, the Bavarian King lied, diplomatically writing to the Schwyzer Zeitung newspaper: ‘The memory of my visit to splendid Central Switzerland and the honest, free people, which may God bless, shall always be dear to me. Yours in esteem, Ludwig’

Portrait of Federal Councillor Jakob Dubs. Wikimedia

Published on: 31.07.2019

Modified on: 01.09.2020

URL: https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2019/07/the-bavarian-king-was-a-ruetli-fan/

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Bavaria C42 review: The Ford Model T of 40ft yachts

• Toby Hodges
• February 11, 2021

The Bavaria C42 needs to offer bang for your buck if it is to stand out in a crowded field of 40ft cruisers. Toby Hodges takes the new offering for a gusty autumn sail to see what she's made of.

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

What constitutes ‘good value’? What you get for your money in any market segment often comes down to size – be that square feet of real estate area or gigabytes of memory. But is bigger necessarily better value?

Sailors with the means and desire to buy new understandably seek as much value for money as they can get for that size. What we’ve seen over the last decade is a marked increase in the volume to length ratio of new yachts, and more recently in the way contemporary hull shapes can further boost internal volumes at each end. 

For a production yard to stay competitive though, it needs to offer more than just bang for your buck. It needs to be shrewd in its design and innovative enough to lure you away from the competition, to make you think its yachts are roomier, brighter and better. It needs to make boats that the crew want to spend time aboard, and are practical to manage or give the helmsman an enjoyable hands-on experience; preferably both. Value should include some emotive quality too – the hard to quantify satisfaction you get from using it.

This is a tall order. But as we surged down yet another wave face on our test sail I came to the conclusion that this new Bavaria offers that extra value. It was a fleeting taster of powered-up offwind sailing, but in a year of abnormality, a particularly memorable one. And in such a competitive marketplace, that extra something is what’s needed to stand out from the crowd.

Ups ‘n’ downs

The production yacht world doesn’t get any more competitive than in the 40ft sector, a size that remains so appealing for both private family cruising and charter. And I’m going to keep referring to the C42 as 40ft, because that’s the hull length without the optional bowsprit.

Before we consider Bavaria’s answer to the 40 footer question, let’s remember this company has been through its share of challenges recently. In 2018 it was flying high with a new C-line from 45-65ft. Yet by September that year, rather than celebrating its 40th anniversary, it was filing for insolvency.

Tall deck-stepped mast and the most sail area in its class help give the Bavaria notable performance. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

This C42 is the first model developed under Bavaria’s new management. It caused a stir when it was unveiled last January, with crowds queuing for an hour to view it at the Düsseldorf Boat Show . But then followed the global pandemic, when “order intake collapsed almost completely,” explains CEO Michael Müller. He points out that work has only been running at full capacity again since October. Bavaria’s financials must read like a heart rate monitor. 

All of which makes the C42 a crucial new model for a yard on the rebound. This is Maurizio Cossutti’s fourth Bavaria design and he opted for a clever and powerful shape, the first Bavaria with hard chines and a rounded ‘V-bow’. As I was to discover, these features make a crucial difference, both down below and on the water.

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One of the first and most striking things to note about sailing the C42 is the direct feel of the helm, which engages you immediately. This design may be in keeping with today’s breed of production cruiser, with its full bow sections and generous beam carried aft, but it’s unusual not to marry that shape with twin rudders. Bavaria says its owners want the close-quarters manoeuvrability that prop wash over a single rudder helps to provide. The C42 proved easy in reverse too, without the tendency of twin rudders to slam to one side once they catch.

Sailors will feel the benefit under canvas immediately. The Jefa steering linkage from the twin wheels to the single, easily accessible quadrant in-between is kept to a minimum, giving the best chance for direct feel.

Autumnal shakedown

With the in-mast mainsail and self-tacking jib fully unfurled (Elvstrom Sporttech laminate), we punched out into the Solent to meet photographer Rick Tomlinson. It was typical easterly conditions, with big variance in the strong gusts as we dialled down from a beam to a deep broad reach, endeavouring to keep speed up and apparent wind down.

