Sailing Vessel Sänna… Bavaria Ocean 50

“The one issue that invariably crops up when discussing Sänna with other sailors is her build. You see, she is a Bavaria!  I see the frown appear on their face and I get annoyed… often they don’t have the experience we have accrued but they still express their opinions about Bavarias. I accept sailing purists are entitled to their views but let me tell you this, Sänna has performed admirably throughout our round-the-world voyage – in sometimes extreme and tough sea conditions. Of course, we’ve had our problems just like every other sailboat, occasionally me and my boat are definitely not in love, but rarely is it the Bavaria element of our vessel that causes issues. I can truthfully say we’ve come across other well-renowned sailboat builds with far more problems than we’ve ever experienced – and that especially includes those expensive purpose-built sailing vessels too.”  Dave

Build
Sänna was built in Germany and launched in 1999. We are the second owner. Sänna is the Bavaria ‘Ocean‘ variant which means she’s the blue-water offshore type constructed to Lloyd’s Class A specification or Category One. Sänna is not the standard factory production build; she was commissioned by her previous owner and built to his specification – as far as we know there are only seventeen rear cockpit ‘Ocean’ types built by the Bavaria factory yard and fitted out in the Netherlands.

She has since been heavily modified by ourselves and various contractors working to our specification for blue-ocean long-distance cruising. This work includes the addition of solar panels, wind generator and onboard desalination watermaker… essential equipment for any long-voyage sailing vessel. Interior storage space has also been added. Recent modifications include the addition of a 120 volt mains circuit and charger suitable for US and Canadian shore power connection, Sänna’s original electrical build is to European maritime standards.

Sail Plan
Sänna Is a standard sloop, cutter rigged with furling head and stay sails. We’ve also added to our sail inventory by including a storm try-sail, storm sail, two stay sails including a spare, two main sails including a spare, genoa jib sail and our normal cruising number one jib sail. We also carry a blister spinnaker sail which we rarely use due to there generally being only the two of us onboard.

Specification
Length: 15 metres (49.9ft). Beam: 4.35 metres (14.3ft). Draft: 2.3 metres (7.5ft). Gross registered tonnage: (GRT) 19 tonnes.

Hull construction: GRP.

Hull configuration: fin keel with spade rudder.

Propulsion: Volvo Penta 105hp TAMD22P Engine. Replaced by a Yanmar 110hp 4JH110 in October 2017.

Mast and rigging: In mast furling main, cutter rigged with furling gib and furling stay sail.

Anchors: Three carried, 33kg Rocna, 30kg Danforth (spare), 15kg aluminium Danforth used as a kedge and additional main (excellent anchor). All chain – 130 metres 10mm calibrated.

Winches: Two Harken primary winches (electric), four secondary Harken winches cockpit mounted, two Harken winches mounted on mast.

Electronics: Raymarine radar, instruments, navigation and autopilot. Digital Yachts Class B (receive & transmit) AIS.

Communications: VHF, Icom SSB, Iridium Satellite phone.

Emergency: Self release EPIRB, SART, Dan-buoy and flares. Self release six-person life-raft.

Subsistence: Aquatek Watermaker – 170 litres per hour. 550 litres freshwater storage. Two number heads with third converted to wet locker and laundry. Engine driven BUS heater, Domitec air-conditioner/heater.

Power: Kohler FE4OZ onboard 220VAC generator. Four 215Ah AGM service batteries. Five solar panels deck and roll-bar mounted. Aerogen 4 Wind Generator.

Fuel: 500 litres Diesel – estimated cruising range 850 nautical miles with new Yanmar engine.

Service battery banks: 1050 amp hours.

Crew Capacity: Six, reduced to four due to long distance storage requirements.

If you wish to discuss the specification or what is required for long distance cruising then please contact us.