A yacht in the mid 40-foot range is for me an ideal size, providing sufficient accommodation without falling into the category of a ‘big’ boat, where the loads go up, along with the number of crew required to handle her.
The First 44 is presented in two main versions: First 44 and First 44 Performance, each with different deck plans and options for keels and masts. The yacht comes with a fine pedigree, having won the British Yachting Awards 2023 for Performance Yacht of the Year. With such an accolade, I was keen to see how it performed and whether it would provide all the features I expect in a comfortable cruiser.
Test day
We were planning on a test day with some wind which proved a little difficult to find in the middle of winter with a huge high-pressure system that had been reluctant to move off to the east. Our review was a game of two halves – light south-easterlies to start with and then a gorgeous late Friday afternoon breeze filling in from the south for the second half.
The boat left the dock at 36 Degrees Brokers with three crew onboard and motored out to Bean Rock where we could shoot some action shots from the drone. Motoring in calm conditions with the 57hp Yanmar diesel proved effortless, the First 44 slipping along at an easy eight knots.
The view from the chase boat showed the yacht’s generous beam carried right aft with a very rounded, soft chine running the length of the hull. The hull cutaway curve is cleverly disguised from some angles but when the light catches it right, it is obvious to see. This hull turn reduces the boat’s beam at the waterline, reducing its wetted surface area while still maintaining internal volume and form stability. Twin rudders allow the wide aft sections to lift when heeled but leave one rudder always fully immersed.
The review boat is the First 44 version, fitted with the standard keel option with a draft 2.15m. There are two mast options: a standard aluminium rig or a carbon fibre mast which is 1.5m taller and adds 15m2 of sail area. The test boat had the aluminium rig, which – as Jono Bakker from 36 Degrees Brokers explained – was a conscious trade-off between price versus performance for the New Zealand market.
The sails were made locally by North Sails and included a grey NPL Tour mainsail, genoa and furling gennaker, which offer performance and ease of handling with a small crew. An interesting feature was the locally made furling zip-up stack-pack for the mainsail by Craft Covers and Interiors. When the mainsail is raised the stack-pack rolls up and neatly zips along the boom, leaving a compact small bulge which doesn’t flop about in the breeze. A bit of good Kiwi ingenuity there!
Sailing
The first part of the afternoon we went looking for breeze – an elusive line on the water that kept receding away from us. With the few zephyrs we found, the boat moved easily enough, showing good light wind potential. However, it was not great for getting dynamic action shots.
The wind finally kicked in at around 15 knots and the boat responded immediately, heeling over as we headed upwind to gain some room to hoist the gennaker. The windward rudder came clear of the water at times as the boat made full use of the wide hull.
Although not fitted on the test boat, there is a water ballast option for added stability adding 350kg at the push of a button to compensate for not having a full race crew aboard.
Turning downwind, the furling gennaker was deployed and the yacht accelerated easily, getting along at upwards of 10 knots. From our chase boat was a great sight, always in control even with a crew of three, and leaving a clean wake as she moved nicely through the water.
Having completed the external photography, I transferred aboard for the sail back upwind. Fifteen knots eased back to about 10 knots and the boat felt light on the helm, responding nicely to changes in wind pressure as they came through. We made steady progress at between 6 and 7 knots at a good height to the wind.
There is an adjustable levelling platform for the helmsperson if needed and there’s good vision across the whole deck as no dodger was fitted. As a cruiser, a dodger would be the first item I would add so there’s a chance to shelter from the elements. Still, for round the buoys racing the current setup is ideal.
The yacht was fitted with four Harken winches, one of them electric to make halyard hoisting easier, and the cabin top has reinforced mounting points for additional racing winches if desired. The double spreader fractional rig has a hydraulic backstay tensioner on a split backstay while the forestay has a manual under-deck furler for the genoa. The genoa track runs along the edge of the cabin side, which leaves the side decks completely free of any obstacles and a pronounced upstand (bulwark) on the deck edge provides security when working on deck in a seaway. All halyards were lead aft through covered slots giving a very clean deck.
The First 44’s cockpit is large with plenty of room for crew action when required and comfortable for six or more seated and relaxing around the folding cockpit table. Teak overlay on the cockpit sole provides good grip and a nice nautical feel.
Twin steering pedestals housed the Garmin instrumentation package, along with electronic engine controls and buttons for the retractable bow thruster. All the instruments were clear and easy to view.
The transom hinges down to expose a dinghy compartment, which will accommodate a two-metre inflatable stowed sideways. Dropped down, it also provides a convenient boarding platform.
Below decks
The layout below offers twin double quarter-berths, an L-shaped galley to port, a central dining table with seating for six opposite a single settee/berth with nav station at the end. Curved corners on all the cabinetry is a welcome point of difference. The main head and shower are housed close to the companionway.
Forward is the master double cabin with its own ensuite – nice and bright with the hull windows and overhead hatch.
The mast support is through the middle of the saloon by the table, dictated by the mast position which optimises sailing performance. However, the support is in the least intrusive location, leaving access to both sides of the saloon table unimpeded.
The Yanmar diesel is housed under the cockpit floor, conveniently accessed by lifting the companionway steps for servicing.
The galley has a gas Eno cooktop and oven and an electric under-bench fridge/freezer accessed either through the bench top or an opening door below.
The ambience below is warm and relaxing, with teak trim nicely offsetting the off-white interior. A noticeable feature is the layered panelling around the main cabin hull windows, which gives a three-dimensional effect.
Add-ons
The boat as tested was presented in a form yet to be optimised by the requirements of its future owner. In addition to selecting additional sails for optimal cruising, I would consider a dodger and bimini and solar charging to decrease the need for engine battery charging.
On the other hand, if round the buoys racing is a higher priority, then more winches and additional race sails would move up the priority list. The test boat is moded as a performance cruiser, fitted with the standard polyester bowsprit and aluminium rig. For sportier looks and enhanced performance customers can opt for a longer 1.5m carbon bowsprit, carbon rig and bigger sails.
And if you’re after the full-out racing version with the carbon rig, then you can put in your factory order through 36 Degrees.
Overall, Beneteau has produced a good looking, practical performance yacht easily handled by a smaller crew and with most of the necessary requirements for comfortable coastal cruising holidays. For more serious offshore sailing the boat can be spec’d up with added sails, a dodger and safety gear.
I’ll be interested to see how this yacht performs in local races, but from what I experienced, if sailed to her potential, she will certainly be competitive.
