2018 Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 review

Performance is the added ingredient that makes the latest Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 model stand out from its predecessors. At its world launch at the 2018 Sydney International Boat Show, this ultra-modern yacht wowed the media with its more sporty styling and race-bred features.

This is the second of the new “I Series” that Beneteau started last year with the Beneteau Oceanis 51.1. Arguably this one is most critical since it replaces the hugely popular Beneteau Oceanis 45.

Similar to its bigger sibling, the Oceanis 46.1 offers a complete race version including taller mast, deeper keel and plenty of performance kit.

However, the standout feature is the more aggressive styling with distinctive chine edge running from bow to stern. This creates a 'step' in the hull's sides that not only increases room below but adds more sail power whilst keeping the waterline narrow for speed. The most famous example of this race concept

Other race-bred features include twin rudders, and wind instruments mounted at the helm and on the back of the mast. However, from a cruising point of view the big attraction of the Oceanis 46.1 is a spacious flat deck and the electric opening transom that provides easy access for swimming or boarding.

The other winning feature for cruising folk are the large topside “picture windows” that draw in more light below and provide real views from the cabins.

With her tall rig and sporty lines, the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 was the super model of the Sydney International Boat Show. Visiting yachties really liked the clean deckline with all sail controls leading back to the helm position, ensuring easy handling with only a few crew.

The fixed bowsprit on the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 can fly a code O or asymmetric spinnaker, further adding to the racing appeal. It is well short of a hardcore race boat but at least frolicking in the twilight races and fun regattas such as Hamilton Island Race Week now are viable options.

With all sail controls leading aft, guests in the main cockpit area are out of the way of the sailing action. Furthermore, dedicated sun lounges just in front of the cockpit definitely will be a selling point with younger sailors.

With no targa arch on this new model, the mainsheet now comes off a central deck point ahead of the cockpit, making for a more open view from the helm and less clutter on the deck.

The Beneteau Oceanis 46-footer breaks new ground by offering a choice of three, four or even five sleeping cabin versions. In the latter case there's three bathrooms provided so she will be great for charter work.

Beneteau’s massive production capacity allows this model to hit the market at pretty much the same price point as its predecessor. The standard Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 kicks off at a keen $535,000 sail-away including furling, self-tacking headsail and mast furl-away mainsail. This includes a more powerful 57hp diesel saildrive, electric anchor windlass, electrically operated transom door, steering compass, VHF radio and mooring kit.

Our test boat was fitted with the performance pack that includes a metre taller 21.3m mast, deeper cast-iron bulb keel and fixed polyester bowsprit with integrated anchor gear. The pack also provides ball-trackers on the mast, lazy jacks and boom bag for stowing the mainsail, and two-way German mainsheet system. The latter leads aft to each helm position for easier sheeting.

Our test boat was also equipped with the Performa electric winch upgrade, and B&G wind/navigation displays at each helm plus jumbo B&G instrument displays on the mast. The price for this package, including optional retractable bow thruster and custom-made retractable dinghy davits, is $630,000 less sails. A full set of racing sails, depending on the brand, will add another $30,000-$60,000 to the price.

Locating the halyard and sheet winches next to the steering wheels makes the operation of this big yacht much easier with just two people. Add electric winches and autopilot, and you could easily sail the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 single-handed.

Hull construction is solid fibreglass with a full internal liner mould that adds strength and rigidity to the boat. The deck is injected fibreglass with a Saerform foam coring for extra strength and sound insulation.

The cast iron keel is fixed with bolts and stainless steel backing plates, while the twin rudders hang off stainless stocks. There's a choice of two bulb keels - a shallow 1.75m version with 3061kg weight and the deep 2.35m keel weighing 2735kg.

The sheer space aboard this new Oceanis was evident the moment we spied it at its Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club berth. It really looks like a 50-footer with her massive deck space and high freeboard.

This impression of size is reinforced as you step aboard via the electric fold-down stern platform into the roomy cockpit where twin steering wheels pushed outboard give totally unimpeded entry.

The cockpit features comfortable seating for 6-8 people, and with protective coaming backrests its perfect for al fresco dining with the table unfolded. There's also a BBQ cooker on a swing arm over the stern so you can do the great Australian barbecue thing.

Another innovation here is a fixed cockpit table that doubles as a stowage locker for an eight-person life raft. This is a brilliant way to keep this vital safety item safely stowed, yet easy to access and deploy in an emergency.

A 45-degree stairway takes you below to the galley. Once in the cabin you realise how much light and a sense of space the massive room of this 46-footer add below. Extra overhead skylights draw in more natural light and move this yacht away from the era of the dark “bat cave” cabins of older yachts.

Overall, the Nauta-designed interior is stylishly modern and urban cool.

The galley located to port has a serving bench next to the stairs, so it's an ideal place for serving food to the saloon, or cockpit. I also love the double sink and the deep fiddles around the working bench.

The saloon features a plush U-shaped lounge around a big dining table with extra corridor seating. To port is a two-seater lounge that forms a navigation station with a fixed chart-table against the bulkhead.

The twin stern sleeping cabins share a bathroom that is opposite the galley. However, since the starboard cabin has direct bathroom door access it's the number one guest choice.

Up for'ard is the delightfully spacious owner’s cabin with big island berth and split ensuite bathroom that provides a separate toilet/washbasin and shower stall.

Interior trim combines white vinyl liners and timber panels. Our test boat featured the traditional mahogany trim, however a more modern light oak, as pictured in an overseas model, is available.

Despite the rain and cold we enjoyed our test sail aboard this latest Oceanis. It was easy to extract out of the tight marina berth, too, via the optional retractable bow thruster.

The big black carbon mainsail was effortless to hoist with the electric halyard winch, and the headsail only took seconds to unfurl.

Sailing downwind on a three-quarter reach we soon had the big Oceanis scooting along at 6-7.5 knots. A south-easter kicking in at 12-14 knots gave us almost 9 knots in a few big gusts but generally she sailed at around 7.5-8 knots loosely trimmed.

It was upwind where this new Finot/Conq design really shines. The deep keel gives her some genuine windward bite and we soon had her doing 7-7.5 knots on about 35 degrees true wind apparent.

The ability to steer from the windward helm really makes it easier to see the sails and wind ahead. Helping this are maxi yacht-style fold-up helm platforms that provide a better foothold when heeled.

With just one person on the sheets I was able to sail the big Oceanis happily on all points of the wind. She felt nicely balanced and responsive to gusts and I can only think she will be right at home doing a longer offshore passage. A trip up to the Whitsundays will definitely be on the agenda.

Coming home I noted our test boat had the optional 80hp Yanmar diesel that punched out a top speed of more than 9.0 knots. However, even the standard 57hp Yanmar knocks out an impressive 8.7 knots at maximum power.

I also noted how easy it was to reach and stack-pack the mainsail at the mast due to the angled-up boom arrangement. This is another great idea borrowed, in this case, from the French single-handed race boats.

Following in the footsteps of the Oceanis 45 with more than 600 sold, the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 model certainly has big sea boots to fill. However, I reckon Beneteau has freshened up the concept and added a proper performance version. It's not quite the homely cruiser like its predecessor, but if you want to go down that track you can still add the optional Targa arch ($14,000), spray dodger and bimini.

On the other hand, the performance pack provides the added fun of racing, or simply the joy of full-throttle sailing when the wind is up.

Supplied by:  Flagstaff Marine