Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 – The power of new generation

by Beneteau on 29 Jun 2017 Beneteau will shortly reveal the first of a new generation of Oceanis sailing yachts and they will be shown for the first time internationally to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the range.

Incredibly comfortable and much faster than any of her forerunners, the Oceanis 51.1 promises to be bang on trend and the most customisable and cruising yacht on the market.

The first cruiser developed under the supervision of Beneteau’s marketing director, Gianguido Girotti, epitomises the exuberant energy of a new generation! Although the high level of sea-keeping and comfort that forged the reputation of this leading range is still present, Beneteau has turned their racing performances to advantage, to enhance the Oceanis 51.1: “We capitalized on our experiences with the First and the Figaro, which are boats that are more focused on racing. We brought their values into the heart of a cruising yacht”. From bow to stem, indoors and on deck, at anchor and at sail, the Oceanis 51.1 is elegant, smart, comfortable and performs majestically.

Innovative architecture

The architectural choice, by Olivier Racoupeau, of a stepped hull, extending over a third of the hull, is a major element in the development of the range. In addition to the interesting aesthetics of this flared shape, the new hull creates additional interior space without changing the shape of the bottom, essential for a good performance under sail. This allows for exciting new layouts on a boat this size. The variety of colours available for the hull is the first of the many attractive customizable features.

Smartly elegant

With the clean lines characteristic of Nauta Design, the Oceanis 51.1 day marries style, pleasure of lifestyle and safety. With emphasis on taut cruiser lines, she is a joy to move around and reassuringly safe. The furling mast, self-tailing jib and all the halyards and sheets on the standard model are all brought back to a single winch at each of the helm stations, making her simple and easy to sail. As for harbour manoeuvring, Dock & Go technology simplifies everything.

The Oceanis 51.1 is an ingenious sailing yacht, with no less than four different interior layouts, five rigging plans, three different keel types, and a choice of 150 available options out of a 700 possible combinations – promising an individually unique Oceanis 51.1 to any future buyer.

Comfort and atmosphere

The architectural choices that stand out on the Oceanis 51.1 are reflected in her habitability and an incredible amount of space. Inside, the owner cabin has an en-suite shower room and toilet, and a 1.6 m wide island bed, worthy of a 55 foot sailing yacht. Particularly ingenious, the aft shower cabins rotate to protect the room from water spray. Spacious and remarkably well-fitted, the U-shaped galley is as pleasant to use under sail as it is at anchor. The large hull portholes bathe the boat in light and elegantly emphasize the interior design by Nauta Design creating a wonderful atmosphere. A choice of brushed oak or mahogany woodwork ambiances increases the opportunities for customization.

The outdoor fittings are as generous and practical as those indoors, with areas for relaxation and plenty of sun-loungers. The large modular cockpit table, top quality covers and Bimini, plancha grill built-in to the aft bench, spacious open swim platform are all features that go towards making the Oceanis 51.1 an outstanding cruising yacht.

High performance for the First Line version

To satisfy sailors seeking excellent performance, the designers of the Oceanis 51.1 have created a particularly well-fitted out version, whose name recalls the well-known Beneteau racing yacht.

Fitted with an extra-long carbon or aluminium mast, the Oceanis 51.1 First Line has up to 35% additional sail area in high-tech materials. The boat has a 2.8 m lead bulb keel in this high performance configuration. This reduces weight and hydrodynamic drag. To complete this version, a composite steering wheel, top-of-the-range deck fittings and boomsprit marry speed and cruising and promise exciting new sensations.

More than just a cruising yacht, the Oceanis 51.1 prefigures a superb new generation. Loyal to the goal of providing real cruising pleasure at an affordable price, she now has added performance and a completely new style. She is ready to reshape the market – see her at the autumn boats shows in Cannes, Southampton and Annapolis.