Jeanneau Sun Fast 42

A 12.7 m performance cruiser from Jeanneau, no longer in production, for sailors after a quick, easily handled boat for offshore passages.

This is a 12.7 m Jeanneau that's no longer built, so any you look at now will be a previously owned boat. She was developed over several years by Jeanneau with the designer Philippe Briand, with offshore sailing very much in mind.

What you notice first is the fine bow, which suits a boat meant to make good speed in open water. The deck has an elliptical section with fitted portholes, and the whole design keeps things simple rather than cluttered.

At the helm she's straightforward to handle, which matters when you're short-handed or tired a long way from port. She also earned a name for being reliable, and on a boat of this age that's worth asking any seller about.

The hull is 12.45 m and she draws 1.85 m. She's rated for a maximum of 10 people, carries 150 l of fuel and has 350 l of fresh water, enough for a few days away without topping up.