The coachroof line is brought right aft, which draws out the lines and creates protective coamings for the cockpit. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

I particularly enjoyed the feel provided by the modestly sized single spade rudder as we surged down waves, making 7-9+ knots SOG against the tide, with gusts now up to the high 20s. (Note, we had no log installed, but the polars confirm that in anything over 20 knots the C42 is capable of hitting double figures reaching, and over 9 knots in 16 true.)

The chine and beam were doing what they should and buying form stability, while the bulbous stem kept trim bow-up. This powerful hull shape is allied with a 20m mast that sets around 100m2 of upwind sail area. That is a whopping 30% more than the Oceanis 40.1 and makes for a potent sail area to displacement ratio. 

It points to a yacht that you can keep sailing in light winds – indeed my fellow European Yacht of the Year judges confirmed the C42 performs handsomely in sub 10-knot breeze – and one that should be able to maintain respectable passagemaking speeds even while reefed.

With power comes the need to treat it with respect. Thankfully, the rudder did what it should do and let me know when we were pressed and provided the chance to let off more sheet. Again, this is a marked difference from the majority of today’s cruising yachts with deep twin rudders, which tend to maintain grip at all angles and make you question what the fuse will be when you do push the boat.

The C42 features hard chines and a full bow, both of which help buy internal volume. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

A German mainsheet system is only an option on the Bavaria, and not one chosen for the test boat. Instead, and unusually nowadays, the main was sheeted to one of the companionway winches. So although you get the polite notification to ease from the rudder, you need to communicate this to a crewmember by the winch. Therefore, were I buying this boat for short-handed easy cruising – as is suggested by the self-tacking jib and in-mast mainsail set-up – I’d opt for the extra set of winches aft for the mainsheet.

The pedestals are mounted as close to the transom as possible to maximise the length of the cockpit benches. So it’s a little cramped in the quarters, particularly by the split backstay, but it doesn’t feel unsafe and the pay-off in cockpit size is worthwhile.

The mainsheet bridle set-up is a common system, which keeps the mainsheet out of the cockpit. But there’s no traveller option and it’s mounted more than half way forward along the boom, which puts a lot of load on the midboom section and places a reliance on the vang for mainsail shape. However, this arrangement does allow for a large companionway entrance.

The helms are right aft in the quarters. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

The winch layout spreads out the sheets and running rigging, so it’s not all piling up in one place. But there is no provision for the tail ends as standard, so bags or clips would need to be fitted to prevent a snake pit at the base of the companionway.

Sailing deep was manageable in the Force 6 gusting 7, with active crewmembers manning winches, but with the wind against tide conditions producing 1.5-2m overfalls to head back into, we needed to shorten sail to turn upwind.

With a couple of metres taken out of the foot of the main and three rolls in the genoa, the Bavaria felt comfortable as we beat upwind at 35-40° to the apparent breeze (7-8 knots SOG with tide). Given the conditions, the motion was not uncomfortable. The boat seemed relatively stiff without launching off waves or slamming. 

However, after a couple of tacks the rig called time and the shrouds went alarmingly slack. Without rigging tools on board to tighten up the bottlescrews properly, we had to furl sails and accept a long motor home. 

We tested the Bavaria on the Solent, UK in easterly winds of 18-29 knots. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Disappointing as it was, this was a new boat, sailing in strong breeze and waves for the first time. I would estimate that the standing rigging had only been loosely tightened and the wire shrouds had not had any chance to settle, stretch and be adjusted accordingly . Indeed the dealer, Clipper Marine, commented later: “the rig hadn’t been bedded in, nor had the riggers had a chance to do the pre-delivery inspection because of COVID restrictions – when we would have re-tuned the rig before handover.”

The aft helms leave room for a very generous cockpit table and long benches, which have proper coamings to give backrest support and some protection. Locker space is conservative in two shallow bench lockers, a port quarter locker and a sail locker. The latter has only a small hatch, which will limit the size of sail (or fenders) that it can accommodate.

