Beneteau brings clutch of new models to market

Beneteau, with Seascape, is presenting three new members of the 7th generation of First – the 24 and 27 are sports cruisers, while the 14 is a dinghy. The company says these are designed for sailors who enjoy club racing as much as cruising while offering simpler systems, aluminium masts, more comfortable interiors and cockpits geared towards daysailing and coastal cruising than the First SE . . . which also has four new models debuting.

Beneteau says the First 24 is a smart pocket cruiser. Sleeping up to four persons it has a completely retractable keel which provides the possibility to launch and recover on an ordinary slipway.

At 8m, the First 27, Beneteau says, ‘is the fastest and safest cruiser of her size’ and offers inboard Yanmar engine, separated marine toilet, galley, fridge and up to six berths.

The First 14, a double-handed dinghy, introduces ‘the modern world of fast and planing dinghies to novice sailors’ says Beneteau. ‘She is a light, fast and exciting dinghy designed with the sailor in mind. The promise of an accessible, easy-to-handle and, foremost, fun sailboat is fulfilled with the design, building technology and quality materials that also simplify maintenance.’

In addition, a new product line of the First SE – Seascape Edition, consisting of four models: 14SE, 18SE, 24SE and 27SE, has been created. These craft ‘encourage and empower sailors to expand their comfort zone,’ bringing ‘the cutting edge of racing into the amateur sailors’ hands’.

First 14 SE – Seascape Edition is designed for dinghy sailors who want to push themselves further and offers an extra layer of performance and high-tech, says Beneteau. She delivers the excitement, speed and fun of a high-performance racing skiff in a modern, accessible, safe and easy-to-handle package. The build quality and the high-tech materials allow the boat to be pushed in stronger winds, while additional sail area empowers the sailor in light wind conditions. The mast, boom and bowsprit are made of carbon fibre while upwind sails are built from laminate cloth.

The 18 SE is a sailboat for people who want to start exploring sailing and grow into well-versed sailors whether in one design club racing or adventure sailing. With 500 First 18 SE – Seascape Editions sold worldwide, she is a perfect sport boat for recreational sailors who would like to challenge themselves in well-established one-design class, says Beneteau. Her wide flat hull and twin rudders cannot hide the offshore DNA which offers complete control even when planing at double-digit speeds. Boat handling and deck organisation are simplified as much as possible with a snuffer system, furling jib and carbon mast without backstays. It has a small, but still large enough cabin to accommodate two adults.

The First 24 SE is a high-tech sport cruiser, featuring a carbon rig. This not only reduces the weight aloft but also removes the need for a backstay which simplifies manoeuvres and allows the boat to carry a sizeable square-top mainsail. This results in a combination of very high sail area / displacement ratio which allows sailors to have fun in lightest wind.

The First 27 SE (main image) – a Samuel Manuard designed all-weather, vacuum infused one-design offshore racer and adventure cruiser – is built entirely in sandwich construction. Sailors can challenge themselves on one-design long-distance races, says Beneteau, or enjoy fast adventure cruises in the best sailing spots. A marine toilet, up to six berths with separated front cabin, optional galley and a fridge combined with other practicalities make her an ultimate adventure cruiser for sailing connoisseurs.

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