With its broad expertise and heritage, BENETEAU is launching a new category of sailboats – the planing cruiser. It redefines small-boat sailing by combining outstanding performance with unparalleled ease of use while offering the comfort of a fully equipped cruiser.  

 

Combining a modern racing hull, lightness, carefully selected deck equipment, and generously sized winches makes her easy to handle for all crew members, regardless of their physical strength.

 

Experience the fun of fast planing, a sensation so far reserved for professional sailors, windsurfers and planing power boats. But the First 30 makes it a joyful ride every day with at least medium wind strength. You will enjoy effortlessly gliding on the top of the water, whether on a cruising trip with your family or racing with your team.  

 

Below deck, the innovative reinvention of all essential cruising features blends with simplicity to ensure a cosy and comfortable stay onboard. On deck, the spacious cockpit is available in two configurations: a clean, uncluttered, and comfortable chill-out area for cruising and an ergonomic, practical setup for racing.

Going fast is only fun if you feel safe and in control. First 30 offers exceptional stability and safety thanks to its modern design, solid construction, and twin rudders. As a result, she’s incredibly easy to handle, ensuring you always remain in control. Despite being only 30 feet, her ocean-grade Class A certification underscores her safety and seaworthiness.   

 

Few sensations compare to the moment when a sailboat begins to plane—an exhilarating "lift-off" as the boat breaks free from the chains of displacement speed. Until now, this experience required advanced sailing skills. However, with the all-new BENETEAU First 30, the joy of planing becomes effortless and accessible to all, whether you’re an experienced racer or a newcomer to sailing.

The deck and generously sized cockpit layout were designed with two goals: minimizing clutter to create a spacious and comfortable chill-out area while ensuring outstanding sailing ergonomics. Two cockpit layouts are available: one for day sailors and cruisers and another for racers. In the cruising layout, the mainsail bridle and German sheet system enable the cockpit floor to be completely clean while allowing easy control of the mainsail through generously sized winches.

The racing layout adds a mainsail traveller with a direct and fine-tuning mainsheet system, creating a familiar workspace for racing sailors.  

 

The new BENETEAU First 30 is a celebration of performance, comfort, and innovation—a perfect fit for the next generation of sailors. She delivers the sensation of planing, easy handling, safety and cruising comfort – a unique combination of qualities befitting the modern successor to the legendary 1977 First 30.