Nimbus Nova 42 Review

Nimbus Nova 42 Boat Review

Reviewed: December 2009

Author: Yacht and Boat

The Cruising Club – Boat Share

“Nimbus Nova 42 – Boat Share at its Best”

Last month, just before Christmas, the Yacht and Boat team were invited to test run and experience Cruising Club’s latest addition to their Boat Share business, the Nimbus Nova 42.
 
Rod Cunningham is the principal of The Cruising Club’s Head Office on Sydney Harbour. But the company started out in 1998 and has boat share locations in Pittwater (Sydney) and Airlie Beach (Whitsundays). The Club has had a successful past with Mustang, Sunrunner Sports Boats and Bavaria Yachts available for share purchase.  
 
Recently they have added a Seaquest Sports Boat, Cruisers Yachts 56 and Riviera 4700 to their boat share list. 

Our invitation was to check out the first European power vessel in the club, namely, the Nimbus 42 Nova.
 
Rod suggested we embark at Birkenhead Point, as do other Cruising Club members. There is ample parking with easy access to the marina for loading supplies.  All of The Cruising Club’s vessels are fully serviced, maintained, fuelled and ready-to-go as part of your boat share plan.
 
The maroon hull of the Nimbus against the white deck and blue water was the first sight to greet us.  On board the bridge, control console, saloon and galley were tastefully blended into a free flowing living space with stylish wood veneer fixtures and comfortable fittings. The Nimbus 42 has style, convenience, luxury and charm. Its ‘feel’ is intimate and friendly with panoramic views from every vantage point.  
 
We allowed the twin Volvo Penta D6 engines a friendly putt down the Harbour. There’s 1500 rpm to travel at 8 knots. But the 370hp they deliver to the twin four-blade props means that she can really jet along, so it’s nice to know the power is there if/when you need it.  The bowthruster makes light of tight manoeuvres, even on windy days or in strong currents.
 
The busy Harbour is a great place for passengers to boat-watch and people watch from the all round visibility offered by the cabin’s design.
 
On the day, all the coves around Sydney Harbour were full of revellers, picnic-ers and sightseers with their binoculars trained on Sydney to Hobart contenders testing their gear.  The combination of size, sail and speed were an awesome sight.
 
We retreated to the sanctuary of Bantry Bay, where there are public moorings, shelter and the promise of a quiet night’s sleep.
 
Our group enjoyed a leisurely afternoon of swimming, eating and all-round relaxing.  We were even treated to the spectacle of a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter landing on the top deck of a nearby Super Yacht!
 
As evening fell we retired to The Cruising Club’s private mooring at Sugarloaf Bay.  The three comfortable double cabins and two bathrooms provided comfort,  convenience and peaceful night’s sleep for those onboard.
 
In the morning hot coffees and newspapers were delivered right to the hull by the local water taxi-café-de-mer. What a way to go! This really could be called Paradise.
 
On the return trip to The Cruising Club headquarters Christian greeted us at the outer dock.  He jumped aboard and expertly drove the Nimbus safely back to the pen.
 
The Cruising Club team then take over and refill, refurbish and revitalise every one of their boats ready for incoming guests and the next trip.
 
All that was left for us to do was get to ourselves into the car.
 
We all agreed: 24 hours on the Nimbus adds five years to your life!  
 
Boat Shares are available in the Nimbus Nova 42 for just $79,890.