2020 BENETEAU Oceanis 51.1

The Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 is a thoroughly modern sailing yacht from Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design featuring a stepped hull and plumb bow with sprit, with practical and stylish deck and interior layouts from Nauta Design. The boat is easily driven, easily handled and a joy to sail. Chock full of desirable features and options- bow & stern thrusters; electric fold down transom; twin wheels; cockpit refrigeration; Generator and Air Con; electric winches and in-mast furling; telescopic folding tender cranes- to name just a few. 

VITAE MAGNA has the three cabin/two head layout with Alpi Mahogany joinery and Ultraleather Parchment (off white) cushions below with the “comfort trim package” offered by Beneteau. On deck cockpit cushions are in light grey Sunbrella with white piping to accompany the light grey dodger/bimini/canvas covers and darker grey boot stripe for a coordinated and sharp look. The boat has seen light summer usage and is in fantastic shape. Always professionally cared for since new- she is presented in sail-away condition complete with tender and outboard and is competitively priced and ready for the coming summer! 

OWNER’S COMMENTS 

All the lines are now threaded back to the stern, the winches are electric, the mainsail is on an in-mast furler, the jib is self-tacking, the helm has an autopilot, and there is a bow and stern thruster to help with docking. This list doesn’t even include all the advances in electronics and navigation. You can literally stand in the stern with one hand on the wheel and raise the sails with a simple push of a button on the electric winch. Once I discovered all this, a sailboat became a very feasible, and preferred, option.  

Back when we originally were discussing powerboats, the brief included room to sleep at least 6 comfortably, 2 heads (bathrooms) with showers, decent size galley (kitchen) area, chart table, air-conditioning, and a good size dining table. This interior brief was then applied to the sailboat. At the Newport Boat Show last year, we had decided that if we were going to get a boat, it would be a Beneteau as we really liked the design and build quality. The two Beneteau sailboats that delivered against the brief were the Oceanis 46.1 and the Oceanis 51.1, both of which just happened to be available at a nearby boatyard. At the end of the day after climbing all over both several times, we opted for the larger boat as it has significantly more room in all the cabins and common area along with more headroom so it’s less claustrophobic in the rear cabins.  
 
I was really amazed at how easy the Oceanis 51.1 is to sail, how well it handles, and how smoothly it rides through the waves. In a good wind, VITAE MAGNA will do 10 knots and it moves quite well even in a light breeze. One person really could sail the boat, but it does help to have a second person on board to work the lines on the other side, so you don’t have to run back and forth.  
 
Life on board Vitae Magna is quite comfortable. While it does have a stove, we normally grill off the back deck at night. So far, we have yet to use the air-conditioner as there has always been a nice breeze on the water. The boat does have Wi-Fi so it is millennial friendly, and we can work remotely from it when we need to. I did draw the line when it came to installing a TV, so Vitae Magna is one of the few TV free zones left on the planet. In the evening we can normally be found on the back deck, reading with a glass of wine within reach.  
 
Do I regret not getting the Porsche Carrera GT this year? Given the circumstances, no because I know that is still an option for the future. Getting the sailboat has been great experience and I had forgotten just how much I enjoy being on the water. There is something deeply satisfying and rewarding to going out for a sail on a perfect summer or fall day. In many ways the peace and tranquility of being out on the water has been the perfect antidote to the trauma of 2020. For the summer of 2021, I can see us doing a great mix of weekend road and boat trips. 

FORWARD CABIN

Starting forward is the full beam owner’s cabin with 1.6m wide centerline berth- unheard of in a cruiser of this size. This is a gorgeous space with plenty of light and natural ventilation, plenty of wiggle room and plenty of storage. Settee bench seats on either side of the berth are a nice touch as are convenient shelves with fiddles to keep phones, etc. secure with charging outlets port and starboard. 

SEPARATE SHOWER ROOM 

Aft to starboard is the separate shower stall which is a HUGE space with large built-in seat, shelf with fiddle for shampoo, etc. and plenty of locker storage space outboard. There is a vent in the shower for AC/reverse cycle heat and an overhead hatch. 

FORWARD HEAD 

Aft to port is the head with vanity; also with AC vent, plenty of storage and overhead hatch for light and ventilation. Electric push button quiet flush toilet with fresh/saltwater valve. 

The Nav station ‘nook’ is next aft and to port with a forward-facing seat to work at the desk that has an extension to become an L-settee which doubles as an inboard facing lounge as well as a settee for use with the expandable salon table. This is a nifty and well executed design concept and space within the main salon, and a unique aspect of this modern generation of Oceanis 51.1’s. Features include:  VHF radio, stereo controls, Nav/reading light; recessed storage outboard; lift top desk with storage beneath. 

GALLEY 

Next aft to port is the large U-shaped galley with counter space forward and aft and sink and stove outboard.  Galley highlights include: an under counter reefer with door; separate under counter freezer; gimballed stainless 2 burner stove with oven, stainless sink with countertop cover and cutting board; Danby Microwave oven in overhead locker; opening port; under counter trash bin; under counter pot locker; Foot operated pump in the galley. 

PANTRY 

Just aft and outboard of the galley is a large locker with a built-in Splendide washer/dryer. 

SALON WITH DINING TABLE AND SETTEE 

GUEST HEAD 

Next aft to starboard is the roomy guest head with ensuite (separate) stall shower; also with opening port for natural ventilation and vent for AC/Heat. Quiet flush electric toilet. 

AFT CABINS 

Aft of the salon are the port and starboard quarter cabins with oversized double berths with split mattresses so that lee cloths or semi-permanent dividers may be used to create private berths or additional storage offshore. Features include: hull ports, opening ports, hanging lockers, and built-in storage. These are both great cabin spaces. 

The cockpit on the Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 is superb with opposing L-settees flanking a large double leaf (teak) table with built-in refrigeration, cupholders, lighting. Twin helms and an electric fold down transom mean access to and from the water can’t be better and make getting into the cockpit a breeze. All sail handling lines are led aft to the cockpit and are intelligently laid out to make shorthanded sailing a reality from the twin helms. The oversized dodger provides ample protection from the elements, but with a large center opening section also allows plenty of airflow. An innovative feature is found in the sole at each helm with a hinged lifting section that allows for a comfortable standing steering position when the boat is healed over. Bravo!  

Aluminum spar w double swept-back spreaders. In mast furling with electric main halyard winch and electric primary winches.