Beneteau First 30 yacht
French keelboat shaping up to be a winnerBeneteau's latest new model has taken to the water for testing, the First 30, heralding an all-new approach for the French boat builder.
Penned by a new designer, Juan Kouyoumdjian of Juan Yacht Design (who famously designed the BMW Oracle Racing's America's Cup monohulls), the new Beneteau First 30 measures 9.81 metres long, features twin rudders and a 1.9-metre-draft keel with a torpedo-shaped bulb.
And it could be seriously fast.
The keelboat has a 3.2 metre beam and tips the scales at 3750kg dry and is currently undergoing technical fine tuning in the Mediterranean at the hands of Michel Desjoyeaux (three times winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, and winner of the English singlehanded transatlantic race) before its official release.
Along with a new designer and new methods of technical tuning, the Beneteau First 30 also features a new rig concept, with non-overlapping headsails and no running backstays. Instead it makes use of a variant of the B&R rig, which will allow unlimited mainsail roach and easy gybing.
The twin birth interior appears to be neatly designed with plenty of creature comforts and will suit recreational pursuits, but with ample storage the First 30 won't be ignored by the racing fraternity either.
Though it's not expected to be launched in Australia for several months, the new model is already creating plenty of hype, and it's not hard to see why.
Check out Beneteau.com for more details.
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