The berth in forward cabin is particularly large. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Outer and inner space

The coachroof is a clever design, which starts far forward to maximise headroom below. It is kept low and flat-topped, which allows good visibility forward from the helms and means the roof itself can accommodate sunbathing cushions.

Bavaria has incorporated an extra-long companionway roof, to allow for maximum light to enter the interior and for a gently angled descent. First impressions and a sense of space when going below is crucial, as it helps create that feeling of getting a lot of boat for your money.

Hanse was early onto this with the development of its loft-style interiors, which began over a decade ago. And latterly Groupe Beneteau has found a new way of increasing living space by adding volume to the bows in conjunction with increased beam aft. Bavaria seems to have combined the best of both ideas, so you really do keep asking yourself if this boat is really only 40ft. 

The darker walnut veneer of the test boat. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Inviting the considerable amount of natural light in through hatches, portholes and coachroof windows helps. The space is also used smartly, apportioning it most where it’s typically needed – in the saloon and cabins. The L-shaped galley is practical enough and there is a navstation of sorts, which shares the forward end of the port saloon berth.

The berth in the forward cabin looks particularly large as it is taken right out to the hull sides (1.80×2.07m). The fact that there is room to mount the headboard forward and to house the extra (optional) 250lt water tank below the berth points to the sheer volume in the bows. 

Fine Detailing

The forward end of the port sofa forms the chart table seat. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

You can tell Bavaria has paid close attention to detail, in particular with the wood and veneer work, the lighting and home comforts. Personally I prefer the lighter Alpi veneer rather than the darker walnut of the test boat and find the use of dark grey panels on the bulkheads and heads area a little cold. I’d also choose a second heads if having a three-cabin boat. 

The saloon feels especially roomy, a perception aided by the deck-stepped mast. Credit to the yard for including a table that can seat so many in its open format yet can fold over to halve in size and give walkthrough access. 

However, I did take issue with the square edges and sharp corners this leaves on the saloon table (and chart table). Bavaria’s product manager, Pascal Kuhn, has assured me these will be modified, and you can see in the main saloon picture how the corner is now angled, but the edges remain an area of concern.

The table doubles over to join the port sofa. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

An extra couple of grab handles around this space between the galley, heads and saloon table would also be useful, but the galley surfaces are all fiddled and there is a sturdy support post by the curved companionway steps.

The joinery feels solid. The sole panels in particular were noticeably quiet underfoot. Although Bavaria’s method of screwing these down is not so practical for accessing the bilge in a hurry, there are numerous panels to allow access to all areas.

All five companionway steps lift to get at the forward end of the engine and there are good side panels in each aft cabin. 

Look beneath the scenes and you begin to notice a few scrappier details. I don’t like seeing electronics mounted in non-watertight lockers, for example, and the use of bare ply and veneered bulkheads here are unlikely to prove durable. I also think it a backward step that Bavaria has returned to using hand lay-up for manufacture instead of vacuum infusion.

The Bavaria C42 is designed to hit that broadest of markets, the Ford Model T of 40ft production cruisers, yet it shows that mass market does not have to mean boring. Take the wheel of this powerful design in a breeze and you’ll soon find you can have your new voluminous family cruiser and still actively enjoy the sailing. The Bavaria is not without its flaws, but wherever you look you seem to discover added value. There is maximum space where you want it, in the accommodation, saloon and cockpit, all fitted into a clever hull shape that offers stability and performance. Every industry needs models that set the standard in their range. The C42 sets a new bar in the 40ft sector and, therefore, potentially what should be deemed ‘good value’ today.

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

The most boat for your money? Bavaria C38 yacht test

• Theo Stocker
• April 26, 2021

Competition is hot for high-volume cruisers, but have Bavaria built a boat that is fun to sail as well as spacious and affordable? Theo Stocker took her for a spin to find out

Product Overview

Bavaria c38.

• Fun and engaging to sail
• Vast amounts of space
• A lot of boat for your money
• Limited stowage in 3-cabin version
• Mainsheet lacked power
• Some exposed systems in lockers

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:.

