THE NEW BENETEAU FIRST 30
LE GRAND LARGE, GIVRAND, SEPTEMBER 2024
Few things can beat the rush you get when your sailboat starts planning - that exhilarating moment of ‘lift off’ when your boat breaks free from the chains of displacement speed and truly starts humming. That’s what modern sailing is all about.But planing requires a level of skill that doesn’t come easily or quickly to the average sailor – until now that is.
INTRODUCING A NEW CATEGORY: THE PLANING CRUISER
Until the turn of the century, small racer-cruisers perfectly matched the needs of sailors. But times have changed: how we work and spend our leisure time is very different today, and the racer-cruiser has been pushed to the fringe of sailing.Sailing today is less about racing and more about connecting with nature and having fun with people you care about.
So, what does that mean for the development of new sailboats? We realised that what sailors need today is not just another boat but a new, groundbreaking category of sailboats: the planing cruiser. One that will redefine small-boat sailing by combining outstanding performance with unparalleled ease of use while offering the comfort of a fully equipped cruiser.
It’s a blend of qualities that offers an unmatched experience to experienced sailors and will make owning a boat appealing to new target groups. Combined with the lowest possible base price, this category will bring sailing back to the people!
IN JANUARY 2025, THE REVOLUTION WILL BEGIN WITH THE REBIRTH OF A LEGEND:THE BENETEAU FIRST 30
With the all-new First 30, BENETEAU is making the new planing cruiser category a highly accessible reality.
Designing a new First 30 would be a challenge at any time. After all, 30 is a legendary number in the First range, evenmore so with the 140-year anniversary of the BENETEAU brand in full swing. So once again, BENETEAU and Seascapedecided to join forces and brought together a tried-and-tested team of world-class designers and engineers.
Focusing on the needs of today’s sailors, it is an exhilarating boat that is quick and easy to get planing, yet astonishingly easy to handle even when sailing at double-digit speeds. With low loads, a simple rig and an uncluttered cockpit, it doesn’t need a large crew or intense training sessions to make sailing fun and safe in all conditions - both shorthanded and as a family. Below the deck, a distinctive, puristic, yet cosy interior creates spacious accommodation for four in two cabins.
At an incredible base price of 100.000 € excl. VAT, and with flexible financial options, the all-new First 30 is making the thrill of planing accessible to a wide range of sailors in more than one way.
EXPERIENCE A NEW KIND OF COSY
The First 30 offers everything you need – and nothing you don’t: a comfortable saloon with 1.85 m (6.1 ft) headroom, a proper, functional galley with gimballed stove and fridge, marine head, above standard-sized front cabin and decently size daft cabin with removable storage elements sufficient for a week’s cruising. As you would expect from a true BENETEAU, the interior design combines sustainable materials such as cork flooring, innovative solutions like magnetic doors and smart storage solutions, and ambient lighting for a cosy feeling.
The interior’s functionality and style can be further enhanced with an optional ‘premium pack’ that includes high-quality upholstery, a saloon backrest, a cutting board, a choice of inner liner colours and materials, and atmospheric lighting.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHILL-OUT AREA
The deck and cockpit layout has been designed with two main goals in mind: reducing clutter to create a big and comfortable chill-out area while still providing outstanding sailing ergonomics. There are two deck layouts available: one for day sailors and cruisers and one for racers. Both cockpit layouts share generous cockpit dimensions with precisely designed features like backrests and toe rails. In the cruising layout, both the main and jib sheets are controlled through generously sized winches, so sail trim doesn’t require undue physical strength. Control lines are always within easy reach even when the boat is heeled, and the cockpit floor remains completely uncluttered. The racing layout adds a mainsail traveller and some additional trim controls to create a familiar workspace for racing sailors.
AIN’T NOBODY DOES IT BETTER
The new BENETEAU First 30 offers an unparalleled package of exhilarating speed, easy handling and cruising comfort at an extremely competitive price – a unique combination of qualities befitting the modern successor to the legendary 1977 First 30.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONS
Length overall: 10,33 m, 3'11"
Hull length: 9,35 m, 30'8"
Beam width: 2,95 m, 30'8"
Light displacement (MLC). 3150 kg, 6945 lbs
Standard ballast. 1070 kg, 2360 lbs
Standard draft 1,98 m, 6'6"
Shallow keel. TBA, TBA
Air draft: 14,7 m, 48'3"
Engine power (shaft drive): 14HP, 14HP
Fuel capacity: 50L, 13.2 US Gal
Fresh water capacity: 120L, 31.7 US Gal
Mainsail: 28,2 m2 304ft2
Jib: 29,8 m2. 312ft2
Masthead gennaker: 98 m2 1055ft2
Fractional gennaker: 86 m2 926 ft2
EC CERTIFICATION A2 / B6
DESIGN TEAM
Naval architect: Samuel MANUARD
Design: Lorenzo ARGENTO
Structural Engineering: Pure Design & Engineering
Interior design: Sito
Concept and R&D: BENETEAU & Seascape
