BoatsBavaria Yachts 36

Bavaria Yachts 36

Masthead Sloop · Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder · 1998–2000

A 1998-2000 production cruiser featuring a high 21.12 sail area-to-displacement ratio for its 11.55-metre hull

Designed by J&J Yacht Design.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder

See her sail

The Bavaria Yachts 36, on the water

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

Footage from Sailing Nova Vita

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 20 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.12
LightHeavy

180 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 180
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 21.1
TenderStiff

33% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 33%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

What the fleet has seen

The Bavaria Yachts 36, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Bavaria Yachts 36 is a 1998–2000 masthead sloop designed by J&J Yacht Design, measuring 11.6 meters LOA with a 3.7-meter beam and 1.9-meter draft. *Nova Vita*, a Bavaria Yachts 36, completed an Atlantic circuit, including a 28-day, 2,530-mile passage from Saint Martin to Horta, Faial, and a 14-day, 1,400-mile passage from the Azores to Plymouth, UK.17:43 During the Atlantic crossing, the crew contended with frequent squalls up to 30 knots, extended calms requiring engine use, and a snapped wind vane.5:38 A damaged shroud necessitated a temporary repair with Dyneema and eye bolts, forcing the crew to carry a third reef and extend the passage.18:51 The crew used PredictWind for routing but found forecasts shifted frequently.10:09 A Lofrans Cobra windlass motor failed after 14 months, requiring replacement.2:02 Aboard *Nova Vita*, the crew navigated dense sargassum weed in the Caribbean and relied on AIS and radar for safety in high-traffic areas like the Isles of Scilly.3:35

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

The channels sailing this model, and where they were last seen.

Sailing Nova VitaThe crew of the Bavaria 36 Nova Vita documents their long-distance Atlantic passages, focusing on technical repairs, navigation, and managing equipment failures at sea.

Seen 31 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Bavaria Yachts 36 on video

MD2030 Damper plate repairMD2030 damper plate rubber inserts replaced for £80 using EU Rubber parts instead of a £1,500 assembly.Sailing Nova VitaSAILING Azores to UK 2026 - part 2Nova Vita transits the North Atlantic toward Plymouth, UK, while testing Lomo foul-weather gear in variable conditions.Sailing Nova VitaSAILING - Azores to UK 2026 - part 1The crew of Nova Vita routes west of the Azores High to maintain wind-powered sailing toward Plymouth.Sailing Nova VitaPonta Delgada Fireworks New Year 2026Nova Vita rings in 2026 at Ponta Delgada's New Year fireworks.Sailing Nova VitaSAILING the AZORES - Horta to Sao Miguel - FOULED ANCHORA Lofrans Cobra windlass fails at 14 months while a fouled anchor delays departure from Horta.Sailing Nova VitaAtlantic crossing - WEST to EAST - Arrival in HORTA - Pt 5A damaged shroud repaired with Dyneema stretches a Caribbean-to-Azores crossing to 28 days.Sailing Nova VitaAtlantic crossing - WEST to EAST - RIGGING AND INSTRUMENT BREAKAGES! - Pt 4A crew reinforces a broken shroud with Dyneema and sails under headsail only to preserve the rig.Sailing Nova VitaMIXED UP WEATHER - ATLANTIC crossing - WEST to EAST- part 3The crew of *Nova Vita* navigates shifting Atlantic weather systems and equipment failures during a passage to the Azores.Sailing Nova VitaAtlantic crossing -WEST to EAST - Part 2 - calm and gentle sailingThe Bavaria Yachts 36 *Nova Vita* maintains a slow pace during an Atlantic crossing due to light winds.Sailing Nova VitaAtlantic Crossing - WEST to EAST - Part 1 - and away we go...The crew of *Nova Vita* navigates light winds and sargassum during the first five days of a transatlantic.Sailing Nova VitaABANDONED TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC - Caribbean to AzoresA crew aborts an Atlantic crossing after wind vane failure and severe squalls necessitate returning to port.Sailing Nova VitaWE SAILED OVERNIGHT from Antigua to St MartinNova Vita completed a 101-mile overnight passage from Antigua to Saint Martin in 28 hours.Sailing Nova Vita

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

  • FailedRaymarine

    The boats Raymarine instruments stopped working, losing wind and depth readouts.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen December 20252:02

  • FailedGoPro

    The GoPro failed during the Atlantic crossing, so the crew is using phones for filming.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen May 202510:31

  • InstalledDyneema

    Dyneema was used with shackles to lash and reinforce a broken lower inner shroud.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen November 202511:26

  • WorkingPredictWind

    The crew uses PredictWind for routing but finds its suggested angles are sometimes too tight for their boats sailing style.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen November 20251:32

  • WorkingIridium

    The satellite communication device is charging and functioning well on board.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen October 20253:12

  • WorkingNavionics

    The crew used a tablet with Navionics for navigation when other instruments failed.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen April 20251:54

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Bavaria Yachts 36 may be fitted out entirely differently.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
33.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.1
Displacement / length
179.8
Comfort ratio
20.1
Capsize screening
2.12
Hull speed
7.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1330
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1998–2000
Designer
J&J Yacht Design
Builder
Bavaria Yachts

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.

Bavaria Yachts 3711.55 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-lived production model from 2000-2001, formerly marketed as the Bavaria 36, featuring a masthead sloop rig
Repairing storm damage part 2 #127 @XTripSailing single-handed sailing4:36from XTRIP SAILING
Beneteau Idylle 115011.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA shoal-draft cruiser with a 1.33-metre keel, designed by Jean Berret for comfortable coastal passage-making
Why I HATED Selling My Sailboat!!!1:35from Adventureman Dan
Etap 38i11.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop featuring a shallow-draft wing keel, designed for stable cruising and built between 1989 and 1997
THE NEW TEAM MEMBERSfrom VOILIER ODIN
Catalina Yachts 37511.73 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 2008 fractional sloop with a 2.08-metre draft and a balanced displacement-to-ballast ratio for coastal stability
💸 The REAL Cost of Living on a Boat in California | Marina Fees, Liveaboard Costs & Hidden Expenses7:49from Practical Sailor
Beneteau 39311.63 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop offering a shallow 1.55m draft option for coastal access, built with a high-volume hull since 2002
Caribbean Sailboat for $80k?! YES! Ep 228 - Lady K Sailing6:32from Lady K Sailing
Ericson Yachts 3811.48 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance
Why We Sail--"Cape Horn Steering Vane Install and Sea Trial"from Christian Williams

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Bavaria Yachts 37A short-lived production model from 2000-2001, formerly marketed as the Bavaria 36, featuring a masthead sloop rigBavaria Yachts 36 (2002-2004)A fractional sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by J&J for efficient cruising in a 36-foot packageBavaria Yachts Cruiser 36 (Farr)A 2010 Farr-designed fractional sloop featuring a 1.97-metre draft and a 3.67-metre beam for stable coastal cruisingBavaria Yachts 39A 12-metre fractional sloop with a 2.0-metre draft and a 37.8% ballast ratio, built for stability and cruising speedBavaria Yachts 370A 37-foot masthead sloop with a 35% ballast ratio, designed for stable, comfortable cruising in a 1991 packageBavaria Yachts 31A J&J-designed fractional sloop with a fin keel and bulb, built for performance and stability in a compact 10-metre hull

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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