A job worth doing is worth doing properly, so the saying goes. There’s no doubt that Bavaria have committed wholeheartedly to the concept behind their new C38 and the result is a boat fully confident in its identity. That’s a good job, given the level of competition the C38 will be up against in the 37-38ft production cruiser market.

This boat aims to do three things: create the absolute maximum amount of space on deck and below from the available waterline length; be enjoyable and engaging to sail, if not a race boat; and give a potential buyer the maximum bang for their buck. In practice, the design has added significant volume in both the bow and the stern, introduced a deeper, rounder forefoot to reduce slamming, and has deepened the single rudder, which, coupled with the bow thruster, should give plenty of control in harbour and underway.

A first look at the boat reveals a few significant details. Firstly, her waterline takes up almost her entire length, with virtually no overhangs at the ends. Then there are the chines. This is only the second Bavaria to have hull chines, and they are used to take the significant beam, which is carried all the way aft, down to the water, creating more volume in the aft cabins, as well as providing power to the hull form. Next, there’s the huge bluff bow and vertical stem, again multiplying the volume in the forward cabin. Pretty it might not be, but there’s a certain purposeful muscularity to it.

Bavaria Yachts, the company, gained new owners in 2018, and they’ve been quick to make a fresh start, starting with a plan to update the entire range. Having moved from design house J&J to Cossutti Design, the C38 is the latest, smallest boat in the new lineup. The strongly chined hull shape makes a bold statement about that new direction. I was keen to see how this added up on the water.

TEST VERDICT

If you looked at this yacht and thought the vast volume would make her a poor sailer, you would be mistaken. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much fun we had sailing her. The feel on the helm was direct, responsive and engaging; this boat is fun to sail. She wasn’t twitchy even when overpressed and gave plenty of warning before the rudder started to lose grip. This boat reminds you of why a single rudder makes sense, and is deep enough that she has plenty of grip even when heeled, which is the main reason wide-sterned boats have twin rudders. The benefits when handling in harbour are huge, given that manoeuvring and mooring is the most stressful part of any cruise for most owners.

Granted, the mainsheet purchase needs a bit of improvement, but if I were buying this boat, I’d go for the more easily handled furling main and self-tacking jib, with the Code Zero for the extra sail area to keep the boat moving off the wind. This would seem to fit with the ethos of simple and fun sailing that this boat ascribes to.

WOULD SHE SUIT YOU AND YOUR CREW?

I’d imagine this boat will prove popular with sailing schools and charter companies, but if you’re after maximum boat for your buck for family coastal cruising, this is definitely worth a look too.

The idea of having three king-sized beds on what is really a 36-foot hull is staggering. You’d have to weigh up whether you want an ensuite owner’s head enough to sacrifice some of this bed space in the forward cabin, but given the layout options, there seems little reason to go for the two-cabin rather than three-cabin layout. If you’re not using the third you could still use it for the stowage you’d be missing out on.

Given the price point of this boat, the quality of finish was really very good, and the resurrected Bavaria has upped its game several notches. Arguably, the C38 could now be the boat to beat in this size sector and you’ll struggle to get more new boat for your money than this.

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Sailboat Review: Bavaria C38

• By Mark Pillsbury
• April 20, 2022

For the past several years, practically all of the design surprises that have caught my eye on new sailboats have been abaft the mast. In no particular order, these innovative features include hull chines, twin rudders, pop-up TVs, house-style refrigerators, galleys forward in the saloon, sinks and grills on the stern, sun beds between a ­monohull’s twin wheels, and lounges on the coachroof to either side of the companionway. Some of these make the boat sail ­better, while others make it a more comfortable place to enjoy life on the water.

But this past fall, it was the pointy end—or, should I say, the not-so-pointy end—of the Bavaria C38 that stood out. It made an impression from above, as I looked across the broad foredeck, and down ­below, where the builder’s in-house team and Cossutti Yacht Design somehow found a way to install a king-size berth in the owner’s stateroom, while still leaving room for a hanging locker and a head-and-shower compartment, all forward of the mast.

