A legacy to live up to
After the First 36 launched in 2022, Beneteau continues the relaunch of the First range, by redesigning a legend of the Vendée shipyard, the First 30. While the first model, launched in 1977, left a lasting impression, the same cannot be said of its successor, designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian and launched in 2006. This second opus, whose performance and features fell short of expectations, never made its mark on the market.
For this 2025 vintage, the Beneteau group has entrusted Sam Manuard, assisted by Lorenzo Argento for exterior design and Giovanni Belgrano for structural engineering.
Amazing interior volume
Despite its 9.35-meter hull length, the First 30's interior layout is astonishing. Spaces offer a comfortable headroom of 1.85 meters and two well-designed cabins, ideal for a small family. The galley and bathroom remain functional, although reduced to the essentials to keep weight down. The choice of materials, such as plywood and lightweight laminates, reflects an effort to optimize without sacrificing user-friendliness.
Two configurations to choose from depending on the program
Two deck layout configurations are available: one adapted to pleasure sailing, the other designed for racing. In the cruising configuration, the mainsail and jib sheets are managed by large winches, enabling sail trimming without the need for significant physical effort. The regatta configuration includes a mainsail traveler and additional trimming controls, providing optimized maneuvering space for the needs of competitors.
Pricing to be announced at Boot 2025
The new First 30 is priced at ?100,000, excluding tax, in its basic version. Let's hope that the gap between this psychological threshold and the finalized and optioned version will remain reasonable, in order to boost a market in need of renewal.
