Southampton, UK based Discovery Yachts will showcase its recently launched and much heralded Discovery 50 Cat at the Salon Atlantique du Multicoque (Atlantic Multihull Boat Show) set to take place in Lorient, France from 15th to 18th April 2010. Designed by the renowned Bill Dixon, with an interior styled by superyacht specialist Ken Freivokh, the Discovery 50 Cat is the first multihull from this highly respected British yard which has gained an enviable reputation for its 55 and 67 foot ocean going monohulls.

Beneteau built more than 1,000 Oceanis 411s before replacing the model in the process of giving the  Oceanis range a newer, sleeker look, and proudly proclaims “no yacht has reached such a success.” The company's claim of “over 1,000 happy owners” is possibly an exaggeration because an awful lot of 411s belong to charter companies.

Nevertheless, 1,000 yachts is a big achievement, no matter who buys them, so it was interesting to go for a sail on one, and see what made it such a favourite.

If you are a racing purist, you will not like the 411. From the moment you step on board, and see the huge table which takes up most of the cockpit, with the sailing controls pushed out of the way as a result, it is obvious that is a boat where accommodation has been given priority over performance.