BoatsBeneteau First 260 Spirit

Beneteau First 260 Spirit

Fractional Sloop · Keel/centreboard, twin rudders · First built 1994

Renamed the First 25.7 in 2004, this fractional sloop was a personal favorite of designer Jean-Marie Finot

Designed by Groupe Finot & Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot).

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Keel/CB w/dual Rudders

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

Shoal draftDraws 0.85 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 16 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 16
CoastalBluewater

2.16 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.16
LightHeavy

151 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 151
EasygoingPowered-up

19.8 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 19.8
TenderStiff

30% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 30%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Heavier than ~83% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~89% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~86% of boats her size on file

Compared with 605 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
30.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.8
Displacement / length
151.0
Comfort ratio
16.0
Capsize screening
2.16
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
781
Hull
Hull type
Keel/CB w/dual rudders
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1994
Units built
500
Designer
Groupe Finot, Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot)
Builder
Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Maxus 26 (CB)8.40 mSame hull family0.9 m longerA 2015-launched fractional sloop with a 1.43-metre centerboard draft and a 19.61 sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Macgregor 26X7.87 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA water-ballasted sail-power hybrid designed for versatile coastal cruising and easy trailering
Redline 25 (C&C)7.49 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1969 keel-centerboard cruiser designed by C&C, offering shoal-draft versatility in a compact 7.49-meter hull
Seaward Yachts 26RK8.66 mSame hull family1.2 m longerA fractional sloop with a 1.83m lifting bulb keel, offering deep-water performance in a trailerable 8.66m package
Cal Boats 247.43 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthThe inaugural Jensen Marine Cal model, this fractional keel-centerboard sloop was built for shoal-water versatility

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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