Hallberg-Rassy 42, ELBIAN

Broker’s Comments

Hallberg-Rassy 42 Mk II ELBIAN is a cracking example from the Swedish builders who remain one of the leading figures in mile munching yachts. With her classic HR lines, traditional white gel coat hull and those trademark blue accents everyone recognises, the 42 MK II is the successor of the successful 1980’s design.

German Frers designed, built with the finest tradesmen Sweden has to offer and using only the best materials, ELBIAN is barely showing half her 28 years. The current owner has kept her in immaculate condition, and she has just finished a thorough winter €15,000 pit stop getting her ready for new adventures.

The HR 42 MK II has the well protected centre cockpit, which when combined with the standard tempered glass windscreen and bimini is the perfect place to avoid nasty weather. When the sun comes out drop the dodger and open the window in the solid screen and enjoy fabulous airflow.

All sails can be easily controlled from the cockpit and electric winches and a well thought-out sail plan make any point of sail easy and fast. With two foresails, you are well prepared to handle a number of conditions.

The interior woodwork of ELBIAN remains in wonderful condition and merely waits your personal touches. The galley is well positioned for both calm and heavy weather conditions as are the heads and berths.

Owner’s Comments

I am ELBIAN’s third owner. I acquired her in September 2011 at Hamble, Great Britain. The boat was sailed previously in the North Sea and Baltic Sea by the first owner, a German, and in British and Irish waters, plus one ARC Transatlantic Circuit completed by the second owner, from Ireland. I sailed her from the Solent to Barcelona, via Brest, La Coruña, Cascais, Puerto Banús and Alicante. This passage, with a small crew, allowed me to get a feel for the boat and her outstanding seakeeping and passage-making qualities.

Since I bought her, my family and I have cruised extensively in the Western and Central Med: Spanish mainland coast, Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Côte d’ Azur, mainland Italy, Sicily… Since my retirement in 2019 many of those cruises have lasted several months during which ELBIAN proved to be a wonderful home away from home. Her fuel tankage, combined with a frugal 76hp turbodiesel and a very efficient Gori 3-blade propeller gives her 500+ nm range at 2,200 RPM easily making average speeds of 6+ MPH while motoring or motor sailing (at even less RPM).

Contrary to the previous Enderlein Hallberg-Rassys, this German Frers design excels on any point of sail from a close reach to a broad reach, attaining 7.5 knots or more in 16 knots apparent wind. She will soldier along well on a 50º close reach and maintain a comfortable and swift ride on a run, especially in wing-on-wing configuration (genoa and staysail, both on furlers). The autopilot is fitted with Raymarine’s more powerful ocean unit that steers the boat firmly in any condition.

ELBIAN has been maintained to a high standard. Apart from new Epex sails, running rigging, a furler-mounted staysail and other tweaks to facilitate short-handed cruising, we have upgraded the electronics and lighting, installed fans, upgraded the fridge with a top-notch compressor and added a smart regulator for fast engine charging of an expanded battery bank. We carry two outboards and a crane on the pushpit to lower them. We use the larger, faster 2-stroke engine in anchorages removed from towns and marinas and the small, lighter one for short hops to the beach. Although not currently mounted, twin Simpson davits are on the boat’s inventory and can be easily mounted at the stern for the tender.

What my wife and I (and our dog) have most enjoyed falls into two distinct areas: when at anchor, the ability to spend long periods on the hook without needing to refill the 685 lt. water tanks as well as running the fridge permanently thanks to the solar panels and just a touch of genset-time. The en-suite heads at the two cabins allow comfort and privacy for two couples. The saloon settees convert to two more large berths and the sofa backrests convert to two additional berths that children love. All in all, eight berths, all with lee cloths.

When sailing, what we most appreciate is the safety and comfort of the central cockpit combined with the electric primary winches and the ease of reefing and bringing the sail plan close to the mast with the furling staysail when the breeze freshens. We have been caught out several times in blustery conditions and, once adequately reefed, the boat is dry, balanced, performs beautifully, never slams into waves and exudes a sense of safety. We often make long passages double handed so all the above works to reduce fatigue and manage watchkeeping for a couple.

Hallberg-Rassys like ELBIAN are more than a prestigious brand. They’re rock-solid, sail well, are built to high standards and are safe and comfortable. And they have character. Age, and a worsening hearing condition that affects my sense of balance advises me to let go of ELBIAN after 14 years. I hope that whoever is her next owner will enjoy her as much as we have.