The Beneteau First 30E Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Beneteau First 30E

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 30'6" (9.3m)

Waterline Length: 26'11" (8.2m)

Beam: 10'8" (3.3m)

Draft: 5'6" (1.7m)

Rig Type: Masthead Sloop

Displacement: 7,055lb (3,200kg)

Designer: Jean Berret

Builder: Beneteau (France)

Year First Built: 1981

Year Last Built: 1984

Number Built: 443

Owners Association: Beneteau Owners Club

Published Design Ratios for the Beneteau First 30E

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.1

• Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
• 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
• Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 40.6

• Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
• Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 161

• Under 100: Ultralight
• 100 to 200: Light
• 200 to 275: Moderate
• 275 to 350: Heavy
• Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 16.6

• Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
• 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
• 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
• 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
• Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.2

• Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
• Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

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Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Beneteau First 30E

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.1 suggests that the Beneteau First 30E will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 40.6 means that the Beneteau First 30E will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 161, tells us the Beneteau First 30E is clearly a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer dramatically.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 16.6 suggests that the Beneteau First 30E will have the motion underway to that of a lightweight racing boat. Crew comfort will often be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Upwind in lively conditions the Beneteau First 30E will be tender and slam enough to shake your fillings out with a motion that most cruising sailors have no desire to get used to.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.2 tells us that a Beneteau First 30E would not be a good choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.