Yachting Monthly — November 2017

82 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com november 2017

Chart table

The chart table faces forward with

good bracing against the aft heads

compartment, which forms the

backrest. All instrumentation is fitted

here in the lining alongside the fully

fiddled chart table itself which has a

deep locker beneath.

Galley

A racing crew – this boat sleeps 10 –

requires just as good victualing as any

cruising family. The galley is a well

considered feature on the Sunfast 42,

with a U-shaped work surface close

to the centreline with twin stainless

steel sinks forward and a gimballed

two burner oven and grill outboard.

There is voluminous cupboard space

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with drawers cleverly angled inwards

from the bottom hinge to prevent the

contents spilling when opened at sea.

Maintenance

Engine access is through locker

doors in the aft cabins and under

the companionway steps. There

is a draining grating at the foot of

the companionway for draining off

oilskins as crew come off watch. Lee

cloths are fitted throughout.

Her rod rigging shroud plates are

exposed in the saloon for inspection

although this did not prevent Arcturus

being dismasted off Roscoff after the

failure of a deteriorated starboard side

plate, which ended up with a section

of deck torn out.W

which is good for fixing extra warps
or fenders, reducing strain on the
guardrails.

Living below
Her forward cabin is fitted with a
vee-shaped double berth. There are
deep, gutter-style shelves each side
and for stowage, a hanging locker and
cupboard with shelves to port. The
space is well lit from the forehatch
and windows and enjoys 1.78m (5ft
10in) headroom. There is a heads
compartment en suite with sink and
shower to starboard.
The saloon is bathed in natural
light from seven windows and two
hatches and headroom is 2m (6ft
4in) throughout. There is a U-shaped
seating area offset to starboard, which
seats 10 around a central drop-leaf
table. All the furniture is finished
with a smart mahogany veneer with
no shortage of excellent shelving and
cupboard space.
There is a single settee berth to port
which can also convert into a double
berth. Grab rails run along both
sides of the saloon as ‘gutters’ to the
windows.
There are two aft cabins, both of
which have double berths, hanging
lockers and seats. Importantly, for
anyone who suffers claustrophobia,
these bunks are designed with ample
room beneath the cockpit sole to turn
over when lying down.

A decent sized

chart table

adds to her

practical layout