Jeanneau Yachts 57 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The deck keeps its lines without the contentious DS bubble, yet the companionway still admits a view out from below thanks to a huge aperture with curved plexiglass doors that recess into each side anchor. Going below is a long way down five steep steps — markedly in contrast to the Beneteau Oceanis 58 — and those steps carry non-slip only on the leading edges, which a tester found too easy to slip on. The majority of sole panels lift on gas struts for stowage, and the finish is satin-look Alpi with blonde teak soleboards to lift the light decor. Construction details that matter for quiet ownership include greatly improved engine and genset insulation, pumps mounted on rubber feet, and keel-cooled fridges. The standard keel is a 2.5m long-chord fin with a 2.1m shoal-draught option, complemented by a fully balanced rudder and twin helms that free the cockpit plan.

Rig and Handling

Handling is eased by in-mast furling roller reefing and an in-boom mainsheet, with an 18-month collaboration with Harken yielding an in-boom electric sheeting system using a worm gear that moves along the track. The mast is sited forward under a 125 per cent genoa, which keeps the mainsheet clear of the social cockpit, and a Sparcraft mast and boom suit an optional painted finish. Standard sails are Mylar Taffeta, but Jeanneau chose Incidences Sails' Hydronet — Dyneema thread woven with Dacron — to avoid trapping moisture, while a fully battened main on lazyjacks is offered as an alternative. The helmsman has powered primaries and an optional powered mainsheet, with backstay and engine controls by his feet and genoa car adjusters led through clutches to the primaries. A tester noted a nasty play in the wire-linked steering with chain sprocket and a lag in response time anchor, though the twin helms' cockpit benefits made it a forgivable shortcoming. Under sail she threatened 8 knots in 10 knots of breeze on a close reach, dropped a knot if coaxed closer than 55° true, and in a Force 4 hit the mid-7s close-hauled, losing half a knot punching the swell; the 140hp VW pushed her to 8 knots at 2,000rpm.

Accommodations

Down below reads as a cross between the Odyssey and DS, using a modular cabin system originally devised for the 54DS. Layout options are versatile enough to earn a European Yacht of the Year nomination: the test boat was a five-cabin, three-head arrangement, but three- and four-cabin versions exist. Passageway cabins just forward of the saloon split 60:40 with Pullman to port and double to starboard via a removable dividing bulkhead, both with ensuites. The aft master is very spacious with headroom from the bridgedeck and a separate shower; twin aft options show single berths that join to doubles. Fifty per cent of sales went to forward master cabins, Mediterranean buyers preferring distance from the dock. The cockpit's exceptionally comfortable lounging benches separate sail systems from the social area, though the flat sundeck/helm seat is uncomfortable for long periods without cushions.

Known Issues

The wire-linked steering's play and response lag is the principal dynamic caveat, and the steep companionway steps with edge-only non-slip deserve care. The in-mast tri-radial main with negative roach proved shapeless and gutless in testing, a reason some owners may prefer the lazyjacks battened option. A single 310-litre tank among the three water tanks may be reconfigured as extra fuel capacity when a watermaker is added.

Ownership Notes

Bowthrusters are mandatory on this model and built into the hull mould, and nearly all clients chose in-mast furling. The 140hp VW TDI with shaft drive and the improved insulation make docking and living aboard tractable; with a 205gal water and 96gal fuel baseline, plus convertible tankage, the platform supports extended cruising or charter use alike.

The Verdict

The Jeanneau Yachts 57 is a thoughtfully detached step from Jeanneau's volume lines: a Briand-designed 58-footer with real turn of speed, a configurable interior, and owner-focused quieting. She rewards the buyer who specifies the battened main and respects the companionway, and her mandatory bowthruster and forward mast make her an undemanding big-boat handler.

Pros