Cracked And Close Reaching – Sweet Spot On The Oceanis 46
DO WE always strive for bigger? Is it always better? When we tested Beneteau’s new Oceanis 46 up alongside the big sister 50, it was hard not to draw the conclusion that, given the choice, why wouldn’t you have a 50? Besides everything else, on what was a perfect day for a Clyde test, I felt that the 50 was a better sailing boat. Now, that may be down to the way the rig was set up and that the 46 needed a little bit more tuning and we needed to learn to balance the sail plan better, but with the 50 it was literally a case of get on and do it without a second thought, whereas the 46 needed a little more care and attention in the puffy breeze. But, as we have said time and again, 45 to 46ft is a key size point. For many couples this is really about as big a boat as they feel confident handling on their own, and yet there is ample space and privacy for additional guests to enjoy the experience, whether they are contemporaries or younger family members. The Oceanis 46 was launched at the Paris Boat Show last December and at ExCel, London and has been a solid performer throughout Europe since. Since our test, Beneteau agents Sunbird have delivered a couple of 46s in the north of Britain and have more on the way. Currently and in the future, they see as many 46s staying in Scotland as will head south to the sun, and this is an ideal boat to do a bit of both. It seems like the cheap airfares revolution has made a serious impact on the boat sales market in the north of Britain too, and here is a boat which offers a good compromise between genuine live aboard space and an efficient seakindly performance. The 46 is, like the rest of the modern Oceanis range, from the Berret Racoupeau design house with the interior styled by Nauta. There are two keel options, a deep fin which draws 2.05m and a shallow draft at 1.70m, and there are two different interior options. The first has two symmetrical double after cabins, two heads compartments and a larger owners cabin. Version two has only two larger suites, a big forward owners cabin and a large after cabin with an offset, angled double. The 46 is certainly well proportioned and in no area do you feel it lacks in space or is too compact. That is not easily said when you move between the 50 and the 46. It handles well under power, the Yanmar 75hp providing plenty of drive yet remaining pleasingly quiet. Engine access is good. The cockpit is ample with good space and security behind the wheel for the helm, who has fair forward vision, rather than good. We struggled a little with getting a perfect view of the telltales, but this was partly down to their imprecise positioning rather than any particular shortcomings of the ‘owner’s enclosure’. And, as is standard now, there is easy access to the primary winches for the helm for short-handed sailing. On deck there are good working and lazing areas. A full wrap round teak toe rail adds practical safety as well as style, and there are ample hand holds and foot braces on the coach roof. The sailplan seemed plentiful. A 140% roller furling jib and fully battened, stack-pack style main, is the way to go here. Our recommendation for anyone who wants to cover miles at ease is to invest in easily handled, but well designed and built sails. The stock sails are adequate and will serve their purpose for 50% of clients, but having a really good mid-tech headsail which keeps a foil shape when furled can make miles of difference on a long passage and substantially increases comfort and enjoyment. A good main which holds its shape well can mean the difference between needing too much jib to keep moving through the lulls and being instantly overpowered in the gusts. With 12-18 knots of breeze we quickly discovered the 46’s sweet spot, close reaching. Happiest with the sheets eased a little, she pushed along contentedly in the breeze. It seemed stiff enough, happy to adopt an angle of heel and accelerate, but when the bigger gusts came then some early avoiding action was required. On a close reach, with the traveller down and the sheets cracked the 46 trundled along happily. As we went broader the speeds dropped commensurately, but at all times off the wind we were happy with the tracking and the response to the helm. Upwind, once we had the 46 in balance, it tracked well and needed little attention to the helm, and it seemed quick enough. Down below it is light, airy and spacious with plenty of natural light in each cabin. We really liked the ambience of the main saloon, which is set sufficiently forward to feel like you don’t step straight into it. To port is the large, L-shaped galley which extends under the cockpit sole and sites the double sink on the edge of the engine box adjacent to the stairs. Forward, to starboard is the nav station. Then the saloon has squared off U-shaped seating, with two little ‘island’ seats, while to starboard is a long, split settee. It is a grand saloon, one which would lend itself equally to long evenings watching telly or dvd’s in a quiet Scottish anchorage, or entertaining over a few single malts, or enjoying sundowners in the Med.’ As we returned from our ‘best of Clyde weather’ sail to Clyde Marina at Ardrossan, no sooner had we berthed than the price tag was cable-tied to the pulpit showing the sailaway price of the Oceanis 46 at £175,000 inc VAT, delivered and commissioned Clyde.