The Bavaria Vision 46 combines easy sailing and solid performance.

Bavaria’s new Vision 46 is a radical departure from the German marque’s usual look. It’s most evident in the smooth, rounded lines of her coach roof – a striking contrast to the profile of her predecessors. But the best change is in the layout – an inspired piece of design.

I could tell you all the usual things you’d expect to read about in a new Bavaria – the accommodation, the bathrooms, the size and convenience of the galley, how she sails and her suitability for short-handed sailing.

And although the Vision 46 has plenty to commend it in all of these areas, for me her greatest appeal is the way the unorthodox layout promotes her versatility and overall sailing/liveaboard enjoyment – all a function of the companionway offset to starboard.

The master cabin in the bows features a well-sized double berth and access to a head.

Offset companionways aren’t a new concept but they are unusual in modern production-built boats which, I guess, is what contributes to the Vision’s novelty. The cockpit in particular benefits enormously from this feature. And for you to appreciate this, I have to back-track a little.

It’s a superb cockpit layout, spacious with generous settees angling back in a subtle V to the twin helms. Twin helms are always welcome, but because most sailboats have a cockpit table mounted on the centre line in a centre companionway, there is awkward traffic flow from the saloon to the transom.

Drop-sides on such tables mitigate the problem to a degree, but the Vision side-steps it neatly by mounting the table slightly to port, leaving a clear passage from the companionway, between the helms, to the transom and its swimstep.

The offset table and settee provide lots of space in the main saloon.

Like many features on this Bavaria, the table’s impressively versatile. It folds open to double its length and is mounted on a sturdy, electrically-controlled pedestal. Activated by a button on the port helm console, the extended table can lower to the same height as the cockpit bench seats. Additional squabs convert the entire area into a spacious, sunbed lounger. Hedonistic but undeniable fun.

The offset companionway also has a direct, favourable impact on sail handling in the form of a single Lewmar 50 winch on the coach roof for halyards and reefing lines. I’m not a fan of companionway winches because crews manning them tend to obstruct the companionway but, mounted to port out of the way, this one works a treat. Sail changes and reefing won’t trap anyone below.

Interior

The galley provides places to brace against regardless of what tack the boat is on.

The advantages of the offset companionway continue below, and it’s most obvious in the galley. This comprises a dishwashing island mounted on the centre line, immediately at the bottom of the companionway steps. It houses twin sinks, with a cleverly-designed drying rack higher up and aft, built into the bulkhead. The rest of the galley lies to port.

I really like this layout. For a start, it creates a more spacious saloon – more on this in a moment – and provides a secure, enclosed working area for the chef. It’s easy to brace yourself on either tack, and with the covers over the cooker and sinks, there’s plenty of workbench area for food preparation. That drying rack helps to free up space, too.

 Another advantage of the offset companionway is the size of the aft accommodation. The Vision has two cabins – the main suite up in the forepeak with its island bed and en suite, and the aft cabin, under the cockpit, to port. The second bathroom is to starboard, on the right of the companionway.

Having the companionway and table offset gives a straight path from the saloon to the water, plus extra room in the cockpit.

It’s a deep, unusually wide aft cabin, and options abound. It’s equipped with two single berths, but inset cushions convert these into a vast double bed, virtually square, giving you the choice of sleeping north-south or east-west. Great for overnight passages when you’re hard on the wind – and an excellent den for up to six children.

Where many production boats would have another, mirror-image aft cabin on the opposite side, the offset layout results in a narrower space. This is filled by the second bathroom and, further aft, a cavernous locker. Again, an unusual layout but an effective one.

This bathroom is divided into separate toilet/shower cubicles. There is a large door in the shower’s rear bulkhead. It provides walk-in access to a massive cockpit locker under the starboard seat, accessible from the cockpit. The main cabin’s en suite is a one-piece unit.

The Bavaria Vision 46 looks great under sail and at anchor.

I gather some Vision 46 owners prefer to configure that locker as a third cabin. I can appreciate the desire for additional berths, but for me the advantages of the locker outweigh any temporary inconvenience arising from the saloon settee being used as a third double berth.

Saloon

With the galley and its island wash-up area efficiently using the aft end of the saloon, the designers could afford to let their creative juices flow for the rest of the area. Like the cockpit table, the saloon table can be lowered electrically to create a large lounger cum daybed. This would also be a good berth for crew on overnight passages.

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But the smartest design in the saloon is the versatility of the port settee. Its centre section hides a decent-sized chart table which slides up from a recess. It’s an easy, quick conversion. But wait, there’s more.

The two settee sections fore and aft of the chart table are movable – they’re best described as ottomans. Moved to the saloon table, they become two separate seats or a single bench seat for extra dining.

Good Looks Happy Sailing

Complementing all this versatility and practical functionality is a healthy dollop of style, courtesy of the UK company Design Unlimited, and Bavaria offers buyers plenty of options. This Vision’s joinery has a rich, mahogany lustre. Well, it looks like mahogany; Bavaria calls it Sipo.

It offsets the white ceilings with their gleaming stainless steel handholds; these latter fittings are also on the coach roof outside – modern, classy. The overall effect is enhanced by subtly-recessed LED lighting.

Masses of ambient light and ventilation floods in through large saloon windows and overhead hatches. I particularly like the stylish blinds on the saloon windows.

The Vision 46 also sails well and is nicely set-up for easy handling. Primary Lewmar 55 winches on the cockpit coaming are within arm’s length of the helmsman, and with the German mainsheet system, trimming from either side is easy. Because each of the primaries has a battery of jammers in nearby attendance, swapping the mainsheet for a jib sheet is quick and simple.

The sleek decks are enhanced by flush-fitting hatches and the below-deck jib furling drum which gives it good protection from the elements.

Elvstrom sails fly from the 20m mast and with the genoa tracks mounted well inboard, the Vision climbs upwind pointing at 31 degrees. We had light airs for our sail – not particularly favourable conditions – but at around 13 knots of breeze, the Garmin GPS registered a shade more than seven knots or 8.1 knots over the ground, helped by the incoming tide.

I like the cockpit layout from a helmsman’s perspective. The Vision’s mast is supported by a single, centre backstay with a cranked tensioner rather than the more common split version. I’m not particularly tall, but twin helms often present headroom issues with split backstays.

But the best part of the helmsman’s job is the set of cushions designed for the pushpit. Tucking yourself into the leeward corner with a soft, receptive back rest is absolute bliss.

Standard 46s are fitted with a 55hp Volvo and sail drive. The owners of this vessel opted to upgrade to a 75hp engine with a three-bladed Gori prop. As a result she glides along at a steady 9.5 knots at 2,600rpm and the engine’s nicely muted. A Sidepower bow thruster is useful for easing her into her tight berth at Orakei Marina. Even then, you’d really only need it on windy days as she responds precisely to her big rudder.

It will be interesting to see if the stylistic change presented by the Vision 46 and her smaller sister, the 42 mark an overall shift in direction for Bavaria’s Cruiser range. I hope so. This is a neat boat and her best assets – flexibility, versatility, multi-functionality – are well worth emulating.

In essence, her design allows you to tailor your cruising lifestyle in multiple ways – holidays with children, cruising with two couples, or a romantic getaway for two.

The Vision 46 is priced from $460,000.

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 – Boating NZ

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