Sneak peek: Oceanis 54
Mar 8, 2021
Beneteau saw an opportunity to add a little thrill to any cruising adventure, so they took the hull of the First 53 racer (introduced just last year), and with a few fashionable changes, created the Oceanis Yacht 54, the new entry-level of Beneteau’s swanky Oceanis Yacht line. The result is a performance cruiser that sails like a witch and looks like a grande dame.
Design
Roberto Biscontini is the naval architect and Lorenzo Argento created the details of the exterior and interior design. Biscontini’s America’s Cup experience created a balanced hull with a carefully positioned center of buoyancy. The hull is modern and minimalist with a plumb bow, a vertical and open transom, a low coachroof, and a beam that is carried all the way aft.
Topsides
The aluminum, deck-stepped Sparcraft rig has two versions: standard air draft at 78’ 9” or the performance mast that adds another 5’ 11” and 33% more sail area. Sail combinations include a self-tacking jib or 105% genoa (which is what our test boat had) and a furling mainsail although a classic, fully-battened main is an option.
The cockpit is a stunner and superyachts have nothing on Argento’s posh layout. The social area is ahead of the wheels and out of the way of working crew. Instead of one cockpit table in the center, there are twin smaller tables on either side, which opens up a path from the companionway to the transom.
Layout & Accommodations
The Oceanis Yacht 54 is a semi-custom build, which means you can personalize much of the interior by swapping in equipment like a bottle fridge, a dishwasher or a generator. You can also tinker with the furniture and add a nav station in the forward port corner of the saloon.
It’s a delight to report that for once, we had the perfect conditions for a test sail. Warm sun, flat water and a breeze of 15-20 knots allowed us to sail the bejesus out of this yacht. In 17 knots of true wind, we made 9.1 knots at 65 degrees apparent wind angle.
Given her racing origins, it’s no surprise that the Oceanis Yacht 54 is an exciting boat that delivers a fast cruise.
Read Zuzana Prochazka’s extensive review of the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 in the May edition of Canadian Yachting magazine