For a decade or more, even as beam measurement amidships has steadily increased and been carried aft to allow for ever more spacious twin staterooms, most boats still have been built with a bow that’s shaped like an arrow point. The Bavaria V-bow, as the company calls it, has a more radial shape and ­hullsides that flare out above the waterline, creating all that living space in the interior. 

In a briefing with CW ’s Boat of the Year judges, a ­company representative described the 38 as a family coastal ­cruiser. I thought that design brief seemed pretty accurate as we went through the boat, and later took it out for a sail. If kids and their friends are the crew, you could pack a pile of them into the two aft cabins, and the dining table in the saloon drops down to form a third double berth. And they could all share the head and shower compartment to starboard, at the foot of the companionway. Meantime, mom and pop can escape to the big forward stateroom. 

The forward stateroom’s en suite head compartment does cut into a corner of the berth, but couples who plan to only occasionally have grandkids or friends aboard can ­forgo the forward head. They also could turn one of the aft cabins into a workspace or stowage, which is standard.

In all three configurations, the saloon stays unchanged. A settee, with a nav desk forward of it, is to port, opposite the dining table and a U-shaped, cushioned seat. The tabletop folds open to handle a crew of six or more. Abaft the ­settee is an L-shaped galley with a sink, fridge and three-burner gas stove. The boat we visited ­also had a microwave. Stowage seemed adequate for coastal-­hopping, and the counters had fiddles to keep things from sliding off when heeled.

Topsides, the cockpit ­coamings make good backrests on the benches forward of the twin wheels. The seats are a bit too short for sleeping, the judges noted, but stepping out over the coamings isn’t ­difficult when headed forward.

Having owned (and ­sanded and varnished) a boat with exterior wood handrails and trim, I appreciated the C38’s low-maintenance exterior finish. The raised bulwarks and deck are fiberglass, and handrails on the cabin top are stainless steel. The only exterior wood is on the centerline table in the cockpit. That table’s after end doubles as a nifty place to mount a plotter because it’s visible from either helm. Far forward, there’s a chain locker with good access to the windlass and anchor rode. The anchor itself is stowed on a roller that extends forward, and the bow is further ­protected from accidental dings by a stainless-steel plate. Aft, there is equally good access to the emergency steering and ­quadrant for the single rudder.

A base-model C38 has a price tag of $248,000, but a model that’s well fitted out, like the one we visited, goes for $350,000, delivered to the United States, East Coast. Among the options ­included on the C38 we sailed were three air-conditioning units, a Fusion sound system, and synthetic teak called Esthec on the cockpit seats and sole, and the swim platform. Hardware and electronics were from Seldén, Lewmar and B&G. Sails were from Elvstrøm.

Bavaria builds 500-plus sailboats a year at its factory in Germany, and the C38 is the smallest in the five-boat Cossutti-designed C line; the flagship is a 57-footer. The company builds two other lines of cruising sailboats—the Cruiser and Vision ranges—for a total of 16 models starting at 32 feet.

Bavaria’s hulls and decks are all hand-laminated, with foam coring between inner and outer layers of fiberglass. Aluminum plates are in the composite sandwich wherever hardwaare is to be ­mounted. Hulls and decks are joined with adhesive and screws.

Underway, the C38 is a relatively simple boat to sail, with in-mast furling for the main and a self-tacking jib, also set on a furler. The boat doesn’t have a traveler, so when beating upwind, tacking requires just a turn of the wheel.

A double-ended mainsheet is led back to winches ­within reach of either of the twin wheels, and sail control lines are all led across the coachroof to clutches and a pair of winches on either side of the companionway. There are also genoa tracks mounted on deck and sheet winches on either coaming, should an owner opt for an overlapping genoa.

Underway, I found that visibility from either wheel was good, thanks to the low-profile cabin. The stainless-steel stern pulpit makes a good backrest when sitting down to steer.

