on 19 Jan 2022
The Bluegame BG42 is an impressive combination of striking, sturdy design and Italian finishes. To get onboard with the owners of a new BG42 in Asia is to find out why Bluegame is a rising star in Hong Kong
On a recent sunny day in Hong Kong, I stepped onboard a Bluegame BG42 – the first one to arrive in Asia – with the new owners. It was around three weeks after the owners – an excited couple with their pet dog – had taken delivery of their yacht.
“It reminds me a bit of a military boat from the front,” said the husband, who has had a few motor yachts over the past 10 years in both Hong Kong and Singapore, and who has decades of hands-on experience in the marine industry.
While the pronounced ‘V’ of its bow lines and a reverse-tilt angle windscreen at the helm give the BG42 the look of a pursuit boat or a pilot boat, it looks trawler-like from the side. Seen from the aft and once on the bow deck, it feels just like a leisurely dayboat. The shipyard’s description of this model being a “multi-utility sport yacht” probably covers all these aspects.
For the highly experienced owners, the Bluegame BG42 is about the openness of outdoor and inside areas.
“A main attraction was the central console with the good walkaround space,” one of the owners added. He says he had previously really enjoyed his Axopar 37 Sun-Top, and they had had a Princess V45 before that.
But they say their latest yacht offers what they are really after; a very open day boat that welcomes with comprehensive specifications. The BG42’s galley was a key part of their choice. It is a study in space-saving ideas done in a stylish way. The basin is hidden under a removable, high-quality composite countertop, and a microwave are provided – two induction rings were added as an option. There is a fridge-freezer unit and a storage space that seem perfectly sized for an overnight stay or two on board.
For the highly experienced owners, the BG42 is about the openness of outdoor and inside areas
Sunpads aft have great ocean views
For this BG42, the owners opted for a single, studio-like open-cabin configuration, for which the descending wooden staircase from the main deck acts as a semi-private partition from the galley and dinette. The dinette’s U-shaped bench seating and riser table transform into a double berth, should that be needed for guests. And a decent-sized bathroom at the centre of the lower deck also helps separate these two spaces. Its electric-controlled WC, glass countertop sink and separate shower cubicle with a glass partition within a no-nonsense cool grey-and-white surfaced interior with some blonde teak fittings make this all very easy on the eye.
Zuccon International Project’s design team has also worked well on letting in natural light here and elsewhere on this deck, with skylights incorporated in the roof and plenty of portholes around. Throughout the BG42, there is a high level of detailing that is self-evident.
“The Italians know a thing or two about finishes,” the owner quips at one point.
The owners report that the hull shape and bow work well, cutting through three-metre swells with no spray on deck
A sunken cockpit table on the main deck is accompanied by bench seating
Out on the decks, there is space for a tender on the stern. When it is deployed, the hydraulic swim platform comes into its own as a space to relax. It’s this and the sunken cockpit table and bench seating around it that allow the feeling of roominess aft of the helm station, as the ocean can always be within view.
Aft of the grill station and additional double-refrigerator – which can be zipped up with a waterproof covering – there is a raised sun pad platform. Biminis, rolled and stowed along both aft bulwarks, provide shade across the whole of the open aft deck. Bulwark heights allow good views of the surrounding water, but are just tall enough to offer a feeling of security when walking around the roomy side decks – another key attraction to the owners not just for human sense of security, but also for their dog.
The BG42 reaches 38 knots with the largest engine option
Carbon fibre in the superstructure and the back casing of the helm station twin-seating unit, plus aluminium handrails and other details, offer robust durability and reduce weight. The forward tilt of the windshield in front of the helm removes any glare or overheating of the dashboard station. This and the shade offered from an external windshield overhang avoids the need for glass coverings in sunny weather.
The owners of the new BG42 are experienced at yachting, and that means they looked hard at the performance issues. The owners report that the hull shape and bow work well, cutting through three-metre swells with no spray on deck.
The yacht’s control panel is characterised by its simplicity and stylishness
The owners also say they appreciate the engine options available, having upgraded to twin 600hp engines from the standard 2 x 480hp option. They are thus capable of hitting speeds of 35 or 36 knots and cruising comfortably at up to 27 knots at 3,000rpm.
The Volvo IPS system with joystick control makes berthing easier. Thanks to the BG42 being an open boat, it is also easier to see everything when trying to squeeze into a tight space.
The grey-and-white surfaced interior is easy on the eyes
The control panel is simply and stylishly laid and houses GPS and twin Garmin multifunctional control screens; the owners upgraded the onboard echo sounder (sonar system) from the standard Garmin Airmar DST800 to the ultra-high-definition Garmin GT36UHD-TM.
There is an optional bow-thruster and FLIR M332 marine thermal camera were selected. The Fusion radio communication system is to hand but out of sight behind a small console door. The owners also appreciate the spacious engine room and the press-button, hydraulic-lift-access to the engineering, located under the aft sun pads. The owners also opted for a gyroscopic stabiliser system.
Manoeuvring can be aided by joystick control
Bluegame, which is part of Sanlorenzo, has increased its use of sustainable materials and design in production. The brand has been gaining traction in Asia, with BGX60 and BGX70 models recently sold. This BG42 is the first in Asia – the second went to Taiwan – and this model’s appeal is all too easy to understand.
www.bluegame.it
www.simpsonmarine.com
Tech specifications: Bluegame BG42
LOA: 13m
Beam: 4.4m
Draft (full load): 1.1m
Gross tonnage: 11.5T
Engines: 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 600 D6 435hp/ 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 650 D6 480hp
Max speed: 35kts / 38kts
Cruising speed: 30kts / 31kts
Fuel: 1,400l
Passenger cabins: 1 (+ 2 convertible berths)
Passenger capacity: 14
Design: Luis T. Codega (hull), Luca Santella & Zuccon International Design (exterior and interior)