Beneteau Oceanis 41.1: Yacht Review

Beneteau's popular Oceanis yacht series has long been winner in the cruiser-racer market. The combination of a wide beam and roomy interior with honest performance has been irresistible to cruising sailors

OVERVIEW
- A touch of racing appeal with the cruising formula
Given the long success of the Oceanis you might expect Beneteau wouldn't be meddling with the formula. However, the giant French boatbuilder is always looking ahead. Last year, a 'refreshed' version of the Oceanis set sail that aims to give this friendly cruising range a touch of racing appeal.

The first example of the new series, the Oceanis 41.1 delivers better sailing ability by shedding a significant 640kg of weight off the previous Beneteau 41 released in 2012. The rig is also set further aft so headsail area increases. In short, the rig is better balanced.

Essentially this is the same Finot/Conq hull as before, but with significant sailing sparkle so she's more appealing for twilight racing and fun regattas like Hamilton Island Race Week.

Sailing the new model on Sydney harbour with local agent Flagstaff Marine, we cracked a rare good day in an otherwise torrential rain-soaked period. We were also helped along by the optional Sports pack that includes Elvstrom black carbon race sails, adjustable backstay and a German mainsheet system that runs to both rear sheet winches.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- A great value 40 footer in regatta trim
Our test craft had the Performance pack that included B&G Zeus wind/GPS navigation displays at both helm stations. It also provided a VHR marine radio with separate handheld unit for on-deck use.

The Package added an electric bow thruster, self-folding propeller, electric anchor windlass and teak trim around the cockpit seats and floor.

Price as tested ex-Sydney was $395,000 fully commissioned and ready to sail away. 

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
- Abundant living spaces, biggest cockpit around, and open-plan master
Beneteau say this boat has the biggest cockpit in-class and that's easy to believe as it can very comfortably seat six people at the central table. There are high coamings with good backrest support, plus the two fold-up helm seats aft so you have even more seating.

Not only do you have a clear pathway through the cockpit but an electric-hydraulic transom door folds down at a touch of a button to make a great swim/boarding platform.

The Targa arch over the main companionway is another brilliant feature of the Oceanis. It does a number of positive things including a safe mounting point for the mainsheet, provides cockpit lighting at night, plus a perfect mounting point for the optional bimini and for'ard dodger.

Going below decks is made easy by a wide stairway with a gentle (45 degree) slope and walled sides. This will be a much-appreciated feature when carrying food up to the cockpit from the galley!

Down below is an incredibly spacious interior with decent-sized galley off to the portside. The latter has plenty of bench space and a huge, deep sink that galley-slaves will love. There's a big 190-litre fridge/freezer with front and top-opening access.

Opposite is a large toilet/bathroom over on the starboard side, with good headroom and separate shower booth.

Meanwhile, there are double-berth guest cabins behind the stairway on both sides. Given the starboard cabin has a direct door into the bathroom you might think this is the captain's cabin, but up in the bows is a more impressive sleeping on an island berth.

The master cabin is behind double doors in the main bulkhead. This cabin is configured so you can sleep head-to-bow and enjoy reading lights and an overhead opening hatch/skylight. With the double door open, this cabin feels more spacious and roomy and would be ideal for in-port cruising.

You can add an en-suite bathroom to this fore cabin, but it means you lose the island berth and bit of space. That said, this would be the obvious choice for charter operators.

In between the fore and aft cabins is a spacious saloon with a generous-sized U-shaped dinette that can seat six people. There's a two-person lounge to port and with the second table flap you can seat up to eight people in this main entertainment area.

A Fusion sound system provides the music and there's a bottle storage locker in the table console for your favourite wine.

A great feature of the interior is a navigation desk mounted for'ard on the portside of the saloon. If nothing else this is handy place to stow your keys, wallets and other personal items. Plus you could mount extra instrumentation on the main bulkhead.

The Oceanis 41.1 has plenty of stowage shelves in the cabin areas including overhead cupboard stowage in the galley and large stowage lockers under the main cockpit seats. An option here is a walk-in lazarette stowage instead of the portside guest cabin.

