Hull Form and Exterior Architecture
The OY 62's profile is defined by a black hull stripe that conceals a dozen dark windows, high topsides that allow a low-profile coachroof without sacrificing belowdecks volume, and a plumb bow fitted with an integrated stainless steel bowsprit for the Code 0. The chined hull pairs with twin rudders and a centered sail plan to deliver what Beneteau describes as impeccable balance and maneuverability. At 30 inches, the lifelines are notable enough that the first journalist to sail the boat called their return to functional lifelines a nod to safety she hoped other builders would emulate. Deck layout prioritizes flat, usable surface area: the flat coachroof, cockpit tables that lower to form sunbeds, and six dedicated sunbathing areas distributed from the foredeck double sun pad — with built-in speakers and lighting — all the way aft.
Rig and Sail Handling
The tapered 9/10 fractional deck-stepped Sparcraft mast gives an air draft of 90 feet. Standard sail plan uses an in-mast furling main alongside a 105-percent genoa on a Facnor furler, totaling roughly 1,959 square feet; a 2,600-square-foot Code 0 is optioned from the bow. All of this is managed from the twin helm stations by four electric Harken winches — headsail furling switches are integrated at the helm so that setting sail requires little more than fingertips. The Code 0 proved its value on the test sail: in ten knots of true wind it delivered a steady six to seven knots, filling the light-air gap that the furling main cannot address. At sixteen knots of true wind on a 55-degree apparent wind angle the boat tracked at eight knots, jumping to over ten on a beam reach.
Cockpit, Tender Handling, and Deck Systems
The cockpit U-shaped settees wrap adjustable-height tables that convert to loungers, creating a social zone separated from the companionway walkthrough by a central passageway. An electrically activated module — grill, sink, prep station, and pop-up light — hides under the aft sun pad and rises on demand. The transom is the most engineered section of the deck: it drops below the waterline at the aft end on hydraulic pistons, turning itself into a swim platform and simultaneously making tender launch and recovery dramatically easier. One person can launch or recover the jet RIB in under a minute using the Quick electric winch that stows the dinghy in the integral garage. Flanking the garage, civilized staircases port and starboard replace the ladders typical of production boats, accessible to anyone regardless of agility. Twin command pods carry Carbonautica wheels, bow and stern thruster toggles, Quick 24V windlass remote, and B&G Zeus 12-inch MFDs.
Accommodations
The saloon's sense of space is amplified by the large hull portholes that ring the hull and, uniquely, by the ability to see all the way aft and out the back of the boat through transom hatches — an alignment that lengthens the visual field considerably. To starboard, the straight-line galley conceals considerable equipment beneath gray Corian counters and mahogany Alpi cabinetry: three-burner stove, microwave, top and side-loading refrigeration, icemaker, wine cooler, dishwasher, and twin sinks. The navigation station, positioned to port near the companionway, holds a third B&G plotter and an integrated laptop space for easy watch communication. Forward, a winding athwartships corridor to the master suite ensures that you cannot see into the cabin from the saloon, creating owner privacy rarely achieved on a production boat. The master benefits from 6 feet 11 inches of standing headroom, twin overhead hatches, and rectangular hull windows visible from the berth. The aft guest cabins extend all the way to the stern on either side of the tender garage, each with aft-facing portlights and ensuite heads. A fourth cabin can be added to starboard, though it eliminates the head compartment there.
Known Trade-offs and Practical Penalties
The option list is genuinely long and the penalty for ticking it is measurable: the option-laden test boat came in around five tonnes over her light displacement, a meaningful increase for a 57,000-pound hull. Options including electric blinds, the jet tender, and the rigid bimini tip the boat into a different price bracket quickly. The cockpit line management is efficient but compact, with a lot of line tails needing to stow into small bags. The aft transom hatches that light and ventilate the guest cabins require an awkward crawl to operate, and guests may pile luggage there, defeating the purpose. With the voluminous tender garage occupying the transom, the design leaves limited deck stowage for sails and fenders, which end up filling the crew cabin.
The Verdict
The Oceanis Yacht 62 is Beneteau's most deliberate bid to convert powerboat buyers to sail while keeping experienced offshore sailors satisfied. The Berret Racoupeau hull is genuinely seaworthy — the boat shouldered an Atlantic chop and kept pushing forward without drama — and the integrated tender system, privacy-engineered interior, and layered sunbathing infrastructure represent a coherent design philosophy rather than a collection of marketing features. The line earned its European Yacht of the Year recognition by offering luxurious details and design at a price level rarely seen in the 60-foot category. Where it asks for compromise is in specification discipline: the base boat is strong; the fully loaded version can carry penalties in weight and cost that a buyer should factor in from the start.
Pros
- Award-winning hull by Berret Racoupeau with chined form, twin rudders, and proven offshore manners
- Genuinely private owner's suite separated by an athwartships corridor — unusual at this size
- Hydraulic swim platform that drops below the waterline, enabling single-handed tender launch and recovery
- Full-featured galley with dishwasher, icemaker, wine cooler, and Corian counters hidden under a clean finish
- Twin helm stations with electric Harken winches and integrated headsail furling controls
- Six dedicated sunbathing areas across the full length of the boat
Cons
- Heavy option loading adds significant displacement and can compound performance in light air
- Compact cockpit line management creates crowded tail stowage at the winches
- Limited deck stowage elsewhere when the tender garage is occupied — sails and fenders displace crew space
- Transom hatches that ventilate aft cabins are awkward to reach and tend to be blocked by luggage
