Jeanneau Yachts 60 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Hull Form and Construction

Briand's hull delivers a plumb bow with maximum beam carried almost right aft, creating a wider transom that maximizes both deck area and interior volume simultaneously. The plan view reveals a very full bow — the L/B of 3.35 makes the wide-body intent explicit. Rather than treating this purely as a volume-maximization exercise, Briand added a chine running from approximately the mast position aft that adds a small amount of additional form stability alongside the interior volume it yields. Twin rudders are the logical consequence of carrying so much beam so far aft, and they are standard on all boats.

Construction uses vacuum infused laminate throughout, with solid laminate in the keel area, a method that has helped keep displacement relatively controlled for a boat of this volume. The keel itself is a cast-iron bulb unit available in two draft configurations: a standard-draft version drawing 8 feet 4 inches and a shallow-draft option at 6 feet 10 inches with correspondingly increased ballast to maintain stability.

Rig, Sail Plan, and Handling

The fractional sloop rig is offered in two meaningfully different specifications that produce genuinely different boats. Standard specification pairs an in-mast furling mainsail with a self-tacking jib, capable of holding full canvas to close to 20 knots of true wind upwind, though that convenience comes at a cost in light airs. The Sport version adds a mast 1.6 meters taller than standard, rod shrouds, and a slightly overlapping performance jib, with spreaders swept far enough aft to eliminate the need for running backstays when carrying the optional furling staysail.

On the water, the boat proved finger light and positive on the helm, with a crisp response, an impressive result given the displacement. Upwind in 10 to 11 knots of true wind and an awkward swell, the Sport version held a consistent 7 to 7.5 knots, though reviewers noted it was not quite as easy to get in the groove, or as close-winded, as a top-notch performance cruiser. Running angles rewarded: bearing away to a true wind angle of 125 degrees with the Code 0 in very light air produced a consistent five knots of boat speed, which for a 21-tonne yacht is genuinely useful. A Harken hydraulic backstay and vang allow straightforward depowering as the breeze builds.

Deck Layout and Cockpit

Jeanneau refined the walkaround concept it first implemented on the Sun Odyssey 440, resulting in almost level decks with just a gentle upward slope ahead of the helm stations. Chainplates for the D1 shrouds are positioned inboard on the edge of the coachroof, leaving a clear and easy passage along the side deck even when the boat is well heeled. The mainsheet is removed from the cockpit altogether — routed to a bridle near the aft end of the coachroof or to the optional arch — a significant safety advantage even for experienced sailors on a boat this size.

The large cockpit serves both sailing and social functions. L-shaped seating and tables each side of the central walkway make for comfortable living on deck without obstructing the walk-through from the transom to the companionway. A longitudinal tender garage, offset to port, accommodates a 3-meter aluminum RIB with big-diameter tubes and a folding console, and is fitted with rollers and a winch to pull the tender forward for stowage. Two deck configurations are available: one centers on a retractable dodger anchored to a mainsheet arch, and an alternative substitutes a hard bimini extending all the way to the transom with a large opening fabric sunroof section in the tip.

Accommodations

The interior is the boat's most discussed feature, and with good reason. Jeanneau advertises up to 19 possible layout permutations, and the Sport and Cruiser versions at the boat's debut were sufficiently different that at first glance it wasn't obvious they were the same design. The forward accommodation section is genuinely modular: a centreline concertina bulkhead can be drawn out to divide the space into a pair of identical en-suite double cabins, each with its own access from the galley, or retracted to create one large guest cabin. This conversion takes only a couple of minutes.

The athwartships galley spans the full beam ahead of the saloon and is comprehensively fitted, including five separate front-access fridge and freezer units with provision for a dishwasher. Fixed worktop space near the sink and cooker is limited, and like most transverse galleys, it will be difficult to work when heeled in a big sea, especially on port tack. The owner's cabin aft is full beam despite the offset tender garage, with the bed offset to starboard, two hanging lockers, a small settee, and a large heads compartment. The saloon offers four opening hatches overhead plus a large glazed panel, coachroof windows, and four large hull windows for natural light and ventilation. The handrail provision in that open saloon, however, drew a noted criticism: a lack of decent handholds for use in rough weather.

Known Compromises and Maintenance Considerations

Robert Perry flagged the athwartship toilet arrangement in the starboard aft head — positioned such that 22 inches between the W.C. and the adjacent bulkhead is doubtful, which by Boeing's own aircraft-lavatory engineering standards is the minimum acceptable clearance. His recommendation was to rotate it 90 degrees and shift it aft.

The boat's complexity is the more systemic concern. Everything from the passerelle and bathing platform to the saloon curtains is operated electrically — features impressive when new but liable to add to downtime and maintenance as the boat ages. The engine is located beneath the companionway steps in a configuration more typical of smaller yachts, and the generator occupies the space below the saloon floor along with the tankage, leaving limited dedicated room for technical equipment. Rope bins under the cockpit benches are a little undersized for boats with slab reefing, though fine for roller furling mainsail configurations. The standard specification lacks helm seats — the optional benches across the transom that include helm seats are therefore almost essential for any skipper who expects to hand-steer on passage.

The Verdict

The Jeanneau Yachts 60 makes a compelling case for the proposition that production-line volume and genuine individual character are not mutually exclusive at sixty feet. The hull from Briand is well-resolved — light, stable, and capable in light air — while Winch's interiors deliver real luxury without sacrificing the modular flexibility that distinguishes this model from more conventionally laid-out competitors. The key decision for any prospective buyer is the rig: the Sport setup with the taller mast and performance sails transforms the sailing experience and is the version serious offshore sailors should seek out, while the standard furling-main self-tacker suits the extended-cruise-in-port lifestyle better than it suits those who actually want to sail. The electrical complexity is real and warrants careful inspection on any example; the boat's running costs, will match those of any other 60-footer.

Pros

Modular interior yields genuinely different configurations without structural changes
Vacuum-infused hull keeps displacement low, aiding light-air performance
Walkaround decks with inboard chainplates give unusually clear sidedecks
Mainsheet removed from cockpit is a meaningful safety upgrade at this size
Sport rig with tall mast and rod shrouds delivers strong light-air performance
Full-beam owner's cabin despite the offset tender garage

Cons