The result is a large yacht with huge interior volume and a genuinely modular accommodation plan. The same basic design can serve private owners or charter operators, with layouts tailored to each.
Hull and Construction
Briand’s hull has a hint of reverse rake at the stem and a very full bow. Maximum beam runs almost to the stern, creating a wide transom. Viewed from above, the plumb bow and broad forward sections increase waterline length, while a chine begins roughly in line with the mast.
The yacht displaces 44,467 pounds, relatively little for her size. The editors at Yachting World attributed this in part to vacuum-infused construction, with solid laminate in the keel area.
Two keel options are available. The standard cast-iron bulb keel draws 8 feet 4 inches and carries 10,240 pounds of ballast. The shallow-draft keel draws 6 feet 10 inches and carries more ballast, at 12,438 pounds. With twin rudders and a beam of 17 feet 1 inch, the hull has a length-to-beam ratio of 3.35 and a displacement-to-length figure of around 118. Those numbers place her firmly among modern, voluminous cruisers.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The Jeanneau Yachts 60 carries a tall fractional sloop rig. Its spreaders are swept aft 24 degrees, with the chainplates on the rail and the D1 chainplates inboard at the coachroof edge. Far-aft swept spreaders remove the need for running backstays when using the optional, permanently rigged, furling self-tacking staysail.
A powerful Harken hydraulic backstay and vang control the slab-reefing mainsail. Sail controls lead aft to two electric winches on each side, positioned ahead of the helms. The taller mast option includes rod shrouds. On the Sport version tested by Yachting World, the mast stood 1.6 meters higher and carried a slightly overlapping jib.
The standard sail plan measures 1,410 square feet, while an optional 1,754-square-foot plan is available. Depending on the displacement basis used, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is about 20.7 to 22.5.
The test boat impressed under sail. In 10–11 knots of true wind and an awkward swell, she made a steady 7 to 7.5 knots upwind. She also showed reassuringly high stability, with very little heel. Reaching under a Code 0 in 6–7 knots true, her speed remained just under six knots, and she tracked impressively straight in 9 knots apparent.
Deck, Cockpit, and Tender Stowage
The walkaround deck develops a concept Jeanneau first used on the Sun Odyssey 440. The decks are almost level, with only a gentle upward slope ahead of the twin helm stations. Decent bulwarks and extra-high guardrails add definition around the edges.
Two deck layouts provide different approaches to cockpit shelter. One has a retractable dodger attached to an arch that also carries the mainsheet. The other uses a hard bimini extending to the transom, with a retractable sun panel. Cruiser versions can also be fitted with a solid windscreen and a hardtop with a fabric sunroof.
Twin wheels keep the center of the large cockpit open. L-shaped seating and tables sit on both sides. A longitudinal tender garage aft stows a 2.9-meter tender on rollers, assisted by a winch. An offset-garage version can accommodate a 3-meter aluminum RIB. The wide-open transom also reveals a large lazarette.
Interior and Accommodation
Winch’s interior centers on flexibility. The builder offers 19 possible layouts. Ahead of the main bulkhead, the modular space can be converted in minutes between one large guest cabin with his-and-hers heads and two identical en-suite double cabins separated by a concertina bulkhead.
As many as five cabins are possible, plus a bow skipper or double cabin. The forward sail locker can also become an additional double cabin or a skipper’s cabin with a single berth and en-suite heads.
The aft owner’s cabin spans the full beam. Its bed is offset to starboard, and the cabin includes two hanging lockers, a settee, and a large heads compartment. Alternatively, owners can choose a forward cabin with a large head and shower.
The galley runs across the full beam just aft of the mast. Options and storage include a full-height refrigerator, an underfloor tray for tinned food, and a wine rack in the bilge.
In the saloon, expansive seating lies to port with a convertible coffee table. Four opening hatches, coachroof windows, and four hull windows bring in light and ventilation. To starboard, a pull-out wardrobe provides storage for foul-weather gear. One tested layout lacked a day head, which was a noted drawback. The open-plan saloon also offers few good handholds for moving around in rough weather.
Verdict
The Jeanneau Yachts 60 succeeds as a volume-forward offshore cruiser. Its modular interior and two distinct deck arrangements allow one hull to meet both private-owner and charter requirements. Under its tall fractional rig, the boat is stable and well-mannered, while the accommodation is intelligently engineered. The compromises are most apparent in the open-plan saloon, where space takes precedence over handholds, and in configurations that omit a day head.
Pros
- Modular forward accommodation converts in minutes between a large guest cabin and two double cabins
- Vacuum-infused hull with solid laminate around the keel helps keep displacement relatively low
- Stable, straight-tracking performance under a fractional rig with hydraulic vang and backstay
- A longitudinal tender garage stows a 2.9-meter tender, while an offset version fits a 3-meter aluminum RIB without compromising aft space
Cons
- Open saloon spaces lack good handholds for moving around in rough weather
- Some configurations omit a day head
- Rope bins beneath the cockpit benches are undersized for slab-reefing gear
