on 4 Aug 2021
The new Bali 4.2 catamaran builds on the new brand’s growing legacy for on-the-water party platforms
Over five years ago, the Bali brand of party-ready catamarans emerged from the Catana brand of high-performance catamarans. The boats are built by the Catana Group, which is helmed by French yacht entrepreneur Olivier Poncin.
The Bali brand was launched in 2014 by Poncin to provide party-friendly sailing catamarans for both private use and for charter companies that wanted easy, accessible and fun yachts for their clients.
While Catana is known for its focus on speed and high performance, which may please sailors wanting to make long passages, Bali seems more focused on those wanting a brilliant day on the water at anchor while enjoying a bit of sailing time along the way. Given the nature of most Hong Kong sailing – out in the morning, back at night – Bali seems like a good fit for the market.
In case the wind and waves do come up, as they easily do in Hong Kong, the Bali catamarans are known for being able to withstand the weather in comfort.
Brands talk about seamless connections between the saloon and the aft deck, but Bali takes this to a whole new level
The flybridge and helmstation is small but sociable
The Bali range of yachts, running from its brand-new entry-level boat, the 4.2, up to its flagship 5.4, carry some basic elements that define the brand. The fold-up aft door creates a giant party/gathering space connecting the main deck saloon with the aft deck and transom.
Brands talk about seamless connections between the saloon and the aft deck, but Bali takes this to a whole new level. On the Bali, the indoor saloon dining area becomes the aft deck dining area as well. This is a neat way of making the dining area feel more spacious and integrated with the outdoors.
Another key feature is the solid structure in the foredeck area. Sailing catamarans often leave netting between the forward area of the two hulls, saving weight. Bali has opted to fill in the foredeck with a solid fibreglass structure, turning the area into another seating and lounging spot. One great feature of this solid structure forward is more storage space under the seating for things such as fenders, sails and even bicycles.
Bali also lowered the height of the boom enough to boost the mainsail area for better performance
Bali’s hull design allows for larger interiors
Bali also includes a door to access the forward area, with forward-facing windows that open up. In addition to making the forward area an easy and attractive place to be, it also means that the whole interior feels much more connected to the outside, with good breeze flowthrough while at anchor.
Because the bridge deck dining area is also the aft deck dining area, it leaves room for a very spacious galley in the forward half of the interior. There is ample storage space and a large fridge and freezer unit. In short, the 4.2 can host a large gathering for a day in comfort with no shortage of food or drinks. The galley is located between the two main social areas – foredeck and the dining/aft deck space, meaning whoever is in the galley feels part of the social action.
The flybridge on the 4.2 is relatively small, but the helm station offers good views, and there’s seating and sunpads for up to six people, so the captain doesn’t have to be alone while cruising for another brilliant place to anchor.
Clockwise from right: The main saloon area has a large kitchen and opens up fore and aft
The bows on the Bali 4.2 have been rounded for sleek, contemporary looks, while the entry point has been kept fine for less motion in choppy seas, a handy feature for Hong Kong waters. Long strakes along the bows keep the interior volume in the cabins relatively high. Those strakes also create better rigidity in the boat.
The aft deck area features a grill station, while the aft platform receives a dinghy via Davit. Like other Bali boats, you can walk around the boat without ever having to enter the cockpit. While owner/operators of the Bali 4.2 are most likely to found enjoying themselves at anchor, it is important for a sailing yacht to be able to handle some weather and for the owner to manage the boat.
The flybridge helm offers good views all around from its centrally aligned position. All lines are led to the helm for easy control. Bali also lowered the height of the boom enough to boost the mainsail area for better performance. This apparently came about from charter companies’ feedback, with bareboat charterers wanting a bit more performance.
Bali’s trademark aft door lifts up like a garage door, completely opening the aft deck to the saloon at the push of a button
Down below, owner and guests find the cabins and bathrooms. Buyers can choose between a three-cabin owner’s layout or a four-cabin, charter-friendly layout. Bali has kept these spaces elegant, simple and practical. The three-cabin layout devotes an entire hull to the owner’s cabin, storage and bathroom.
The aim of the 4.2, Bali’s new entry-level catamaran, is to be both affordable and practical to owner-operators. If having a lot of fun on the water sounds appealing, take a serious look at this yacht. Bali is now represented in Hong Kong and Thailand by Asiamarine.
Technical Specifications – Bali 4.2
LOA: 12.8m
Waterline length: 12.3m
Beam: 7.1m
Draught: 1.2m
Light displacement: 12.8t
Upwind sail area: 90m²
Engines: 2 x 30 to 45 hp, sail drive
Fuel: 640l
Fresh water: 800l
Black water: 3 x 55l
CE Category: Cat. A – 12 people