We are delighted to see Puffin featured in Spiegel der Zeilvaart. The article explores the distinctive character and craftsmanship behind our yachts, where timeless design meets modern sailing performance.
Read the full article below. An English translation is also included below for our international readers.
English translation:
New Yacht: Puffin 42 Fina
You can recognise a Puffin among thousands. Its heart-shaped transom, the tumblehome aft, the pilothouse and the raked bow inevitably make you turn your head as the yacht sails past. Fina was launched this spring, and we stepped aboard.
Photography: Bertel Kolthof
Dutch text: Klaas Smit
“The concept of a Puffin has remained unchanged,” says designer Olivier van Meer. “However, many details have been modified and improved in this third generation. After all, I receive feedback from Puffin owners, prospective owners have their own wishes, and I also come up with improvements for the next yacht.
“The first Puffin appeared in 1996, thirty years ago. Number one was a fast yacht compared with other boats of that time. Today, I am competing with many more—and very different—sailing yachts, yet the third-generation Puffins can still hold their own with flying colours. I have also changed over those thirty years, and my ideas have matured and refined, to put it elegantly.”
Still unmistakably a Puffin
In Spiegel der Zeilvaart 2025.3, we took an in-depth look at the hull of this Puffin 3.0 and examined its similarities to and differences from the first yacht.
“The 1996 Puffin was the first cutter-rigged sailing yacht with a pilothouse from which you could look outside while sitting on the settee,” Olivier explains. “That pilothouse resembled a wheelhouse positioned behind a cabin, rather like the deckhouses once built aft of the deck hatches. On the third-generation Puffins, the cabin runs all the way from bow to stern, with the pilothouse ‘sitting’ on top. The lower edges of the three side windows end above the cabin line, giving the pilothouse a more refined appearance.
“Another major difference is in the stern. The tumblehome is still there, but on the first Puffin I was determined that the heart-shaped transom should end in a point. The heart is now more rounded at the waterline, allowing the underside of the stern to rise more cleanly and release the water more effectively.”
A bathing platform is now integrated into the transom, which is a clear improvement. The platform is revealed by folding down part of the transom. This meant that the original transom-hung rudder had to disappear. Another major change is the wider underwater body, although it still incorporates the familiar retractable centreboard.
With her bare aluminium hull, Fina looks a little more like a rugged, no-nonsense yacht.
“I think we have now achieved the optimum,” Olivier says. “This yacht is unmistakably a Puffin, and she sails both fast and steadily. It is still the kind of boat on which you can walk across the deck with your hands in your pockets while it is blowing Force 6 at sea.”
Space
Tough, stable and fast—but certainly spacious too. The cockpit is roomy and comfortable, everything is within easy reach, and this 42-footer can easily be sailed single-handed.
“I no longer wanted any folding or sliding doors, so the door between the cockpit and the pilothouse is a proper watertight door,” Olivier says. “The cockpit is at its lowest point in front of that door, and that is where we drain the water. Earlier Puffins had clearly visible freeing ports in the bulwarks. Here, several round openings in the deck beside the toerail channel the water through pipes to just below the waterline—a welcome feature for anyone who dislikes streaks beneath the scuppers!
“The yacht is spacious below deck as well, because being able to live comfortably on board is important to me. You can still see all the way forward, the owner’s cabin is large, and the toilet and shower are separate and finished in an exceptionally clean and seamless style. These spaces are easy to clean and well ventilated.”
On the leeward side
The deck saloon has an L-shaped settee to starboard, while the pilothouse contains a U-shaped settee to port. This means there is always a settee on the leeward side of the yacht where you can rest comfortably during long passages without rolling off.
A guest cabin with a double bed is located beneath the U-shaped settee.
“It is well known by now that I want plenty of room for the technical systems,” Olivier says. “You need to be able to carry out repairs while under way, and when something becomes worn, you must be able to reach it and replace it. The technical spaces are large and contain neatly stored, ready-to-use tools and spare parts that are immediately accessible.
“You need to be self-sufficient at sea. I was therefore happy to sacrifice the third cabin commonly found on a 42-footer. The owners agreed with me.”
The galley is compact and seaworthy. In heavy seas, you can brace yourself securely, while a handrail behind and above the centreboard casing prevents you from falling when stepping out of the galley.
The owner of this Puffin opted for a light-oak interior. Some of the wood is varnished and combined with a whitewashed finish. The many windows and deck hatches provide more than enough daylight and give the yacht a light and airy feel.