We had moderate conditions the day we took the boat out for a sail on the Chesapeake Bay, right after the close of the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, in October. Sailing hard on the wind in 15 or so knots of breeze, we saw a steady 5.5 knots on the GPS. The track for the self-­tending jib’s car lacked stops, so we weren’t able to get the headsail in as far as we might have liked to, but that’s an easy fix. With the sheets eased a bit for a close reach, our speed jumped to 7 knots and change. ­Under power, the 40 hp Yanmar pushed us along at just over 6 knots, at a fuel-sipping 2,300 rpm cruising speed.

The skipper who ­delivered the boat to the show was along for the ride. He said that they’d encountered a variety of conditions on the ride up from St. Augustine, Florida, and the boat took them all in stride—just as a family cruiser should.

Bavaria C38 Specifications

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World Debut of Bavaria C46 at Cannes Yachting Festival 2023

With the new Bavaria C46, Bavaria Yachts presents the next generation of the C-LINE at the 2 023 Yachting Festival in Cannes . With the BAVARIA C38 and C42 already launched, Bavaria Yachts is presenting the next evolution.

For the new Bavaria C46, the C-LINE concept has been further developed and re-interpreted in all areas. For example, the characteristic features of the hull design with the typical Bavaria V-bow and chines, which not only give the Bavaria C46 impressive sailing characteristics, but also create more light space and living comfort below deck in the saloon as well as the cabins. The Bavaria C46 sets a new standard in its class and is a yacht that combines long-standing Bavaria strengths with new features, thus finding convincing solutions for many customers and requirements. Bavaria will present further details about the Bavaria C46 early next year at boot 2023.

Like all C-LINE models, the Bavaria C46 was created in cooperation between the BAVARIA development team and Cossutti Yacht Design and offers a convincing combination for the most diverse requirements on board.

The Bavaria C46 combines the typical generous Bavaria space on board and the proven Made-in-Germany solidity with even more sailing performance and greater comfort on board. The distinctive chines at the stern and the Bavaria V-bow have already given the Bavaria C38 and C42 exceptionally good and fast sailing characteristics.

Cossutti Yacht Design has again successfully applied this design philosophy to the 14.86 meters long and 4.70 meters wide hull of the Bavaria C46. As a result, the Bavaria C46 possesses agile steering, converts the wind even faster into boat speed and, at the same time, allows for maximally large cabins in the stern and foreship. Thus, space and sailing pleasure are a winning combination on the Bavaria C46.

“ After the presentation of the C38 and C42, which was also named the 2021 European Yacht of the Year, our customers have very clearly signaled to us that they look forward to a quick continuation of the concept. Therefore, we have put all our energy into the further development of the concept and are now in a position to present our customers the Bavaria C46 with its convincing solutions ,” explains Marc Diening, CEO of Bavaria Yachts.

Whether relaxed and safe sailing with a small crew, single-handed sailing or cruising with a large crew with sporting ambitions – the Bavaria C46 offers all the necessary options for pure sailing pleasure with six optional winch positions, well over 100 square meters of sail area on the wind and optional Gennaker and Code 0.

From the very spacious cockpit, the sun loungers on the foredeck or after a relaxing time on the large bathing platform, you can quickly get into the water. Heavy but useful water sports equipment is always stored within reach in the Bavaria B-Box, so that the hours at anchor or in water can be enjoyed in a relaxed way by the entire crew.

Decades of experience on coastal and long-distance cruises have shaped further smart options on board. Customers can choose from various layouts ranging from 3 to 5 cabins, including a 4-cabin layout with 4 in-suite heads or a 3-cabin layout with an additional separate room at the companionway. This can be used, for example, as a storage and tool room or as a directly accessible locker for wet oilskins. A full navigation station is always on board with the Bavaria C46.

 “ The requirements for a sailing yacht around 15 meters are much more versatile today and can no longer simply be divided into classic categories such as performance or family cruiser, charter or owner’s yacht. During the development of the Bavaria C46, the focus was solely on what offers our customers real added value on board. And when looking for the right solution, detail by detail, we were able to disprove supposed necessary compromises in many places. With the BAVARIA C46, we have found the balance that customers expect from a sailing yacht of this size with many well-thought-out solutions, ” reports Marc Diening.

