Four different interior layouts, five rigging plans, three different keel types and a choice of 150 available options out of a 700 possible combinations: a lot of ideas for the new Beneteau Oceanis 51.1, that we will see at the autumn boats shows in Cannes, Southampton and Annapolis. In this article you can see the first picture of this new boat, in the special “First Line” version.
Fitted with an extra-long carbon or aluminium mast, the Oceanis 51.1 First Line has up to 35% additional sail area in high-tech materials. The boat has a 2.8 m lead bulb keel in this high performance configuration. This reduces weight and hydrodynamic drag. To complete this version, a composite steering wheel, top-of-the-range deck fittings and boomsprit marry speed and cruising.
This is the first cruiser developed under the supervision of Beneteau’s marketing director, Gianguido Girotti: “We capitalized on our experiences with the First and the Figaro, which are boats that are more focused on racing. We brought their values into the heart of a cruising yacht”.
The stepped hull designed by Olivier Racoupeau, extending over a third of the hull, is a major element in the development of the range. The new hull creates also additional interior space without changing the shape of the bottom, essential for a good performance under sail.
