New 42

Well, this has been a significant week for us! In the space of not very long at all we have secured our future on a new 42ft catamaran!

This all started back in May last year when I visited the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show where we committed to purchasing a Fountaine Pajot through Multihull Solutions, which was an absolutely brilliant decision. But as noted recently, we would love to have a boat size that sits in between the Lucia 40 and the slightly older model Helia 44.

I have done a huge amount of research on boat models, how long each lasts, hulls per mould, etc. And after discussing all of this with some experts it seemed that Fountaine Pajot (FP) were due to launch a new boat anytime now (likely between the 40-44ft range). When placing a deposit on a boat with Multihull Solutions we had the option to switch (providing a slot was available) to another model should it come available. It was the ultimate flexibility in a time of the unknown!

And what do you know… at the Dusseldorf boat show a New 42 was announced. Perfect timing! Our broker kindly sent through more details on the same day. We were so excited, and set to work looking through the virtual images and walkthrough of the boat. It was in the exact style we were used to from FP and was the perfect balance in size for our family. We loved the look of increased storage, space in the saloon, layout of the helm, and the bright and modern design.

The following 48 hours continued the usual crazy yet typical style for us. Once we set our heart on something, we rarely cave! Our broker had obtained a number of delivery slots for 2019. And for those of you who haven’t dealt with a new build from a boat yard, there are always limited hulls available. And since we are leaving in the middle of a European summer, there is a race to get everything done before the holiday quiet period of August sets in each year. So, with a fresh contract and quick calculation we were 100% committed to buying this boat! No more options or backing out, but that didn’t matter. We had got our perfect size, design and could now visualise specifically what we would be travelling in for years to come.

We have never been big fans of buying off the plans for real estate, and yet here we are buying a “house-sized” investment upfront without ever having seen it!

A very exciting time. And although there are not too many people we can share this news with, inside it feels great. Our oldest has had a look at the pictures and is simply ecstatic that there is a table on board... The investment seems worthwhile now! :)

-Ben