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  • Beneteau First 40.7
  • United Kingdom

Beneteau FIRST 40.7

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British Marine

40.7 yacht for sale

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The beneteau first 40.7 shown below has been sold:, beneteau first 40.7.

40.7 yacht for sale

Sales information

  • De Valk Monnickendam The Netherlands
  • +31 299 65 63 50
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Broker's comments.

Designed by Bruce Farr, the First 40.7 is an excellent performance cruiser with ample accommodations to entertain skipper and crew. This is an immaculate First 40.7, fully equipped, dark blue hull, teak decks, triple spreader mast, large sail robe etc. Sailing this well balanced design is a sheer joy, easy to handle and can "go-around-the-buoys" with the best of them.

General - BENETEAU FIRST 40.7

GRP sailing yacht Beneteau First 40.7 "Fodiator", built in 2001 by Beneteau in France. Dim.: Loa 12,26 m (Lwl 10.62 m) x 3,78 m x 1.90 m, headway: 18,50 m, Farr Yacht design, CE: A, GRP hull, superstructure and deck, teak deck and teak in cockpit. Hull: solid glass fibre/GRP with open structural hull liner, laminated for load bearing and distribution. Deck: glass fibre/GRP balsa sandwich for rigidity, weight saving, heat insulation and soundproofing. Lewmar deck hatches. Round bilged dark blue hull, fin keel, balanced spade rudder. Displacement: 6,9 tonnes, ballast: 2,7 tonnes (cast iron). Fuel tank capacity: 135 litres, fresh water tank capacity: 2x 138 litres (polyethylene), electric water gauge. JP3 mechanical wheel steering, steering wheel covered with leather, emergency tiller.

Accommodation

Classic cherry wood interior, saloon + front and two aft cabins, 6 (+2) berths, headroom: approx.1,95 m., Webasto AT5000 diesel ducted hot air heating, Electric water pressure system, boiler hot water system (220v/engine). Forward cabin with double berth (2,00 x 1,60 m), hanging locker and shelves, headroom: approx. 1,90m. Forward heads compartment with fully moulded shower tray with marine toilet, wash basin with mixer tap, pressurized hot and cold water, shower, sump pump. Cosy saloon with oval settee, white leather/skye upholstery, headroom: approx. 1,95m. Chart table on starboard side, switch board. L-shaped galley on port side with stainless steel double sink, Eno two burner stainless steel gas stove with oven, and a Frigomatic 12V fridge. Two aft cabins with double berth (2,00 m x 1,50 m), hanging locker, locker along hull, stowage space under berth, headroom: approx. 1,90 m, extra opening portholes in aft cabins.

Volvo Penta MD2040 40 hp (29kW) diesel engine, installed in 2001, indirect cooling system, Volvo Penta Saildrive, two bladed folding propeller, cruising speed: approx. 7 knots, consumption: approx. 3 litres per hour, engine compartment soundproofed and insulated to CE standards. Manual and electric bilge pump. Electric circuit: 12V/220V, shore power, Victron Pallas 25 Ah. automatic battery charger. Service batteries: 2x 105 Ah. of 2009 + start 1x 70 Ah. of 2009.

Plastimo Olympic 135 compass on pedestal, full Brookes & Gatehouse Network sail instruments: comprising log (2200nm), echo sounder, wind set, close hauled and autopilot, Brookes & Gatehouse 3FD multi-display at mast, Brookes & Gatehouse GPS combined plotter, GPS repeater 2007, Target Nasa Pro Navtex receiver (video), Shipmate RS8300 VHF (with Atis), Philips stereo CD player with speakers in cockpit.

Sprayhood with cockpit cover extension, cockpit table, cockpit cushions, two removable cockpit-seats, cockpit shower, teak slated bathing platform, boarding ladder of stainless steel, two fire extinguishers, life buoy, Delat anchor with line, clock, barometer, radar reflector, 3-colour masthead light.

