Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 393

Beneteau tapped a major market when it introduced the first of its Oceanis cruising yacht range at the 1986 Paris Boat Show. Over the years since, various models have come and gone, refining the Oceanis concept. That is full-bodied, high-volume hulls which can carry plenty of people and gear, without neglecting sailing performance thanks to sophisticated lines from respected designers and the trend to lighter displacement.

These features, in combination with very competitive pricing, have led to the Oceanis range becoming a charter fleet staple around the world's sailing holiday playgrounds - including Australia's Whitsunday Islands - as well as attracting many private buyers.

Because the range has been established for so long now, particularly here in Australia through the marketing savvy of local representative Beneteau-Vicsail, it's almost become part of the landscape (should that be seascape?), and I wonder if I'm not the only person who has ever been guilty of walking past a boatshow line-up thinking: "Oh yeah, another Oceanis, take me to the new boats".

For a while the range did seem to become a bit characterless (I've read of accusations of blandness in overseas magazine reviews). Perhaps paradoxically, the phenomenal success of Beneteau's First 40.7, followed by the fanfare attached to the launch of its new First 47.7, has probably deflected attention away from the French builder's cruiser range.

On top of this was the public relations setback of a 1999 British Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report on the loss of a crewmember when a Beneteau Oceanis 390, Ocean Madam, was knocked down in breaking seas and a Force 9 gale in the Bay of Biscay and did not right itself immediately.

That model had already been superseded in the Beneteau range, and the MAIB report did find that: "The Oceanis 390 is a safe, comfortable yacht suitable for pleasure sailing and charter work." But it concluded that the yacht was not designed for "crossing oceans in bad weather", finding further that: "Any yacht is vulnerable in high sea states, but such vulnerability is more pronounced in a high volume, light displacement craft such as a Beneteau Oceanis 390."

Beneteau's response was that its production yachts are built "to exceed requirements established by independent authorities", with comparable-sized models classified 'A' ('suitable for unlimited ocean cruising') under the CE Recreational Craft Directive, and hard evidence in the fact that many have been sailed long distances to destinations worldwide.

Meanwhile, other builders of the numerous similar-styled production yachts breathed a sigh of relief that it was not one of their yachts involved in such tragic circumstances.

In any event, the Oceanis range has withstood all of these developments and trials, with regular updates bringing it to the current line-up of 11 models, including three centre cockpit versions and the two latest aft cockpit models - the Oceanis Clipper 393 and 473.

Whether it is a response to those MAIB findings or simply a move to improve sailing performance, as stated in Beneteau's publicity materials, the new 393 and 473 have deeper keels and more ballast which equate to increased stability. (Beneteau is also now offering the choice of a deeper keel on two other models in the current Oceanis line-up, the 411 and the 361).

The company calls this "a new generation of cruisers", and after sailing the first of the two new models to arrive in Australia - the Oceanis Clipper 393 - I believe there's every reason to stop and take a closer look at them when the next boat show swings around.

RINGING IN THE CHANGES
Beneteau says it has collaborated for 25 years with naval architect Jean Berret and "his wealth of experience with racing boats has allowed Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design to produce a very elegant boat offering high levels of performance on all points of sailing and in any wind or sea conditions".

The hull is beamy and full-sectioned, with minimal overhangs, high topsides and broad, powerful aft quarters. This provides for a roomy interior and also a hull which should be quite easily driven.

The biggest change to the exterior is the move to a deeper fin keel carrying more ballast lower; buyers now have the option of a 1.9m version, or the shallow draft 1.55m version, both of cast iron. Buyers of the first three 393s to arrive in Australia have all opted for the deeper draft keel.

Other changes are the proliferation of opening hatches and portholes around the deck, topsides and cockpit to increase light and ventilation below, particularly to the two or three private cabins. A real effort has been made to overcome the perennial problem of stifling atmosphere in these enclosed spaces, exacerbated by the tropical climates which provide a home to so many charter and cruising yachts.

In addition to this is a move 'back to the future' with the inclusion of three panoramic perspex portholes above the forward end of the saloon, a feature which has been seen on previous Oceanis models. This may perhaps best be described as the deck saloon you have when you're not having a deck saloon. There are the advantages of increased light, airiness and views of the outside world, but not to the extent of being able to sit down with clear views and even steer from below, which is the domain of true deck saloon craft.

