FIRST PROGRESS

Drawn by an America’s Cup designer, the First Yacht 53 is Beneteau’s long-awaited re-entry into the performance world.

- RUPERT HOLMES

There has been huge interest in the Beneteau First 53, the company’s sole new model in its performance-oriented First range since the short-lived First 30 of 2011. Other than the incorporation of the former Seascape range into the line-up in 2017, Beneteau had neglected this sector of the market, despite having had a run of very successful models spanning several decades. At the time of our test, a few weeks after the design was unveiled at the Cannes Boat Show, some 20 to 25 boats had already been sold. Beneteau’s Damien Jacob tells me most sales to date have been to existing First series owners, particularly those with First 40s and 45s, designs that are now more than a decade old.

He says these owners are invariably keen and experienced racing sailors who have reached a stage in life when they can spend more time on the water and are looking for a larger, dual-purpose yacht to combine periods of cruising with iconic regattas and offshore races such as the Rolex Giraglia Cup, Les Voiles de Saint- Tropez, Copa del Rey, plus the Rolex Fastnet and Middle Sea races.

CONCEPT 9/10

This boat is the result of a competition in which Beneteau invited designers to produce a concept for an easy to sail, powerful and fast cruising yacht with both inshore an offshore racing potential. Beneteau expects most owners to spend around 80 per cent of their time cruising and the remaining 20 per cent racing, as the boat can also provide high comfort levels, with a generator, air-conditioning options and so on.