sailing aura

INDEPENDENCE

Aura provides a self sufficient lifestyle, we don't need to visit marinas as she is equipped with solar panels, a generator, water maker, washing machine and ice maker.   The fridge and freezers are large enough to hold many weeks of food (200 litre fridge and 100 litre freezer). These comforts support long range cruising, with 830 litres of diesel tanks (219 US Gal). 

SPACE

There is ample living space to enjoy your surroundings and relax.  The cockpit rivals many catamarans, it comfortably sized to entertains 10 people (on occasions we've hosted a few more) with two tables for dining. The main cockpit dinning table easily accommodates 6 and the fold out table is ideal for two. The dining table converts to a day bed, that is perfect for reading and to take in the spectacular water views. Both the cockpit dining tables and the main cabins table easily convert to coffee table sizes to create a casual space. Our favourite design element with the cockpit is to relax in the comfort of shade while having unrestricted access to the water.

The galley allows two people to work side by side to prepare gourmet meals with ease. There is ample storage space as we also use the 3 shelf locker in the bunk cabin as a pantry. Beneteau has many creative design elements such as hidden lockers for bottles of wine and liquor.

The huge starboard cockpit locker stores all the lines, floating toys, fenders, dive gear, outboard fuel and more. We’ve stored the mattress from the laundry/skippers cabin in the bunk room and these cabins provide additional storage. The decks and our lives are free from clutter.

Both the main cabin and guest cabin are a comfortable size.

COMFORT

Aura is our home; we didn’t want to live like we do on a weekend of camping. We wanted the comforts of home.  The bench tops in galley allow catering for visiting groups. We’ve already noted the fridge and freezer sizes. They are both top loading. This design assists with insulation and retaining the temperature when opened. The fridge does also have a front door with slide out baskets that assist with managing fresh produce. There is a built in microwave and above the stove top is an extractor fan, just like at home.

We do have AC system, with 3 temperature zones. The natural ventilation through hatches and the cabin fans are normally more than adequate to keep us cool. During the onset of winter on the USA east coast we did switch it to heat mode to stay warm on chilly mornings.

There is also a TV that retracts into the centre bench and a Bose sound system.

HISTORY

She was delivered new ex-factory (France) as Australian registered vessel. The yacht has never been chartered. We spent some time in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic in 2016. We then enjoyed the Caribbean and the America’s Cup in Bermuda. We spent last hurricane season on the US east coast and returned to the Caribbean in November 2017. At the end of the season (late July 17) we put Aura on the hard in Trinidad and safely out of the hurricane zone.

Aura has been fastidiously maintained, with regular oil changes. Last anti foul was in October 2017.

SPECIFICATIONS

Aura is Beneteau Sense 50 with the Sensation 2013 package, a three cabin layout with the skipper’s cabin / laundry.

Summary Spec

Sensation 2013 Pack

Docking Pack

2013 Raymarine Electronics pack

"Dock and Go" joystick control

Chart-plotters, autopilot & AIS

Generator 6KvA

500w solar panels (MPPT controllers)

Reverse cycle air conditioning

Water maker

32" flat screen TV

3 Electric winches

Washer/dryer

Dodger, bimini, connector and zip-in side shade/sunbrella side panels

Bow thruster

Diesel storage 815 litres (2 x 415 litres)

Water storage 550 litres (1 x 330 litres and 1 x 220 litres)

3 cabins (2 double cabins & a 3rd cabin with 2 bunks) plus a skipper’s cabin (single bed)

Detail Spec

Engine

1 x 76 HP Yanmar 4JH4-TE diesel engine with "Dock and GO" (2039 hours)

Bow Thruster

Electrics

12 V / 220 V

600 A/hr Service batteries (replaced 2017)

500w Solar Panels with 2 Victron MPPT controllers

Battery Monitor (Victron BMV-702)

1 x 140 A/hr Engine start battery (replaced 2016)

Onan 6 kva Generator with cocoon (1400 hours)

Inverter 2000W (with remote on/off switch at chart table)

Bow Thruster batteries (replaced 2016)

Water System

Pressurised water

Shore inlet

Freshwater filter in galley

Water heater via engine and 220V

Water maker "Dessalator" - 60L/hr 12V & 220V

Rig

Sloop

In-mast reefing mainsail

Furling genoa

Rigging (only) for Code 0 / Asymmetric spinnaker

Whisker Pole

Sails

Mylar taffetas Mainsail

Genoa (signs of wear)

Winches

2 x Harken H60.2STCE electric genoa sheet winches

1 x Harken H46.2STCEH electric halyard/main winch

1 x Harken H46.2STCEH manual halyard winch

Accommodation

7 berths in four cabins (two double beds, one cabin with bunks & skipper cabin in aft)

Slatted mattress base for double beds (forward bed with an additional latex mattress layer)

Gas cooker with three burners, oven and grill

Extractor fan/hood

Microwave oven

Fridge front and top opening (12v 200 Litre)

Freezer top opening (12v 100 Litre)

Double galley sink

Washer/Dryer 4kg

Air-conditioning 24,000 BTU (Marine Air Systems)

Sea water/fresh water foot pump in galley

Two electric, Quiet flush, heads with hand basin and separate shower

"Luxe" saloon table with electrical adjustment (coffee table convert to dining table)

4 opening ports in galley and salon

TV antenna

32" TV (electric raise from central salon)

DVD - MP3 - CD player in salon

Indirect LED lighting

BOSE Acoustimass -3 speakers in salon

Parchment Ultra-leather Salon upholstery

Fruitwood Apli joinery

Navigation

2 x Raymarine e95 LCD  colour plotters - One at each helm station

Raymarine Autopilot

2 x Raymarine i70 Colour Screen displays at both helms -speed, depth log, wind

Ray49e DSC VHF + Raymarine AIS 650 transceiver

2 x Plastimo Steering Compasses

Ground Tackle

Anchor (Delta) with 90m chain (regalvanised 2017)

Electric windlass with remote and chain counter at starboard helm station

Other Details

Sprayhood (Graphite colour)

Bimini (Graphite colour)

Slatted wood cockpit sole

Cockpit table with electric up and down system also convertible to day bed

Blue floor cockpit lights

Port cockpit table with fold out centre seat (faces cockpit table)

Powered companionway door with remote control

Cockpit cushions (Natte stone and Quadri Grey)

Covers for steering wheels

Passarella

Swim ladder

Deck shower - Hot and cold

Deck wash pump

Inflatable Dinghy fiberglass bottom (2016) with 4hp Outboard (2013)

Davit for outboard

Radio CD player with interior and exterior speakers

10 Fenders

Warps

5 x Dry Powder Fire extinguishers

Fire blanket

Safety gear - lifejackets, grab bag, horseshoe buoy

Bilge pumps

Liferaft ISO (2016)

Cutlery/crockery the inventory also includes pots, pans, glassware

Miscellaneous items include

Davit (swing arm) for lifting the outboard

Cutlery, crockery, glasses, pots, pans, stick blender, linen and towels etc

Vacuum Cleaner 

Spot Light

Handheld Icom VHF Radio

Webber BBQ

Spares - bow thruster propellers, oil & fuel filters and water filters