In the first half of 2023, the Bavaria C46 will do her first test sails. Further details about the Bavaria C46 will be presented at boot 2023 in Duesseldorf from January 21 to 29.

Bavaria C46 Specs

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Marc Diening is to be the new CEO of Bavaria Yachts. On August 1st, he will move from the fire protection specialist Magirus, which boasts a rich tradition, to Giebelstadt. Before Diening, 45, took his position as CEO of Magirus over five years ago, he spent over ten years in a management position at Bombardier and worked as a consultant for well-known companies such as Knorr-Bremse and Deutsche Bahn, among other positions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marc Diening on board at Bavaria Yachts. With his proven record of success in sustainable development of companies and his personal qualities, we are certain that Marc Diening is the right person and has the consistency required to continue the course Bavaria has mapped out and to lead us into the next chapter of new products and solid growth with his own accents. Marc Diening has been an enthusiastic sailor since he was young and knows the yachting branch extremely well,” explains Kai Brandes, Managing Partner of CMP.

Michael Müller came on board at Bavaria Yachts in November 2018 with the entrance of the new investor Capital Management Partners (CMP), initially as a Marketing and Sales Director. In February 2019, Müller, now 64, was appointed CEO. At his own request, Michael Müller is now handing over the helm to Marc Diening, in order to have more time for his family in the future.

“We would like to thank Michael Müller for his extremely successful work as the CEO of Bavaria Yachts. Thanks to his experience restructuring companies, his leadership style and his personal motivation to make Bavaria Yachts one of Europe’s leading shipyards once more, Bavaria has turned a corner and is back on a good course. We are pleased that Michael Müller will continue to support Bavaria Yachts with his experience as a member of the advisory board,” emphasises Brandes.

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Recreational boat builder Bavaria Yachts appoints new managing director. More details on the handover expected on August 1, 2021.

Marc Diening succeeds Michael Muller as head of Bavaria Yachts

German sail and powerboat builder Bavaria Yachts has made public the appointment of a new CEO. Marc Diening will take over from Michael Müller on August 1, 2021, becoming the third executive since the shipyard was acquired by the Capital Management Partners (CMP) fund. Marc Diening, 45, was previously head of the fire fighting specialist Magirus for five years. He has also held management positions at Bombardier and as an industry consultant at Knorr-Bremse and Deutsche Bahn.

Continuing the relaunch of Bavaria boats

The new CEO will have to continue the project started by Michael Müller, who has decided to step back at the age of 65 to devote himself to his family life. He will remain on the strategic advisory board. "With his proven success in sustainable business development and his personal qualities, we are certain that Marc Diening is the right person and has the consistency to continue the path that Bavaria has set out on and take us into this new chapter of new products and solid growth with his own accents. Marc Diening has been an enthusiastic sailor since his youth and knows the boating industry extremely well," says Kai Brandes, partner at CMP.

The task of the new leader remains important. After several very tricky years following the receivership in 2018, the shipyard has reviewed its production, reducing its reliance on subcontracting, while reviewing the size of the boat models offered. Marc Diening will now have to reap the economic benefits of this restructuring.

BAVARIA YACHTS

Powerful, dynamic, safe, easy to handle and seaworthy - BAVARIA YACHTS motor yachts have many qualities. From bow to stern, they embody the masterful combination of many clever solutions. Decades of experience, extensive know-how and German engineering skills guarantee precision, quality and comfort. With excellent materials, excellent equipment and excellent craftsmanship, our shipyard creates what every BAVARIA stands for: the joy of yachting.

The BAVARIA VIDA 33 is available in two versions, an open version and a version with a hard top. Together with the sporty hull design with recessed hull windows, the result is the BAVARIA VIDA 33’s dynamically elegant silhouette. The foreship also offers two layout variants. The choice is between a flat foredeck with space for a generous sunbed area and a lounge area at the bows with a cocktail table and space for six people.

