Beneteau’s Oceanis 51.1 and Oceanis 46.1 Clinch Top Prizes at Major European Awards
February 28, 2019
French boatbuilder Beneteau has quite the pedigree to live up to, but judging from its successes in the European sailing circles these past few months alone, its ability to hold on to the distinction of being one of the world’s most illustrious names in luxury watercrafts won’t be a tall order at all.
Founded in 1884, Beneteau is renowned for its innovative yacht designs and the superior craftsmanship of its vessels. The brand is the largest producer of recreational boats in France, but it has also garnered international recognition for many of its sailing yachts and motorboats.
Europa Yachts Philippines, the country’s exclusive representative of Beneteau—as well as boats from other Beneteau Group brands like Lagoon, CNB, and Monte Carlo—can testify to this grand legacy.
“Through the years, Beneteau has continued to surprise us with fascinating vessels that hearken back to the early days when their shipyard was dedicated to constructing best-in-class fishing boats that were optimized for speed and agility on the water. This commitment to nautical performance has become part of their brand’s DNA, which is now interwoven into every new boat they create,” said Richard Sarinas, Director of Marketing of Europa Yachts Philippines.
Indeed, Beneteau’s commitment to “the avant-garde in boating” has allowed for it to reap accolades at some of Europe’s headline awarding events in 2018 and early 2019. In particular, the Oceanis 51.1 and the Oceanis 46.1 sailboats recently won distinctions in the United Kingdom and Germany, respectively.
Jury and Fan Favorite Status for Two Iconic Oceanis Sailboats
The Oceanis 51.1 sailboat was bestowed the title of Best Boat in the “Cruising Yacht” category during the inaugural British Yachting Awards, a prestigious event held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge, London, last December 11, 2018. The awarding process was momentous in itself, as this marked the first time that the public could cast their votes for the winners in fifteen categories. The Oceanis 51.1 beat out competitors like the Southerly 480, the Dufour Grand Large 460, and the Hanse 468.
Naval architectural firm Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design engineered this boat to have a flared shape hull, one-third of which is now stepped to maximize the interior space. Nauta Design, on the other hand, is responsible for designing the roomy and opulent interiors, which are framed with large hull portholes that bathe everything in natural light. Combine these features with a large cockpit, expansive areas for sunbathing, and an aft swim platform, and you’ve got a boat that has easily become the favorite of many yachting enthusiasts the world over.
The Oceanis 46.1, on the other hand, recently won the top prize in the “Family Cruiser” category of the European Yacht of the Year Awards 2019, concluded on January 19, 2019. The awarding took place during the “Flagship Night” ceremony at the 50th Düsseldorf International Boat Show (boot Düsseldorf) in Germany.
The 46.1 was singled out by a panel of journalists from top European magazines, and lauded as “high-performing” and capable of “incredible sensations at the helm.” Indeed, this offering from Beneteau—designed by Pascal Conq and Nauta Design—is exceptional due to her elegant, balanced, and space-maximizing design. Apart from her superior performance on the water, the Oceanis 46.1 features an admirably efficient deck plan that makes the boat safe, easy to use, and a joy to relax in.
A ‘Family’ of Successes
The two Oceanis yachts were not the only models from Beneteau to score podium finishes in major boating awards in 2018 and early 2019. The other vessels that garnered distinction were the Beneteau First 14, which won as SAIL Magazine’s Best Boats 2019 under the “Daysailer” category, and the Beneteau Swift Trawler 35 motorboat, which was declared winner of the “Best for Travel” division at the 2018 Boat & Fun Berlin’s BOB Awards.
Lagoon—another Beneteau Group brand that has built a reputation for being the world’s number one manufacturer of luxury catamarans—also received prizes for its Lagoon 50 catamaran. The boat was named as the British Yachting Awards’ Multihull of the Year for 2018, as well as SAIL Magazine’s “Best Multihull Cruising Boat 40 to 50 Feet” for its Best Boats 2019 Awards.
Lagoon also scored a nomination for its Lagoon 46 sailboat, which has been shortlisted by The Multihull Group for its Multihull of the Year 2019 Awards. The winner will be announced on April 24, 2019, during the La Grande Motte Multihull Boat Show, which will be held at Port de la Grande Motte in France.
Discover More Award-Winning Boats through Europa Yachts
Europa Yachts is pleased to inform customers that the Oceanis 51.1 and Oceanis 46.1 sailboats are part of its fleet of world-renowned luxury watercrafts created by Europe’s most respected boatbuilders. With their sleek exteriors, sumptuous interiors, ease of use, safety features, and sublime performance on the water, these boats are sure to win the hearts of Philippine yachtsmen and yachtswomen.
To learn more about the yachts from the brands we represent, get in touch with us today. Email info@europayachts.net or call (+632) 553-2027 to get started.
