We had our first peek at the CNB 66 when she was first debuted in late 2017 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of CNB Yacht Builders. Like the Philipp Briand-designed 76, which preceded her, she was also sleek and sporty, though considerably downsized to be family-friendly, perhaps even couple-friendly. In fact, the objective was to create ‘the largest sailing yacht that could be handled by a family crew.’ Indeed, at fully 20.61 m., the 66 is just that: elegant and certainly not less formidable than her semi-custom sisters from luxury brand: the Bordeaux 60 and the 76, although still benefitting from the design and build expertise firmly based in the superyacht sector. The CNB 66 has incredible genetics: the architectural design and styling of bespoke superyachts, along with the considerable buying power and precision build that CNB’s parent company, Beneteau, can command. As the CNB team calculated when they first launched this model, she is in demand. We were excited to be able to take her out on our own recently for a test during a recent visit to Cannes.
The CNB 66 certainly didn’t disappoint. The maximization of the interior with its spare, yet elegant, authentically residential design, is inspired. Little is overlooked here in terms of fine detail, and you do feel, once you relax in the saloon or tuck away into the owner’s cabin, that you are enjoying a very pleasant afternoon in a friend’s pied à terre: contemporary luxe in miniature. You would expect no less when Jean-Marc Piaton and Rafael Bonet lend their design expertise to an interior, as they have done -- to much acclaim -- on the 76. Even on this production model, the finishes were note-worthy. It was a pleasure to be aboard and have a better look around after our eyebrow-raising first glance several years ago.
A refined re-imagining of the ‘open concept’ so in-demand is right in sync here: the expansive aft galley is adjacent to the saloon here, making for easy conversations. The galley itself embodies that residential feel and provides ample space for culinary collaboration. A bright and airy space at the standard 25 m², its adjoins the saloon, whose seating is pushed out all the way to the hull, easily and efficiently able to be reconfigured into the ideal hangout for a post-dinner movie night, without impairing nav station displays. The owner’s cabin (one of four cabins total that comes standard), at 14 m² is a near-ideal size and even comes with a small office area, although an option for adjoining closet space exists. The berth is offset from the door to create a more private space, perhaps in counterpoint the openness of the galley/saloon. And while we generally feel more comfort and ease in symmetry again, as in the main stateroom’s berth, the companionway is also slightly offset, so as not to disrupt those on deck, where the clean lines ethos is even more striking.