With the BAVARIA SR33 BAVARIA YACHTS completes its successful SR-LINE after the SR41 and the SR36. As on board all motor yachts of the BAVARIA SR-LINE, space for life on deck was the focus of the development. Below deck, the BAVARIA SR33 convinces at the same time with a well thought-out space concept with generous room for four people.

The BAVARIA SR36 offers a new sense of life on board and convinces with clever detailed solutions. An intelligent space concept and a sporty elegant design in combination with very safe driving characteristics make the BAVARIA SR36 unique, created for the perfect day with family and friends at sea.

A comfortable cockpit, a large sunbed that can be converted into a lounge area including a table right by the water in no time, and a large bathing platform make the BAVARIA SR41 the ideal motor yacht. Ideal for the perfect day at sea with family and friends.

The BAVARIA R40 impresses with very clear, very elegant lines. Her whole appearance radiates style and sportiness. And puts both into practice: with a unique amount of space on and below deck, as well as powerful engines that you can choose according to your needs. Just like the superstructure: The BAVARIA R40 is available as a COUPE and FLY version.

The very design of the BAVARIA S29 tells you that this is a yacht with a great deal of power and sporting ambitions. She is ideal for drivers who like to go fast on the water and has an ergonomic helmstand with a clear layout to make this child’s play – just one of many special features.

With the BAVARIA S30 our engineers, boat builders and designers have focused on the essentials – dynamic, sporty driving and comfort that one hardly expects on a yacht this size. She is primarily intended for large lakes or tours along the coast.

The BAVARIA S33 stands for variability. Paired with excellent performance. She has brilliant handling characteristics, is agile and fast. Thanks to an intelligent hull design, she is also very safe. And on top of that, extremely comfortable on and below deck.

The BAVARIA S45 is a motor yacht for people who appreciate outstanding performance as well as an upscale, unique lifestyle, with an exterior and interior that will delight you anew every day.

Classic lines and a timeless design, the BAVARIA VIRTESS 420 is one of the best motor yachts in the world and is at home on all coasts. A generous space concept with three cabins and a grandiose salon are just as convincing as clever detailed solutions such as the variable cockpit concept, with table and bench sliding on rails. She is available as FLY or COUPE.

Experience the pure joy of yachting.

Fast hulls in all driving situations.

Seaworthiness is a non‐negotiable quality on a BAVARIA motor yacht; among other characteristics, a high‐sided hull ensures that this demand is satisfied. With a R-/S-Line or VIRTESS you don’t only drive safely, you also feel secure when moving around on these boats – this is due to broad gunwales and a railing that extends from bow to stern. Isophthalic acid (IPA) resins in the outer layers, used during the laminating process, ensure that the hull of a BAVARIA is of the highest quality. These offer effective protection against osmosis and thus promote longevity of the BAVARIA. The hull and deck of a BAVARIA is made of sandwich construction with foam inserts.

Cost-effective yet smart engines

BAVARIA is one of the world’s most innovative shipyards, working with the best suppliers of engines to equip our motor yachts with cost‐effective and powerful engines. We were one of the first shipyards to use Volvo Penta’s modern IPS system, a Pod system with forward‐facing double propellers. The IPS drive has considerable advantages with regard to performance, exhaust emissions and comfort. It increases range by 40 per cent at a 20 per cent higher top speed, with 30 per cent less fuel consumption and thus also 30 percent less CO2 emissions. With a joystick and software adapted to every individual BAVARIA, the two IPS drives become the ultimate docking system in the harbour. Berthing with the fingertips – child’s play!

Safety through technology, from bow to stern

Fuel is the lifeblood of BAVARIA motor yacht. It is therefore important to store it well and to conduct it correctly. BAVARIA ensures this by using stainless steel tanks for example, pressed and therefore extremely durable, sleeves for the fuel lines and magnetic closures for the petrol lines on standard engines. An engine – diesel and petrol – also needs to breathe in order to be able to keep the cylinder head cool. Every BAVARIA motor yacht therefore has a fan for active engine room ventilation.