Bavaria has been on a roll lately with some exceptional boats coming into the country for comparatively little cost.

One of the latest is the Match 35. This is a real little cutie that is easy on the eyes, easy on the pocket and easy to sail.

With the Match Series, the manufacturer told us that Bavaria was answering its customers' calls for a faster, more agile boat that could win races and cruise weekends with equal success. Obviously the theory worked, as the company sold over 200 off the plan before they launched the first boat!

The Match Series comprises the 35, the original 38 and the big brother of them all, the 42. It's arguable which is the best, but as a good 'round-the-cans boat that can double up as a family weekender, the 35 is hard to go past.

This is a boat for which you don't need a big crew. Mum and Dad could probably race this baby around on a no-extras twilight while the kids enjoy the ride. Conversely, if you want to get serious, it's a boat that won't disappoint in the Club Aggregate with a good crew handling the kites.

These boats were recently used in the Swedish Match Racing Series, which was won by Peter Gilmour — so they're pretty highly regarded overseas.

RIGGED RESULTS
The rig is big. It's a tight two-spreader job that isn't too far short of the rig on the 42, and damn close the 38. It's a deck-stepped mast with a stainless-steel compression post and rod rigging for the stays and shrouds.

Sail area is a pretty hefty 79sqm, and the 35 will power up nicely in light airs.

We sailed the boat in a building sea breeze that hadn't quite built, so we didn't get much over about 10kt; but in that, the 35 was spritely. It pointed very well and felt light.

It is, in fact, around 5400kg dry, but we put a bunch of big boofheads onboard, which added to that figure significantly. Downhill it was great too, showing a good turn of speed off the breeze.

I didn't get to try the 35 in a blow, but even though it felt tender in the lighter stuff I'm told that with the deep lead keel (two shallow versions are also available) it heels only so far and then stays there.

There are three drafts available, with the standard being 2.0m. There's a 2.2m version that is proving the most popular, but it costs a bit extra. Standard ballast is 1900kg, which remains the same with the deeper keel. It stiffens the boat up quite a bit and I reckon it'd be the best way to go.

The third is a shallow version at 1.85m, which looks like a bit of a worry on paper.

The cockpit is large and easy to work in. There's room enough for six on a social sail, and there's not much clutter.

All lines lead back to the cockpit and there's really no need to go to the mast unless you're running a kite.

The Harken self-tailing primary winches are light and easy for headsail trimming, and the cabin-top sports two smaller Harkens for halyards or kite sheets. The wide traveller in the cockpit is easy to handle, and a sensible backstay adjustment is within easy reach of the helm.

In fact, if the helmsman sits up on the coaming, he can quite easily control the mainsheet, traveller and backstay. 

CRUISING MODE
If you're not racing, the interior fitout of the 35 is comfortable for four or even six at a pinch.

A big forepeak sports a comfy double, and there's another cabin aft on the port side that offers a big bed, plenty of storage for a weekend, and headroom for changing. The two settee berths could hold late-night revellers that missed the ride home.

The table is split folding so it doesn't impede the traffic forward, and it can also be removed completely — handy for when you're in race mode and the caring crew is throwing stuff all over the saloon.

Above the settees are very handy storage cupboards, which are actually borrowed from Bavaria's powerboat factory. These are another hint at the cruising role of the boat.

The head has a pump toilet, holding tank and a hot shower as standard. The bathroom has an opening port for ventilation and a tasteful vanity. There's pressurised hot water and 150lt of fresh water in the tank.

It's interesting to note that there's also a deck shower, which re-emphasises the dual racer/cruiser role of this boat. But back down below...

The chart table is a nice roomy number with storage for charts and instruments in the table, and further storage for tools and so on under the seat. Bavaria has taken to fitting plastic fascias to which owners can easily fit instruments, and three of these adorn the forward edge of the chart table. Above the nav station are more handy cupboards with secure fasteners.

CAPTAIN COOKER
The galley also looks like it's designed with a bit of cruising in mind.

A two-burner gas stove with oven is one hint. Hot and cold pressurised water to the sink is another. Then you get plenty of storage and 12V refrigeration thrown in.

Down below there's also six opening ports for cross-flow ventilation, and two opening hatches.

The engine is a Volvo MD2020 19hp twin-cylinder FWC job driving a three-blade folding prop through a saildrive. The standard fuel tank capacity is 90lt.

The basic electrics package gives a 55amp-hour starting battery and a 140amp-hour house battery. There's a shorepower facility and battery charger available, but it isn't standard.

Standard instrumentation includes a tridata giving wind, log and depth, as well as a binnacle compass. I'd be adding a proper wind gauge and autopilot, both of which are available as optional extras. 

An electric windlass would also be a handy inclusion for those weekends with the family, and then you've basically got it: a well-built, strong production yacht that won't break the bank in purchase price or sail fitout.

The Match 35 is a yacht that can comfortably race or cruise. It won't be afraid of a bit of coastal cruising either, and shorthanded sailing is no problem.

When we spoke to the importers, North South Yachting in Sydney, they had two stock boats on the way from Germany — so you may even be able to step right into one at short notice.

HIGHS

• Value for money
• Ease of sailing, light helm and very manoeuvrable
• Versatile cruiser-racer
• Well-laid-out cockpit and deck

LOWS

• Some fittings seem a bit light
• Not all through-deck fittings are backed with plates
• Could be a bit tender in high winds, especially with the shallower drafts