There is no shortage of superlatives here. The largest yacht from the largest series boat builder in the world - that alone is enough to arouse curiosity. And then there are the lines!
The yacht designed by the French design office Berret & Racoupeau and the Italian stylist Pierangelo Andreani immediately catches the eye, even in a crowded harbour like that of Les Sables d'Olonne. While the previous cruising yachts were rather restrained in their appearance, the new top model breaks with tradition.
A wide black band runs through the sides of the hull and the stern. The large windows are almost invisibly embedded in it, providing plenty of light and a view below deck - and even additional ventilation in the aft cabins, as the windows positioned at the very back on the slopes can also be opened.
In contrast, the superstructure, which is also black, looks pleasantly narrow and tapers towards the bow. A design that creates visual tension and therefore plenty of attention. And that is exactly what Beneteau is all about.
The 62 is not just a new yacht, not just the first in a new upper-class model series, but also a symbol of the new direction the shipyard is taking. The boat builders from the Vendée want to document their claim to leadership more than ever in the future.
Read the detailed report in YACHT 15 (on newsstands from 6 July) to find out to what extent the Oceanis Yacht has already achieved the goals it set itself and what else Beneteau is planning. Here are the first photos from the exclusive test.
Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