Sloop-rigged, 9/10, Sparcraft triple spreader mast with Rod-rigging, Reckmann headsail furling system of 2004, Spinnaker Double sheeting system, Mainsail German sheeting system. Sails: North Sails full batten mainsail of 2001, North Sails Kevlar Genoa 150 % of 2004, North Sails H.A. jib 105% of 2001, North Sails furling H.A. jib 105% of 2009, North Sails Spinnaker S-2 Superkote 90 of 2007, Quantum Sails Furling H.A. jib 98 % of 2004. Mainsail cover of 2001, genoa cover of 2009, Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster, Rodkick boom vang, Lewmar winches: 2x 50CST primary sheet winches, 2x 44CST secondary sheet winches, 2x 44CST halyard winches, spi-pole.

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  • Sailboat Reviews

Beneteau 40.7

This bruce farrdesigned speedster perf arms well in round-the-buoy races, yet its three-cabin interior also makes it a comfortable, seasonal cruiser..

Beneteau began building boats in France in 1884 when Beneteau opened shop for the purpose of constructing trawlers at Croix-de-Vie. Eighty years later, under the direction of his granddaughter Annette Roux, Beneteau built its first fiberglass sailboat. It is the largest builder of production sailboats in the world, producing twice as many boats as its nearest competitor.

Beneteau also manufacturers Jeanneau and Wauquiez boats and Lagoon catamarans.

Beneteau builds two distinct lines-the First and Oceanis. Introduced in 1976, the First line is targeted to performance cruisers; the Oceanis line, first marketed in 1986, is targeted more to all-out cruisers, or as a company brochure says, to those “enjoying the pleasure of the sea.” The company ranks third in sales in the US, behind Catalina and Hunter.

Beneteau 40.7

Among corporate objectives is the sale of boats in sufficient volume to compete with American builders such as Catalina and Hunter. It accomplishes this goal by taking, advantage of several factors: a) consistent ownership and cash flow; b) a work management process that has designers and production personnel working together for more efficiency on the floor; c) the economies of scale and purchasing power of a monolith; d) automation that reduces the cost of labor; and e) in-house capabilities such as milling its own logs, rather than buying planks from a lumber yard.

A factory was opened in Marion, South Carolina, in 1984; it has since produced more than 1,000 boats, and also houses a customer service center.

Beneteau boasts that its products have logged more than five million miles during more than 1,000 ocean crossings.

Bruce Farr has developed a reputation as one of the world’s best designers of fast racing boats. His designs have competed in the America’s Cup and Admiral’s Cup. Prior to the 40.7, he designed a Beneteau 50-footer and the Fast 42s7.

Mike Thoney of Beneteau distinguishes the First line as having more contemporary styling than the Oceanis, greater emphasis on performance (without compromising on cruising accommodations), fractional rigs, optional deep keels, and high aspect ratio rudders.

Russ Bowler of the Farr office said it took three years to get the 40. 7 from the drawing board to the production line. Beneteau’s charge was to develop a cruiser that could be raced at the club level, and that would sell hundreds each year.

“The challenge was to match performance while producing a cruising boat with suitable accommodations,” he said.

Bruce Farr said the 40.7 hull is “developed from our IMS pedigree which gives it good all around performance. The bow is relatively fine for-ward for upwind work with straight runs aft for high speed off the wind. These virtues have been retained in a hull with greater volume to provide space for cruising accommodations, and added displacement that comes with a cruising interior.”

The 40.7 was “originally developed to be a good all round performer under CHS (a British handicapping system), which favors heavy boats, compared to length, and full interiors,” Farr said. “It has been gratifying to see this design do well in top level IMS competition.”

Both the keel and rudder reflect the designer’s current approach to producing performance-oriented appendages.

The boat’s numbers certainly suggest it will have better-than-average performance compared to its peers in the cruising world. The sail area/displacement (SAID) ratio is 21.01, the displacement/length (D/L) ratio is 160.6, the ballast/displacement ratio is 36.23, and its length/beam ratio is 3.20. Then again, this isn’t exactly the sort of boat one would take on a circumnavigation or perhaps even a trans-oceanic passage where most serious cruisers would prefer more keel and heavier displacement for sea kindliness and necessary stowage.

