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Fast, Beautiful, and Practical – Meet the New Beneteau First 30
December 1, 2025 · 8 min · 22K views · Cleveland, Ohio
What this video covers
The Beneteau First 30, relaunched in 2024, measures 30 feet 8 inches long, 9 feet 9 inches wide, and displaces just over 6,700 pounds — light enough to plane in the right conditions.2:16 The original First 30 debuted in 1977 and shifted Beneteau's identity from fishing and family cruisers toward performance sailing; the new model revives that mission with a plumb bow, wide stern, twin rudder blades, and a deep fin keel.1:05 A hands-on sail on the Great Lakes confirmed the twin rudders give the tiller extreme sensitivity — small inputs produce immediate, go-kart-like response, which suits racing but would fatigue a crew on a long passage.3:05 Two keel options are available: a standard draft of five and a half feet and a deep performance keel at six and a half feet.6:05 Below deck the boat carries a functional interior with cabins, a galley, and a head rather than a stripped racing shell.4:05 Two deck configurations exist — a cruising layout with comfortable benches and a racing layout with a full-width traveler and upgraded winches.3:54 The boat is described as trailerable in some regions and manageable short-handed.6:19 A companion article on ultra fairleads and soft padeyes for line routing and sail trim is referenced in the description.7:19
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