BENETEAU’S FLAGSHIP OCEANIS 60 IS A REVAMP OF THE PROVEN 58 THAT CAME WITH INNOVATIVE FEATURES IN 2010 – SUCH AS THE STYLISH MAINSHEET ARCH, VW ENGINE AND MASSES OF SPACE – BUT THE NEW BOAT HAS SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS.
BENETEAU’S FLAGSHIP OCEANIS 60 IS A REVAMP OF THE PROVEN 58 THAT CAME WITH INNOVATIVE FEATURES IN 2010 – SUCH AS THE STYLISH MAINSHEET ARCH, VW ENGINE AND MASSES OF SPACE – BUT THE NEW BOAT HAS SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE IS SIMPLY NO ARGUING with the fact that longer waterlines mean faster cruising miles, so when considering your big trip the Oceanis 60 is a strong contender. The proven Berret Racoupeau hull is now approaching the 100 mark for numbers sold, so Beneteau sensibly didn’t try to fix something that wasn’t broken; just simply improved on it, as I found out when sailing it off Mallorca, Spain.
The big improvement is the change of the large sugar scoop transom that is replaced by a dinghy garage; rather modest in dimensions but nevertheless a useful place to store a small rubber ducky. For bluewater sailors – the 60 is Category A for 12 people – a secure place to put the tender is welcome when the swells break over the stern, often when the dinghy takes a battering on the davits.
The other bluewater concessions are options for larger tankage and renewable energy, allowing you plenty of time to stay at those secluded anchorages. One of the largest production yachts being built, at 60 feet the Oceanis 60 is an imposing vessel with the kind of option list found on much more expensive custom-built yachts. But as the largest yacht producer in the world, the French company is able to use economies-of- scale to build a competitively priced boat capable of taking you around the world, and to do it in style.
Berret Racoupeau’s hull is high volume but doesn’t look ungainly and was designed to maximise deck space, yet the 60 has remained true to the Oceanis philosophy by delivering a cost-effective cruiser that can be easily sailed. Added to this remit was the interior design flair of Nauta Design that has resulted in maximum use of interior space.
Designer Talk
For the walk-through, I’m joined by Nauta Designer Massimo Gino to discuss the new boat with me. “We’ve increased the deck space with the new dinghy garage, which has allowed us to add additional sunpads at the transom,” explains Gino.
Down below, the Italian was given the brief by Beneteau to increase the superyacht feel, which meant improving the finish. “The detailing has improved and we use a deep matt finish now,” he adds.
Entering the saloon through the curved Plexiglas hatch – a functional electrical washboard with manual control – reveals a vast interior with U-shaped portside galley, spacious navigation area to starboard, adjoining a dinette area that can seat 10 crew.
Good features here include the bench seat that doubles as a coffee table and the portside lounge also can have an armrest/ table. Abundant natural light comes from sunroofs at the back and middle of the high coachroof, where a longitudinal handrail guides you forward. Along with handrails on the companionway and furniture – which has rounded edges – it helps make this cavernous interior safer when at sea.
Galley features include a dishwasher slot, useful bench top rubbish bin portal and Siemens washer/dryer washing machine. Refrigeration space is good with a full-size 110L front opening unit, drawer freezer and 100L icebox; all on 24v power. Cooker facilities could be better, with a three burner offered but 10 crew merits a four burner I think.
Alternate power sources that Beneteau offers include wind turbines, solar panels along with larger water and fuel tanks (1,020 and 1,080 litres maximum respectively).
Beneteau correctly describes the navigation table as a ‘desk’ due to its large size and surrounding it is plenty of bulkhead space to house plotters, radar screens and satellite phones. The review boat has B&G plotters on each binnacle, including the new forward scan module allowing you to safely nudge into places such as my favourite spot in the Tobago Keys or recesses in the Great Barrier Reef.
System management is via a brushed stainless control panel, which could be a busy unit if some of the nice-to-have options are fitted such as water maker, generator and air conditioner.
Other factory options include an electric pop-up flat screen TV and even electric blinds, to complement the powered washboards on the wide companionway. The use of LED lighting throughout requires less power, but dimmer switches would have been nice.
Three Or Four Cabins
Layout options are for three or four cabins, with the triple setup giving a luxurious Owner’s suite forward and two double cabins aft, including two singles. The island bed in the Owner’s suite hinges up on gas struts to reveal lots of storage space and a firm marine mattress is used along with wooden slats. Nearby, the vanity table opens to reveal a large mirror with plenty of room for personal items.
Both stern cabins have tall headroom and overhead locker space. The dark wood Mahogany Alpi trim throughout the Oceanis 60 is smoothly finished and push-button chromed latches on the myriad of lockers should ensure gear remains stowed away.
Ablutions should be easy as well, with up to five toilets offered with electric options. This includes a toilet in the optional crew bow quarters, accessed via a large deck hatch, which is also an ideal hideaway for teenagers. It can have a two-bunk setup, hanging locker space and sink.
Powerful Systems
As you’d expect from the premium boat in the Oceanis range that comprises 11 models ranging from 31 to 60 feet, the level of equipment available on the 60 is extensive. This includes 12- and 24-volt power as well as 230V circuitry; and the VW engine with twin alternators.