Polar diagrams indicate the potential for speeds of 6-plus knots sailing in 20 knots of breeze within 32 of true wind. Predicted boat speed exceeds 12 knots when sailing in 30 knots of wind at 140.

The boats target PHRF rating is 54, which means shell be competing against 38-44 footers; however, a one-design class has been formed in Chicago and others are forming on both coasts.

Construction

The 40.7 is built in France.

Among the challenges facing the designer and Eric Ingouf, the Beneteau employee who works on advanced production techniques, was a requirement that weight-per-foot be reduced as much as possible without compromising strength.

To that end, the team employed techniques first introduced with the Beneteau 25 to eliminate surplus weight in the laminations, keel and cabinetry.

While Beneteau will not divulge the specifics of the lamination schedule, Thoney provided general information on the process.

Hulls are hand laid-up using pre­cut sections of glass wetted out with vinylester and polyester resins.

“Pre-cutting assures proper sizes and reduces waste,” Thoney said. “Vinylester resins are employed to protect against blistering.” The latter, Thoney said, is a recent change; earlier models used the Beneteau Water­Shield process, which was intended to accomplish the same objective at lower cost. Though the company experienced its share of blistering problems with earlier models, our surveys of owners and surveyors report few incidents in newer boats.

The hull is solid fiberglass into which a fiberglass pan is bonded while still in the mold to assure that hull shape is retained. Thoney estimates the hull to be 5/8″ thick. The pan incorporates solid fiberglass longitudinal stringers running from bow to stern, and six athwartships floors. The pan is bonded to the hull with a polyester compound. Solid fiberglass supports for fuel tanks, the engine, chainplate tie downs, and the keel frame and mast step also are molded into the pan, as well as the foundation for bulkheads and cabinetry, which are fiberglassed to the hull and bonded to the deck with a strong adhesive.

Wiring and plumbing runs are protected inside PVC and flex tubes.

The hull-deck joint is an internal hull flange bonded to an external deck flange with polyurethane glue and stainless steel bolts and nuts, over which are laid the teak toerail, which is secured with stainless steel screws. The modern adhesives used for hull­deck joints are incredibly strong, making through-bolting less important.

The deck is fiberglass cored with balsa; however, areas in which deck hardware are mounted are solid fiberglass. Hardware is fastened with stainless steel fasteners and backing plates.

Standard equipment on the boat is a 7′ 9″ deep lead keel; an optional 6′ 2″ keel is iron. A new coating system developed in France that is compatible with International Paints is now employed to prevent peeling problems that occurred with other models. Joe Foss, manager of customer service, said there have been no instances of peeling on the first 250 boats. Still, lead is better than iron.

Tides Marine now builds the rudders, which have carbon fiber rudder stocks, rather than the stainless steel previously employed. In factory tests, carbon was determined to have four times the breaking strength of stainless steel, and also has a greater elasticity, which prevents breakage caused by side loading while underway. It is also significantly lighter. Most importantly, it can be bonded to the rudder, which avoids the common problem with steel stocks of water migrating into the rudder. Upper and lower rudder bearings are self-aligning.

It’s always a pleasant surprise to find something new on a boat, and the 40. 7 has one of the most interesting cockpit features we’ve seen: removable cockpit lockers located aft of permanent slatted teak cockpit seats.

When secured in place, the lockers provide seating and are large enough for storing the typical assort­ment of dock gear, cleaning supplies and spare headsails. When racing, the lockers may be removed to provide standing, straight-on access to the primary winches and sidedeck – very clever.

There is a 60 leather covered destroyer-style steering wheel with the bottom recessed below the sole; it is easy to reach from either rail.

Seats for crew and guests are contoured and comfortable.

A well for the propane tank is located in the port corner of the cockpit and is vented overboard. A locker large enough for an inflatable dinghy is to starboard.

A requirement in France is dedicated cockpit space for a life raft canister. In the Beneteau 40.7 it is situated below the helmsmans seat. Joe Darby, owner of Darfin Yachts in Chicago, who provided our test boat, said the area is the perfect size for a garbage bin, or a container of chilled beverages.

