BoatsBavaria Yachts 40 (J&J)

Bavaria Yachts 40 (J&J)

Fractional Sloop · Fin Keel w/bulb · First built 2000

A popular charter-trade cruiser from 2000, offering a balanced 18.88 SA/D ratio and a 1.95-metre bulb keel

Designed by J&J Yacht Design.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin Keel w/bulb

See her sail

The Bavaria Yachts 40 (J&J), on the water

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

Footage from Patrick Laine

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 24 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 24
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.01
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 169
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 18.9
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

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

What the fleet has seen

The Bavaria Yachts 40 (J&J), 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 40 (J&J) is a 12.5-meter fractional sloop designed by J&J Yacht Design and built by Bavaria Yachts, popular in the charter trade. Its fin keel with bulb hull displaces 7901 kg. Aboard *Patrick Laine*, a solo sailor completed a 250-nautical-mile navigation challenge from Rockall to Suliskirr in the Outer Hebrides, then south to Dún Laoghaire Marina, managing genoa sheet chafing with electrical tape and timing tides through the North Channel.8:27 The boat's full-battened mainsail requires raising the boom 30 centimeters with the topping lift to ease hoisting.1:00 In 25 to 30 knots of wind, dropping the mainsail and running with a partially furled genoa provides stability, and in gales exceeding 35 knots, running deep downwind with minimal headsail prevents rounding up.15:56 The Bay of Biscay's abrupt continental shelf depth changes present navigational challenges.11:25 Equipment failures on the Bavaria Yachts 40 (J&J) have included a corroded Lewmar electric windlass motor, a failed folding solar panel, and corroded Volvo Penta engine mounts.6:50 For light air, a Code Zero or cruising chute is more versatile than a gennaker.26:23

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 21 times across 6 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Bavaria Yachts 40 (J&J) on video

EP 71 Sailing from Panama to Cape Horn nonstopA Bavaria 40 rounds Cape Horn after managing heavy weather, redundant autopilots, and in-mast furling system repairs.Patrick LaineEp 70 Sailing to Cape Horn: Leg 1 - The CanalTransiting the Panama Canal requires a mandatory advisor, while hiring line handlers and agents remains optional.Patrick LaineFastnet 2025 on 82 ft Sailboat (Pt 2)An 82-foot sailboat crew uses flaked lines to prevent jamming during the 2025 Fastnet Race to Cherbourg.Patrick LaineFastnet Race 2025 On 82 Ft Sailboat Part 1The 82-foot Grand Mistral *Osprey* completes the 700-mile Fastnet Race with a crew of six.Patrick LaineEP68 Sailing Bay of Biscay Twice: 1 "usual"; 2 in Gale ConditionsRunning downwind with a furled genoa and no mainsail provides stability in 30-knot gale conditions.Patrick LaineEP 67 Sailing home to France from Rockall, Sula Sgeir and IrelandA solo sailor completes a 2,300-nautical-mile passage from La Rochelle to Ireland and back to France.Patrick LaineEp 66 Sailing to 2 Rocks and an Emerald Part 2Jenna completes a three-stop Atlantic challenge, finishing at Dún Laoghaire after 250 miles from Rockall to Suliskirr.Patrick LaineEp 65 Sailing Solo to 2 Rocks and an Emerald; Part 1: RockallA solo sailor navigates the North Atlantic toward Rockall while managing Volvo Penta MDI engine failures.Patrick LaineHeading home in foul weatherA Bavaria 40 crew plans to double-reef the mainsail to manage steering instability caused by rudder fouling.SEILmagasinetEp 60 Sailing 'North' in my new boatThe 29-foot RM890+ *Jenna* features a wood-epoxy hull, twin exposed rudders, and a square-top mainsail.Patrick LaineEp 53 Sailing Solo : Boring Refit Stuff and NKE autopilot installationInstalling an NKE gyropilot and custom steering bracket on a performance sailboat requires complex sensor calibration.Patrick LaineEP 52 Sailing Solo: My New SailboatA 2009 Bungo 870 undergoes a refit to transition from a regatta-style setup to a solo blue-water cruiser.Patrick Laine

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.

