Jeanneau Sun Fast 42

A Philippe Briand designed performance cruiser from Jeanneau, now out of production, suited to sailors wanting a quick, simple boat to handle for longer passages.

Philippe Briand drew the Sun Fast 42 for Jeanneau after several years of joint development, and the aim was clear: a boat that would take you further offshore without making hard work of it. Jeanneau stopped building her some time ago, so the ones around now have all been sailed by someone before you.

The bow has a fine entry, which is what lets her slip through a sea rather than slam into it. Above that, the deck is elliptical in section, with portholes set into it, and the layout on top is kept deliberately simple.

She's known for being easy to steer, and that counts for a lot on a long night watch or with a small crew. Her reputation for reliability is a good one too, though with a boat that's out of production you'll still want to look closely at how she's been kept.

Overall she measures 12.7 m, with a hull length of 12.45 m and a draught of 1.85 m. Tanks hold 350 l of fresh water and 150 l of fuel, and she's rated for up to 10 people.