VITAE MAGNA | Beneteau Oceanis | 51ft

Overview

The Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 is a thoroughly modern sailing yacht from Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design featuring a stepped hull and plumb bow with sprit, with practical and stylish deck and interior layouts from Nauta Design. The boat is easily driven, easily handled and a joy to sail.

VITAE MAGNA has the three cabin/two head layout with Alpi Mahogany joinery and Ultraleather Parchment (off white) cushions below with the comfort trim package. On deck cockpit cushions are in light grey Sunbrella with white piping to accompany the light grey dodger/bimini/canvas covers and darker grey boot stripe for a coordinated and sharp look. The boat has seen light summer usage and is in fantastic shape. Always professionally cared for since new, she is presented in sail-away condition complete with tender and outboard and is competitively priced and ready for the coming summer.

Owner's Comments

All the lines are now threaded back to the stern, the winches are electric, the mainsail is on an in-mast furler, the jib is self-tacking, the helm has an autopilot, and there is a bow and stern thruster to help with docking. You can literally stand in the stern with one hand on the wheel and raise the sails with a simple push of a button on the electric winch.

The interior brief included room to sleep at least 6 comfortably, 2 heads with showers, decent size galley area, chart table, air-conditioning, and a good size dining table. At the Newport Boat Show, the decision was made to go with a Beneteau for the design and build quality. After comparing the Oceanis 46.1 and the Oceanis 51.1, the larger boat was chosen as it has significantly more room in all the cabins and common area along with more headroom so it is less claustrophobic in the rear cabins.

The Oceanis 51.1 is remarkably easy to sail, handles well, and rides smoothly through the waves. In a good wind, VITAE MAGNA will do 10 knots and moves quite well even in a light breeze. One person really could sail the boat, but it does help to have a second person on board to work the lines on the other side.

Life on board Vitae Magna is quite comfortable. While it does have a stove, grilling off the back deck at night is preferred. The boat does have Wi-Fi so it is millennial friendly, and you can work remotely from it when needed. In the evening you can normally be found on the back deck, reading with a glass of wine within reach.

Forward Cabin

The full beam owner's cabin features a 1.6m wide centerline berth. This is a gorgeous space with plenty of light and natural ventilation, plenty of wiggle room and plenty of storage. Settee bench seats on either side of the berth are a nice touch as are convenient shelves with fiddles to keep phones secure with charging outlets port and starboard.

Separate Shower Room

Aft to starboard is the separate shower stall which is a huge space with large built-in seat, shelf with fiddle for shampoo, and plenty of locker storage space outboard. There is a vent in the shower for AC/reverse cycle heat and an overhead hatch.

Forward Head

Aft to port is the head with vanity, also with AC vent, plenty of storage and overhead hatch for light and ventilation. Electric push button quiet flush toilet with fresh/saltwater valve.

Work/Comms/Nav Desk

The nav station is next aft and to port with a forward-facing seat to work at the desk that has an extension to become an L settee which doubles as an inboard facing lounge as well as a settee for use with the expandable salon table. This is a well executed design concept and a unique aspect of this modern generation of Oceanis 51.1s. The desk has lift top storage beneath with recessed storage outboard.

Galley

Next aft to port is the large U-shaped galley with counter space forward and aft and sink and stove outboard. The galley features an under counter refrigerator with door, separate under counter freezer, gimballed stainless 2 burner stove with oven, stainless sink with countertop cover and cutting board, Danby Microwave oven in overhead locker, opening port, under counter trash bin, and under counter pot locker.

Pantry

Just aft and outboard of the galley is a large locker with a built-in Splendide washer/dryer.

Salon with Dining Table and Settee

Across the salon to starboard is the large U-shaped settee with expandable table that takes full advantage of the beamy design with plenty of storage and shelving outboard with sizable hull ports to flood the salon with light and water views both while sailing and at anchor.

Guest Head

Next aft to starboard is the roomy guest head with ensuite separate stall shower, also with opening port for natural ventilation and vent for AC/Heat. Quiet flush electric toilet.

Aft Cabins

Aft of the salon are the port and starboard quarter cabins with oversized double berths with split mattresses so that lee cloths or semi-permanent dividers may be used to create private berths or additional storage offshore. These are both great cabin spaces.

Cockpit

The cockpit on the Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 is superb with opposing L settees flanking a large double leaf teak table with built-in refrigeration, cupholders, and lighting. Twin helms and an electric fold down transom mean access to and from the water is excellent and makes getting into the cockpit a breeze. All sail handling lines are led aft to the cockpit and are intelligently laid out to make shorthanded sailing a reality from the twin helms. The oversized dodger provides ample protection from the elements, but with a large center opening section also allows plenty of airflow. An innovative feature is found at the sole at each helm with a hinged lifting section that allows for a comfortable standing steering position when the boat is heeled over.