NEW YACHTS - Sense of occasion
After announcing an unfeasibly large range of new models recently, it seems Euro boatbuilding giant Beneteau has finally seen sense. Oh wait, that should be Sense. Urgh, here we go again. And yes, we are talking not just a new model, but a new range.
This time, however, it is the sailboat side that is getting attention, and the Sense range is, according to Beneteau, designed “to meet new demands from the most hedonist sailors”. Okay, that sounds more interesting.
The Sense range, which will see a 50ft model introduced this autumn with a 42ft model due for launch at the Paris boat show in December, appears to borrow styling cues from Wally’s larger Open design — a stretched, wide, open transom cockpit and a saloon coachroof that features glass in the aft bulkhead and a glass strip overhead. Moreover, the saloon is just three steps down from the cockpit and features an open-plan seating and galley area. Main sleeping cabins will be forward, with a choice of a two-cabin, two-head layout, or a third cabin/office.
Sense is not just about taking a fresh look at deck and interior layouts, though, and the range will be fitted with hybrid engines. Moreover, the hull design, created in collaboration with Berret Racoupeau, has been optimised to deliver maximum performance at a heel angle of 15 degrees, rather than the usual 20 degrees. — Tim Thomas
Photos, renderings, layout: Beneteau’s 50ft Sense model.