CONSTRUCTION
The hull is a solid GRP lay-up, with vinylester resins used in the outer laminate to aid resistance to osmosis. Isophthalic resins are used to bind the sprayed chopped strand mat and hand-laid unidirectional woven rovings in the remainder of the laminate.

An inner moulding, incorporating a grid of stringers and crossbeams, is bonded to the hull to stiffen it up. The deck and coachroof are a balsa sandwich, with ply backing plates under deck fittings. The hull-deck join is through-bolted and bonded together.

The deck is balsa/GRP sandwich, with a full moulded deck liner.

Beneteau has a good reputation for after-sales service and resale values. It even has a 'Sailing Contract' charter with nine commitments to buyers for a local service which goes over and beyond the purchase of the new boat, covering repairs, maintenance, etc, and including a three-year guarantee on parts and labour, extended to five years for the yacht's structure Beneteau's 'ready to sail' concept - signified by the name Clipper in the case of its Oceanis range - incorporates as standard issue an extensive package of equipment normally only available as optional extras.

Besides the dacron working sails, some of the items included are the mainsail cover and lazyjacks, a stereo radio cassette player, 12V cockpit socket, fenders and mooring lines, complete anchor set-up with 16kg anchor, two winch handles, owner's handbook and even a 10-person crockery set.

The only major items left to the buyer's discretion are navigation instruments such as GPS chartplotter, log and wind gear.

This equates to genuine sailaway capability, so long as you are not about to sail out of the bay and keep going.

ON DECK
The 393's masthead rig is set up with a deck-stepped, anodised aluminium mast supported under the deck by a stainless steel cabin post. There are two sets of swept-back spreaders, with SS wire standing rigging (shrouds, lowers, forestay and baby stay, plus twin backstays).

Standard issue sails are a dacron full-battened mainsail set up with lazyjacks, quick-slab reefing system and a permanent boom cover/sail bag, plus the 140% furling genoa with anti-UV strip, set up on a roller furler/reefer drum.

The sails bear Rolly Tasker's familiar boomerang logo. (It's a sight which set me off on a trip down memory lane - my first new sails were a slightly smoke-marked set of Manly Junior sails from a fire sale at Tasker's WA factory too many years ago).

The deck layout is intended to reduce the complications of sailing and make the boat easy to handle short-handed. Typical of many modern European production cruisers, the sail control lines are led back to a pair of Lewmar 30 self-tailing winches either side of the companionway, adjacent to banks of Spinlock XT jammers, and a pair of Lewmar 48 self-tailers on the cockpit coamings.

Besides the furling genoa and quick reefing main, there is a rigid boom vang (adjustable from the cockpit). The primary winches are easily accessible from the steering position, and the mainsheet and traveller are set up on the coachroof to provide an uncluttered cockpit.

At the bow is a stainless steel stem fitting with offset chain roller which allow the anchor to remain in readiness while underway. An 800W up/down electric windlass is standard equipment in the self-draining bow anchor locker.

The cockpit has slatted teak bench seats and floor, plus a teak drop-leaf table which can be fitted to the front of the substantial steering console. This also houses a stainless steel grabrail, binnacle compass, engine throttle lever, room for wind/speed instrumentation and the wheel of leather-covered stainless steel.

The engine instruments and on/off controls are housed behind a perspex shield in the port-side cockpit coaming, immediately adjacent to the steering position.

Under the cockpit seats is locker space for sails and associated gear as well as a separate area for two gas bottles to one side. Liferaft stowage is opposite. There are two more lockers aft, plus access to the teak transom boarding/diving platform via a patented 'collapsible door'. There is a stainless steel swim ladder with teak steps, plus a cockpit shower hose with pressurised hot/cold water supply.

BELOW DECKS
Two interior layouts are available: an Owner version with two double cabins (one forward and one aft), two heads and a big, U-shaped galley, or the Charter version with three double cabins (one forward and two aft), two heads and an in-line galley on the starboard side. The testboat featured the latter interior.

Initial impressions are very favourable upon climbing down the companionway. Excellent headroom, the large number of portlights and hatches and the saloon layout making full use of the generous beam. Combined with the handsome combination of warm-toned timber joinery, white cabin sides and deckhead and, in the case of the test yacht, bold-striped blue and white furnishings, it's what we've come to expect from Beneteau.

Headroom in the saloon is 2.05m aft, tapering off to 1.92m forward.

