The shipyard's announcement of the new Hanse 460 model came with a bang in summer 2021. For the first time, it was not the office of Judel/Vrolijk & Co in Bremerhaven that was commissioned with the design, but the studio of Berret-Racoupeau in La Rochelle. The basis for the cooperation resulted from a design competition that Hanseyachts had organised for the first time ever for a new ship. As a result, the French team led by their chief designer Olivier Racoupeau apparently delivered the most suitable vision for the shipyard in Greifswald and were therefore awarded the contract.
The announcement was well received, and almost 200 boats were sold just a few months later - without the new owners ever having seen the boat. With the 460 and the collaboration with Racoupeau, Hanse also gave the starting signal for a completely new generation of models.
The competition of the Hanse 460
Fresh shapes, different approaches
What's new? A direct comparison of the 460 with its predecessor, the Hanse 458, provides the answers. First and foremost, the hull has become much more voluminous. Specifically: with a projection of 4.79 metres and an aspect ratio (length to width ratio) of just 2.89, the new ship is significantly more compact than the comparatively slender 458 from Judel/Vrolijk with its width of 4.38 metres and an aspect ratio of 3.1. What's more, even when compared with its competitors at the time, Hanse's newcomer was now the ship with the largest volume.
The considerable fullness is also accompanied by an enormous width at the stern. In fact, the Hanse 460 is just as expansive aft as it is in the centre of the ship. The view from the stern illustrates the change of generation at Hanse most clearly. With soft chines and a flat frame, the Racoupeau design differs quite strikingly from the more rounded sterns of the previous models.
In contrast, the forward half of the hull is characterised by more pronounced chine edges. They are intended to preserve the volume in the foredeck and at the same time keep the waterline slim. In addition, the chine also acts as a kind of water deflector. This rather striking design language is typical of the more recent work from Olivier Racoupeau's office.
By contrast, the angular, almost wedge-shaped cabin superstructure and the narrow superstructure windows interrupted in the centre provide indisputable proof of origin. The new ship from Greifswald is and remains - despite much French influence - unmistakably a true Hanse. In addition, the negative bow stern ensures visual independence with a decidedly sporty touch. Overall, the Hanse 460 also offers a harmonious whole for the eye. Incidentally, Isabelle Racoupeau, the wife of designer Olivier, is responsible for the styling. She also designed the interior.
Powerful, especially in windy conditions
The YACHT editorial team was able to put the first ship from series production to the test in Barcelona on the occasion of the jury tests for the election of Europe's YACHT of the Year 2022. The Hanse 460 competed in the cruising yacht category against its direct competitor, the Dufour 470. A comparison under sail would certainly have been very exciting, also because the concepts of the two new yachts are similar and therefore comparable. Unfortunately, however, a direct encounter on the water was not possible due to the different availability of the boats.
In perfect test conditions with winds of between 16 and 20 knots and high waves, the Hanse 460 demonstrates considerable performance potential. The boat marches permanently upwind with a tacking angle of around 85 degrees and over 7.0 knots and handles the not inconsiderable swell effortlessly. The quite good performance values are surprising because the test boat with self-tacking jib and furling mainsail is not particularly well equipped. The conventional standard mainsail is five square metres larger than the vertically battened furling mainsail. The more powerful foresail alternative would be the overlapping genoa with line-adjustable hoist points. It becomes sportier in half wind with a furled reacher (a sail between the large genoa and code zero) and, above all, with the large gennaker from 110 degrees wind angle. In the YACHT test, the log then shows almost constant double-digit values.
Because the design of the Hanse 460 is intended to manage with just one rudder blade despite the wide stern, this is relatively large in size. This means that the steering is not quite as sensitive as on designated performance boats with a slim and deep blade. For this reason, the boat sometimes feels a little sluggish on the rudder. In order to keep the boat on course, the helmsman has to work hard and invest a little more energy. In return, he is rewarded with fast reactions and immediate response behaviour. In the test under gennaker, the Hanse only made very brief attempts to run off course once, but could be caught immediately and easily and steered back on course.
