Unveiled at selected boat shows in Autumn 2003, and launched in 2004, the Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 323 was designed as a replacement for the hugely successful 311, and was built for fast sailing as well as blue water and coastal cruising.

Designed by Groupe Finot and manufactured by Beneteau, this stylish 32-footer was voted Norway's Boat of The Year 2004 at the Oslo Boat Show. She shares the deck lines of her bigger yacht sisters, the 473, 423 and 393, and combines many of their advantages in a slightly more compact and arguably more manoeuvrable package.

The Oceanis Clipper 323 offers superior levels of comfort on deck and at the helm, as well as below decks. Like the larger Oceanis Clippers, the 323 is spacious and airy on the inside. She offers generous accommodation for a smaller family or two couples, including the ever-popular heads with separate shower and a bigger aft cabin than the 311.

The Oceanis 323's performance at sea is just as impressive as that of the bigger models in the Oceanis range and she offers exciting blue water cruising. Her generous headroom makes her feel larger than she is and she is equipped with speed, wind and depth instruments usually found only on larger yachts. Her smaller size however makes her ideal for exploring coastal bays and her layout is ideal for short-handed cruising, with all lines led back to the cockpit. Her tried and tested hull from Groupe Finot (which she shares with the Figaro I), combined with a deep keel (1.8m draft), a taller rig, and excellent range of instruments, make for stable but fast sailing in both upwind and downwind conditions.

Click here to discuss the Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 323 yacht in the Go Sail forums.