Fountaine Pajot Astréa 42
Six-guest catamaran that actually sails — the sweet-spot boat for couples chartering together.
Below 46 ft, Fountaine Pajot's Astréa is our first recommendation for couples chartering together — properly balanced under sail, smaller marina bill, and still every millimetre of cat space that matters.
The Astréa 42 replaced the Hélia 44 in Fountaine Pajot's cruising range in 2018 and immediately became the most-chartered 42-ft catamaran in the Mediterranean. The design brief was clear: keep the space and stability owners loved, cut the weight, and give her back some sailing bite.
In our fleet the Astréa is almost always a three-cabin Owner's version or four-cabin Maestro layout. Under sail she is genuinely quicker than a Lagoon 46 in light-to-moderate winds — the taller rig and lighter displacement make a real difference — and she noticeably outsails her older Hélia predecessor.
For two or three couples chartering together, or a family of five or six, the Astréa is the boat that gets everything right without paying for space you won't use.
Two or three couples chartering together, or a family of five or six, who want to actually sail — not just motor between anchorages — without paying for a 46-footer.
- —The lightest, best-balanced catamaran in her class — she sails properly, not just cruises.
- —Owner-version 3-cabin gives the owner suite a full head with shower, dressing area, and forepeak — genuinely private.
- —Marina fees ~30% lower than a Lagoon 46 across the season.
- —Compact enough to enter smaller marinas and coves closed to bigger cats.
- —Very widely available in charter fleets everywhere from Palma to Phuket.
- —Cockpit is smaller than a 46 — eight guests dining together is a squeeze; six is comfortable.
- —No flybridge helm — you steer from the starboard cockpit corner, which some skippers love and others don't.
- —In an 8-guest, 4-cabin configuration the two forward cabins share a head — fine for one family, less ideal for four adult couples.
The Astréa is our default recommendation for two or three couples who want to sail without paying for space they won't use. It's also the boat we quietly steer clients toward when the budget is tight but the standards aren't — the value here is genuine, not a compromise.
We send a Lagoon 46 instead when the group is eight adults who need every couple in a proper Owner-spec cabin, or when the plan is anchor-first with lots of entertaining and the cockpit needs to be big. When nobody in the group is a keen catamaran believer, we send them to a Sun Odyssey 440 monohull instead — it's cheaper, sails better, and the family will remember it as a real sailing week rather than a floating apartment week.
How it compares
The 46 is bigger, calmer, more social, and has the flybridge. The Astréa is smaller, quicker, and lower-priced. Pick Astréa for six guests, Lagoon for eight.
The Bali is a lifestyle-first catamaran with the open forward cockpit. The Astréa is a sailor-first catamaran that also cruises comfortably.
Where we send the Astréa 42 most
Greece — Ionian
Two couples, gentle winds, short hops between islands — the Astréa's natural home.
Croatia
The most-booked cat for family groups from Split — sails properly between the anchorages.
Sardinia & Corsica
La Maddalena in a boat small enough to enter every cala and still sail the crossing to Bonifacio.
Astréa 42 — questions clients actually ask
- How is it different from the older Hélia 44?
- Lighter, better balanced, quieter, more storage in the galley, and — most importantly — she actually sails. The Hélia had a reputation for feeling underpowered; the Astréa doesn't.
- Owner-version or 4-cabin — which should I book?
- Owner-version if you're two couples with older kids or one adult group who values the owner suite. 4-cabin Maestro if you're four adult couples or two families with several children.
- Do I need a skipper?
- Recommended for guests without recent catamaran hours, especially in windier destinations (Cyclades, Bocche di Bonifacio). In lighter areas — Ionian, Balearics in spring — a competent bareboat crew handles her easily.
- Cost for a week?
- Cost varies by season and base, with APA on top for fuel, marinas and provisioning. Fully crewed all-inclusive is a separate rate band. We quote three real boats at real prices for your dates.
- Can it cross open water?
- Yes — the Astréa handles Mediterranean passages up to 100 nm comfortably in the sailing season. Pick a weather window, don't push a schedule, and she's a happy passage boat.
Charter an Astréa 42 for your dates.
We'll shortlist three real boats at real prices in the base and week you want. Usually back to you within twelve hours.