Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 Review: 200 Orders Before First Launch (2026)

What the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 actually is

The Astrea 42 is a production cruising catamaran designed by Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design and built by Fountaine Pajot in La Rochelle, France. It debuted at La Grande-Motte in 2018, and the builder reportedly took over 150 orders before the first hull launched. By early 2019, more than 200 had been sold. The model is still in production as of August 2026.

This is an all-new design, not a shortened Helia 44. It borrows features from the larger Saona 47, and the same design team also penned the Lucia 40. CE Category A certification means the boat is rated for ocean passages in wind up to Beaufort 9 (41–47 kn) and seas to 10 m.

Two interior layouts exist: the Maestro (3 cabins, 3 heads) and the Quatuor (4 cabins, 4 heads). Berths range from 6 to 8, or up to 10 if you count the saloon conversion. The Maestro gives the owner suite a walk-around island berth. The Quatuor is the charter favourite, and it dominates the used market.

Engines and evolution

Early hulls (2018–c.2020) shipped with 2 × Volvo Penta 30 hp engines, S-drive with fixed 2-blade propellers. From 2020 onward, market listings consistently show 2 × Volvo Penta D2-50 (50 hp each) as the standard. An optional 2 × 40 hp configuration also exists. A Smart Electric© power option is available on current hulls. The rig is a fractional sloop with aluminium spars and stainless wire shrouds, carrying a genoa of 41 m² and a mainsail whose area sources report as either 65 m² or 70 m² (discrepancy unresolved as of August 2026).

Tanks are generous for the class: 700 L of water and 470 L of fuel. Under power with the earlier 2 × 30 hp setup, test reports logged around 7 knots at 2,500 rpm.

The case for the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42

The Astrea 42 won European Yacht of the Year 2019 (Multihulls) and Catamaran of the Year at Düsseldorf 2019. Awards don't guarantee satisfaction, but they do reflect what the boat achieved at launch. Here is what that impact rests on.

Space and liveability

At 7.20 m beam, the Astrea 42 delivers a saloon and cockpit that rivals many 45-footers from the previous generation. The deck and coachroof use RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) with gelcoat on both sides, giving a clean, maintenance-friendly finish inside and out. Interior furniture is Alpi wood, a manufactured veneer that resists humidity better than solid timber in marine use.

The Maestro layout's walk-around island berth is a genuine comfort upgrade for couples planning extended cruising. Three en-suite heads in a 42-footer means no one queues. If you are a couple thinking smaller first, compare what you gain here against the boats in our guide to the best yachts for couples in the 32–36 ft range.

Build quality

Hulls are vacuum-laminated sandwich construction. Sources disagree on whether the core is PVC foam (reported by SAIL Magazine and ListingsPort) or balsa (reported by Cruising World and Boat-Specs.com). It is most likely PVC foam in the hull topsides, with balsa possibly used in certain deck zones. Either way, vacuum infusion produces a consistent resin ratio and a lighter, stiffer laminate than hand layup.

Bulkheads are composite laminate, not plywood. That removes a common rot pathway found in older catamarans.

Shallow draft and cruising ground access

Maximum draft is just 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in). That opens the Bahamas, the east coast of Australia, and much of the Caribbean's thin-water anchorages. The sacrificial keels are adhesive-bonded rather than bolted, designed to shear off cleanly in a grounding without breaching the hull. That is a safety feature, though it has a cost implication addressed below.

Weak points and what they cost

Every production catamaran has compromises. The Astrea 42's are well documented by professional sea trial reviewers.

Headsail geometry

The cabintop jib tracks sit tight and inboard, which pinches the genoa. A boats.com sea trial reviewer noted that the headsail tends to "hook in and act like a brake" upwind. If you sail regularly above Beaufort 4, this costs you pointing angle and VMG. The fix is aftermarket outboard tracks or a self-tacking jib retrofit, but neither is cheap on a catamaran coachroof.

Skylight heat

A large fixed skylight on the coachroof floods the saloon with light. It does not open. SAIL Magazine noted it "will tend to heat up the interior." In tropical waters, expect to run air conditioning harder or retrofit a solar film. Aftermarket opening-hatch conversions exist but require cutting into the RTM moulding.

Sheet leads and singlehanding

All sheets terminate at winches on the coachroof, separated from the helm by a passageway. Boating New Zealand confirmed: "To trim the sails the helmsman has to leave the wheel and walk forward." For a couple sailing shorthanded, this means one person is always on trim duty, or you invest in electric winches and remote controls.

Light-air speed

In 7 knots of true wind (Beaufort 2), a SAIL Magazine sea trial recorded just 3.6 knots at 60° apparent wind angle. The rig is conservatively tuned for charter ease. A gennaker or Code 0 is not optional for passage-making. It is essential anywhere the trade winds take a day off.

