Beneteau Presents Major Display at Cannes, New Oceanis 60 And First 44 Make World Premiere

Beneteau proudly staged the world premieres of the flagship Oceanis Yacht 60 and First 44 sailing yachts at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival.

The Oceanis Yacht 60 features a gentle reverse sheer, and the elegant 18m hull profile of the 60 echoes that of its 54ft sister. The cockpit’s matching sofas, tables, and sunbathing areas continue the Oceanis Yacht design, while the safe, free-flowing movement includes wide side-decks that run around the helm stations and offer access to the foredeck. With two helm stations, controlling the boat’s course is as easy as trimming the sails, windward or leeward. The owner can carry out all the usual maneuvers without leaving the helm, which is a plus on a big boat when sailing short-handed.

The First 44 offers Standard and Performance versions and provides a link between the new First 36 and the First Yacht 53. Based on a 43ft 2in hull with a beam of almost 14ft, the Standard and Performance versions have an overall length of 46ft 5in and 48ft 1in respectively.

The First 44 features naval architecture by long-time America’s Cup designer Roberto Biscontini plus deck and interior design by Lorenzo Argento, the Italian pairing who also worked on the First Yacht 53, Oceanis Yacht 54, and Oceanis Yacht 60.

The Standard First 44 has a convivial cockpit with wide side-decks converging toward a cockpit table. Four winches, a fixed centreline block for the mainsheet, and a mast set further aft are designed to maximise the potential of a modern sail plan with a slender mainsail and generous foresails. Twin 300-litre ballast tanks, activated electrically from the helms, help the boat reach its potential with reduced crew.

Please contact us at beneteau@simpsonmarine.com for details and specifications for these two new yacht models.