Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 60 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Hull Design and Naval Architecture

Roberto Biscontini evolved the same hull family he created for the First 53 and the Oceanis Yacht 54, but adapted it specifically for cruising payload rather than racing efficiency. The forward sections are notably broader, with flare above the waterline and no chine or knuckle, a geometry that simultaneously grows the owner's forward cabin and improves form stability by keeping the bow from dipping excessively when heeled. The CE Category A certification for ten people offshore reflects the bluewater intent written into the structure from the outset.

The exterior profile sits lower than the 62 it replaces — lower freeboard and a dramatically reduced displacement are the two factors most responsible for the boat's sailing character. Lorenzo Argento handled exterior styling alongside his interior work, delivering a silhouette that reads as a scaled-up performance yacht rather than a conventional cruising motorboat with sails attached. The long bowsprit is functional as well as aesthetic: Code sails tack halfway along it, an asymmetric spinnaker flies from the tip, and anchor stowage is integrated into the structure.

Rig, Performance, and Handling

The Oceanis Yacht 60 is offered in two rig configurations whose performance difference is substantial. The optional performance rig, with a black lacquered aluminium mast 1.5 metres taller than the standard alloy furling version, carries a fully battened slab-reefing mainsail and 105% genoa. The result is 30% more sail area than the furling rig with self-tacking jib — a gap that makes itself felt not just in top speed but in the boat's ability to keep moving in very light conditions.

Both independent test programmes confirmed the performance. Rupert Holmes, sailing the prototype from Les Sables d'Olonne, recorded 7.5 knots upwind in 12 knots of true wind at 50 degrees true wind angle, accelerating to 8.3 knots when the breeze freshened to 15. Off the wind with a Code 3 in 18 knots, the boat held more than 9 knots at 145 degrees true with the helm still light. Zuzana Prochazka's SAIL Magazine test on Biscayne Bay found that in 11 knots of wind the boat sailed 7.6 knots at 60 degrees apparent with the genoa, jumping to 9.8 knots on a beam reach with the screecher set.

Both testers noted the same quality at the helm: genuinely finger light in all conditions, with twin rudders tracking beautifully regardless of the angle of heel. The electric Harken winches are positioned to be reached from either the wheel or operated via buttons on the binnacle without leaving the helm — an arrangement that makes short-handed passage-making plausible on a boat of this size. A 150-hp Yanmar diesel provides ample auxiliary power; at 2,500 rpm the boat cruises comfortably at 8.8 knots, and a tunnel bow thruster combined with a drop-down SidePower stern thruster takes the drama out of marina entries.

Cockpit and Deck Layout

The cockpit is organised around two L-shaped settees forward of the twin helm stations, each fitted with a folding table that drops electrically to create matching sunbeds. The superyacht-style binnacles integrate the Carbon Nautica wheels into the aft ends of the settees, keeping the space between them clear. The electrically operated bathing platform drops to reveal a longitudinal tender garage sized for a Williams 280 Jet RIB, with a roller system and electric winch making launch and recovery a one-person job.

Side decks are wide and unobstructed, with deep bulwarks topped by guardrails taller than the standard 60cm — a reassuring detail on a vessel intended for offshore passages. The optional hardtop bimini has a sliding fabric central section that can be opened to vary the amount of shelter, and the fixed sprayhood has opening windows. One ergonomic compromise worth noting: rope bins under the aft cockpit seats are sized for in-mast furling lines rather than the larger volumes generated by a slab-reefing rig, so buyers specifying the performance configuration may want to plan additional line storage.

Interior Accommodations

The standard layout offers three cabins and three heads, purpose-designed for private ownership rather than as a charter-convertible arrangement. Every Oceanis Yacht 62 sold to a private buyer, and the 60 follows the same philosophy with no structural compromise toward a fleet configuration.

The forward owner's suite occupies a volume that in the past would have been found only on yachts well over 70 feet. Four overhead hatches provide ventilation and light, the en suite head is accessed before the sleeping area to create a privacy sequence, and the offset forward-facing double is invisible from the companionway. Aft cabins mirror each other: large, with independent en suites and separate shower stalls. The port aft cabin can be configured with either a wide double or two singles.

The saloon features a curved navigation station to starboard with a bucket seat well suited to passage planning and chartwork, and the central galley occupies the full beam of the boat. The split arrangement puts the cooker and sink to starboard, refrigeration and storage to port — workable for two cooks simultaneously, though the starboard sink position becomes awkward when the boat is heeling on that tack. An island locker in the centre of the saloon provides a handhold and storage but strikes some observers as an odd feature jutting into the traverse between the settees.

Known Limitations

A few design choices produce friction in real offshore use. The liferaft stowed under the forward part of the cockpit sole must be slid a considerable distance aft before it can be deployed over the transom — a non-trivial task in an emergency. The galley's split layout, praised in harbour, does not lend itself to cooking when heeled hard on starboard tack, which limits its usefulness on roughly half of all upwind passages. Standard tankage of 500 litres of fuel and 800 litres of water points toward Mediterranean-style coastal cruising rather than extended ocean passages; buyers planning bluewater voyages will need to specify the optional 100-litre-per-hour watermaker and plan fuel stops accordingly. At the binnacle, the Code 3 furler on the test boat was set up for manual operation, requiring a meaningful physical effort — a detail to confirm and potentially upgrade at order stage.

The Verdict

The Oceanis Yacht 60 makes a credible case that a production bluewater cruising yacht can be genuinely fun to sail. The combination of a lighter, more evolved hull and the optional performance rig closes the gap with dedicated performance cruisers in a way the heavier 62 never attempted. Accommodation, particularly the forward owner's suite, sets a standard rarely seen at this displacement. The compromises are real but manageable: the galley is port-tack-friendly only, liferaft access is cumbersome, and the standard rig leaves a significant amount of performance on the dock. Buyers who configure the performance mast and slab-reefing main will have a very different boat from those who take in-mast furling — and a notably better one for sailing anywhere the wind blows.

Pros

Substantially lighter than its predecessor with equal or greater interior volume
Finger-light helm and well-mannered twin-rudder steering at all angles of heel
Superyacht-scale forward owner's suite with genuine privacy sequence
Performance rig adds 30% sail area and transforms light-air capability
Bow and stern thrusters make short-handed marina handling straightforward
Seanapps connectivity and Ship Control digital switching reduce management burden

Cons