Design and Construction
The Sense 57's hull, underbody, and rig are the work of Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design, with interiors by Nauta Design — a Milan-based studio whose influence is felt everywhere below decks. The fundamental layout premise is that machinery noise and vibration belong aft, under the cockpit sole, while sleeping quarters live forward in relative quiet and calm. That single decision cascades through every other aspect of the boat's character.
The cockpit lies at the same height as the interior, which explains the Sense 57's distinctively slender profile: with the cabins pushed forward, the saloon drops closer to the waterline, making the topsides read leaner than a boat of nearly 58 feet might otherwise appear. The swim platform is hydraulically activated, rising to seal the cockpit safely when underway and lowering to form a teak beach at anchor. Fixed helm seats replaced the older lifting units, and an electrically activated hydraulic transom provides a meaningful safety improvement for crew, children, and pets.
Hull stiffness and seakeeping are aided by twin rudders, which ensure a firm grip at heel or in a seaway, and buyers can specify either a 6-foot-10-inch or 7-foot-10-inch draft depending on their cruising grounds.
Rig and Sail Handling
The rig is a Seldén design with double spreaders, a split backstay, and a rigid boom vang. Standard upwind sail area with mainsail and genoa measures roughly 1,600 square feet, and the headsail runs on a Facnor furler attached to a shapely integrated bowsprit that blends flush with the hull. That sprit also doubles as the attachment point for a Code 0 and can hold twin anchors — a practical solution that keeps the foredeck uncluttered.
The Harken primary winches, positioned slightly forward of the helm stations, reward an upgrade to electric operation — an option that relocates the control buttons closer to the driver and makes genuine short-handed sailing feasible on a boat of this size. A self-tacking jib is available for those who want to tack without leaving the wheel.
Under sail the boat rewards a patient hand. Sailing at 35 degrees to the wind, the hull finds its own rhythm and delivers respectable performance without being pushed. On a beam reach in 12–14 knots of true wind, the boat easily made 8.8 knots on flat water, and with a Code 0 set downwind in similar breeze, speeds exceeding ten knots are achievable. Nothing happens too quickly or erratically, which builds confidence when sailing shorthanded.
Cockpit and Deck Living
The cockpit is where the Sense 57 makes its strongest argument. Measuring just over three metres by two, more than six square metres of cockpit space is a genuine living area rather than a transit corridor. An exterior galley module nestled inside the helm seats — an electric grill to starboard, sink and prep area to port — lets the cook stay in the conversation during meal preparation and keeps cooking heat and smells out of the interior.
An optional composite hardtop extends aft from the Beneteau arch to the helm stations. The side sections are rigid, the central portion is a canvas panel that opens like an accordion sunroof, and the aft corners are angled inward to leave room for line-handling while inboard stainless supports act as useful handholds. When full protection is wanted, additional fabric side panels can close the cockpit entirely. The arrangement means no traditional awning to rig and un-rig: shade is a matter of pulling canvas to the stern.
One handling note worth knowing: with the bimini closed, checking the top section of the genoa for trim requires moving slightly out from behind the wheel rather than simply looking aloft. It is a minor adjustment in practice, particularly on longer passages where shade matters far more than occasional sail checks.
Accommodations
Below decks, the three-cabin layout is organized around the principle that forward is quieter. The master suite sits in the bow with an ensuite head, an island berth, a slatted bed frame with marine mattress, a leather dressing table, and storage amounting to five drawers and hanging lockers. The master bathroom is split between toilet to starboard and shower cabinet to port, an arrangement that frees up floor area in each compartment. The two guest cabins sit further aft of the master, each served by its own private ensuite, separated by a single centrally located corridor with sliding doors to conserve space.
A centrally placed panel in the saloon incorporates a chart table, an extra seat, and an optional pop-up flatscreen TV on a motorized lift — a detail that mirrors how people live and entertain ashore. The galley runs longitudinally and keeps all appliances concealed behind retractable worktops and panels when not in use. Natural light arrives through large hull portholes, hatches, and fixed windows; even when below, the view out is practically complete, and the sensation of being enclosed in a traditional sailboat interior simply does not exist here.
Engine noise in the saloon measured a consistent 60 decibels in testing, rising above 70 only at wide-open throttle — numbers that confirm the architectural premise that separating machinery from sleeping quarters makes a real difference.
Performance Under Power
Two engine options are available: an 80 hp Yanmar diesel on a saildrive, or a 110 hp Yanmar on a straight shaft. Wide-open throttle with the 80 hp unit produced 9.5 knots on flat water at 3,200 rpm; a 2,200 rpm cruise produced 8.1 knots, a sensible pace for fuel conservation. The 110 hp variant pushed past nine and a half knots at full speed and held above eight knots at cruise. Fuel capacity of 110 gallons can be doubled with an optional additional tank — worthwhile for extended offshore passages to remote anchorages. Water tankage of 169 gallons is generous for a boat of this type, and a watermaker can be added to extend independence further.
The Verdict
The Sense 57 is the product of a coherent idea pursued with discipline over two generations of development. Berret-Racoupeau and Nauta Design kept what worked — the forward cabin arrangement, the monomaran cockpit, the slender profile — and addressed the specific complaints owners raised the first time around. The result is a large cruising yacht that handles with confidence in light to moderate air, lives extremely well at anchor, and demands very little crew for its size. It is not a performance purist's boat, but it was never designed to be one; it was designed to make extended cruising genuinely comfortable for a couple or a small family, and on that score it succeeds.
Pros
- Exceptional cockpit volume with integrated exterior galley and hydraulic swim platform
- All three cabins ensuite; forward placement isolates them from engine noise
- Light-ship handling with twin rudders and manageable rig for short-handed sailing
- Code 0 sprit is hull-integrated, preserving clean foredeck lines
- Bimini provides weather protection without traditional awning hassle
Cons
- Headsail trim requires stepping out from behind the wheel to see the masthead when bimini is deployed
- Neither draft option is well suited to very shallow cruising grounds
- Primary winches are a stretch from the helm without the electric upgrade
- Fuel range at 110 gallons is limited for offshore passages without the optional second tank
