Without meaning to be cruel, a recession can sometimes be a mixed blessing for the consumer. It ensures the survival of the fittest among manufacturers, who have to sharpen up or be outdone by the depleting and ever more ferocious competition. Take Bavaria, who have acted boldly on a key market trend to produce the Bavaria 55 Cruiser.

At the moment the only production yacht market that could in any way be described as buoyant is in the mid-50ft range, an area not covered by the German builders up to now.

But Bavaria haven’t just come out with a bloated 55ft version of their cruising fleet. They went the braver (and costlier) route of using Farr Yacht Design to draw the hull lines and advise on construction and BMW DesignworksUSA for the exterior design details.

The results are significant. But what strikes you first is her staggering freeboard height and beam – she made a Bavaria 47 next to her look like a Flying Fifteen.

These topsides encompass a gargantuan interior, while allowing that coachroof to remain sleek.

Combine this with low coamings and large walk-through cockpit and it’s easy to deduce that her target clientele sails in the calm sunny waters of the Mediterranean.

And dare I mention the other German boatbuilder? Because the Bavaria 55 Cruiser has a certain Hanse look about her, which her hull windows, twin wheels and satin grey hull do nothing to disguise.

But the coachroof portholes set her apart and echo the windows, setting off an angular theme throughout the boat. Modern obviously equals 90° corners.

Clean decks were strategic to BMW’s aesthetics, so everything is hidden and led aft to maintain the look and there’s a feast of clever ideas to help achieve this.

A modern apartment

If there were such a thing, the Bavaria 55 Cruiser would arguably have the largest interior volume to LWL ratio I’ve ever seen.

I’m not keen on using tape measures on interiors, as lists of measurements can get a little dull, but suffice it to say that, at 6ft 4in, German idol David Hasselhoff ,‘The Hoff’, wouldn’t feel in the least bit cramped.

Once you’ve digested this prolific amount of accommodation, you’ll see Bavaria have included some smart ideas, combinations and options down here.

The test Bavaria 55 Cruiser was a four-cabin model, available also with three ensuites or in four and five-cabin charter guise, where the forward cabins can be converted into one large owner’s cabin post charter life.

Here, the central flexible bulkhead is designed to be removed, with a kit available to transform the starboard heads into a dressing room.

In short, the layout is wide open and contemporary, the feel light and airy, and the look minimalist and smart.

Bavaria used Wenge timber heavily on their 43, 47 and 51 models, which they have continued on the Bavaria 55 Cruiser, but in a lighter colour – ours was in walnut with oak-floor finish.

But more attention to detail and quality control has been paid than we’re used to on a Bavaria.

Floorboards still creak, as does the deck above when anyone walks on it, but Bavaria have listened and there are grab-bars aplenty to accommodate the open spaces.

Sailing the Bavaria 55 Cruiser

Sailing the Bavaria 55 Cruiser proved something of a psychological test. On the one hand I was thinking: “Remember, it’s a cruising Bavaria”, while the more excitable part of my brain responded: “Yes, but it has been penned by some of the best performance brains on the planet.”

Luckily, the result was just how she should be: quick, easy and fun.

Unfurling the sails to a warm Force 3 on a typical, flat-water morning in Palma Bay, the Bavaria 55 Cruiser immediately showed a keen turn of pace.

Despite the light airs, she was soon tracking upwind at 6.5 knots. But what quickly gnawed at me was that this came at the sacrifice of VMG: we were struggling to point higher than 50° true (30° apparent) at full gallop.

The culprit turned out to be the genoa tracks, which had been mounted too low to keep the aesthetics of a clean deck.

By barber-hauling the clew we were able to move up a gear and point over 5° higher – a short track on the coachroof has since been mooted.

We were fitted with the standard deep keel (2.35m), furling genoa and in-mast vertically battened main and the sails were polyester laminate (Dacron is standard).

As we headed offshore, still slipping along at around 7 knots, the breeze filled in to reach a steady Force 4.

With 13 knots across the deck we were nudging 8 knots close-hauled, with the twin rudders delivering consistent tracking, let down only slightly by some play in the steering.

The sail set-up proved itself. While the brochure may quote a displacement of 16 tonnes, she was apparently measured at 18.2 tonnes half-loaded.

Yet as soon as the wind touched double figures, you couldn’t hold her back: so with electric winches the 106 per cent foresail is a more powerful and versatile option than a self-tacking jib, without being a handful.

A Sports package is offered, however, with taller mast and larger, fully battened main.

Beam reaching in these textbook conditions was a joy and we hit 9.5 knots on a broad reach in 16 knots – rewarding passage speeds and certainly an altogether more exhilarating ride than any other cruising Bavaria.

But with only a very lightweight Code 0 aboard, it was a crying shame there was no asymmetric as the Bavaria 55 Cruiser’s broad aft end design promises downwind potential.

Helming is comfortable with no coaming to straddle, but only the aft set of twin 58 winches are reachable (these can be powered as an option).

A ‘German’ system led the mainsheet forward on the boom then aft to coachroof winches, where banks of clutches each side also handle the hidden mastlines.

With her low coachroof there are no visibility issues, but there’s also very little cockpit protection or backrests for bracing crew.

Instead they’re compensated with plenty of sunbathing area: 7.5m2 alone on the fully flush foredeck, plus large side decks and a huge aft bench that spans the transom.

With so much clean deck area, getting the teak option is a must. Going forward, there’s a lot of boat to fall across (4.75m beam), with little to stop you doing so in a sea.

The guardrails are low and the short handles on the coachroof only shin-high. The upside is that there’s very little to snag sheets or stub a toe on!

Bavaria 55 Cruiser below decks

The forward ensuite is first class and a real selling point, with separate stand-up shower room. More like a hotel bathroom, it’s spacious, with large contemporary sink and mirror, attractive downlights and plentiful stowage – including a lift-top laundry basket, if you don’t opt for a washing machine.

A walk-in full-headroom dressing room resides in the ‘hallway’ of the opulent master cabin, with enough hanging and stowage room to swallow even a diva’s wardrobe . . .

This allows for a completely uncluttered queen size double. There’s still 6ft 2in headroom and plenty of light from two large overhead hatches and two hull windows.

It may need a few pictures to detract from the vast amount of pale woodwork, which can seem more static caravan than inviting cabin.

The saloon is less warm and cosy, more smart and spacious, with room enough to seat eight – once the double bench (with magnetic backrest) slides out from under the island.

The softly lit glass cabinet forward looks attractive, but its practicality is questionable. There’s stowage under and behind all seats, including two large drawers under both end seats. Plus there’s a great provisions locker under the cabinet, including wine rack.

Linear it may be, but the galley is a refreshing design that utilises a workstation island. Which with surrounding grab bars more than satisfies the seaworthy credentials.

It rather resembles a kitchen in a modern flat, complete with front-opening, full-size fridge-freezer (there’s a lift-top fridge too) and large deep sink and draining sink. Stowage is abundant.

Heads are nice and light (again with huge headroom), boasting a proper shower permanently mounted on a stand.

A seat/cover drops over the small heads and a Perspex door keeps the wash area dry. This has a smart, deep, lipped basin and large mirror.

Identical double aft cabins have excellent headroom, changing space and stowage in tall double hanging lockers.

Fiddled shelves run the length of the generous doubles and four portlights help keep these cabins airy. Hatches aft provide access to steering gear.

First published in the August 2009 issue of YW.

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