A teak slatted swim platform equipped with a stainless steel ladder is accessed by unlatching the twin lifelines connecting the stern pulpits and stepping over the transom; a swinging door would make for easier access.

Farr designed wide, nearly level decks with diamond nonskid that allow easy movement forward when underway. Stainless steel handrails on the coachroof coupled with double lifelines on 26″ stanchions provide additional safety. We like the fact that the stanchion bases are par­tially recessed and unlikely to be toe stubbers.

Mast, standing rigging and deck hardware are all high quality, though one owner thinks serious racers will opt for larger diameter, non-stretch halyards to replace standard equip­ment. Foss, however, told us that boats after #156 have upgraded rope.

The mast is a Sparcraft 9/10 fractional rig with triple spreaders; Sparcraft also manufactures the boom. Standard equipment is rod standing rigging and a Sparcraft vang. An optional Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster will improve sail trim and performance on the race course, but is an unnecessary expense for most cruisers. The test boat performed well without tweaking the backstay.

Running rigging is led aft to Spin­lock XT rope clutches for mainsail, genoa and spinnaker halyards, one reef line, and outhaul and topping lifts. The installation of two turning blocks with space for six lines is a plus, compared to the typical arrangement with four, three-part blocks.

An interesting departure from typical setups is the mainsheet tackle. A double-ended sheet runs forward under the boom to the mast and then aft through turning blocks on both sides of the deck to a stopper. This placement allows trimming of the mainsail from either side of the boat, or by crew sitting on the rail.

Primary winches are Lewmar 50 self-tailers. Lewmar 44 self-tailers are mounted on the coachroof. Spinnaker winches, also Lewmar 44s, are an option.

The mainsheet traveler has Lewmar ball-bearing cars. The genoa sheet cars are adjustable under load.

The interior was fashioned by Beneteau’s in-house designers and has a more traditional, nautical feel than the Park Avenue styling of the Philippe Starck Interiors.

The companionway ladder has three solid fiberglass stairs covered with a teak veneer; the steps are contoured to prevent falls while the boat is heeled. We particularly liked the brushed aluminum handrails running from the cabin sole to the top step.

Removing the stairway provides access to the engine. Batteries housed below the bottom step are easily serviced. An interesting addition to the stairway is a 1″ diameter hole on the engine cover into which a fire extin­guisher can be inserted in the event of a fire in the engine compartment, a requirement of the French Bureau Veritas.

Light and ventilation belowdecks are provided by four Lewmar hatches on the bow and coachroof, three opening ports on each side of the saloon, and two fixed ports in the hull below deck level.

Beneteau 40.7 Interrior Layout

The centerpiece of the saloon is a 44″ long, double-leafed table situated amidships with seating on 3″ thick cushions on each side of the boat. With leafs down, there is unimpeded room to move forward, though racers complain it occupies space that could be used for sausage bags.

Stowage behind each settee is in two compartments enclosed by wood panels measuring 10″ deep and 30″ long; the French touch is evidenced by a dedicated wine locker. There is precious little stowage below the settees, which house polyurethane water tanks.

The galley is a rather ordinary L­shaped area with 6′ 5″ of headroom. It is furnished with a double stainless steel sink equipped with pressurized hot and cold water, a 12-volt refriger­ator and gimbaled Force 10 two-burner stove. However, though there’s adequate room for pots, pans, and utensils, the working surface is so small that galley mates will find preparing big meals a challenge unless covers are provided for the stove and sinks. That solution, however, creates its own obvious set of problems.

Conversely, we’re impressed with the size of the nav station, especially compared to boats on which they appear to be an afterthought.

The chart table measures 41″ x 24 “, and has a hinged 32″ x20″ top. There’s room in the cabinetry for necessary electronic equipment, as well as a hinged instrument panel. All of the wires are color coded. And there is a self-diagnostic function that alerts you to electrical failures. For example, if a cabin light burns out, a light on the panel appears.

