First photos of the Oceanis 46.1: Already sailed: Beneteau's next bestseller on test

Jochen Rieker

· 28.06.2018

First photos of the Oceanis 46.1: Already sailed: Beneteau's next bestseller on test

Photo: YACHT/C. Favreau

Test Beneteau Oceanis 46.1

Her predecessor is one of the most successful 50-foot yachts on the market. The new 46.1 will celebrate its premiere in September - and it too is already sold out

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At the beginning of the week, YACHT was able to test the Oceanis 46.1 in ideal conditions off Les Sables d'Olonne on the French Atlantic coast. The boat, presented in the sporty first-line version, is intended to replace the immensely successful Oceanis 45, which immediately won the title of European Yacht of the Year when it was launched and is still the best-selling boat in its class today. Not an easy task for the new model.

However, it not only builds on the qualities of its predecessor, but also tops its sister, the Oceanis 51.1, which made its debut last year. Its sailing talent was particularly impressive - whether with perfect balance and easy manoeuvrability downwind or with high speed and a reassuring limit range under gennaker. And all this in demanding conditions of 15 to 20 knots of wind.

You can read the detailed test of the Oceanis 46.1 in YACHT 17 (on newsstands from 8 August). You can find the first impressions of the test run here.

In the First Line Edition, the Oceanis 46.1 has a higher carbon fibre mast, more sail area, better equipment in the cockpit and, on request, a deeper but lighter keel

For easy sailing with a gennaker and code zero, the 46.1 has a large sail load behind the anchor locker so that the additional cloths are immediately ready for use

Also useful: a strong-wind jib can be fitted behind the hatch of the sail load. The stainless steel fitting on construction number 1 will be changed in series production

Like all models in the series, the Oceanis 46.1 has twin rudders. Steering feel and balance are first class

The pronounced chine in the foredeck widens the usable interior space and reduces trim when the boat is in position.

11 Images

Photo: YACHT/C. Favreau

Jochen Rieker

Herausgeber YACHT

Aufgewachsen in Süddeutschland, hat Jochen Rieker das Segeln auf Bodensee, Ammersee und Starnberger See gelernt. Zunächst war er auf Pirat, H-Jolle und Tempest unterwegs, später auf Hobie Cat, A Cat und Dart 16. Aber wie das so ist: Je weiter entfernt das Meer, desto größer die Leidenschaft danach. Inspiriert durch die Bücher von Bobby Schenk und Wilfried Erdmann, folgte in den 90ern der erste Dickschifftörn im Ionischen Meer auf einer Carter 30, damals noch ohne Segelschein. Danach war’s um ihn geschehen. Als YACHT-Kaleu und Jury-Vorsitzender des European Yacht of the Year Award hat Rieker in den vergangenen mehr als 25 Jahren gut 500 Boote getestet. Sein eigenes, ein 36-Fuß-Racer/Cruiser, lag zuletzt in der Adria. Diesen Sommer verholt er es an die Schlei, wo er inzwischen lebt.

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First photos of the Oceanis 46.1: Already sailed: Beneteau's next bestseller on test

Jochen Rieker

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