SIZEABLE GAINS

BY REPURPOSING AN EXISTING HULL DESIGN, HAS BENETEAU JUST REINVENTED THE 55-FOOTER?

- TOBY HODGES

Where we tested: The Solent, UK

Wind: 12-16 knots sea breeze

Model: standard boat with an in-mast furling mainsail and optional genoa. Other options include Genset, aircon, tunnel bow and retractable stern thrusters

There’s something surprising and quite brilliant about this yacht, which I bet you won’t notice at first. I certainly didn’t. It’s not the powerful looks or performance – anyone who knows the First 53 should expect that this detuned version, which shares the same formidable hull shape, should sail well.

Neither is it the space and volume which that hull design affords, although that is obviously significant. No, this feature is one you come to appreciate more gradually – once you are reclining in the cockpit, or perhaps after you have moved below decks and realise how easily you got there, and how simple it is to move between key areas of the boat. Essentially then, the brilliance of the Oceanis Yacht 54 lies in the deck design.

Those who have been aboard a range of large yachts in recent years will know many have segregated areas for sailing and relaxing. However, these typically come with a downside: if it’s easy to get around these large spaces and decks when flat, it probably won’t be at heel. Indeed, the First 53 suffers somewhat from that issue. Hence some will place a higher value in designs which have deeper protective cockpits and/or high coamings, yet these can be the very barriers which make for a trickier thoroughfare while stationary.

The OY54 offers a formidable amount of exterior and interior real estate, yet makes it safe and easy to move between them, while somehow keeping the whole package visually appealing.