Beneteau is debuting the first of what they call the “planing cruiser” with the First 30, which pushes small boat sailing towards a full cruising experience. “Sailing today is less about racing and more about connecting with nature and having fun with people you care about,” explains Seascape CEO Andraz Mihelin who partnered with Beneteau for the design of the First 30. The brief was for a boat that was quick and easy to get planing, and remained easy to manage once the speed was up. With low loads, a simple rig, and an uncluttered cockpit, a small crew can manage the boat. Though it’s specifically not a racer-cruiser, the boat does have two cockpit layouts, one for cruisers and day sailors, and one for racers which adds a mainsail traveller and additional trim controls. The boat has also been designed for a low price point—€ 100,000 ex VAT at press time—to make the boat accessible to a wider range of owners.
LOA 33’11” Beam 12’10” Draft 6’6” Displacement 6,945 lbs Sail Area 625 sq ft (main and jib) Power 14hp
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