Design and Construction
Briand gave the 66 a vertical-lined hull with a hard aft chine and a wide 18-foot beam, and the coachroof carries his superyacht signature: an eyebrow-like overhang above vertical wraparound windows. The hull is infused in one piece, and CNB's modular build system sees the interior fully constructed before being lowered into receivers in the shell — the engine room is one of five modules, contained in a single metal box under the raised saloon sole. That raised saloon is the key to the layout, freeing a central machinery space while keeping the deck all on one level with flush foredeck hatches and integrated tracks. A carbon bowsprit and an optional hydraulic furling boom developed with Hall Spars were fitted, and the longitudinal tender garage stows a 3.25 m tender for boarding in under a minute.
Rig and Handling
All headsails sit on furlers and the mainsail furls in-boom, so a couple can raise the sails themselves, and the maneuvering gear is arranged for small-crew control from dual helm stations with carbon wheels. The builder claimed the 66 was conceived as a luxury cruiser for families who sail short-handed, yet might also race in a regatta or cross an ocean. Under sail she feels strong and seaworthy, powerfully swift yet stable when heeled onto the chine, and the twin rudders are light and nicely balanced. Bow and stern thrusters with joystick steering ease docking, though the motorboat-style controls sit close to the wheel.
Accommodations
The interior repeats the slightly asymmetrical deck plan: a dining area to port and a lounging area to starboard under panoramic coachroof windows, with sofas taken right out to the hull sides for full-beam living. The guest cockpit is kept completely free of gear, with built-in L-shaped seating and a table that folds out to become a sunpad. The full-beam master cabin forward has storage and space for an office; three forward cabins include that owner's stateroom, and all cabins are en suite. Aft, a crew area with direct galley access has an en suite cabin whose double bed adjusts to two twins, though the side berth is reached by climbing over the central one. The galley is open to the saloon with a hatch under the sofa cushions to pass food to deck, and the forepeak sail locker — with 7 ft headroom, a fixed ladder and a watertight door — can serve as an optional crew cabin.
Known Issues
Period testing found the saloon badly needs a deckhead handrail, and the 90° companionway steps are too angular for use at heel. The low cockpit coamings maintain the sleek look but give little comfort or protection, and the joystick thruster controls can be knocked against the wheel. The aft cabin sits on different sole levels and feels slightly cramped, with a heads doorway a larger crewmember would struggle through. The owner's cabin lacks stowage for long stays, and on later hulls the hot water tank was moved aft to free space around the genset.
Refits and Ownership
The semi-custom nature means owners specified electric cooking as standard, with a domestic-style fridge and options for washer-dryer, dishwasher and wine climatiser. The builder claimed three years of pre-production refinement with Briand and the interior designers, and there was a waiting list to April 2019. The 180 hp Volvo D4 and 1,300 lt fuel capacity deliver over 1,000 miles motoring with daily genset use.
The Verdict
The CNB 66 is a thoughtfully engineered 66-footer that packs superyacht detailing into a manageable short-handed envelope, at a base price around 40 per cent below an Oyster or Contest.
Pros
- One-piece infused hull with modular interior for consistent fit
- In-boom main and furling headsails let a couple sail her alone
- Full-beam saloon and master, all cabins en suite, clever deck-to-galley hatch
- Tender garage and bowsprit with Hall Spars furling boom option
Cons
- Saloon lacks a handrail; angular companionway steps at heel
- Low coamings, exposed joystick controls, cramped aft cabin doorway
- Owner's cabin short on stowage for extended living aboard