Every sailor will love the extra large topside windows in this new model. These bring in extra light plus improve the view! There are also opening ports in the cabin sides and roof to enhance airflow and light below.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Proven production values, keel options and a cheerful interior
Beneteau is a world famous mass producer of fibreglass yachts and it shows in this solid, modern yacht. The hull is solid resin-injected fibreglass, while the deck is fibreglass with Saeform foam sandwich coring for insulation and weight-saving.

The boat features an L-shaped fin keel, in this case the deep 2.19m version that holds 2300kg ballast in the bulb at the bottom. A shallow-draft keel of 1.68m will suit charter operators.

On deck the large, flat cabin top provide a natural safe working area especially with the excellent diamond-pattern non-skid and fully recessed hatches. The moulded toe-rail is also a more practical solution for safety than the timber rail previously used on the Oceanis. 

In typical Beneteau fashion the interior finish is slick, modern and easy to clean with full headliner and moulded liner for the bathroom. Our test boat had the more traditional mahogany timber interior but you can order the more modern, light oak finish as an alternative.

The bunk and saloon upholstery on the test boat was in a pleasant mushroom grey fabric and floors are matching to the timber panelling. Owners can choose from a variety of fabrics and finishes below deck.

ON THE WATER
- Balanced helm, easy tacking, then flying on a reach
As we left the dock we had a lovely NNE of 13-14 knots providing ideal sailing conditions. Flagstaff Marines boss, Graham Raspass eased our French beauty out of the crowded marina with a few deft touches of the electric bow thruster.
Once clear of the moorings we set the mainsail using the electric halyard winch provided near the companionway. The roller headsail came out next and in minutes we were sailing upwind in a freshening breeze.

As Graham tweaked the sails, we built the speed and soon were doing a very respectable 6.5-6.7 knots upwind with good height.

At the helm, it’s immediately apparent the Oceanis 41.1 is very well balanced and hardly needs any helm correction. The power of the bigger headsail obviously helps but it's no problem tacking because the sail hardly overlaps the mast.

Our test boat also had twin composite black steering wheels that look great with the black sails and make it easier to view the sails and see the puffs ahead. The wheel rims are also elliptically shaped so much easier to grip.

Easing sheets onto a close reach of 80 degrees apparent we were really flying doing 7-8 knots. The boat felt in her element and I could see why Graham was so keen to get her up the coast that weekend for the Sail Port Stephens regatta.

After our sail we motored back to the CYCA comfortably doing 7 knots at 2000rpm with the big Yanmar 45hp diesel. She does 8.5 knots at 3500rpm but the sweat spot for fuel economy is around 2000rpm.

VERDICT
- The new Oceanis sets the bar for Beneteau
Seeing the Oceanis 41.1 for the first time, I was immediately impressed by her size and spaciousness. A key design element is the hard-chine running from near the bow to the stern. This distinctive edge creates almost flat topsides and therefore more living space below.

From the brutally efficient vertical bow, the wide beam is carried to the stern so the Oceanis is noticeably more stable sailing upwind than conventional yachts.

The flatter sections aft also help her sail faster when reaching and running, especially offshore, while the twin steering wheels aft and wide stern make it very easy to come aboard at the stern and walk into the cockpit.

Yet again Beneteau has delivered an impressive sailing package that's hard to beat on price, or space. The new version is also available in the 38.1 and 35.1 models, both with the sailing performance packs as well.

The 41.1 is so well designed it's hard to find fault.

LIKES
>> Faster and more fun to sail
>> Electric folding stern swim/board platform
>> Roomy master cabin with double door entry

NOT SO MUCH
>> Lack of an overhead handrail in saloon
>> Needs option of second set of cockpit winches for racing

Specifications: Beneteau Oceanis 41.1
Price as Tested: $395,000 sail away with options as detailed above
LOA: 12.43m
LWL: 11.37m
Beam: 4.20m
Deep Draft: 2.19m
Shallow Draft: 1.68m
Displacement          7836kg
Auxiliary: 45hp Yanmar diesel
Water Tankage: 240lt, 330lt (optional)
Fuel Tankage: 200lt
Mainsail Area: 40sq m
Self Tacking Jib: 33sq m
Headsail 106%: 42sq m

Supplied by:
Flagstaff Marine
d'Albora Marina, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2027
and Heron Cove Marina
1 Queens Parade. Newport NSW 2106
More at Beneteau Oceanis 41.1.

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