Storage in a cabinet on the bulk­head aft of the seat provides a home for binoculars, charts, and gear; a second, 22″ X 22″ locker is beneath the seat. We were pleased to see a design that reflects the importance of work done at the nav station.

The interior layout reflects the French penchant for multiple double-berth staterooms-two mirror image cabins in the stern, a third in the bow.

Headroom aft is 6′ 3”. Each state­room has a 78″ x 60″ wide berth surrounded by varnished wood veneers and a foam-backed hull liner that provides both thermal and acoustic insulation. Ventilation is provided by a port in the cockpit footwell.

The hanging locker has room for six full sets of foul weather gear. Storage space below the starboard berth is shared with an aluminum fuel tank.

Aft of the port stateroom, a removable panel provides access to electrical and plumbing equipment, the steering system, and through-hulls.

Forward of the saloon is the third stateroom and the head. Our first impression of the stateroom was that it would be adequate for one adult or two munchkins but our tape measure proved otherwise; headroom is 6′ 2″, and the V-berth is 7′ 3″ long and 5′ 9″wide at the head, so will be large enough for average-size crew.

Similarly, the head seemed smallish. Accessible from the in cabin or forward stateroom, it has 6′ 2″ head­room. One owner, who described himself as being 6′ 3″ tall and weighing 230 lbs., said the size of the head was a selling point for him. Despite his comments, we think showering in a 40″ x 24″ space will be tight.

Wiring runs and plumbing are easily accessible. Amidships is a centralized manifold or sea chest to which a number of hoses are routed and empty through a single through-hull.

The interior will be suitable for casual cruisers and can be adapted to the needs of racers, though making sea berths out of the double berths aft isn’t the most desirable solution for sleeping securely and comfortably at sea. The wood surfaces are as smooth and well-fitted.

Performance

We sailed the 40.7 on a humid day on Lake Michigan, and talked with two owners who cruise and race their boats. Both gave their boats top marks for both windward and off-wind performance. One commented that “She likes some wind.” Another said, “She loves high wind.” Both described their boats as being very stable.

Under power, they reported that a 30-hp. Volvo diesel equipped with a low-drag Saildrive and two-bladed propeller powered the boat at 5-7 knots; they described her as being easily maneuverable, as we learned on our test sail.

Beneteau 40.7

We sailed in 8-12 knots of true wind with a 150% genoa and main­sail. Our first impression was that the boat is easily balanced. Sailing in 12 knots of apparent wind, we practiced ‘no hands’ sailing within minutes of departing the marina. In these light conditions we had little tension on the backstay, the vang was off, and the jib halyard was soft. The knotmeter displayed speeds of 5.8-6.2 knots

Beneteau advertises that sheeting angles are 10, so in the same wind we hardened the sheets and sailed to within 36 of apparent wind at 6.75 knots.

In lighter winds of 9 knots we footed off 10 and saw speed increase by 1/2 knot.

Winds died completely before we were able to hoist a spinnaker and test her downwind performance. Both owners reported speeds of 8-10 knots in 12-15 knot winds sailing high jibe angles.

The Farr and Beneteau design teams appear to have produced a versatile boat that will satisfy club racers and cruisers with a penchant for speed. She’s spacious and nicely finished. Longer-term cruisers may have to con­vert one stateroom to stowage.

Priced at $154,900, fob East Coast port of entry, the boat’s list of standard equipment includes a suit of sails, ProFurl furler, and Volvo engine. Spinnaker gear, racing sails, and a complete electronic package will add $10,000-$30,000 to the purchase price.

The Beneteau 40.7 incorporates a number of clever and sensible design features that we like, such as the plumbing manifold and removable cockpit seat modules.

Contact- Beneteau, 24 N. Market St., Suite 201, Charleston, SC 29401; 843/805-5000.

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Beneteau First 40.7 review: from the archive

Yachting World

  • May 2, 2021

Since the launch of Bruce Farr’s design in 1999, nearly 700 Beneteau First 40.7s have been built. But what is responsible for the enduring appeal of this cruiser racer?

