Tested yacht: Beneteau Oceanis 41.1, production year 2017

Location of the boat: Marina Kaštela, Split area, Croatia

It is always exciting when we are able to test brand new boat, which was in charter just one week before we were able to do test sailing.

We have chosen this time brand new Oceanis 41.1, a new model from Beneteau shipyard. We were crew of 1 keen sailor, 2 teenage kids and 1 leisure sailor looking for comfort on board (myself).

We took Oceanis 41.1 for a sailing weekend from Marina Kaštela, and sailed to island Šolta, stayed
overnight in great Martinis Marchi marina, and sailed back next day in the afternoon.

Our test model Oceanis 41.1 had 3 cabin layout, 2 heads and it is unbelievable comfortable for a 41 feet sailing yacht! Front cabin is now re-designed comparing to model Beneteau Oceanis 41 sailboat, and it has different bed layout. Now it has bigger mattress and it offers comfort as you would expect 45- foot sailing yachts. Front toilet is enough comfortable, but not good as stern toilet- as it has more space and differently designed shower with plexiglass cabin/ so you can take shower without making complete toilet wet. In my opinion there is nothing worse than wet floor when you wake up during night for using boat toilet :)

Saloon is not big as expected but still offers many storing lockers, quite enough to fit all necessary dishes (and when I say necessary I mean wine glasses, regular glasses, coffee mugs, tea kettle, electric tea kettle and so on..), but still I prefer not having extra large saloon and small cabins and/or cockpit.
All cabins are having decent size for fitting two adults (and when I say adults, I mean 60- 100 kg adults,
not models) !
Cockpit is really great, and you would never say that you are sitting on 41-ft yacht! It has enough space
for 6 adults, and the cockpit table is also great offering good storage for cameras, iPhones, water bottles
and other things while sailing.

Our model had two helm seats (this is not standard on all models, next to us was another 41.1 Oceanis not
having helm seats)- what was very convenient for relaxed sailing.

Now when I said everything about comfort in new Oceanis 41.1 sailing yacht, I guess I should write more about great sailing performance of this sailing yacht!
First, we were surprised when our sailing yacht had 8,5 knots on only 2.500 Rpm of the Yanmar engine, this was already impressive.
Then we are excited when we realized that with only Genoa we were sailing 5.5 knots with 12 knots of the wind! This boat is really great for sailing, and it sails easily 8- 10 Knots. It is very light so it sails well on the light winds.

It is also good for its size during heavy weather, and goes nicely trough waves.

Boat that we tested, had great equipment including webasto heating (very good for moisture prevention during rainy May night), electric winch (It was much easier to put on the main with lazy crew), and bowthruster-so it was overall very good choice for 1 guy having lazy wife and kids :)
I would definitely go for Oceanis 41.1 for my holidays with family and also for holidays with my friends.

I would rate Oceanis 41.1 with 5 stars overall, for comfort and sailing performance!

Article by Sara Douzzan Županović