Beneteau 34.7

It seems that with a spate of smaller high-quality and very competitive race yachts, some owners are downsizing. It’s not surprising, considering the dearth of marina space in centres like Sydney and Melbourne and, for that matter, around the world. Smaller yachts are easier to find pens for and they’re easier to sail. The big manufacturers are seeing this and putting substantial effort into making quality, IRC competitive small race yachts.

Cases in point include Bavaria, X-Yachts, our home-grown Sydney Yachts and now Beneteau. All have very spirited offerings of around 35ft. In Europe, fleets of these smaller yachts are not only doing well in IRC but also comprise substantial one-design fleets.

The reasons for this rush to smaller yachts are not just space, but convenience.

Instead of trying to find 10 or 12 good sailors to get you competitively around the track, these smaller offerings only need four or five. The added bonus is that they can be easily handled by a couple for family cruising and, although they are thoroughbred races, they still offer a comfortable fitout for a weekend away.

Beneteau’s latest entrant into this arena is the 34.7. It’s Beneteau’s first really hot boat since the 40.7 and we were understandably eager to get a chance to sail.

I first saw the 34.7 when it was delivered to our yacht club for commissioning. It stood tall in the cradle on the hardstand, with a deep fin keel with a lead bulb giving a draft of two metres.

The hull was penned by Farr Yacht Design and has a fine entry, sleek underwater lines and a flat aft section, which should make it a good downhill surfer. The fin keel is cast iron with a lead bulb designed by Farr. Incidentally, each keel is weighed to be exact ex-factory.

Farr was given a brief from Beneteau to design a true IRC boat, a new and modern design that would rate well and fast. Farr hadn’t done a true IRC boat in the past, as they’d been concentrating on Volvo and America’s Cup boats. They studied the rules and with the input of Beneteau came up with what they thought would be a winning combination.

According to David Beck from Sundance Yacht Sales, the boats should rate about 1.012, give or take a bit for sails and, in Europe and the UK, they have been winning.

Standard rig is a carbon two-spreader mast of about 15m with a carbon boom and self-retracting carbon prodder. Rod rigging is standard as well. There is the option to detune to an alloy stick which will save about 20 grand, but why would you? The carbon mast is everything you’d want and more. Plus the insurance companies are becoming a bit easier to get along with when it comes to carbon.

Total sail area is 70.3sqm with a main of 35.3 and a 140 per cent genoa of 35sqm. Standard spinnaker size is around 91sqm. It all translates to a powerful boat that is easy to sail and surprisingly quick.

ON DECK
Stepping aboard, I noticed that the cockpit is big. We had five on the boat for our test sail and didn’t get in each other’s way. The helmsman has plenty of room behind the big 1.6m leather-wrapped wheel, which in turn sits behind the mainsheet traveller.

 Beneteau has thoughtfully moulded foot chocks for the helmsman so steering from either side on a heel is comfortable.

The instrument panel for the Yanmar 3YM20 engine is in a moulded panel on the starboard side and comprises a rev counter, alarms, and fuel gauge. It is protected by a plexiglass panel and well shielded from stray sea boots. The engine controller is a Spinlock item with a removable handle fixed to the starboard coaming.

Behind the helmsman, or under him really, is a large lazarette suitable for a liferaft if you’re going offshore or safety gear and other items if you’re not. It’s lockable too.

Forward of the helm, the mainsheet trimmer has everything at his fingertips, the sheet, traveller and backstay are all there and accessed from either side. All the hardware is top-quality Harken gear with needle-roller bearings in the blocks. Low friction is everywhere.

The spectra mainsheet looked a little thin for soggy hands at first glance and David told me they would probably fit a tweaker to it for the heavier days. My brief hauls on it revealed it to be surprisingly light.

Standard primary winches are Harken 40 self-tailers with a pair of 32s on the cabin top for halyards and kite sheets.

All lines lead aft to two sets of four Spinlock clutches so there’s not much need to go to the mast.

The tracks and cars for the sheeting positions are again Harken gear with a larger track for the genoas and a smaller one for the number three and four headsails. The genoa track was fitted with a nifty and easy-to-use system for adjusting the cars and the whole operation makes it nice and easy for the headsail trimmer.

The prodder is operated from the cockpit. It’s simple to pull out and once released it will automatically retract into its housing in the bow.