Why choose a Puffin?
Owner Ed is on board and explains why he chose a Puffin.
“I certainly considered alternatives,” Ed says, “but I think the Puffin is a beautiful yacht with elegant lines. I love the classic appearance and the pilothouse. However, the feeling I had about the people involved was also very important to my decision.
“You spend two years together—that is how long the entire process takes, from initial contact to launch—and you work closely throughout that time, so the process needs to be enjoyable. I had, and still have, a good feeling about Olivier and the builders at VMG. They know what they are talking about and can make decisions quickly. We click, I feel comfortable with them, and that is at least as important as the type of yacht you choose.”
“That applies to both sides,” Olivier adds. “We worked hard for two years, but we also had a great deal of fun. With around twenty employees, VMG is not overly large, and my company, Olivier van Meer Design, is equally manageable with six people. Ed had only two points of contact—myself and VMG’s project manager—which made communication very pleasant and efficient. Another advantage is that VMG and I have known each other for a very long time.”
The first miles
Fina has become a rugged Puffin with the appearance of an expedition yacht.
“Personally, I do not think the large frame aft, covered in solar panels, is particularly attractive,” Olivier says, “but it is indispensable for comfortable ocean voyages. When you are under way for a long time, you need enough electricity for your equipment. The solar panels on the frame and on the pilothouse roof recharge the batteries in no time. The engine’s regeneration system also contributes.
“The large frame is ingenious as well, because it incorporates a retractable mini-crane with which the tender can be lifted.”
A watermaker supplying fresh drinking water makes Fina largely self-sufficient, although she naturally still needs to put into port occasionally to take on diesel and provisions.
“I have now sailed the first miles on the IJsselmeer, including in strong winds,” Ed says. “The yacht sails wonderfully and is fast, just as promised. She feels very safe and stable, and her behaviour in waves is calm. She fully meets my expectations, and sailing her is simply fun.
“Hardly any water comes aboard because the pilothouse is fitted with a sliding panel. When it is blowing hard, you can position it close to the steering wheel, between the two winches for the sheets. These are comfortable and sheltered places, especially when keeping watch at sea.
“The plan is to sail Fina to the Caribbean, but for now I will remain here for a while. I have time.”
Distinctive
Puffins are named after the seabirds: curious and spirited birds found in the North Atlantic region. They are strong and fast creatures that are better at diving and fishing than they are at flying. They are striking in appearance, partly because of their brightly coloured beaks.
The sailing yachts called Puffins are equally distinctive on the water. Seaworthy, stable, tough, fast, elegant and easy to sail, they are cutter-like yachts with full lines and a clearly defined sheer. The straight bow slopes aft by a few degrees, while the hull’s tumblehome immediately catches the eye. At deck level, the bulwarks curve sharply inward towards the stern, making a Puffin’s aft section appear even fuller.
Puffin 42 Fina — Specifications
- Length overall: 13.03 m
- Length at waterline: 12.04 m
- Beam: 4.20 m
- Displacement: 16.9 tonnes
- Sail area: 120.6 m²
- Engine: 80 hp Yanmar
- Onboard and engine electrical system: 24 V, with two alternators on the main engine delivering a combined output of 150 A
- Solar panels: maximum output of 1,000 W
- Chargers: 2 × Victron chargers
- Inverters: 2 × Victron inverters, with a combined output of 10 kW
- Design: Olivier van Meer Design
- Builder: VMG
More information: VMG Yachtbuilders, Volmolen 9, 1601 ET Enkhuizen
www.vmgyachtbuilders.nl
Photo captions
Above: The large frame above the stern is not particularly attractive—even according to the designer—but it performs several functions on this yacht, which is intended for long-distance cruising. It carries the davits for a tender, provides a platform for a large array of solar panels and serves as a bimini for the helmsman. Wide side decks and high, sturdy guardrails help make the yacht safe at sea. A large overlapping staysail is set from the bowsprit, while the jib on the forestay reaches back to the mast.
Right-hand page, clockwise: A bright interior with a U-shaped galley to port. The sink is positioned above the centreboard casing; the navigation station, where the backrest can be reversed to create a relaxed seat on the pilothouse settee; the sliding hatch is a truly ingenious feature; the cockpit has seating arranged around the steering wheel; the transom folds open to reveal a bathing platform with steps; and the Yanmar engine is easily accessible through the pilothouse floor.