The new Beneteau First 30: Effortless joy of planing for everyone

by Beneteau 17 Sep 15:41 NZST

Beneteau First 30 © Groupe Beneteau

Few things can beat the rush one gets when a sailboat starts planing—that exhilarating moment of 'lift off' when the boat breaks free from the chains of displacement speed.

That's what sailors expect today. As of now, it took a great level of sailing skills - until now, that is!

Introducing a new category: the planing cruiser

"Until the turn of the century, small racer-cruisers perfectly matched the needs of sailors. But times have changed: How we work and spend our leisure time is very different today, and the racer-cruiser has been pushed to the fringe of sailing. Sailing today is less about racing and more about connecting with nature and having fun with people you care about." explains Andraz Mihelin, Seascape CEO.

So, what does that mean for the development of new sailboats? "We realised that sailors needed more than a traditional racer-cruiser. We have decided to create a new, groundbreaking category of sailboats: the planing cruiser" adds Andraz Mihelin.

With its wide expertise and heritage, BENETEAU launches "The planing cruiser". It redefines small-boat sailing by combining outstanding performance with unparalleled ease of use while offering the comfort of a fully equipped cruiser.

Beneteau First 30 - photo © Groupe Beneteau

The rebirth of a legend

With the all-new First 30, BENETEAU is making the new planing cruiser category a highly accessible reality.

Designing a new First 30 would be a challenge at any time. After all, 30 is a legendary number in the First range, even more so with BENETEAU 140-year anniversary. So once again, BENETEAU and Seascape joined forces and brought together a tried-and-tested team of world-class designers and engineers.

Designed around the needs of today's sailors, it is an exhilarating boat that is quick and easy to get planing, yet astonishingly easy to handle even when sailing at double-digit speeds. With low loads, a simple rig and an uncluttered cockpit, it doesn't need a large crew or intense training sessions to make sailing it fun and safe in all conditions - both shorthanded and as a family.

Below the deck, a distinctive, puristic, yet cosy interior creates spacious accommodation for four in two cabins.

Thanks to a high level of engineering, BENETEAU managed to offer an incredible base price of 100.000 EUR excl. VAT. With flexible financial options, the all-new First 30 is making the thrill of planing accessible to a wide range of sailors in more than one way.

Inside, a new style of cosy

The First 30 offers everything one just needs: a comfortable saloon with 1.85 m (6.0 ft) headroom, a proper, functional galley with gimballed stove and fridge, a marine head, above the standard sized front cabin and a decently sized aft cabin with removable storage elements sufficient for a week's cruising. As one would expect from a true BENETEAU, the interior design combines sustainable materials, such as cork flooring, innovative solutions like magnetic doors or smart storage solutions, and ambient lighting for a cosy feeling.

The interior's functionality and style can be further enhanced with an optional 'premium pack' that includes high-quality upholstery, a saloon backrest, a cutting board, a choice of inner liner colours and materials, and atmospheric lighting.

High-performance chill-out area

The deck and cockpit layout has been designed with two main goals in mind: reducing clutter to create a big and comfortable chill-out area while still providing outstanding sailing ergonomics. There are two deck layout options available: one for day sailors and cruisers and one for racers. Both cockpit layouts share generous cockpit dimensions with precisely designed features like backrests and toerails. In the cruising layout, both the main and jib sheets are controlled through generously sized winches, so sail trim doesn't require undue physical strength. Control lines are always within easy reach, even when the boat is heeled, and the cockpit floor remains completely uncluttered. The racing layout adds a mainsail traveller and some additional trim controls to create a familiar workspace for racing sailors.

Launching a new reference

The new Beneteau First 30 offers an unparalleled package of exhilarating speed, easy handling and cruising comfort at an extremely competitive price - a unique combination of qualities befitting the modern successor to the legendary 1977 First 30.

To be discovered in January 2025 at Boot Dusseldorf.

Provisional specifications: