Latest Beneteau First as good as the last

The good-looking new Beneteau First 35 is an award-winning, high-performing, spacious and well-appointed cruiser/racer. Photo / Supplied

Cruiser/racers or racer/cruisers used to be one of the most popular types of boats built and sold in New Zealand. In fact, with the exception of trailer powerboats, they were, through most of the 1980s and the first part of the 1990s, our most prolific production craft.

Quick around the race track with an experienced crew, they were also easily handled by a couple and came with all the comforts needed for an extended Christmas cruises up to the Bay of Islands or out to "the Barrier".

Sadly, as sailing's popularity diminished, so did production yacht manufacture, and it has been a considerable time since any new locally designed and built cruiser/racers have been launched here.

Of course, there are still people who want to go sailing (if not in quite the same numbers as there once were). Their choices are now to go for one of those 80s or 90s-era survivors (Farr 1020s, Young 88s, Elliott 1050s and the like), many of which are still in surprisingly good condition, or to look at a new yacht from overseas.

A number of these are now available here, with several of our most reputable brokers having agencies for top international brands. One of the first to arrive (a good couple of decades ago now), and still one of the most popular, is the Beneteau range from France.

Those of us who have enjoyed chartering yachts either in New Zealand or overseas have almost certainly sailed on a Beneteau at least once; they appear to be the yacht of choice for most of the world's major charter companies.

They also, probably as a result of that, have a bit of a reputation for being extremely comfortable but not that quick. Plus - and I speak from personal experience here - they have been known to suffer from quite a bit of leeway when hard on the wind. (Although, to be fair, the shallow keel that allows one to drift so far sideways turns out to be an incredible boon when it comes to anchoring in lovely, secluded, shallow waters.)

Of course, those who know the brand a little better will also be aware that Beneteau moved to fix that "slow and comfortable" image quite some time ago. They did this primarily by introducing a new range, the Beneteau First, and employing notable international designers to ensure that they looked sleek and performed well while maintaining the Beneteau reputation for on-board comfort.

One of those designers is our most famous (in marine design terms) expatriate: Bruce Farr.

His First 40 was launched a few years back to near-universal acclaim. First 40s not only took both first and second places overall in the IRC Division of the gruelling 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race, the design also won the coveted Sailing World Magazine Boat of the Year award for the Best Crossover design.

Beneteau will no doubt be hoping that Farr's latest offering will enjoy similar success. According to its New Zealand distributor, Gary Erceg, of Westhaven-based Yachtfinders Global, the new First 35 offers many of the same performance and design attributes as its bigger sister.

"The First 35 has already won the Yacht of the Year award from Voile Magazine, with the judges praising the superior blend of true cruising capability and excellent racing performance," he says.

"For example, she has a powerful rig with double swept-back spreaders, yet has a sail plan that is easily managed by just two, with a non-overlapping jib making it easy to tack.

"For those who want to optimise the yacht for racing, there is also the option of fitting carbon and rod rigging."

Erceg says recessed coachroof grab-rails, good toe-rails and clear sidedecks make it safe to move forward, and the roomy cockpit, with plenty of room for a busy racing crew, is deep and secure enough to provide protection when sailing offshore.

"Visibility from the helm position is good and the helm has the backstay and mainsheet traveller in easy reach. A large cockpit locker provides storage for fenders and warps and the aft lazarette can house the liferaft as well as gas bottles and cockpit shower."

Erceg says that, like most Farr-designed boats, the First 35 is a "looker", with long, lean lines creating a flattering modern profile.

"However, this has not been at the expense of the interior. The saloon, accessed by a wide companionway, is the same size as that of the First 40 but seems even larger, with doors leading to the forward cabin creating a big, bright airy space.

"The interior includes two large double cabins with good stowage, two 1.9-metre saloon berths, bright and functional heads, nav station and L-shaped galley - and it is all finished in a contemporary light oak."

Erceg clearly believes this all adds up to a yacht likely to again attract Kiwi sailors.

"Interest in the arrival of the First 35 has already been phenomenal," he says.

Prospective purchasers eager to get a first glimpse of the new racer/cruiser will be able to do so in the marina at next month's Auckland International Boat Show.

Beneteau First 35

LOA: 10.85m

Hull length: 10.66m

LWL: 9.33m

Beam: 3.64m

Displacement: 6060kg

Engine: Yanmar 29hp

Fuel capacity: 75 litres

Water capacity: 200 litres

Mainsail: 41.47sq m

Genoa: (108 per cent) 31sq m

Spinnaker: 103sq m

Price: From $277,000