BoatsJeanneau Sun Odyssey 42

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42

Masthead Sloop · Fin w/rudder On Partial Skeg · 1990–1992

A short-run 1990s cruiser featuring a fin keel with a partial skeg-hung rudder for directional stability

Designed by Guy Ribadeau Dumas.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/rudder On Partial Skeg

See her sail

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from SEILmagasinet

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 25 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 25
CoastalBluewater

2.03 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.03
LightHeavy

217 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 217
EasygoingPowered-up

20.9 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 20.9
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Draws less than ~81% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~79% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2723 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 is a Masthead Sloop designed by Guy Ribadeau Dumas and built by Jeanneau from 1990 to 1992. It measures 12.5 meters LOA, with a 4.0-meter beam, 1.6-meter draft, and 8150 kg displacement. The hull features a fin keel with a rudder on a partial skeg. The boat was part of a diverse field of 17 boats tested for the European Boat of the Year award in Spain, which included performance racers like the JPK and Safier, and cruising boats like the Kraken.0:37

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
20.9
Displacement / length
217.2
Comfort ratio
24.9
Capsize screening
2.03
Hull speed
7.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1581
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/rudder on partial skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1990–1992
Designer
Guy Ribadeau Dumas
Builder
Jeanneau

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Jeanneau Voyage 12.512.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.5-meter masthead sloop with a 1.65-meter draft that served as the predecessor to the Sun Odyssey 42
SAILING IN SICILY - Cefalù ⛵🌊⚓vlog ep.10:10from Alfredo Contaldo
Feeling 41612.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.57-metre masthead sloop with a 1.93m fin keel, designed for offshore stability with a 23.7 comfort ratio
How do we eat in the San Blas? S2/EP159:20from LE VOYAGE DE NAMASTE
Jeanneau Sun Legende 4112.44 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Doug Peterson-designed 1-ton prototype offering a performance-oriented hull available in Regate and cruising variants
Ervika goes on a long-distance cruisefrom SEILmagasinet
Dehler Yachts 41 CR12.45 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA performance-oriented fractional sloop with a 37% ballast ratio, designed by Judel/Vrolijk for efficient cruising
Skagen Race 2025: Fresh beat towards Skagen1:31from SEILmagasinet
Dufour Yachts 4112.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1971 masthead sloop with a skeg-mounted rudder, offered in both sloop and ketch configurations for versatile cruising
Dufour 41 - Preview at the Genoa Boat Show0:12from SVN solovelanet
Bavaria Yachts 40 (J&J)12.47 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA popular charter-trade cruiser from 2000, offering a balanced 18.88 SA/D ratio and a 1.95-metre bulb keel
Making the DECISION and undertaking a LIFE CHANGE. Choosing a SAILBOAT.3:13from navegandoporelglobo

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42.1A Daniel Andrieu-designed masthead sloop with a 19.32 sail area-to-displacement ratio for balanced cruising performanceJeanneau Sun Odyssey 42.2A 12.8-meter masthead sloop featuring a fin keel and spade rudder, evolved from the Voyage 12.50 for cruising comfortJeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 DSA 12.9-meter deck saloon cruiser featuring a high-volume hull and a deep, bulb-weighted fin keel for stabilityJeanneau Sun Odyssey 43 DSA deck saloon cruiser with a 4.19-metre beam and a 2.0-metre bulb keel, built for volume and stabilityJeanneau Sun Odyssey 40A 12.2-metre masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio, designed for spirited performance cruising

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