What the fleet has seen
The Beneteau First 300, as the fleet has seen it
Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.
The Beneteau First 300 is a 9.1-meter fractional sloop designed by Finot, Conq, and Jean Marie Finot, built by Beneteau from 1994 to 1997. It features a fin with bulb and spade rudder hull, a 3.0-meter beam, 1.8-meter draft, and displaces 3050 kg.2:29 The Beneteau First 30, a relaunched 2024 model, measures 30 feet 8 inches long, 9 feet 9 inches wide, and displaces just over 6,700 pounds, making it light enough to plane.2:43 This newer iteration revives Beneteau's performance sailing identity with a plumb bow, wide stern, twin rudder blades, and a deep fin keel.2:30 Aboard *Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery*, a Beneteau First 300 named Rebel experienced a Dyneema backstay failure during a delivery from Conwy Marina to Falmouth, necessitating a return to port for a temporary repair with the main halyard and subsequent replacement.2:18 The First 30's twin rudders provide sensitive steering, which is suitable for racing but can be fatiguing on long passages.15:50 It offers two keel options: a standard 5.5-foot draft and a 6.5-foot deep performance keel. The interior includes cabins, a galley, and a head, rather than a stripped racing shell.3:08 Two deck configurations are available: a cruising layout with benches and a racing layout with a full-width traveler and upgraded winches. The boat is considered trailerable in some regions and manageable for short-handed sailing.
