Songbird is a sloop-rigged Bavaria 40 Ocean, built in 2000/2001 in Giebelstadt, Germany.

The centre-cockpit Ocean models were a bit of an oddity for Bavaria. Instead of packing as many berths (beds) as possible into a boat (typically up to 8 for a boat this size), they were designed to provide comfortable long distance cruising for up to four people. Much of the design and features bear a striking similarity to certain Hallberg-Rassy models of the time. The Ocean models were built in much smaller numbers and to a much higher standard, costing significantly more from new compared to the more widely known aft-cockpit "Cruiser" models.

The cockpit is ideal for short- or single-handed sailing, with the boom-end mainsheet directly behind the helm and the primary winches in easy reach too. Everything can be controlled from the secure and dry centre-cockpit, with a canvas sprayhood on top of the glass windscreen and an optional Bimini or cockpit-tent to suit weather conditions.

The cabin layout is suited for 1-4 people living aboard whilst cruising: An extra-long central double bed in the aft-cabin, with another spacious double-cabin forward. On one side of the engine room is the head, with separate shower/wet-locker area. This has doors on both ends, so is accessible from the companionway for use underway as well as from the aft cabin when resting. The galley is on the opposite pass-through, with a large workspace, storage lockers, double sink, cooker/oven and enourmous top-access fridge with storage baskets. Between them is a spacious engine room offering excellent access to engine and saildrive as well as ample storage for tools and spares. Some owners have fitted a washing machine and/or generator in this area.
Hull
Glass-reinforced polyester covered in a thick layer of white gelcoat (with blue stripes). Airex foam core above the waterline and much of the deck. Kevlar reinforced bow. Embedded aluminium plates for bolting on winches, rope clutches, etc.
- Hull Length: 11.99 m (LOA: 12.48 m, LWL: 10.95 m)
- Beam: 3.99 m
- Draft: 2.0 m (2900 kg lead-antimony keel with stainless keel bolts)
- Water tanks: 380 Litre total (230 + 150)
- Diesel tank: 230 Litre plus 80 in jerrycans
- Holding tank: 80 Litre (removed & cleaned 2017)
- Seacocks: 7x Tru-Design with load-bearing collars (replaced 2015), 2x on cockpit drains (replaced 2020) plus Tru-Design ball valve on saildrive (2020)
- Coppercoat long-term antifouling (2015)

Propulsion
- Rig: 7/8 fractional sloop with aft-swept spreaders, backstay tensioner and removable inner forestay with ratchet tensioner. Standing rigging new 2015.
- Main sail: 33 m² Dimension Polyant 360AP, with short vertical battens (Sanders, 2016)
- Genoa: 41.4 m² Dimension Polyant 360AP, with foam luff (Sanders, 2015)
- Storm Staysail: smallish m², orange with piston hanks
- Winches: 2x Harken 44, 2x Harken 40, 2x Harken 32, all self-tailing & two-speed.
- Engine: Volvo Penta MD22L-B, 50 HP
- Volvo Saildrive 120S-E (diaphragm new 2015), three-bladed Volvo propeller, Ambassador Stripper rope cutter, Velox Plus antifouling
Ground Tackle
- Primary: Rocna 25kg (new 2015)
- Windlass: Lofrans Cayman 1000W (overhauled 2017)
- 70m high-tensile (Grade 70) 8mm DIN chain (new 2017)
- Stern anchor: Guardian G-37 aluminium with 5m chain leader plus 60m rope on a reel
- Spare Anchor: Kobra 25kg
- Shoreline: 100m of 12mm Polysteel rope on a reel (new 2017)

Electrical
- Batteries: 4x AGM Squadron Energy 130 Ah AGM130 "agmlonglife" 12V, Starter battery: Enersys SBS 30 VRLA 26 Ah, NASA BM-1 battery monitor
- Shorepower connector, Sterling Power charger (new 2020), AC outlets in all cabins
- 100A Balmar alternator with MaxCharge smart multi-stage regulator, dual-sensing VSR.
- Custom stainless steel stern arch with 600 W high-voltage solar array, Victron MPPT charger and solar monitor (new 2017)
- LED lighting throughout, red/white in appropriate areas (2015)
- LED navigation lights (bow new 2016), anchor light, tricolor, deck flood light
- 2000/4000 W pure sinewave inverter with remote panel and AC selector switch (2017)
- Microwave oven with grill
- 12V outlets in main and aft cabins
Electronics
- Raymarine Ray 240 DSC VHF radio with 2x remote handset and 2x speaker (cockpit and nav table) connected to masthead VHF antenna
- ST60 Speed, ST60 Depth, ST60 Wind (and appropriate transducers), Raystar 125 GPS, ST6000+ Autopilot with Type 300 control box, fluxgate compass, rudder position sensor, gyro upgrade and Whitlock (Lewmar) rotary drive connected by chain to wheel axle from under the binnacle
- Raymarine Pathfinder Radar with RL70 and RC70+ displays linked with HSB
- Matsutec HP-33A AIS transceiver with display and AIS antenna on stern arch (2017)
- NASA Marine Navtex Pro
- Raymarine E85001 Seatalk/serial converter
- GL.iNet GL-AR300M router with USB hub, USB GPS receiver and serial/USB converters. Runs internal Wi-Fi, internet routing and NMEA over TCP/UDP
- Bullet 2HP Ti with 12dBi omni antenna on stern arch for external Wi-Fi
- Lenovo X220 Tablet running OpenCPN on the nav table
- Fieldbook FB-1 rugged tablet running OpenCPN in the cockpit (removable, waterproof)
- Waterproof Android phone running Navionics
- SSB radio receiver x2 (suitable for Weatherfax reception)
Safety
- Cockpit bag with flashlights, first aid kit, horn, quick-reference cards, essential medicines and other kit ready when underway
- Lifejackets with integral harness x4, harnesses x2, tethers
- Webbing jacklines (3000 kg BL) running both sides of the deck inside the shrouds
- Emergency VHF antenna
- Odeo LED Flare
- Horseshoe buoy w/ LED floating light
- Dan-Buoy (self-inflating)
- Flares
- Viking 4 person liferaft in stern cradle
- Grab bags with emergency gear, important paperwork, small food/water supply, etc.
- Extensive tools, supplies and spare parts for effective self-repair underway
- Emergency water rations
- Medical supplies & emergency handbook
- Wooden bungs tied to every thru-hull
- Underwater setting epoxy for wet repairs
Other
- Schenker Zen 30 watermaker (new 2018)
- 4kW forced air Diesel heater (replaced 2020)

Dinghy
- "Chirp" Portabote 10 (3.27 m) foldable, 3 seats (2016)
- Suzuki DF 2.5 (4-stroke) outboard