- From 9 000 euros
- 969 copies from 1977 to 1981
Voted Boat of the Year in 1978, it is the first racing-cruising unit produced by the Bénéteau shipyard. A model which marked its time by being selected as support of the Tour de France à la Voile.
Designed by André Mauric, the First 30 displays a certain brilliance when sailing close to the wind (it is a hull designed for the wind). But as soon as you unclog, the helmsman and the speedo start to get nervous: it's hard to keep a course, and the rhythmic roll is a bonus. In short, this dated hull with a narrow bottom has nothing to do with what is done today.
The cockpit and accommodation also suffer from the narrowness of the aft forms. Inside, the accommodation is rather practical for cruising, but without any separate cabin. The First 30 remains a mythical sailboat, a favorite choice for those who love close-hauled sailing in a breeze.
The diagnosis of Bateaux.com
The Mauric design is characterized by its large frills, small transom and imposing genoa. At first glance, we are clearly dealing with a sailboat of another generation. The construction is solid, but the units that are most stressed in regatta may have suffered. Watch the floors and the rigging. The lack of openings and the dark chocolate-euro moldings don't bring much cheer to the interior. You have been warned!
The advantages
- Sailboat that always makes you dream.
- Impressive upwind
- Good support for a sabbatical year at very low cost
The disadvantages
- Downwind Roller
- Narrow cockpit
- No access to the sea
But what is missing?
A peu près tout sauf ses qualités nautiques au louvoyageâeuros¦ Et alors? Very seaworthy, she can still regenerate and take you to the end of the world, this good old First 30!
The equivalent today?
Quite simply the "new" First 30, designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian and Michel Desjoyeaux. Two prestigious names for a yacht that has not managed to make a name for itself, even in its Carbon version, which has just disappeared from the catalog.
