The Beneteau 461 sailboat, a masthead sloop designed by Bruce Farr, was built by Beneteau, a French company headquartered in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, France. She's also known as the Oceanis 461 or the Oceanis 'Clipper' 461.
Keel & Rudder Configuration: Fin keel with a weighted bulb, spade-type rudder
Hull Material: Glassfibre (solid fibreglass hull, balsa-cored deck)
Length Overall: 46'7" (14.20m)
Waterline Length: 39'4" (12.00m)
Beam: 14'0" (4.25m)
Draft: 5'9" (1.75m)
Rig Type: Masthead sloop
Displacement: 20,944 lb (9,500 kg)
Ballast: 7,496 lb (3,400 kg) cast iron
Water Tank Capacity: 145 US gallons (550 litres)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 53 US gallons (200 litres)
Hull Speed: 8.4 knots
Designer: Bruce Farr
Builder: Beneteau
Year First Built: 1996
Year Last Built: 2001
Number Built: 210
Draft: The Beneteau 461 was available with two draft options: a standard draft of 5'9" (1.75m) and a deep draft version drawing 6'9" (2.05m). This deeper keel provides better upwind performance and stability, especially in rougher seas.
Interior Layouts: There were multiple interior layout options to cater to different needs. These typically included configurations for two, three or four cabins.
I: 54'6" (16.62 m)
J: 15'11" (4.86 m)
P: 46'11" (14.30 m)
E: 17'1" (5.20 m)
Mainsail Area: 473ft2 (43.9m2)
Genoa Area: 617ft2 (57.3m2)
Upwind Sail Area: 1,089ft2 (101.2m2)
The following analysis of the design ratios gives an indication of the boat's likely sailing characteristics, but see the 'Notes of Caution' below:
1. With a Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.7, the Beneteau 461 falls within the range indicating reasonably good performance. This means the boat has sufficient sail power to perform well in various wind conditions, striking a balance between being underpowered and having high performance.
2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 32% suggests that while the boat has a moderate amount of ballast, it is designed more for a balance between stability and performance rather than being extremely stiff. This is typical for a performance cruiser where moderate stability is preferred to enhance overall sailing experience without extreme stiffness.
3. The Displacement/Length Ratio of 180 places the Beneteau 461 at the upper end of the Light Displacement category (100-200). Boats with light displacement require less sail area to reach their hull speed, making the boat relatively easier to handle and quicker to accelerate, enhancing its overall performance while maintaining good responsiveness.
4. With a Comfort Ratio of 28, the boat is likely to have a somewhat lively motion, which is usually associated with coastal cruisers that have moderate stability. This suggests that while the Beneteau 461 offers reasonable comfort, it might have a more active motion in rougher seas compared to heavier bluewater cruisers, but will be quite comfortable for coastal and moderate offshore cruising.
5. A Capsize Screening Formula value of 2.0 puts the Beneteau 461 right on the threshold, indicating it's considered suitable for ocean passages. Being at the higher limit of the desired range for bluewater capability, it indicates that while the boat can handle offshore conditions, it might not be as stable as boats with a lower CSF value.
Summary:
The Beneteau 461 is a well-balanced performance cruiser with good sail power and manageable displacement that caters to both coastal cruising and moderate offshore passages. Its moderate ballast provides sufficient stability without compromising performance, while its comfort ratio suggests good livability in typical cruising conditions. The CSF of 2.0 confirms its capability for ocean passages, though it would be most comfortable in coastal to moderate offshore environments.
Here's how to calculate the KPIs yourself - without having to wrestle with the mathematics...
Design Ratios: Notes of Caution...
General Limitations
In summary, while these ratios provide valuable insights into the theoretical performance characteristics of a sailboat, they should be used as part of a broader assessment that includes practical experience, sea trials, and expert advice.
The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.
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