BoatsBeneteau First 51

Beneteau First 51

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1987

A German Frers-designed masthead sloop with a high ballast ratio and performance-oriented sail area for fast cruising

Designed by German Frers.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Beneteau First 51, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Practical Sailor

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a narrow beam gives 27 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 27
CoastalBluewater

1.95 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.95
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 159
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 21.4
TenderStiff

50% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 50%

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

  • Draws more than ~96% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~82% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1559 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Beneteau First 51, 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 51 is a German Frers-designed masthead sloop, built by Beneteau from 1987 to the present, with an LOA of 15.6 meters and a displacement of 12,999 kg. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder and a standard draft of 2.8 meters, though an optional shoal draft wing keel of 1.81 meters was available. The design prioritizes performance, with a high sail area to displacement ratio of 21.4. Optional lead ballast could be specified.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
49.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.4
Displacement / length
159.4
Comfort ratio
26.6
Capsize screening
1.95
Hull speed
8.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2300
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1987
Designer
German Frers
Builder
Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

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.

Saga Marine 4815.94 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop built for performance cruising with a stiff 33% ballast ratio
Saga 48 // Boat Shopping18:16from 59° North Sailing
Bavaria Yachts 50 Vision15.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.7-metre cruiser with a high 24.85 sail-area-to-displacement ratio, designed for powerful, efficient passage-making
3 phases 🛠️❄️☀️ RENTAL SAILBOAT MAINTENANCE4:50from Allende los Mares · Vuelta Vertical
Beneteau First 53f515.90 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Bruce Farr performance cruiser styled by Pininfarina, featuring multiple cabin layouts and an optional shoal wing keel
We are leaving the Med and saying goodbye to our crew.4:39from Sailing Doodles
Beneteau 5015.47 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Farr-designed masthead sloop with a 2.3-metre bulb keel and a versatile layout marketed under multiple names
Sailing in Malta - one of the most beautiful islands in the Med (S3 E1 ) | Paper Boat Project0:01from The Paper Boat Project (Stefan Heiberg)
Hanse Yachts 50815.55 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.5-meter cruiser featuring a versatile Solent rig and a choice between deep and shallow keel configurations
New Hanse 508 delivery - Slovenia to Trogir Part 12:13from 45 Degrees Sailing
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 51915.75 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn evolution of the 509 featuring a bow sprit and expanded swim platform for enhanced modern cruising
Chartering a Sailboat in Mexico!0:31from Sailing Doodles

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.

Beneteau First 50A Philippe Briand-designed performance cruiser balancing a high sail area-to-displacement ratio with a stiff bulb keelBeneteau First 53f5A Bruce Farr performance cruiser styled by Pininfarina, featuring multiple cabin layouts and an optional shoal wing keelBeneteau First 41s5A performance-oriented fractional sloop featuring a distinctive interior design by Philippe StarckOceanis 51.1 (Benenteau)A 15.94-meter cruiser with a 2.3-meter bulb keel and a 13,929 kg displacement designed for modern, high-volume livingBeneteau First 47.7A Bruce Farr-designed performance cruiser balancing a high sail area-to-displacement ratio with offshore capabilityBeneteau First 405A 12.4-metre masthead sloop featuring a deep 2.19-metre fin keel and a balanced displacement for offshore performance

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