  • FailedHarken

    The speaker criticized the design of a plastic plate with set screws in a furler, which failed when overtensioned by an electric winch.

    aboard Patrick Laineseen March 20266:11

  • InstalledVolvo

    The boat has a brand new Volvo engine and sterndrive, recently installed and approaching its first service.

    aboard Hashtag Salseen July 202314:14

  • WorkingRaymarinealongside BNG

    The boat uses a Raymarine autopilot with a sprocket and chain system as one of its two independent systems.

    aboard Patrick Laineseen March 202635:11

  • WorkingNavionics

    The speaker mentioned using Navionics as their navigation software for the trip.

    aboard Patrick Laineseen March 202615:02

  • WorkingSelden

    The speaker noted that their in-mast furling system, like others, has a bolt rope groove for a full-size, full-batten mainsail.

    aboard Patrick Laineseen March 202611:25

  • WorkingNavily

    The speaker mentions using Navily for finding anchorages, noting its utility alongside other technology.

    aboard navegandoporelgloboseen October 20227:02

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Bavaria Yachts 40 (J&J) may be fitted out entirely differently.

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.

1seen for sale
1seen sold
2channels weighed buying one

Sold

Weighed buying

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
36.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.9
Displacement / length
169.1
Comfort ratio
23.7
Capsize screening
2.01
Hull speed
8.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1664
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel w/bulb
Construction
FG w/Divinicell above waterline
Production
Years built
First built 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.

X-Yachts X4/4312.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.5-metre performance cruiser featuring a 43% ballast ratio for stability and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
[OFF MARKET] X4.3 (BABY X), with Ben Cooper - Yacht for Sale - Berthon International Yacht Brokersfrom Berthon International
Oceanis 41 (Beneteau)12.43 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Finot-Conq designed fractional sloop featuring a wide 4.2-metre beam and a modern hull form optimised for cruising
BOAT TOUR: our boat for sailing around the world | Beneteau Oceanis 41, 2016 model - Chez Team0:52from Chez Team
Beneteau First 40512.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.4-metre masthead sloop featuring a deep 2.19-metre fin keel and a balanced displacement for offshore performance
Is the Caribbean Becoming Too Dangerous for Cruisers?21:54from The Sailing Doodles Podcast
Bavaria Yachts Match 4212.55 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.55-metre IMS competition racer with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and a deep 2.15-metre bulb keel
The 11.5 Knot Cruiser – Bavaria Match 42 Yacht Tour0:47from Practical Sailor
Dehler Yachts 41 CR12.45 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Judel-Vrolijk fractional sloop designed for performance cruising with a stiff, balanced hull and bulb keel
Skagen Race 2025: Fresh beat towards Skagen1:31from SEILmagasinet
C&C Yachts 4112.42 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Robert Ball-designed masthead sloop built for performance with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio
Let's Go Sailboat Shopping With $50,000 - Ep 270 - Lady K Sailing2:23from Lady K Sailing

The family

Boats like this

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

Bavaria Yachts Ocean 40 (J&J)A J&J-designed fractional sloop with a bulb-keel hull, balancing cruising comfort with a spirited 18.88 SA/D ratioBavaria 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 40 VisionA 12.7-metre cruiser featuring a 1.75-metre draught and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performanceBavaria Yachts Cruiser 39A J&J-designed fractional sloop balancing a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio with a stable, comfortable hull formBavaria Yachts 41A 1995 fractional sloop with a high 23.59 SA/D ratio, designed for performance-oriented cruisingBavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 (Farr)A Bruce Farr-designed fractional sloop balancing performance and cruising comfort with a stiff fin-and-bulb keel

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