Puffin 42 “Fina”
Her name is Fina. She is the first of the new generation “Puffin 42”, designed by Olivier van Meer Design and built by VMG Yachtbuilders. She is now sailing, and she has proven herself exactly as intended.
This is the story of how she got there.
- Brand & Model Puffin 42
- Type Sailing Yacht
- Designer Olivier van Meer
- Material Aluminium
- Length 12,80 m
- Beam 4,30 m
One decision that set the tone
The starting point for this build was a clear brief. Not simply to build another Puffin, but to bring the new generation “Puffin 42” into reality for the first time. The design builds on the proven Puffin concept while introducing clear updates in design, layout and overall feel — developed in close collaboration with Olivier van Meer Design, who have shaped the Puffin line for over 25 years.
Before a single panel was welded, one decision was made that would define the character of the yacht from that point on. The hull would remain bare aluminium. No paint, no coating to hide the material. Honest, tough and perfectly aligned with the idea of a yacht that is built to be used. That choice set the tone for everything that followed.
The aluminium hull was built by Super Duplex Hulls. As the hull took shape, construction reached an early milestone that matters more than it looks: the lead ballast was poured into the keel. That is the step where a hull becomes a sailing yacht — where balance and stability are locked in and the character of the vessel starts to take form.
Building the contrast
With the hull complete and moved to our yard in Enkhuizen, the focus shifted to everything that makes the yacht whole: the deck and superstructure, the interior, and the full technical installation.
On the outside, the contrast that defines this new generation Puffin began to take shape. The hull stayed raw. The superstructure and cockpit were prepared and painted white and blue, giving the yacht a clean and modern profile above that rugged aluminium base. The difference between the two is not just visual. It is a statement about what this yacht is. Tough below the rail, refined above it.
This exterior work required time and precision. Between hull construction and final paintwork, there is a lot of unglamorous work — fairing, primer, layer by layer — that makes the difference between a yacht that looks finished and a yacht that actually is.
One element deserves its own mention. This “Puffin 42” is fitted with a specially developed solar arch that extends over the full cockpit. It provides shade and supports onboard power generation, and it is designed as a fully integrated part of the yacht’s lines — not bolted on, but belonging there. It also functions as a bimini. Together with the tender arrangement and deck setup, it gives the yacht a confident explorer profile that is hard to miss.
Inside: light against strong
The interior fit-out ran in parallel with the exterior work. The layout was designed around real time on board. A deck saloon with seating for six — a proper space for meals, for drinks, for spending time together. Below deck, the saloon next to the galley becomes the natural centre of daily life. Two spacious cabins and a separate shower and toilet give everyone room and privacy for longer passages.
The finish is modern light oak and white, with grey taupe upholstery. Spacious, calm and light — an interior that feels easy to live in and easy to come back to.
As the interior came together, the technical backbone was installed throughout the yacht. Wiring, tubing, onboard systems, all connected and integrated. On deck, winches were mounted, the anchor winch fitted, the centreboard prepared and installed. These are the steps that rarely make the best photographs, but they are what allows the yacht to function reliably at sea.
The phase where progress looks like chaos
Every build has a stage that is difficult to photograph well. It is the final stretch, when interior elements, systems and finishing details are all being installed at the same time. The risk of damage grows with every new finished surface on board.
To protect Fina during this period, the yacht was almost completely wrapped. The exterior paintwork was covered with a protective layer. Inside, floors, furniture and surfaces were carefully shielded. The result is a yacht that looks busier, not cleaner. More covered, not more finished — at least in photos.
In reality it is the clearest sign of progress there is. The more protection goes on, the closer the yacht is to completion. Only in the final days before handover all of it is removed, and the yacht appears as she is meant to be seen.
Launched and rigged
Then came the day she went in the water.
Seeing a yacht afloat for the first time changes the impression completely. Fina was launched and sailed to the centre of Enkhuizen, where she moored alongside the yard for the final phase. With her bare aluminium hull, white superstructure and the distinctive solar arch, her character was already clear from the water.
With the mast in place, her profile changed completely. She stopped being a hull with systems in it and became a sailing yacht.
Fina is equipped with a cutter rig: a mast with double spreaders and a diamond stay construction for stiffness and support. Two headsails and a Code 0 give her the flexibility to adapt to different wind angles and conditions. It is a rig setup chosen for controlled, stable sailing — powerful enough to perform, simple enough to handle well.
First miles under sail
The first official sailing footage confirmed what the build was working towards. She sails, and she sails well.
The team at Olivier van Meer Design was on board for a series of tests and shared their first reactions:
“The horizon is calling, and the new generation ‘Puffin 42’ is ready for it.”
“Whatever the sea state or wind strength, her movements remain calm and friendly.”
“We have found the right balance between strong sailing performance, sailing comfort, and the flexibility that comes with a variable draught.”
“This is sailing as it should be. Comfortable, quick, and with a real feeling of freedom. The new generation of Puffin is built to make plans possible, and to turn dreams into miles.”
The numbers from those tests are specific. In 9 to 12 knots, Fina makes over 6.2 knots upwind under full sail and builds to 7 knots on a reach. In 24 knots, she holds 6.8 knots upwind with the staysail and one reef in the mainsail. At 22 knots on a reach, she delivers 9.2 knots — accelerating cleanly while keeping that same calm sense of control.
After nearly three weeks on board, the owner shared his own impressions:
“She is a gentle beast — powerful, composed, and still revealing herself with every mile.”
“There was never a sense of, ‘this is simply how we do it.’ Instead, the spirit throughout was, ‘let’s find the best way to make this work.'”
“She feels capable of taking us anywhere.”
We are proud of the result, but just as proud of the process. From the first decision to leave the hull bare to the final days on the water, this project was built on close cooperation between the design team, the owner and our yard. The owner’s words reflect that mindset, and seeing Fina perform so well under sail is the best confirmation we could ask for.
We wish the owner and his family many safe miles, fair winds and following seas.
VMG Yachtbuilders