One-handed, not a team player
With regard to the layout on deck, Hanseyachts remains true to its philosophy of routing all sheets, halyards and trim lines below deck and inside the coamings directly in front of the steering columns. The companionway and cockpit, on the other hand, should remain free and unobstructed. With the exception of the small 315, this is generally the case on all of the shipyard's models. The helmsman can therefore carry out all the functions for setting and trimming the sails himself from his position at the wheels. In this respect, the boat is largely suitable for single-handed sailing.
But even if they wanted to, the co-sailors on the Hanse 460 have hardly any opportunity to actively participate in the manoeuvres. The winches and halyard stoppers cannot be reached from the cockpit because the very long cockpit thwarts (2.30 metres) are built right up to the steering positions and block access. There are two tables in the cockpit, which are available in different versions, including a version that can be lowered electrically at the touch of a button. With inlay cushions, the canopies can also be used as attractive and wide sun loungers. However, the tables block access to the forecastle compartments. The large storage compartments in the cockpit are therefore difficult to access and can only be reached by contortions. There is plenty of storage space for fenders, additional sails and other bulky items in the large load in the foredeck and in the full-length aft peak.
The controls also deserve a special mention. The quadrant is easily accessible from above through a bolted cover plate, which is the good and practical standard for all Hanse boats. The remaining components, i.e. the chain and cable pulls from the wheel to the quadrant, run below deck in channels on the 460 and are sealed off watertight, but are unfortunately no longer accessible for maintenance and inspection. If, for example, the continuous control cable of the non-redundant system were to jump off the pulley, this would be a problem that could not be solved so quickly and would require the use of the emergency tiller. Inspection and maintenance hatches at a suitable location could help to improve access to the concealed control mechanism.
Lots of volume, well utilised
The impression of space below deck in the saloon is particularly characterised by the mighty, long galley on the starboard side. What is particularly striking is the unusual height of the worktop, 99 centimetres above the floor, which makes working in the galley pleasant, especially when the boat is heeling. On most yachts, the worktop in the galley is at a much lower level, in favour of the unobstructed feeling of space. For good reason, Hanse does not want to go along with this functionally difficult compromise.
Thanks to the extremely voluminous bow section, Hanse can build the owner's cabin on the new 460 far into the foredeck and still offer very comfortable dimensions for the central island bed. Specifically, the berth is over 1.60 metres wide at the shoulders, which is more than on any other ship in the comparable competition. In addition, the forward cabin is complemented by a very spacious wet room with its own shower area. On competitor yachts and on the predecessor model Hanse 458, two heads are installed in the forward cabin, a toilet room and a separate shower cubicle. This may be pleasant under certain circumstances, but is accompanied by compromises in terms of storage space. On the Hanse 460, on the other hand, there is only one combined wet room in the foredeck, but there are plenty of large cupboards and numerous, easy-to-use shelves on the opposite side.
The longitudinal bulkhead between the two aft cabins is offset by exactly 20 centimetres to starboard. This means that the cabin on the port side is slightly larger, which enables the yacht builders in Greifswald to make the berth accessible from the side. The Hanse offers this comfort exclusively in this class. However, the berths in the aft cabins remain the same size and, with a width of 1.60 metres, are also larger than the berth dimensions of most competitor boats.
Beautifully built, even in detail
There are no fewer than 21 windows and hatches throughout the ship, all of which can be opened. The ventilation options are exceptionally good. All living areas can be ventilated transversely, and there are also many large openings in the wet cells for fresh air and light. The Hanse also scores highly in terms of safety below deck. Solid and well-placed handrails run through the entire boat, from the companionway to the foredeck.
In terms of quality, the interior fittings meet a very high standard for large-scale production. With many solid wood components, solid edge mouldings and solid gluing, the furniture is robust and of high quality. There are hardly any discrepancies in the gap dimensions, the ceiling panels hold well, the floor is laid correctly and does not creak under load. It is also striking that even in demanding sailing conditions with wind and waves, it remains surprisingly quiet below deck, which further emphasises the quality of the workmanship. The tanks are installed under the bunks forward (fresh water) and aft (fuel). The plastic tanks are dimensioned so that they can be easily removed and manoeuvred out of the boat for maintenance, cleaning or replacement without having to demolish furniture components.
