New Benny First 30

[Alan]

This 'new' Beneteau First 30 looks like a real hoot to sail. She is so different from most other cruiser/racers. Twin rudders, hard chine, wide open cockpit, heavily swept spreaders and no backstay this boat has got a lot of the Open 60 look to it. Wouldn't mind taking this one for a spin around the block.

http://www.teamfirst30.com/?p=640&lang=en#more-640

 

[RichH]

Now thats a sailing machine!!!! Tillers!, winches close (almost) to the helm, retractable bowsprit, ...... a wow! Backstay-less but forestay easily adjustable.

Beneteau's recent designs continue to impress the hell out of me.

 

[Chris Blubaugh]

I like it! (sigh...) I wish I had money...

 

[COOL]

I really hope that Beneteau has some success with design,
and that they sell a few units in the US. It seems that all the
builders are concentrating on 'dock condos' with in the mast
furling and no sailing ability. I would like to see sailing performance
make it back to the top of the list of priorities.

 

[sailaway78]

I would like to see

I have not seen this boat yet, or any info on it. But it seems to me that the sail boat mfgs. are now going in one of two directions. Either aimed at the dock condo folks, with interiors aimed more towards the female taste in interiors, and sailing performance taking a back seat.
Or they go for the performance oriented sailor, who cares little about interior amenities, only going fast. While this is perfectly OK, and there is nothing wrong with it. I hate to see the true cruising boat being left by the wayside. Strongly and heavily built, with decent sailing performance, plenty of storage space, and nice but simple and easily kept interiors. I guess the real cruiser is becoming a thing of the past, and there just is not a market there.

 

[MerSea]

re:

I understand the Beneteau 30 (the pink one) will be at the Annapolis boat show in October