40.7 yacht for sale

The Beneteau would have benifited from more weight on the rail. Credit: Beneteau Credit: Beneteau

Product Overview

Manufacturer:.

Their prevalence at regattas shows how much the design has caught the imagination as a performance boat at a good price.

Nowadays there’s another reason for its success-with so many boats on the water, owners get frequent opportunities to race head to head. To assess her appeal, we went for a spin on Southampton Water.

Beneteau-First-40.7-review-in-action2-credit-Beneteau

One reason for the Beneteau First 40.7’s success is its versatility as a cruiser-racer.

In around 16 knots of wind, gusting to 23 knots, the Beneteau First 40.7 was well powered up under full main and No 3 head sail.

We could have used some more weight on the rail than our crew of five, but in moderate spells, the boat balanced well, notching up around 6.5 knots close-hauled, tacking through 80° and adding half a knot on bearing away.

Beneteau-First-40.7-review-in-action3-credit-Beneteau

The boat was well powered up under full main and No 3 head sail.

Cockpit lockers can be removed for racing, providing either a huge area for crew to work forward of the traveller, or ample space for fenders and lines.

Beneteau has also eschewed an open racing transom in favour of quarter lockers bridged by a curved seat – making ideal liferaft stowage in between.

The traveller is just forward of the helm and an above-deck mainsheet system leads to the aft winches.

Beneteau-First-40.7-review-spinnaker-credit-Beneteau

Harken’s Quattro winches allow fast spinnaker control.

Sitting out is easy on the Beneteau First 40.7, whether on the high or low side, and the chunky steering pyramid provides an excellent bracing position.

The helm itself is positive and there’s plenty of grunt in the big wheel to handle the yacht as she powers up even though we were slightly overpowered in the gusts, the rudder never lost grip.

Kevlar steering cables avoid stretch and keep the helm free of slack.

Beneteau-First-40.7-review-wheel-credit-Beneteau

Lines are well laid out, with a long traveller forward of the wheel and plenty of winches.

The Beneteau First 40.7 isn’t quite as stiff as the X-Yachts X-41, but aluminium spars and Dyform rigging still give a balanced response to varying wind conditions.

The six-winch cockpit layout works well for crewed and short-handed sailing.

Lines are led aft to the coach roof and there is plenty of space for the mainsail trimmer forward of the helm – the only tricky control for the crew to access is the hydraulic backstay.

Beneteau-First-40.7-review-wheel2-credit-Beneteau

the Beneteau’s spacious cockpit layout.

Under power the boat showed excellent and positive handling characteristics, tracking well astern, turning in 1.25 boat lengths and cruising at about seven knots, with an extra knot in reserve when necessary.

Modern touches aboard the Beneteau First 40.7

Like X-Yachts, Beneteau go for two straight saloon settees, a triangular berth forward and identical twin aft cabins.

But there’s more timber on the Beneteau First 40.7 than the X-Yachts X-41 and curved edges on the saloon table, nav station and galley create a softer look, offset by modern touches such as the matt aluminium grabrails, which also house roller shades – a clever bit of design that avoids curtains on race day.

40.7 yacht for sale

The Beneteau’s wider beam allows slightly more space below. Note the grabrails housing the blinds.

The forward cabin offers the usual below-berth stowage, although the small deck hatch means spinnaker drops into the cabin are tricky.

The heads to starboard has adequate headroom to shower in comfort.

Stowage onboard the Beneteau First 40.7 is adequate rather than generous. A hanging locker in each cabin and good high­level lockers in the saloon above the settees – and although space below the settees is dedicated to tankage, there are handy spaces behind the seat backs.

Essential wine stowage is in the centre of the table and the galley has plenty of space above the stove, below the sink and in an adjacent cutlery drawer.

The nav station is well set up for racing, with a big, forward-facing chart table and enough space for most gadget addicts.

The pedestal provides a drawer and a locker for stowage plus a handy set of cubby holes behind the navigator’s seat.

The large double berths aft are simple, with stowage beneath the berths and in hanging lockers.

Engine access is through hatches either side of the engine and via the companionway.