Sacrificial keels

The adhesive-bonded keel blades are designed to detach on grounding. That protects hull integrity, but any hard grounding means a haul-out to re-bond or replace the keel. On a catamaran, haul-out costs run roughly double those of a monohull.

Anchor chain routing

Chain exits the nacelle bulkhead directly from the 1,000 W windlass. A Multihull.com.au reviewer noted that a second roller fitted to the crossbeam would give a proper lead. Budget for the retrofit: a stainless bow roller and installation runs to a few hundred euros in parts, more in labour.

Maestro berth size

The walk-around island berth in the Maestro layout is a genuine comfort feature, but it physically reduces the mattress footprint compared to a full hull-width berth. Tall sailors should lie on it at the boat show, not take the brochure's word for it.

Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 vs the obvious alternative

The most frequently cross-shopped boat is the Lagoon 42, which competes in the same size bracket, price range, and charter/cruiser market. Both are French-built, CE Category A, and available in 3- or 4-cabin layouts.

Spec	Astrea 42	Lagoon 42
LOA	12.58 m	12.80 m
Beam	7.20 m	7.70 m
Draft	1.25 m	1.30 m
Cabins	3 or 4	3, 4 or 6
Genoa	41 m²	Self-tacking jib (varies)
Fuel	470 L	520 L
Water	700 L	680 L
New base price (indicative)	€513,100	Similar range

The Astrea 42 has a slight edge in water capacity and shallower draft. The Lagoon 42 is wider, giving more deck and saloon area, and comes in a 6-cabin layout for charter operators. Neither is a racing cat. Choose based on interior layout preference, local dealer support, and whichever hull you find on the used market in the condition you want.

Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 price: what the market asks

As of August 2026, the new base price (ex-VAT, indicative) is €513,100. The used market is substantial and well supplied.

Used market overview

Globally, roughly 120–140 listings appear across platforms, with significant overlap between sites likely. Hulls on the market span 2018 to 2025 build years. The highest asking price found is €869,000 for a 2025 hull listed on Boat24 in Ajaccio. The lowest is approximately €246,000, converted from USD $269,580 on Boatshop24.

Platform	Listings	Price range (EUR)
YachtWorld	28–52	~€325,000–€757,000
Annonces du Bateau	41	€295,000–€747,403
Boat24	~33+	€380,000–€869,000
Boatshop24	16	~€246,000–€602,000
Boat Trader	5	~€411,000–€757,000

Estimated P25 (lower quartile) sits around €380,000–€420,000. Estimated P75 (upper quartile) sits around €560,000–€620,000. Both figures are approximate, drawn from listing distributions rather than statistical computation.

Charter vs private

Many ex-charter boats, Quatuor 4-cabin versions from 2020–2022 build years, populate the lower price band, typically €295,000–€420,000. Private Maestro versions command a premium. When buying ex-charter, inspect engine hours, deck hardware wear, and interior soft furnishings. Charter guests are not kind to winch handles or upholstery.

Who this boat fits and who it doesn't

Good fit

• Cruising couples or families planning multi-year voyaging who want CE Category A ocean capability in a manageable size. The 700 L water tank and 470 L fuel tank support extended passages.
• Thin-water cruisers. At 1.25 m draft, the Bahamas, the ICW, and many Pacific atolls are all accessible.
• Buyers stepping up from a 36–38 ft monohull who want space without an unmanageable LOA. Under 13 m keeps marina costs in the mid bracket in most Mediterranean ports.
• Charter investors looking for a proven, well-supplied platform with strong brand recognition and resale support.

Poor fit

• Solo sailors. The sheet lead arrangement makes singlehanding genuinely difficult without expensive aftermarket electric winch and autopilot integration.
• Performance sailors. The conservative rig and inboard jib tracks mean the Astrea 42 is a cruiser, not a racer-cruiser. If you want to average 8+ knots in Beaufort 3, look elsewhere.
• Budget buyers under €300,000. At the bottom of the price range, you are buying early ex-charter boats with high hours and wear. Budget at least €380,000 for a hull in solid condition.

Verdict

The Astrea 42 is a well-built, well-proven production cruising catamaran that does exactly what Fountaine Pajot designed it to do: carry two to eight people across oceans in comfort, with easy handling, shallow draft, and strong resale value. It does not do it fast in light air, and it does not let you trim sails from the helm. Those are real limitations, not nitpicks.

The decision formula: If you plan to cruise with a partner, mostly in Beaufort 3–5 conditions, and you value interior space and shallow draft over pointing ability, the Astrea 42 belongs on your shortlist. If you sail alone or chase VMG, spend your money differently. Check the engine spec on any hull you view. Early 30 hp versions are adequate for docking, but the 50 hp D2-50 gives a meaningful margin in crosswinds and current.