Beneteau Oceanis 473

 Very versatile in its approach to deck and interior layout, the Océanis 473 was one of Beneteau's stars between 2001 and 2008. This Finot-Conq design combines the level of comfort and good performance sought by private owners, with the harsh demands of the charter business.

The Océanis 473, a design by Finot-Conq, was presented to the public in 2001 to replace the Océanis 461, a design by the Farr cabinet itself presented in 1996. The OC-473 was in the Béneteau catalog until 2008, when it was replaced by the Océanis 46 design by Berret/Racoupeau. Three architects of the highest reputation for three generations of Océanis in this important strip of 13-14 meters in length, where the models compete simultaneously in the demanding segment of the owner's boat and also in the tough charter market.

The Finot-Conq tandem, the undisputed guarantee of Open oceanic regatta designs at the beginning of the 21st century, was responsible for the Océanis 473 project. The new model surprised with the large volume of its hull, with a high and powerful launch bow, the modern “L” bulbous keel and an imposing beam up to practically the same transom.

From the first glance, this sailboat easily catches the eye. Her aesthetic is timeless, adopting an attractive double flush-deck cover from further back on the mast, rising slightly over the saloon. The important freeboard of the OC-473 concealed in this way its massive silhouette while providing a good interior ceiling height.

The OC473's rig is masthead with angled spreaders and baby-stay, with a fairly balanced distribution of sails between the genoa and the main. The important surface of the genoa at 150% was never to the taste of the charter companies, who saw how their careless clients easily deformed the sail. She is not a very subtle rig with the settings, but she is solid and easy to handle thanks to the complete and well arranged hardware supplied as standard.

The maneuvering of the 473 mast is all forwarded to the cockpit, where it is taken care of by a battery of Spinlock XT clamps and a pair of Lewmar 40ST winches on the cabin. The mainsheet bar, honest in its length, is also on the cabin and the genoa winches (two Lewmar 56 or 54ST) are on the coamings, and can be handled by the tiller or by the crew from the benches.

The helmsman steers with a double wheel and her seat on the wings always has the back-stay in crow's feet, disturbing the rest of the back on the aft balcony. The visibility towards the bow and the support points with the list are correct. A retractable central bench opens the way to a stern platform that, in its time, seemed unbeatable. Today, accustomed to the huge folding skirts that all sailboats have, the good size of the OC-473 platform is in question.

High performance

The Océanis 473 can boast of good performance in the entire wind range starting from light breezes above 5 or 6 knots. Also notable is its heeling hardness, especially in the 2.10 m version. draft. Upwind with about 25 knots of wind with a reef in the main and 2/3 genoa spread, the boat effortlessly stays on course at 7.2/7.6 knots, with the cockpit dry of spray and the crew enjoying the scenery sitting on the comfortable benches in the bathtub (bravo for the support bar for the pes). The deep bow and good launch, as well as a certain "U" shape in the bow part of the hull, guarantee a smooth passage through the wave.

On tight courses, the wheel balance stays fairly neutral, as is common with Finot-Conq designs, but it's best not to tap too much so as not to lose the pull of this high-displacement hull. Opening sheets with these 20/25 knots, the speed of the OC-473 rises to a good 8.5 knots across, reaching 9.5/10 knots long. Unfolding the entire genoa with this wind by the fin, the speed remains constant in double digits and, although the helmsman has to be more attentive, the sensation of easy speed prevails in the program.

The bathtub of the Océanis is comfortable both at anchor and when sailing. The corculation from bow to stern is comfortable, the seat of the cane is pleasant and the six (or even eight) crew members that the boat admits will be at ease maneuvering or sitting on the benches.

The Oceanis 473 belongs to a generation of sailboats that still did not consider large outdoor tables – with a refrigerator and chest for crockery – mandatory. In the OC-473, the exterior table is made of luxurious varnished mahogany tone wood and is foldable and also easily removable (carry bag included), leaving only a stainless tubular structure in sight that serves both as a handrail and as a footrest with the list. a great solution