HORIZON HEADER
LAUNCHED last year amidst the glamour of Cannes Boat Show and one of the unrivalled stars of December’s Paris Show, the Beneteau 58 is the biggest Oceanis and one which takes the line to a new level, writes YL racing editor Andi Robertson. It simply bristles with clever ideas and innovations in a pleasingly simple way, delivering genuine live-aboard, go-anywhere comfort and sailing performance. While, in essence, it is nothing more than the natural progression up the size range for the Oceanis, it also pushes a few boundaries with clever ideas. First there is the large transom ‘skirt’ they call it. It is four times deeper than would conventionally be drawn, but this produces your own private sun terrace as well as really enhancing access to the boat from the water and from the dock. And from the aft cabins there are good big windows to enhance the views. The ‘skirt’ is big enough and safe enough – weather permitting – to be a nice sheltered sun terrace as you sail gently along. When you are anchor as well, on sunny days, it is the perfect private beach and the proportions mean that there is ample space for several sun lovers. Then there are the twin bimini arches. They are not pretty in anyone’s book but they do take the loads of the mainsheet and keep it well clear of the cockpit. And structurally, in order to offer the rather wonderful glazed companionway and aft edge of the coachroof, then the mainsheet loads cannot be accepted by the coachroof. Our test boat had the option of the second, aft arch to accept the wind generators and UV panels (which in total greatly reduce the power generation requirements) as well as provide a tender lifting solution. In truth we rather prefer the single option, but that very much depends on the future use of the boat. There is a stern locker large enough to take a semi inflated dinghy, but the key loss, some will consider, is that the aft skirt removes the option of a dinghy garage which might normally be expected. This new boat is designed to set a new standard for live aboard, extended cruising ability at a sensible price. And Beneteau are keen to compete in every area they can with new models coming on stream to generate what sales there are at the moment. For many the new Oceanis will be the right boat at the right time, offering sufficient attractions and appeal in every department to prompt present owners to trade up to what, for some, could be their final boat purchase; the one in which they will finally take off and cruise extensively. In fact it is a big boat, a little over 60ft overall. The freeboard of the Berret Racoupeau hull is not excessive, the overall proportions are generous in terms of the beam and the stern sections are quite powerful, but this is a performance bred hull which does not compromise in order to generate extra space. There are options galore in every department. Our test boat was set up with a standard stacking style mainsail which seemed to develop ample power and would be our preferred choice, but you can have in-mast furling. Keel options are either a 2.1m shallow draught version or the standard 2.6m keel. The interior layout offers either a large owner’s cabin up front or two cabins forward. Up front there is also the standard choice of a large sail locker, or this can be a crew cabin with two bunks. Investing in this size of boat, it is worth pushing the budget as much as possible and so you would have the easy docking pack, with bow thruster, the swivelling chart plotter in the cockpit which we had – which means DVD’s or digital recordings can also be watched – and for sure the full powered winches package, especially the H70.2 genoa winches. And the staysail configuration is always a worthwhile investment. The whole walk through access from stern scoop to cockpit into the companionway is a delight, an insight into the priorities of this boat. It is without question about easy living, user friendly features and making life as simple and pleasurable as possible. The companionway is gently sloping so that you don’t even feel like you are descending from one area to the next, and of course down below this is enhanced so much by the natural light which floods in through these large windows. Opening and closing the companionway door (washboard?....hardly!) it’s push button power controlled. The cockpit itself is ultra impressive. There is the working area to the back, the leisure area forward and the two are distinct. There are no ropes or obstructions of any kind forward, and the working area is nicely delineated. The boat can easily be sailed by two, or one with a good autohelm, and all the main sail controls come back to clutch batteries on the edge of the cockpit coamings to put them in reach of the helm. There are neat tail boxes which double cleverly as a step up out of the cockpit. We sailed the new boat at Beneteau’s annual media sea trials jamboree, this time in Marseille. As regular readers may recall these are something of a hit or a miss, especially in really early spring. Marseille’s Rade can be quite sheltered, but over the course of a week it is unusual not to get some Mistral activity. Sure enough it blew through in the afternoon, over 30 knots, but we did get a short period in the morning to sail the 58. We were quietly impressed. It handled well and was nicely predictable as the winds built, and really pushed along when the sails are cracked off the breeze. Push button technology means there is really no excuse for over pressing the boat and for sure the Oceanis 58 likes to be properly canvassed. When we pushed there were no obvious problems. In the puffs upwind she proved stiff and tracked well without too much fuss. A little anticipation helped, but it would sail nicely balanced with the jib luff feathered. For us, in the breeze the key is setting up the main so you are not constantly dumping it, so attention to halyard and foot tension is basic, so too on the jib. Start off with the basic settings right and in the breeze this is a rewarding boat to sail, but with an overfull main and jib with the flow jumping around everywhere and it might prove a handful. And from that viewpoint spending on the best sail package that finances allow will, I am sure, be money well spent. Upwind it was not at all hard to wind her up to high sevens and eight knots and hold there with little attention to the sails from our international media crew. Tacking was also straightforward thanks to the full powered winch package, but even so, some anticipation and help from the helm never goes amiss. Setting the big gennaker was easy and really gave us a little fun in the stiff 16 knots of breeze, especially when the gusts came through. I recall only one well deserved spin out which was quickly brought back on terms. The helm remained positive at all times and though the 58 felt like she was pushing a lot of water at times, so at others she did not feel her size at all and you could work her quite nicely in the building waves. Down below the feeling of space, warmth and light is simply superb, also the proportions are good, as is the actual use of space. In Beneteau generations gone by, the interiors of their bigger boats have sometimes felt of stately home proportions because they have erred on leaving floor space unused, but the Nauta Design interior feels modern and homely with clearly distinct spaces which flow together. The generous saloon table area will seat ten, but the settee opposite is a nice lounging area too, and similarly the nav station is not separated obviously from the saloon. In essence it is more of desk, so that those who will need to or choose to work on board have a pleasant ambience. We loved the flat screen TV which emerges upwards from the forward settee surround. The finish throughout the interior is Alpi mahogany and in our case white leather which really sets off the airy interior in the sunshine. We liked the bright idea in the starboard aft cabin of a splitting double berth, sliding at the forward end to form a twin, separated by a V-shaped void, for accommodating those guests – perhaps young – who don’t want the familiarity of a double. Both of the aft cabins are fully en suite supported and are well lit living areas in their own right. Overall the Oceanis 58 sets a high standard in terms of a modern home from home which sails well and is easily managed. Comfort and practicality are built in to produce a refined, contemporary feel to what is a rewarding boat to sail. It offers good value for money and would, for sure, be one of our favourites if we had the chance of sailing off into the blue yonder for extended, leisurely cruising…. • The Beneteau Oceanis 58 carries and impressive price tag: Including electronics, bow thruster, teak decks and electric winches, it’s £535,000 inc VAT* delivered afloat France or Scotland where, at Clyde Marina, further information can be had from Beneteau dealers Sunbird International based at Ardrossan. * Calculation based on UK VAT rate of 17.5%.