Wednesday, April 27, 2011

First Things First

This "spring" my sailing adventures have all been centered around the "First" series from Beneteau. These versatile "racer/cruisers" have been produced with the same design theory in thought for over thirty years. No matter the size, model, or build-year, the Beneteau First Series delivers a performance-oriented, sailing boat with a comfortable, cruisable interior. The competitive racer can trick the boats out for racing while the cruiser can add heat, windlasses, dodgers to make life aboard more comfortable. All of the boats have hot/cold pressure water, refrigeration, standing headroom, private staterooms and heads, and propane stoves, but the boats really come to life when the sails are out!

The highlight of the year was handing these keys to Mickie Hucke, just before our First sail on First Dance, a 2011 Beneteau First 35. This is a new model for Beneteau and First Dance is the first hull to be sailing on the west coast of the US. The boat was built in France and arrived beautifully despite enduring her first gale in Montana on the way here. The Huckes tricked this one out with a grey hull, a furnace, a windlass and beautiful set of North 3DL sails. Look for her on the race course around Tacoma and at Opening Day on dock "0" at SYC. The boat is very nice to sail, with a big steering wheel that I really didn't want to let go of....I'm hoping for another ride soon.

About two weeks later, our 2011 Beneteau First 30 showed up. This thing looks fast at the dock with a hard chine running the length of the boat, big tall mast with swept spreaders, no backstay and a full beam-width traveller running on the transom. I was drooling to sail her and now have had several exciting sails on the "big" 30 footer. Indeed, the boat has taken its design from the Volvo 70s, and Rambler 100, ex Speedboat, both excellent performing boats drawn by Juan K who designed this new First 30. She has had the sailing press impressed, and while the cover of Sailing World had her showing off her sailing abilities, the interior impressed Cruising World enough to award her, Boat of the Year, Best Small Cruiser.I have always been a fan of the First 36.7 which has just finished it long and successful run. Although new boats are no longer being produced I am confident that we will keep on hearing about this model through the years as sailors continue to enjoy the performance, comfort and value that can be had in this model. It brought a smile to my face to see the venerable Veloce stay in Puget Sound moving from OAK to GIG harbor, and changing her name to Shinola, Too. Watch out for number 171 on port on the starting line!
If you are on a budget but still looking for a nice sailing boat that can take you to the islands and maybe win a few "beer can" races, take a look at "Roxy" a 1982 Beneteau First 32 that is available for sale, asking $37,900 and lying at my dock. Great little boat with a tiller, furnace, tall mast!!!