In the three-cabin layout, the nav station is on the port-side of the companionway, and includes a chart table with fiddle, lifting to reveal the chart storage compartment, with a shelved cupboard underneath, and extra storage under the comfortable nav seat.

The electrics outboard of the nav station includes 12V and 220V functions with circuit-breakers, a battery charge indicator and 12V socket, plus a stereo radio/CD with two speakers in the saloon.

Electrical equipment throughout the boat includes 220V shore connectors with 20 amp battery charger, a total of four 220V sockets in cabins and saloon. There are halogen deckhead lights in the saloon, galley and cabins plus reading lights in the cabins, a fluorescent deckhead light in the galley, plus a portable lamp with 12V connector is provided for cockpit lighting.

Opposite the nav station is a bathroom with 2.05m headroom, manual marine toilet, pressurised hot and cold water supply via a nozzle which serves both the washbasin and the shower. There's a vanity cabinet with mirror and storage, a wooden handrail and electric pump to the shower tray.

Aft are two identical private double cabins, both with good-sized berths (2m x 1.5m) plus a hanging locker and shelf storage space. They are well lit and ventilated via opening portholes and hatches on the topsides, coachhouse and cockpit.

Forward of the main bulkhead is a large double cabin with ensuite bathroom in the forepeak. There is a double bunk (1.95m x 1.45m) to port, with a hanging locker and bench seat to starboard. There is shelf space along the hull on both sides, plus shelving in the hanging locker and two drawers under the bed.

The moulded GRP bathroom unit encloses another manual marine toilet, vanity unit with washbasin, hot and cold pressurised water supply to basin and shower.

The galley runs along the starboard-side of the saloon, with a 175lt fibreglass coolbox with 12V electric refrigeration; a gimballed oven with twin burners protected by a stainless steel guardrail, twin SS sinks with pressurised hot and cold water via mixer tap, and plenty of storage areas, drawers and benchtop work space.

Opposite is the U-shaped saloon with settee and a small central seat, providing seating for six adults around the timber saloon table. This is set up on aluminium legs and can be converted into a double berth as an optional extra.

The Owner's layout differs from the test yacht by swapping the galley and the nav station, turning the galley into a U-shaped area. The aft section is converted into one large private cabin, with a big (2m x 2m) double berth running across the hull rather than fore and aft, and extra space allotted to a giant sail locker in the port quarter.

The test yacht was set up with a 50hp Volvo MD22 marine diesel engine which drives through a fixed three-bladed propeller. Beneteau-Vicsail has fitted optional three-bladed feathering props to the first three boats landed here.

The engine is mounted in the conventional position behind the companionway, with the engine bed integrated into the inner moulding grid.

SAILING PERFORMANCE
We didn't get much breeze for our outing on Sydney Harbour aboard the first 393 to land in Australia.

With just two of us onboard there were no difficulties involved in setting sail or furling it away again at the end of the day so short-handed sailing should not pose any problems, especially with the addition of an autopilot.

The sail area is modest, in keeping with the 393's cruising/charter role, but that does not mean it will take all day to get anywhere. During our sail I was impressed by the boat's willingness to accelerate in even the lightest of gusts, and its ability to build speed quickly when we chased better apparent wind angles. Steering was direct and the 393 was very manoeuvrable under both sail and power.

Beneteau has evidently paid attention to ergonomics, because the cockpit is a comfortable place to be, the steerer is spoiled for choice in seating positions and there are plenty of handholds to assist movement around the deck.

SIMPLICITY AND STYLE
The Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 393 provides a subtle redefinition of the familiar production cruising/charter yacht formula, relying on simplicity and style rather than fuss or gimmick.

Pricing is very, very competitive for a yacht in this size range, offering genuine 'sailaway' capability, given the range of standard inclusions in the Clipper package.

It's easy to imagine this yacht providing a popular option in bareboat charter fleets. It's also an impressive choice as a harbour or coastal cruiser for family and friends, whether for day sailing or the occasional week's getaway. That is, after all, the extent of most owners' actual usage of their yachts.

According to Christophe Vanek of Beneteau-Vicsail, the 393 is also aimed at: "People who would like to go long-term cruising. So many of our boats have been cruising around the Med, the Atlantic... With the deep keel they will benefit from a bit more speed and performance."

Most of us dream of the cruising life rather than actually living the dream, but for those who really are looking at the options for long-term passagemaking, the new 393 (and particularly the two-cabin Owner's version) represents a serious entry to the field.