Beneteau First Class Solo
Description
The Beneteau First Class Solo (also known as the First-Class Challenge) is a compact fractional sloop designed by Groupe Finot and Jean Berret specifically as a one-design racer for single-handed sailing events like France's prestigious Figaro Solo race. Built by Beneteau in France starting in 1989, it's a development of the earlier Figaro Solo, featuring a shorter rig and no running backstays for simplified solo handling. With limited production (exact numbers unknown but under 100 hulls), it's a rare vintage performer emphasizing agility, stability, and ease for offshore solo challenges.
Construction Details
| Designer | Groupe Finot et Jean Berret |
|---|---|
| Builder | Beneteau |
| Length | 29.990 ft |
| LOA | 29.990 ft |
| LWL | 27.560 ft |
| Beam | 10.660 ft |
| Displacement | 5291 lb |
| Ballast | 1984 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.920 ft |
| Year Built | 1989 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 43.08 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 11.02 ft |
| p | 42.06 ft |
| e | 14.47 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.08 ft | 11.02 ft | 42.06 ft | 14.47 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Beneteau First Class Solo - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 42.06 ft - (12820 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.47 ft - (4410 mm) |
| Leech | * 43.6 ft - (13289 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 44 ft - (13411 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 310.69 ft² |
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Beneteau First Class Solo - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 35.57 ft - (10842 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.14 ft - (4310 mm) |
| Leech | * 31.91 ft - (9726 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 114.97 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 12.67 ft - (3862 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.03 ° |
| Area | * 225.3 ft² |
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Beneteau First Class Solo - GENOA
| Luff | 42.24 ft - (12875 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.42 ft - (5310 mm) |
| Leech | * 40.29 ft - (12280 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.53 ft - (5038 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.05 ° |
| Area | * 349.11 ft² |
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Beneteau First Class Solo - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 42.24 ft - (12875 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.18 ft - (5541 mm) |
| Leech | * 38.86 ft - (11845 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 576 ft² |
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Beneteau First Class Solo - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 42.24 ft - (12875 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 19.84 ft - (6047 mm) |
| Foot | * 19.84 ft - (6047 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 712 ft² |
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Beneteau First Class Solo - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 24.46 ft - (7455 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 7.91 ft - (2411 mm) |
| Leech | * 21.17 ft - (6453 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 59.98 % |
| Length Perp | * 6.61 ft - (2015 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 18.99 ° |
| Area | * 80.82 ft² |
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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.