James,
My partner Pia is probably reading this at work and saying, 'Oh gosh don't get him started'..
First the 260/25.7/25S is a wonderful boat. Jean-Marie Finot, who designed it, owned one as is personal boat for over 10 years. I'm very pleased to see it finally come to the USA officially. Its been in production in France from 1995.
On to your questions etc.
First its not just a little bigger than you Capri 22, its a LOT bigger. Standing headroom, a full gally, nav, and head. Big vee berth. We've spend a week on it. The salon is as comfortable as the 36.7 See this vid for interior.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrUyrjliYb4
We leave BlueJ in the water at the club. We talk about taking her to remote regattas, but as we have two boats normally we are at one of the two and have less desire to move boats. But we could. The trailer has no extension, but the front dolly wheel is strong enough to stand on its own, and we use a 10000lb strap to lower and pull her from deep water. The two of pulled her out of the water onto the trailer, and lowered the mast. It is hinged and deck stepped. I made a A-frame to help. The mast is VERY TALL (bigger than the First 285). We have a pole at WYC to help put it up, but we could have used the A-Frame for that as well.
The keel is a very proven mechanical screw design. It uses a winch handle inside the boat to raise/lower it. 100 easy turns and its back. Its cleverly hidden in the table base.
Draft goes from 3 feet to 6. Here is a picture with it about 30% down. It locks into any position.
Cockpit is big and comfortable. Tiller with dual rudders a joy. The 25S will have the traveler on the transom. Out of the way but I wonder how that works for racing with that being the main trimmers job.
Some sailing pix:
Blowing by a Capri 26
More racing
Running up on the Sonar fleet
Sailing, the boat is very fast in a breeze. Sweet spot is 10-20 knots. Reaching is her forte, we have 4 spinnakers (2 asyms and 2 kites) that keep us in the fun zone. In 18 knots (yesterday) she spent a long time over 8 knots with me soloing her with our running asym. Upwind fast too but not super high, the big beam hurts that a bit. Not a fan of super light airs. Even with a SA/D of like 22 she has a long waterline and lots of wetted area, so she can be sticky in less that 6 knots of breeze.
Boat can do asyms or kites. Polars say kites faster for W/L racing and thats true.
Asyms more fun reaching, bow sprit helps.
The 25S is the exact same hull as the 260 but changes to the rig. No backstay, square top main, and a 7/8th instead of the 9/10s jib. No lowers. That will be interesting to see, less adjustable for sure. A lot like the new First 30 in some ways.
Very easy to sail. Everything comes back, and with the non-overlapping headsail easy to control. Very modern design.
We love her. It was probably a price thing but I'm amazed they never sold her in the USA. Beneateau for years had smaller boats in the USA (210, 235, 265, 280, 285, etc) but then went all over 30; there was a time the smallest was 33 feet. Good to see them back.
Full-on cruise mode.
In the slip