Form follows function
The new Oceanis Yacht 54 carries the unmistakable DNA of the Oceanis Yacht range – as pretty as she is capable and as focused as she is versatile, you'll find her equally ready for a fast ocean passage as a leisurely double-handed sunset cruise.
Photography by Beneteau
22 July 2020
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The Oceanis Yacht 54, younger sister of the Oceanis Yacht 62, embodies the innovation that has always been a hallmark of the Beneteau brand while continuing to remain loyal to the Yacht range ethos: elegance, luxurious accommodation and unrivalled performance.
Capitalising on experience gained with the enormously popular Oceanis range, as well as the trend-setting new First Yacht 53, her architects, Roberto Biscontini and Lorenzo Argento, have created a masterpiece that seamlessly blends form and function into a yacht that is exhilarating under sail, easy to shorthand and comfortable both at sea and in port.
She is, at a glance, unmistakably Oceanis – the mainsail arch, the modern sheerline, the elegant proportions, those distinctive coamings and portholes – and honours her pedigree by continuing to offer the features that have made the range a standard-bearer in the industry.
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With an emphasis on build quality, high-end materials and the innovative vision that has always been a staple of the Beneteau brand, the Oceanis Yacht 54 truly represents the pinnacle of the modern monohull cruising design.
The two architects behind this free-flowing, wonderfully nimble 54-footer are Roberto Biscontini and Lorenzo Argento, whose creation paves the way for a new generation of high-end cruisers that optimise cockpit and interior layouts without any sacrifices to performance, practicality or comfort.
A vast array of options, trim levels, rigging and keel setups and mechanical components ensure there will be a tailored yacht to fit the needs of every sailor, and her stylish looks will turn heads in every harbour on every ocean.
Cruising really comes into its own on the Oceanis Yacht 54, with all sheets and halyards running aft of the cockpit seats, leaving a clean area for rest and relaxation.
The sun pad on the foredeck is likely to be the most popular spot on the boat, while the flush cockpit allows for seamless movement between the companionway and the helm stations, creating an invisible partition between active and passive areas on deck. The flow to the aft swim platform and down the gangways to the foredeck is remarkably natural, and the positioning of lines, winches and controls allows for near-effortless sailing. Sightlines from the helm forward are excellent.
With a straight stem allowing for new interior volumes in the bow area and a maximum beam (5 metres) carried further aft, the Oceanis Yacht 54 offers a state of the art, perfectly balanced hull that maximises thrills in all conditions.
The designers gave movement on deck special attention, particularly around the cockpit, which modernises the traditional centre-cockpit design into a flush layout with distinct areas dedicated to lounging and sailing.
Aptly drawn coamings and high bulwarks provide increased safety while transiting to the foredeck, and access to the sea and the spacious swim platform provides access to the sea. Lifting the platform reveals the space below the cockpit to store an eight-foot inflatable tender.
The Oceanis Yacht 54 isn’t just modern on the outside; it is a yacht with the latest and greatest sailing technologies intuitively built into her systems, which are designed to make the cruising experience as easy and as enjoyable as possible. Shorthanding a 54-footer has never been easier.
Ship Control, an interface that allows access to boat data and components, is installed as standard. Dock&Go, which greatly facilitates engine-powered manoeuvring in tight spaces by combining a 360-degree rotating pod with a retractable bow thruster, is available as an option. Under sail, the optional Harken AST (assisted sail trim) automatically trims the sails based on apparent wind, all controlled by a simple display in the cockpit.
Lorenzo Argento’s objective in designing the interior was to create a warm, modern atmosphere with as much natural light and ventilation as possible. The Oceanis Yacht 54’s layouts reflect a desire to meet the needs of modern owners through well-engineered, versatile cabin arrangements that provide unrivalled levels of comfort and capacious storage space.
Tables and seating areas have been reimagined to offer both conviviality and practicality, and access to all major systems and components hides in plain sight. There are two versions available, a 3-cabin/2-head or a 3-cabin/3-head, and both can be built using light oak or walnut.
A close inspection of the Oceanis Yacht 54’s engineering and build quality reveals a craft that is decidedly a cut above the rest. Every single aspect of the boat has been carefully re-examined and nothing is taken for granted – from the high-quality door fixtures and upholstery to the exquisite moulded woods of the interior, to the aluminium sub-floor that increases rigidity yet saves weight.
The owner will be able to choose between two cabin layouts (both with two wood options available) and a palette of upholstery and panelling choices, to say nothing of electronic, mechanical and rigging selections.
Whatever the choice, on such a beautifully executed boat, the owner is bound to be at one with the boat and at one with the sea.
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