Open cockpit with two helm positions plus carbon mast

With competition from the Italian Comar Yachts and their Comet 51, X-Yachts 50, Grand Soleil 50 and perhaps even the Finngulf 46, price is not always the main consideration here, but performance plus style and race credibility, something that the bigger Bénéteau might struggle with.

The cockpit is highly ergonomic with its double helm position and genoa winches within easy reach, and all control lines led to the coachroof winches. 

Carbon fittings and open cockpit

Design has been done by Philippe Briand and he has chosen a total up wind sail area of 138.6 m², which compares exactly to the Grand Soleil 50, as well as displaxement and keel choice ( in fact they have 3 to choose from ) but hull width is much narrower on the First 50 at 4.37m compared to 4.56m on the G Soleil 50 which can only mean the First 50's performance will be good. With it's narrow hull, carbon fittings this could be one to watch for where impressive performance is high on the list of requirements

Length overall  14.98 m
Hull length  14.65 m
Maximum beam  4.37 m
Light displacement 12800 Kg
Draught – Deep keel 2.80 m
Draught – Shallow keel 2.40 m
Mainsail  68.60 m²
Genoa   70.10 m²

Knowing that the French don't quite have the same desire for accurate and informative writing, their philosophy is more say something that sounds great and emotive, but don't look too closely at what we actually said, just use your imagination as to what we are trying to say.  Here is a good case in point  “The efficiency of a yacht’s design is shown by its ability to harness the streams of air and water and to leave them in its wake in an unaltered state".   Yeah right.

To summarize, those wanting to race a 50 foot sail boat that does not cost the earth, Southampton 2006, Bénéteau's First 50 will be doing it's world premiere.

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