Beneteau First Class 12
Description
The Beneteau First Class 12 is a high-performance fractional sloop designed by Jean Berret as an IOR monotype for international racing, particularly the Admiral's Cup, and built by Beneteau in France from 1983 to 1984. As a limited-production racer (only about 20–30 hulls, with 12 built specifically for the 1983 Admiral's Cup French team), it represents Beneteau's early push into offshore one-design competition, blending speed, seaworthiness, and elegance in a fiberglass hull with a poly core for lightness and strength. It's a cult favorite among vintage racers for its balanced handling and classic lines, often compared to the J/35 for PHRF competitiveness. Owners describe it as "a purebred racer with cruiser soul," ideal for club fleets or coastal passages.
Construction Details
| Designer | Jean Berret |
|---|---|
| Builder | Beneteau |
| Length | 39.330 ft |
| LOA | 9.330 ft |
| LWL | 33.800 ft |
| Beam | 12.630 ft |
| Displacement | 13448 lb |
| Ballast | 5952 lb |
| Max Draft | 7.220 ft |
| Year Built | 1983 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 54.45 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 14 ft |
| p | 48.95 ft |
| e | 18.38 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54.45 ft | 14 ft | 48.95 ft | 18.38 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Beneteau First Class 12 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 48.95 ft - (14920 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.38 ft - (5602 mm) |
| Leech | * 51.32 ft - (15642 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 87.99 ° |
| Diagonal | * 51.68 ft - (15752 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 458.5 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Beneteau First Class 12 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 44.98 ft - (13710 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.98 ft - (5480 mm) |
| Leech | * 40.33 ft - (12293 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.1 ft - (4907 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.01 ° |
| Area | * 362.1 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Beneteau First Class 12 - GENOA
| Luff | 53.41 ft - (16279 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.13 ft - (6745 mm) |
| Leech | * 50.96 ft - (15533 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.96 ° |
| Area | * 560.83 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Beneteau First Class 12 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 53.41 ft - (16279 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 23.1 ft - (7041 mm) |
| Leech | * 49.14 ft - (14978 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 925 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Beneteau First Class 12 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 53.41 ft - (16279 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 25.2 ft - (7681 mm) |
| Foot | * 25.2 ft - (7681 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1144 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Beneteau First Class 12 - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 30.92 ft - (9424 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 10.06 ft - (3066 mm) |
| Leech | * 26.74 ft - (8150 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 60 % |
| Length Perp | * 8.4 ft - (2560 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 18.95 ° |
| Area | * 129.88 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.