The Beneteau Cyclades 50.5 is a spacious cruising yacht designed primarily for charter use, blending comfortable accommodations with solid sailing capabilities. It offers a wide beam and large cockpit, providing ample living and socializing areas, making it an excellent choice for families or groups seeking a reliable and roomy cruiser for coastal or offshore passages.
Design and Construction
The Cyclades 50.5 features a fin keel paired with a spade rudder, providing solid stability and responsive handling under sail. Its hull is constructed from fiberglass (FG), ensuring strength and durability while keeping weight moderate for its size. Designed by Berret-Racoupeau, the hull shape is optimized for steady offshore cruising with a moderate draft around 6.5 feet that balances performance and access to a range of cruising grounds. The broad beam enhances onboard volume and stability, and the deck layout includes spacious walkways and a large cockpit designed for socializing and easy maneuvering.
Performance
This yacht offers respectable sailing performance for a vessel focused on comfort and space. Its fractional sloop rig provides a manageable sail plan with around 1,100 to 1,200 square feet of sail area, enabling good speed and control in light to moderate winds. The displacement and ballast ratio give the Cyclades 50.5 steady tracking and stability in rougher seas, while the hull speed of approximately 8.5 knots makes it efficient on long passages. Auxiliary power comes from a diesel engine between 75 and 100 HP, delivering reliable motoring when needed, with fuel tanks sized for extended cruising.
Comfort and Accommodations
Comfort aboard the Cyclades 50.5 is a top priority. The interior features multiple cabins—usually four or five—with the ability to sleep 8 to 10 people comfortably, making it ideal for charter use or larger families. The cabins offer good headroom and ample storage, and the yacht typically includes several heads and a spacious galley equipped for serious meal preparation. Natural light fills the interior through well-placed windows and hatches, creating an inviting atmosphere. The large cockpit area provides additional living space outdoors, perfect for dining and relaxing while underway or at anchor.
Safety and Practicality
Safety is integral to the Cyclades 50.5’s offshore cruising design. The solid fiberglass construction, moderate draft, and well-balanced keel offer stability and seaworthiness across a range of conditions. The yacht’s deck layout prioritizes safe movement with wide side decks and secure handholds. Handling is simplified by furling headsails and electric winches, allowing a small crew to manage the yacht effectively. Onboard safety equipment storage is ample, and the overall design supports confidence in both coastal and bluewater environments.
Conclusion
The Beneteau Cyclades 50.5 stands out as a roomy, comfortable cruiser well suited for charter operations or private owners seeking a dependable bluewater yacht. Its combination of spacious accommodations, practical sailing performance, and user-friendly features makes it an excellent choice for extended cruising and liveaboard lifestyles. Whether exploring coastal waters or undertaking longer offshore passages, the Cyclades 50.5 offers a balanced blend of comfort, safety, and sailing capability.
Specifications
| Hull Type: | Fin w/bulb & spade rudder |
|---|---|
| Rigging Type: | Masthead Sloop |
| LOA: | 51.34 ft / 15.65 m |
| LOD: | 50.00 ft / 15.24 m |
| LWL: | 43.24 ft / 13.18 m |
| S.A. (reported): | 1,184.00 ft² / 110.00 m² |
| Beam: | 16.08 ft / 4.90 m |
| Displacement: | 27,954.00 lb / 12,680 kg |
| Ballast: | 8,708.00 lb / 3,950 kg |
| Max Draft: | 6.56 ft / 2.00 m |
| Construction: | FG |
| Ballast Type: | Iron |
| First Built: | 2008 |
| Last Built: | 2010 |
| Builder: | Beneteau |
| Designer: | Berret-Racoupeau. |
Auxiliary Power/Tanks (orig. equip.) | |
| Make: | Yanmar |
| Type: | Diesel |
| HP: | 110 |
| Fuel: | 106 gals / 401 L |
Accommodations | |
| Water: | 259 gals / 980 L |
Sailboat Calculations | |
| S.A. / Displ.: | 20.65 |
| Bal. / Displ.: | 31.15 |
| Disp: / Len: | 154.36 |
| Comfort Ratio: | 23.42 |
| Capsize Screening Formula: | 2.12 |
| S#: | 3.53 |
| Hull Speed: | 8.81 kn |
| Pounds/Inch Immersion: | 2,484.38 pounds/inch |
Rig and Sail Particulars | |
| I: | 59.87 ft / 18.25 m |
| J: | 17.88 ft / 5.45 m |
| P: | 54.92 ft / 16.74 m |
| E: | 19.36 ft / 5.90 m |
| S.A. Fore: | 535.24 ft² / 49.73 m² |
| S.A. Main: | 531.63 ft² / 49.39 m² |
| S.A. Total (100% Fore + Main Triangles): | 1,066.87 ft² / 99.12 m² |
| S.A./Displ. (calc.): | 18.61 |
| Est. Forestay Length: | 62.48 ft / 19.04 m |
| Mast Height from DWL: | 68.57 ft / 20.90 m |
Disclaimer
The considerations and analyses presented regarding the Beneteau Cyclades 50.5 sailboat are of a general nature and are based on the available information and technical data on this model, interpreted to the best of our knowledge and understanding. It is important to note that the specific characteristics of any particular sailboat may vary due to custom modifications, maintenance performed, and conditions of use over time, among other factors. Therefore, the details and performance of the boat you are considering may not exactly match the information provided here.
We strongly recommend that, before making any purchasing or usage decisions, you conduct a detailed inspection of the boat in question, consult with nautical professionals and other sailors, and consider your personal needs, expectations, and capabilities. Each sailboat may have unique particularities that affect its performance and suitability for different types of sailing and sailors.
The information contained in this analysis should be used as a general guide and not as a definitive reference. Professional evaluation and personal inspection are essential to ensure that the boat meets your specific requirements and expectations.