The new Bavaria 38 Cruiser

The Bavaria 38 Cruiser is part of a new generation of cruising yachts designed in 2007. Built for performance, comfort and ease of handling this stunning new yacht is a delight both at sea or anchored in a secluded bay somewhere on the Australian coast. Available in either a two cabin version with a grand master cabin, large head and deep storage locker which is ideal for cruising, or in a three cabin version with space for the whole family. Both versions feature a large L-shape galley, dedicated nav station and a saloon that stretches the full width of the boat.

P E R F O R M A N C E - C O M F O R T  - E A S E   O F  H A N D L I N G

D E S I G N  F E A T U R E S

After an exhaustive period of research and gathering dealer and customer feedback the design team for Bavaria has focused on a number of key areas to put this new model in a class of her own.

The three main areas were identified as:

•  Short hand capability

•  Spacious on deck and in the cockpit

•  Comfort below decks through increased light and ventilation

S H O R T  H A N D  C A P A B I L I T Y

To make the yacht easier to sail short handed the design team utilised technology more commonly seen on modern race yachts today than on cruising boats. It is called the German mainsheet system and it works by having two winches, one on either side of the helmsman. Starting on one side a single line leads from one winch through blocks on the traveller, boom and back to a winch on the opposite side. This system allows the helmsman to trim the main from either side of the wheel therefore he or she is in control when hit by a gust and needs to ease the main

S P A C I O U S   D E C K   &  C O C K P I T

Here Bavaria has looked towards designs seen on large sailing yachts or super yachts as they are more commonly known as. To achieve cleaner more flowing lines on deck, provide more useable space and give some UV protection to the ropes the control lines now lead below decks.

Moving into the cockpit is now a lot easier thanks to an ingenious electronic transom platform. This allows you to back up to a dock and lower the platform to assist in getting people on and off the boat. It also acts as a closed transom while at sea providing protection from a following sea. The other great advantage of this new feature is that it does away with the need for a moulded step at the transom and allows designers to lengthen the cockpit right to the back of the boat.

C O M F O R T   B E L O W   D E C K S

Many cruising yachts today benefit from large panoramic windows providing great light and a pleasant atmosphere down below, the one thing they often struggle with is ventilation. This is something Bavaria Yachts have recognised for many years now and they have further developed this on the Bavaria 38 by incorporating more opening hatches than any similar yacht on the market today.

The saloon alone benefits from seven large hatches opening in all different directions to stream the air down below. In the two cabin model both cabins have three opening hatches each providing fantastic cross ventilation and making it comfortable to sleep on those hot humid nights. The light entering the cabins is further enhanced by the colour of the mahogany interior which is pleasantly bright helping to create a feeling of warmth down below, and if all that light gets too much just draw the blinds and curtains closed and soak up the atmosphere.

O N   T H E  W A T E R

The boat comes standard with a Dacron number 2 genoa on a furlex furler plus a leech battened mainsail with boom bag and lazy jacks. The main and genoa winches are in the cockpit and all control lines including the single line reefing system lead to a pair of winches on the cabin top, all winches are self tailing. The power train is a 40Hp Volvo Penta with sail drive and a three blade folding prop.

Under motor the Bavaria 38 will cruise comfortably at 6 to 6.5kts and at full revs she will do 7kts. The advantage of a sail drive is that the majority of the propulsion is at a right angle or going directly forward or aft and over the main portion of the rudder. This gives the boat an ability to stop or accelerate rapidly and provides great manoeuvrability under motor.

Having a well balanced sail plan means no huge mainsail to hoist then simply unfurl the genoa and you're off. We found the Bavaria 38 to be very well balanced under sail with little if any weather helm. She will comfortably sail at 6kts upwind and reach along at over 7kts in 12kts true wind speed. She responds well to a gust and will accelerate accordingly and when overpowered you still have a feeling of control while the boat slowly comes into the wind.

One of the great things about this boat is being able to sit at the wheel and trim the sails, one person can truly sail this yacht in a moderate breeze and if fitted with an auto pilot she would become a true single hander. This boat is not just designed for short handed sailing however. With a few crew you can seat the mainsheet trimmer to windward while the genoa trimmer sits to leeward. When completing a tack instead of people clambering through the cockpit you only need to switch from trimming the main to trimming the genoa or vice versa. This system allows more people to get involved in the sailing of the boat than would otherwise be possible.

Overall the Bavaria 38 Cruiser would truly be at home either racing around the buoys or crossing the Tasman Sea. She is a solid, practical and stylish sailing yacht that really has been designed with you in mind.

B A V A R I A  Y A C H T S  N E T W O R K

Pittwater (Head Office Sydney) - 02 9998 9600

Sydney Harbour - 02 9719 9177

Queensland (South) - 07 3348 3177

Queensland (North) - 07 4948 0206

Western Australia - 08 9336 1466

Victoria - 03 9525 3788

Tasmania - 03 6224 2477

South Australia - 08 8248 5600