There’s a glassy calm, without a ripple on the water, yet we’re slipping along on the new Beneteau First 44 under Code 0 at four knots of boat speed. Of course, there’s a zephyr of breeze at the masthead, but even then this wouldn’t have been possible in a 44ft yacht weighing 10 tonnes a decade or two ago.

The Beneteau First 44 is a great example of the recent shift towards designs that are rewarding to sail in very light airs. This makes sense whether you’re based in southern England or the Mediterranean – in both cases summer winds are statistically Force 3 or less for at least 50% of the time.

A boat that will sail well in light airs is therefore to be welcomed and reduces the amount of tedious motoring needed to maintain acceptable speeds on passage. In the past good light airs performance was all too often a result of an oversized rig, or lack of ballast, and therefore came at the expense of ability in stronger winds.

However, that’s not the case with this boat. Conceptually, it’s very much like a smaller version of the Benteau First 53, which is well proven in heavy weather. It benefits from a hull shape with very high form stability, along with a choice of deep, low centre of gravity keels.

First 44 performs well in light airs. Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget

Naval architect Roberto Biscontini gave the new design a proportionately narrower waterline beam and consequently a slightly deeper canoe body with a little more rocker. These are changes that promote the light airs performance at the expense of early surfing and only marginally reduce form stability.

In addition, there’s an option for 300lt of water ballast each side – equivalent to four people sitting on the rail. The system is commendably simple with the tanks filled and emptied individually using electric pumps operated from the helm stations. This takes three to four minutes, so is not designed for short tacking, but is perfect for a long beat or when fully powered up on a reach.

The helm stations have a bench seat that allows you to steer while sitting facing forward, as well as decent folding foot chocks for use when standing. Instrument pods are of a generous size with space for MFD, compass, engine, thruster and windlass controls.

In a little more breeze we made a solid 6 knots in only 7-8 knots of true wind, with occasional bursts of 7.5 knots boat speed in stronger puffs. Helm positions are great, with a good view of the headsail luff, whether standing up or sitting on the coaming outboard of the wheel. In these conditions many yachts lack positive feel in the helm, but steering was finger-light, responsive and rewarding throughout.

Our test version of the Beneteau First 44 was the cruising version, which has a 1m-long bowsprit with integrated anchor stowage, plus provision for tacking a Code 0 halfway along it and asymmetric spinnakers at the end. It was also fitted with the optional carbon two-spreader mast, with discontinuous rod rigging and textile backstay with Harken hydraulics. This is 1.8m taller than the standard rig, which adds 11m2 to upwind sail area and around 10% to the size of the Code 0 and spinnakers. The boat was also fitted with the lighter, but deeper 2.6m draught keel, with iron fin and lead torpedo bulb.

water ballast option gives additional stability equivalent to four crew on the rail. Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget

All lines are led aft through conduits to banks of clutches and stoppers, as well as a pair of winches, including electric primaries, ahead of the helm stations. There’s a below deck furler for the headsail, while sheets lead via conventional towed jib tracks on the coachroof. The German-style mainsheet is taken to a single point on the cockpit sole between the wheels and is operated by winches on the coaming each side, just ahead of the helm stations.

Transom bathing platform folds down electrically. Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget

Extra oomph

The Performance version adds two extra winches in the pit area, with a bank of clutches and diverters each side for cross winching, plus a longer 1.5m carbon sprit. It also has smaller tanks, no windlass or associated battery, and lithium service batteries to minimise weight.

There’s only one small step up to the side deck from behind and outboard the helm stations, but there’s no lowered working area on the side deck outboard of the winches. The deep moulded toerail is effective, but during manoeuvres and when sail handling crewmembers are likely to opt to stand inside the cockpit ahead of the helm stations, where there’s limited foot room. Rope bags, rather than bins, are provided but are of limited capacity.

Saloon is large and bright. There’s good stowage below the seats, and the dinette can seat six. Photo: Nicolas Claris

There are shallow cockpit lockers under the aft section of the cockpit seats, plus a gas locker under the cockpit sole where it’s easily accessed. The liferaft is stowed under the forward section of the cockpit, which is neat in some ways, but means it must be manoeuvred past the table before it can be launched.

The sail locker is relatively small, measuring little more than a couple of feet fore and aft, but offers room for reaching sails, a heavy weather jib, plus some lines and fenders. The wide transom includes a bathing platform that folds down electrically to reveal a small tender garage, which also has space for fenders, lines, and other paraphernalia.

Beneteau First 44 down below

Below decks designer Lorenzo Argento has retained a similar concept and layout to the Beneteau First 53. Small changes include extending the dinette to give space for six people to dine, and there’s generally more efficient use of space, including good stowage below the seats.

Forward cabin has a peninsula double bed but lacks stowage. Photo: Nicolas Claris

The saloon is a wonderfully large and bright space that occupies the full width of the hull and benefits from excellent eye-level hull windows. In addition to the dinette to port, there’s a 1.9m-long settee (with optional lee cloth) to starboard, the aft end of which doubles as a seat for a small aft facing navstation.

The classic L-shaped galley has good fiddles, adequate worktop space, a very large top and front opening fridge, plus a single bowl sink and decent stowage. The forward en suite cabin has a peninsula bed, but not a great deal of stowage, while the two identical aft cabins are of a decent size and have reasonable natural light, but only two small opening ports for ventilation.

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