The Beneteau First 40.7 has proved a winning formula on the racecourse. And there is little else on the market that offers similar performance and precision at this price. For this reason, the yacht has become a favourite with charter agents. The owner of our test boat, Robert Blackwell, bought her to start a skippered charter business.

First published in the June 2007 issue of YW.

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40.7 yacht for sale

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40.7 yacht for sale

BENETEAU’s historical line places the emphasis on speed and design, and the pleasure is the same whether you are cruising or racing. This mixed use is specific to the First, which proudly boasts a taste for performance at sea, even in light air. Designed by well-known architects, the boat has left its mark on performance cruising, and it is now the gold standard.

Iconic Line

  • Performance

Easy to Handle

A gold standard.

  • Sailing Programmes

With beautifully slender hulls and a style second to none, First yachts have always caught the eye of seasoned sailors. From the outset, they were designed to thrill keen regatta racers and demanding performance sailors and they epitomize the joy of sailing like no other boat. Boasting the most advanced engineering, their performance under sail is a gauge for winning races whatever the sailing grounds. But they are also ideal for cruising with family or friends and will make the thrill of travelling the seas a new passion. This mixed use and the sailing community’s satisfaction has led to the success of the line.

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Roll on Performance

As soon as you cast off, you feel the thrill of sailing a First. All it takes is to hoist the sails and these fast cruisers give their best performance. Thanks to a taut hull that is specially designed to be light weight, the boat flies along in the slightest breeze. Look out for the puff that propels the First forward and enjoy its surfing potential at any speed. 

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The First sailing yachts are designed to make sailing easy and exciting, so that everyone can enjoy the sailing experience. They are reassuringly stable, even in a good breeze, and they are always safe and a pleasure to sail, no matter how big or small your crew is. Sail hoisting manoeuvres are fluid. Sailing is safe and effortless. 

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A remarkable team

Similar to the IMOCA or Class40, the new First 36 and First 44 have their own legacy, built on considerable technical expertise. The FIRST yachts are designed and developed by a design team of architects, designers, engineers, our partner sailmakers, and mast and deck fitting manufacturers to optimise every detail and ensure that they all have the latest technology and expertise.

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The first model in the line – the First 30 – was the boat used for three years by the Tour de France à la Voile, and many racers also chose it for the Course de l’Aurore (former Solitaire du Figaro) including Michel Malinosky, Eugène Riguidel and Bruno Peyron.

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Outstanding Performance and Open to a Variety of Sailing Programmes

First sailing yachts are highly versatile and can be used for all sorts of programmes. They are ideal for a trip to sea to fine tune your boat and get out your code zero or asymmetric spinnaker with a crew that loves sailing whatever the weather. They are perfect for a weekend, making the most of the First’s speed and setting sail for a distant anchorage. They are great for a holiday, to enjoy the pleasure of coastal or ocean cruising in a well-equipped boat.  

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All First news

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Offer valid on First 44 and First 53 models

Until 31 May 2024

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Limited offer on the First 36 model

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Claus, owner of a First 36

“Cruising suddenly became more fun“

Models of the range

40.7 yacht for sale

Length Overall

4.3 m / 14’1’’

Beam overall

1.7 m / 5’7’’

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7.29 m / 23’ 11’’

2.5 m / 8’ 2’’

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7.99 m / 26’ 3’’

2.54 m / 8’ 4’’

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10.97 m / 36'0"

3.8 m / 12'6''

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14.65 m / 48’1’’

4.25 m / 13'11''

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17.12 m / 56’2’’

5 m / 16’5’’

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Former First

"We would redesign the sail plan, keel, interior layout, and shape of the coachroof with André Mauric, and it would be called the First. Nobody was expecting this. We showed the First at the Paris Boat Show and it was a revelation. It would become a legendary class. This was the boat that would really open the way for export. "

Annette Roux - 130 years of commitment to the sea  (1980)

40.7 yacht for sale

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Beneteau First 47.7 ** NOW SOLD **

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COMMENTS

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    Beneteau First 40.7 boats for sale 15 Boats Available. Currency $ - USD - US Dollar Sort Sort Order List View Gallery View Submit. Advertisement. Save This Boat. Beneteau First 40.7 . Buffalo, New York. 1999. $59,000 Seller RCR Buffalo 26. Contact. 716-271-5347. ×. Save This Boat. Beneteau First 40.7 . Chicago, Illinois. 1999. $ ...

