When Groupe Beneteau decided to create the all-new First 60, which is the largest boat in the First line, they turned to Italian designers Biscontini Yacht Design with Lorenzo Argento handling the exterior and interior styling.
The result, which was unveiled at boot Dusseldorf in Janaury, is perhaps the most modern and revolutionary new boat from Beneteau in a long time. The concept was and is to offer experienced sailors a performance cruiser that can take silver on the racecourse and be a roomy, luxury cruiser when not competing.
Biscontini has delivered a hull with a flat sheer, a low cabin top and a hull that carries its beam all the way aft. The hull has a narrow water plane at the waterline and flares out and up from there. This lowers drag, adds buoyancy for power reaching and volume for interior space, particularly in the after cabins.
The cockpit is huge and divided into the lounging areas forward and the business end aft. The boat can be sailed with only two cockpit winches –presumably electric–since all lines, sheets and halyards run through jammers at each winch.
The main sheet runs to a fixed point on the cockpit sole between the winches and while this creates a good angle to the Park Avenue boom for trimming, it does expose the crew to some hazard during heavy weather jibes. Boom preventers would be a good safety precaution.
Note the walk-around cockpit design that gives crew access to the side decks without having to climb over the coaming. This innovation first appeared on Beneteau’s sister brand Jeanneau several years ago and works very well here.
The layout below is a fairly conventional three-cabin, three-head plan with the master cabin sporting an island double berth placed slightly off center and the head and shower in the fore peak. Due to the hull’s beam aft, the quarter cabin are remarkably spacious.
The saloon has the galley forward where it runs the 60’s full beam. This will be a gourmet’s delight. The dinette is aft and to port and will seat six. Across from it is a centerline cabinet with an L-shaped lounge.
Both the bench settees in the saloon will make good sea berths and space for extra crew when campaigning the boat.
The new First 60 takes performance cruising design to a new level and sailors who have been looking for a boat with a very refined pedigree will find a lot to love here.