Going forward is easy, with broad, uncluttered decks for a boat of this size and I noted the excellent non-skid on all traffic surfaces, which should please the foredeckie.

Smooth teak toerails adorn the gunwales – a thoughtful addition for those hiking out.

GOING DOWN
At first glance, I thought that the 34.7 was a bit light on below but this boat is designed as a racer and creature comforts come second. That said, there is enough fitout for coastal racing, deliveries and even a spot of cruising when the boat’s not on race duty.

It’s a layout that Beneteau owners will notice is certainly not traditional. There is a double cabin aft to starboard and what really amounts to a large quarter berth to port, aft of the galley. The main saloon is dominated to the large chainplates but offers two comfortable bunks that I found large enough to lie on, although the chainplates stuck into them a bit. In reality the 34.7 would be comfortable for three of four.

The galley offers a two-burner gas stove with grille, a single stainless steel sink with hot and cold water, a fridge, and basic storage.

 Opening ports provide ventilation. There are two aft on the port side to extract cooking steam and odours and provide ventilation to the quarter berth. On starboard, there are two opening ports a bit more forward for ventilation to the saloon.

The aft cabin also has an opening port to the cockpit.

The starboard nav station is roomy, with plenty of room for screens and equipment. White and red lighting is a handy inclusion for night navigation and all electrical switches fall easily to hand. I found the nav seat could offer some more lateral support for when the boat is on starboard tack or in a seaway.

The head is forward and has a manual pump-out loo, a basic vanity unit with sink, and storage and a handy wet locker. Forward of this is a hatch to the forepeak, which could be used for storing some sails.

The Yanmar 3YM20 diesel sits under the companionway and it’s necessary to completely remove the steps to access it. It’s well positioned for basic maintenance and there is also a removeable hatch in the aft cabin for access.

Although only 20hp, the Yanmar is quite adequate and drives the Beneteau along at a good clip of around 6.5kts due to its light weight and slick hull design.

GETTING GOING
We jumped aboard and Dave told me to take the helm and back the 34.7 out.

“Watch the helm,” he said. “It’s only about half a turn lock to lock.”

He wasn’t far wrong. The helm is incredibly responsive and it took me a little while to get used to how few turns it was from full lock port to full lock starboard.

It backed well, though, and won’t pose a problem berthing.

Once out, we set the main and a number one in about 10kts of breeze, and the little Beneteau was soon on a nice angle and getting along at about 6.5kts. This was the first time the boat had been out in anger and everyone was grinning.

Ross Lloyd from North Sails was there to check out his handiwork and, as we powered upwind, he was just as impressed as the rest of us.

 After a few tacks we bore away and pulled down the #1 and thought we’d have a look at the #3, which proved to be not much slower with around 17kts of apparent breeze. With the #1 up we did have to play the traveller and backstay a bit to help the weather helm but with the #3 we could virtually set and forget.

We flicked through a tack with hardly a movement of the helm and I watched the lovely right angle the wake made behind. I thought that with a good crew, this boat would be a demon in a tacking duel.

But I was keen to have a look at the chute. The prodder came out and the big, red kite went up and filled with a crack. The 34.7 lifted her skirts and we were off. She loaded up nicely and Dave told me to take it up and see how far we could go. At easily 60 degrees apparent we were trucking along and, not yet on the limit, we were doing around 7.5 to 8kts in a light and dying breeze. Wonderful.

The steering is light and the boat is tremendously responsive. We weren’t bothering too much about getting weight on the rail but I reckon it’d need it in any more breeze. It’s not really a tender boat but would probably sail faster when flatter.

I have to admit to being a bit biased toward smaller, easy-to-sail yachts and short-handed racing – and the Beneteau 34.7 fits all of these criteria. It’s a lovely little boat that is sure to impress as a few get up to speed over the coming season. On our afternoon on the bay, the little Beneteau brought smiles to the faces of all aboard – even Ross Lloyd, who’s usually very serious about his sailing.

As an IRC racer, it rates well. As a fun boat to sail, it rates well, too. I’m sure that many more will find their way to yacht clubs around Australia.

Meanwhile, I’m off to Hamilton Island Race Week and will have a keen eye on Howard Piggott’s new Beneteau 34.7 Brilliant, which will be racing in the IRC Cruising category.


HIGHS