What this means is that the base price of A$956,000 can just be the starting point but some items are advisable such as the 24V Quick bow thruster, electric winches and for short-handed sailing, the Selden in-mast mainsail reefing, as found on the review boat.
With a boat of this size, sail handling can be a challenge unless you enjoy inviting six of your best friends every time you leave the dock, so other nice options may include powered headsail reefing and a snuffer sock on the optional asymmetric kite.
Powering all the gear is the proven 140HP VW engine, a five- cylinder turbo unit with two meaty 12V and 24V alternators attached. Parts are interchangeable with car components, which was very handy for an Owner recently cruising in the remote parts of South America.
The VW offers a better power-to-weight ratio than some traditional marine brands and on the test sail it was one of the quietest engines I’ve used, and with little vibration felt throughout the hull.
For the Skipper there are twin helms with bright B&G instruments angled upwards for easy viewing on wide binnacles with the electronic engine throttle, including thruster buttons, on starboard side.
Beside the helms are large electric Harken H70.2 primary winches, and nearby slightly ahead, the mainsheet winch, so both can be controlled by the steerer.
Between the helms is a sturdy elongated teak table with strong stainless grab rails all around and deep locker space within, plus fold-out wings. Sitting nearby is the slot on the cockpit sole for the emergency steering and a tiller, which is accessible in the adjoining locker.
Moving forward on deck is sure footed thanks to the solid teak gunwales and handrails on the coachroof. The bow area is wide and designed for sunpads at rest, while anchoring is taken care of by the deck mounted vertical 24V 2000W Lewmar windlass/capstan.
Interestingly the 60 has a pulpit extension, ideal for those bow-to Med harbours and elsewhere. Inside it is the anchor roller and behind a deep chain locker. Nearby is the optional crew quarters that can be fully fitted out – yet another superyacht feature on this impressive production 60 footer.
Manageable Rig
The keel-stepped three-spreader Selden rig with inboard shrouds and twin backstays offers several sail configurations and is strongly supported with chain plates running into the hull grid. The in-mast reefing reduces the mainsail size by 15 square metres, so a significant sacrifice for the convenience of easier sail handling.
Upgrading the Dacron sails to higher performance Mylar Taffeta tri-radial sails from Incidences sails is another good cruising option. A major feature of the Oceanis range – that first came from the innovative Sense models – is the fibreglass arch that houses the mainsheet blocks; cleverly avoiding clutter in the huge cockpit.
Apart from the factory 120 per cent roller genoa, options include asymmetrics, a Code-O and useful for serious cruising sailors, a staysail setup, along with track for self-tacking jib. The arch also is a roof strut for the bimini tent which closes off the entire cockpit area.
Hull construction is monolithic polyester with a balsa-cored deck and the review boat was hull number 87. Its wide beam is carried well back but rounded aft sections, rather than chines slightly limit the size of the dinghy garage.
But at anchor, simply click the electric swim platform down and you have a comfy spot for both you and the dinghy to launch from. The dinghy has to be turned around, so a smaller rubber ducky is best – Beneteau offers its own branded Highfield model.
Below the water is a cast-iron keel, with shallow draft option; the one fitted to the review boat came with this shorter and heavier one; which is not ideal for bluewater sailing.
Sailing The Med
Springtime Mediterranean conditions are often variable, as I found during the seven years I lived on the shores of this ancient sea, so a varied sail plan is essential if you want to avoid the drone of the engine.
Convenience is the key priority for the elderly Owner of the review boat, so the mainsail is effortlessly unwound by the electric Harken H46.2 halyard winch as I motor into the light breeze before aligning the Maxprop propeller to reduce drag.
Under full power, I reach 9.2 knots with the Volkswagen spinning quietly at 3,300rpm without any shuddering or complaint, so a cruising speed of 7.5 knots would be ideal and give a large range if you fit the extra tankage.
Sail controls are organised to be away from the front of the large cockpit where half a dozen folk can easily shelter under the large bimini, while at the twin binnacles the crew can get on with the job of sail handling.
Both primaries and the mainsheet are at hand to the steerer, so despite the size the Oceanis can be handled easily by a couple with this sail plan. Unfurling the genoa was equally effortless, before I turn the steel steering wheel down to send us on a beat.
Sitting out on the teak deck proved a comfortable perch to line up the tell tales and the feel from the single rudder was good enough to persuade me to stay there, rather than click the B&G autopilot on and shelter under the bimini with G&T in hand.
As the afternoon breeze blew from the Italian side of the Med increased, as did our angle of heel due to the stubby keel but nevertheless the feel was sure-footed and the large spade rudder easily drove the Oceanis 60 through the tacks; while I walked between the helms without mishap.
Speed on the B&G showed an unspectacular 4.6 knots in the 10 knot pressure but this improved drastically as the breeze filled in to 16 knots, showing a SOG of 9.1 knots as I climbed to nearly 30 degrees on the wind. As our heel increased some closer foot chocks would have been nice and the myriad lines were overflowing the rope bins but these were small complaints for what is definitely a bluewater thoroughbred.