Conclusion: By switching to the French construction partner, Hanseyachts is taking bold steps and at the same time breaking with established conventions. Nevertheless, the shipyard unconditionally adheres to the established brand values. The 460 is a Hanse through and through. It stands as a solid foundation for the generational change in Hanse's touring programme.
The measured values for testing the Hanse 460
The Hanse 460 in detail
Technical data Hanse 460
- Designer:Berret-Racoupeau
- CE design category:A
- Torso length:13,87 m
- Total length:14,60 m
- Waterline length:13,05 m
- Width:4,79 m
- Draught/alternative:2,25/1,75 m
- Theoretical torso speed:8.8 kn
- Weight:12,6 t
- Ballast/proportion:3,4 t/27 %
- Mast height above waterline:21,90 m
- Mainsail (standard):64,0 m²
- Self-tacking jib:42,0 m²
- machine (Yanmar):42 kW/57 hp
- Fuel tank:210 l
- Fresh water tank:450 l
- Holding tank:2x 85 litres
Hull and deck construction
GRP sandwich laminate, built up in hand lay-up. Hull with balsa wood core, deck with foam core. Continuous inner shells, cast iron keel
Equipment and prices
Base price ex shipyard: 381,870 euros / gross incl. 19 % VAT.
Prices as of 08/2023, as the prices shown are defined, you will find here !
Standard equipment included: engine, sails, sheets, railing, navigation lights, battery, compass, cushions, galley/cooker, bilge pump, toilet, electric cooler, holding tank with suction system
Shipyard
Hanseyachts AG, 17493 Greifswald (Germany); www.hanseyachts.com
Distribution
Dealer network
YACHT review Hanse 460
New designer, new approach. Compared to Hanse's previous designs, the new Berret-Racoupeau is one thing above all: significantly more voluminous. There is more living space inside, even in direct comparison with the boats of the competition
Design and concept
- + Compromising design
- + Very solid construction
- - Little space behind the steering wheels
Sailing performance and trim
- + Convertible rig concept
- + Extensive one-handed suitability
- - Less efficient mainsheet guidance
Living and finishing quality
- + Wide berths forward and aft
- + Robust, high-quality interior fittings
- + Quiet below deck, even when sailing
Equipment and technology
- + Perfect ventilation options
- - Panniers difficult to access
- - Control components not accessible
Interview with Olivier Racoupeau, the designer of the Hanse 460
Olivier Racoupeau, this is your first time working for a German shipyard. A completely new experience?
We work with companies in many different countries. I think that this diversity of experience and our fairly tight design organisation has been a strong basis for working with the Hanse team in Germany.
What was the design brief for the Hanse 460? What were the specifications from the shipyard?
First and foremost, the boat was to be one hundred per cent a real Hanse, but implemented with our own style specifications. The Hanse developers were also involved in all facets of the design, styling and construction right from the start.
The hull of the Hanse 460 only shows chine edges in the front area. What for?
In addition to the advantages for a favourable volume distribution, the hard chines should also give the hull a certain liveliness when sailing. The striking indentation from the hull to the waterline also ensures significantly better behaviour in rough seas.
Despite its wide stern with a flat frame, the Hanse 460 has only one rudder blade. A challenge?
The configuration with two rudder blades is not the only answer to wide and powerful hull shapes. Hanse's aim was to offer experienced sailors good sailing and steering pleasure and full control at all times. These requirements can ultimately be better achieved with a deep and well-balanced single rudder.
The Hanse 460 serves the middle market segment. What's next - bigger or smaller?
Only this much can be said: new concept strategies are now in the design process. Ultimately, however, the shipyard will have to decide which direction further development will take.
This article first appeared in YACHT 01/2022 and has been revised for this online version.
More on the topic:
- Hanse 388: The easy-to-sail cruising yacht put to the test
- Hanse 410: The new boat from Greifswald on the YACHT test rig. The first photos
- Hanse 418: Faster, more comfortable and more luxurious - cruising yacht bestseller put to the test
- Hanse 315 - one of the smallest of all large series cruising yachts
- The new Hanse 510- a lot on it, a lot in it
