Design and Construction
The 60’s hull form was developed solely as a cruising boat, allowing broader forward sections with flare above the waterline but no chine or knuckle, which creates greater interior volume than the prior 54 without compromising the clean silhouette. Beneteau introduced recyclable Elium resin into the production process on this model, a material already tried and tested on the First 44 and developed jointly with Arkema to minimize the boat's environmental footprint while guaranteeing outstanding sailing performance; series production using that resin began in January 2025. The side decks are protected by a deep bulwark topped by a guardrail higher than the standard 60 centimeters, and extensive side decks run around the helm stations for obstacle-free circulation to the foredeck. The cockpit itself is huge, contributing to safety and easy movement, with twin L-shaped settees and walk-around space aft of the helm seats.
Rig and Handling
On the water, test sailors found the helm finger light in all conditions, with twin rudders that tracked beautifully regardless of heel. The standard rig carries 1,636 square feet of sail area, while the optional performance version adds roughly five feet to the mast and 20 percent to the upwind sail area; the test boat’s black lacquered aluminium rig was 1.5 meters taller than the standard furling mast and set 30 percent more sail with a fully battened slab-reefing main and 105 percent genoa. Upwind in around 12 knots of true wind the yacht made an easy 7.5 knots at a true wind angle near 50 degrees, and when the breeze built to 15 knots she accelerated to 8.3 knots while pinching 5 degrees higher. Off the wind in 18 knots she held better than 9 knots at 145 degrees true, and hardening up 20 degrees had her surfing just into double digits. Electric Harken winches sit within easy reach of the twin Carbon Nautica wheels, and the D1 shrouds are outboard rather than on the coachroof. A long bowsprit carries Code sails tacked midway and an asymmetric spinner from the end, with anchor stowage integrated.
Accommodations
Below, the saloon seats six around a table and faces a relaxing sofa area, with large hull windows at eye level bringing in light and view. A curved chart table lets the navigator join conversations, and a dedicated nav station with a bucket seat sits to starboard. The galley is forward and split, with the sink and stove to starboard and plenty of refrigeration to port, extending across the full beam. The owner’s suite forward is of a size once typical of yachts well over 70 feet, with a bed offset to starboard and hidden until past the private ensuite; four opening hatches vent the cabin. Mirror-image aft cabins are large, with the port cabin fitted as a complete en suite and the starboard configured as a day head or a wide double that splits to two slim singles. A 150-horsepower Yanmar diesel with shaft drive pushed the boat to 10 knots at 3,600 rpm and settled at 8.8 knots cruising on 2,500 rpm anchor.
Equipment and Deck Layout
The transom’s electrically operated bathing platform drops to reveal a longitudinal tender garage for a Williams 280 Jet RIB, equipped with a roller system and electric winch; the garage also accepts any dinghy up to 9 feet 6 inches. Liferaft stowage lies under the forward cockpit, close to the companionway, though it must slide aft to reach the transom. A hardtop bimini with a sliding fabric central section shields the cockpit, and the substantial sprayhood fixes to the cockpit arch with opening windows. Side deck lockers, rope bins, and deep helm seats add stowage, while a tunnel bow thruster and drop-down SidePower stern thruster aid close-quarters control. Beneteau’s Ship Control digital switching and the Seanapps remote monitoring app round out the systems.
The Verdict
The Oceanis Yacht 60 is a purpose-built private-owner cruiser that trades the older 62’s bulk for a lighter, sleeker hull with genuine superyacht-style volume forward and lively performance across the wind range. Her semi-custom build, deep bulwarks, and finger-light helm suit short-handed voyaging, though modest standard tankage and the long liferaft slide warrant attention.
Pros
- Lighter, lower-freeboard replacement for the 62 with broader forward sections for volume
- Finger-light helm and twin rudders that track through heel
- Forward owner’s suite rivaling much larger yachts, with full-beam split galley
- Recyclable Elium resin production with development by Arkema
Cons
- Standard fuel and water tankage relatively modest at 500 and 800 liters
- Liferaft must slide a long way aft to reach transom for deployment