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    Description. 1999 Beneteau First 40.7. A Farr designed racer/cruiser. A proper duel-purpose boat. Features like removable cockpit seat/lockers that open the cockpit for racing and when cruising provide seating for guests. With a PHRF of 54 she shows an excellent turn of speed. This boat is all but turnkey and MAC ready.

  7. BENETEAU FIRST 40.7 sailing yacht for sale

    General - BENETEAU FIRST 40.7. GRP sailing yacht Beneteau First 40.7 "Fodiator", built in 2001 by Beneteau in France. Dim.: Loa 12,26 m (Lwl 10.62 m) x 3,78 m x 1.90 m, headway: 18,50 m, Farr Yacht design, CE: A, GRP hull, superstructure and deck, teak deck and teak in cockpit. Hull: solid glass fibre/GRP with open structural hull liner ...

  8. FIRST 40.7

    Description. Specifications. Keen racers make no mistake: Bruce Farr & Associates hull, slender appendages, cockpit ergonomics, high aspect ratio sail plan, etc. The First 40.7 offers a greater number of firsts! Naval designer : Farr Yacht Design.

  9. Beneteau 40.7

    Beneteau 40.7 Interior Layout. The centerpiece of the saloon is a 44″ long, double-leafed table situated amidships with seating on 3″ thick cushions on each side of the boat. With leafs down, there is unimpeded room to move forward, though racers complain it occupies space that could be used for sausage bags.

  10. Beneteau First 40.7 review: from the archive

    Lines are well laid out, with a long traveller forward of the wheel and plenty of winches. The Beneteau First 40.7 isn't quite as stiff as the X-Yachts X-41, but aluminium spars and Dyform ...

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    Beneteau First 40.7. Marina Del Rey, California. 2002. $106,900 (Sale Pending) Coming from the most successful sailboat manufacturer in the World, Beneteau hit a home run with the introduction of the do-anything, go anywhere, racer/cruiser: Beneteau First 40.7. Over 800 Beneteau 40.7s built world wide, designed by the legendary Bruce Farr and ...

  12. Perry Design Review: Beneteau First 40.7

    The hull shape of the 40.7 features a moderate D/L of 162 and a wedgelike planform with lots of beam aft. The tip of the transom is close to the DWL. One photo shows the boat with a nice, big, frothy bone in its tail, and the bow cleanly slicing through the chop. Two keels are offered, drawing 7 feet 9 inches or 6 feet 2 inches.

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    Beneteau First 40.7 boats for sale 16 Boats Available. Currency £ - GBP - British Pound Sort Sort Order List View Gallery View Submit. Advertisement. Save This Boat. Beneteau First 40.7 . bastia, France, Côtes-d'Armor, France. 2002. £72,519 Seller PAULINE PANCHAIRI (corse marine conseil) 48. Contact +337 84 60 55 63. ×. New Arrival ...

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  15. Beneteau First

    The First sailing yachts are designed to make sailing easy and exciting, so that everyone can enjoy the sailing experience. They are reassuringly stable, even in a good breeze, and they are always safe and a pleasure to sail, no matter how big or small your crew is. Sail hoisting manoeuvres are fluid. Sailing is safe and effortless.

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  19. FIRST 40.7 (BENETEAU)

    Farr design #354. Shallow draft version with Iron Keel - draft: 6.17'/1.88m. Not the same as an earlier (1994) Beneteau model called the IMS 40.7.

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    Roberts Spray 42 AU $85,000. Leopard Catamarans 48 AU $949,000. Meridian 459 Motoryacht AU $395,000. Go Back. Search for more boats. Beneteau First 47.7. This vessel has only had two owners since new. The current owners purchased her in France in 2008 and have cruised extensively,...Find out more.

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