Nifty swifty: more or less
CHANGES at Beneteau over the past several years continue to roll out through the series of yachts coming off the production line of the world’s largest boatbuilder.
We have seen the First range of Beneteau’s resurrected via a combination of buying a sport boat manufacturer as well as launching the bigger keelboat range. Now we are also seeing the revamping of the Oceanis line.
This is the third in the Oceanis line to come out in the past couple of years and utilises lessons learned from its predecessors. For starters, once again, while the company uses the same interior designers for all its yachts, the hull design is opened to all that may be interested. The 30.1 has been designed by Pascal Conq from the Finot Cong naval architecture firm.
It would appear this smallest of the Oceanis line is still looking for a good match between family sailing and fun. Therefore the call is for a yacht that is easy to sail but also a little bit racy. That is the hull design, but down below you want an interior that will fit a family comfortably; not always easy in a yacht under 30 feet.
Let’s see if the new model makes the grade.
DESIGN WISE
Walking up to the yacht at the dock of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Sydney’s Pittwater, the first thing you notice is the full bows.
This is clearly the new design trend as it allows so much room on the inside while providing a bouyant counter-balance to the broad stern sections. This possibly has to be the fullest bow sections I have tested on a yacht so far.
In profile view there is a nice curve to the canoe body depth at the keel, which continues reflected with a similar curve up to the stern sections. No sharp angles, no steep curves, just a simple hull shape for easy sailing.
The stern waterline sections in plan view
