Jeanneau 57, a true flagship of this French builder

The Jeanneau 57 is an elegant offshore cruiser that offers an exceptional interior and deck plan designed by Vittorio Garroni with ease of handling in mind. Every detail has been conceived to offer the highest quality cruising experience. The Jeanneau 57 has a new style of contemporary interior that reflects a long nautical heritage. Rich materials are found throughout including leather, blond teak flooring and stainless steel. Sleek windows and skylights bathe the interior in light. The exterior of the Jeaneau 57 was deisgned by Philippe Briand, and it offers exciting performance coupled with luxurious accommodations.

As one of the world’s largest builders of cruising and racing monohulls, and as a key subsidiary of Group Beneteau, Jeanneau has had a lot of success with their larger performance and deck saloon cruisers, especially the 49i and 54DS. The Jeanneau 57, launched in June 2009, quickly became the builder’s flagship.

The Jeanneau 57 has a distinctive look, with a nearly plumb bow and forward raking transom. The cabin top is a hybrid of a standard cabin and the deck saloon motif that has been so popular lately. The cabin is low so the helmsman will be able to see over it easily. The cabin tapers into the deck forward, which opens up a huge amount of foredeck space for lounging while at anchor, for handling downwind sails when at sea and for stowing an extra dinghy. The reason we say “extra” dinghy is because the primary tender, probably a 10 or 12-foot RIB, will live in its own garage built into the boat’s transom. An electric motor raises and lowers the transom, creating a large boarding platform. Rollers for the RIB’s keel have been installed so you can drive the dinghy up onto the platform before winching it home into the garage. Like all garages, this huge and useful storage space is destined to fill up with all sorts of cruising gear and water toys.

The cockpit over the garage is divided into four spaces, the sunning deck aft, the twin helms, the seating cockpit around the large table and the forward seating area close to the companionway that will be protected by a dodger in wet and windy weather.

Down below the modern interior of the Jeanneau 57 is finished in light, varnished Alpi teak with off-white overhead moldings and light colored fabrics. The saloon is slightly raised so the generator and tanks can be built in beneath it and to afford you nearly 360-degree views through the large windows. Access to the genset is via two large trap doors that are raised and lowered pneumatically. The galley to port is a proper kitchen with acres of counter space and plenty of storage lockers for long term living aboard. The nav station to starboard is close to the companionway and fitted out with table storage for charts and nav tools and cabinet spaces for mounting instruments and radios. The dinette seats six and, like the settee across from it, will be an excellent sea berth. Beneath and behind the dinette and settee you will find plenty of storage spaces for supplies and spare parts.

There are several options available for the aft and forward cabins of the Jeanneau 57. For owners who will be living aboard, the owner’s aft cabin arrangement makes a lot of sense, since this is the largest and most private sleeping cabin on the boat complete with its own head, shower stall, hanging lockers, drawers and a small sofa settee. With this arrangement, the forward cabin space can be divided into two double cabins, or left open with a Pullman berth to starboard and a single berth to port. If you decide to have the owner’s cabin forward, the aft cabin space can be had as two quarter cabins. These cabins each have twin berths with a space between them but can be cunningly slid together to make double bunks. In the forepeak, you can have a crew cabin or the large area can be left open for storing sails, deck and docking gear and more water toys.

As is characteristic for all Philippe Briand designs, the Jeanneau 57 has a long waterline and careful weight distribution that ensures speed and seaworthiness unmatched in her class. The living areas and cabins are both spacious and luxurious. She has a contemporary interior and and has been finished to a very high standard. Rich materials are found throughout including leather, wood flooring and stainless steel. Sleek windows and skylights create a light and airy atmosphere. And, with a 50-foot waterline, the Jeanneau 57 is capable of extremely fast passages.