Beneteau First 45
Description
The Beneteau First 45 (2008–2015), designed by Philippe Briand, is a sleek 46-foot cruiser-racer that masterfully blends high performance with luxurious comfort, making it a favorite for both competitive racing and extended coastal cruising. With a modern hull featuring a sharp entry, wide beam (13'9"), and subtle aft chine for planning, it delivers impressive speed—upwind at 7–8 knots in moderate breeze and reaching 10+ knots downwind with an asymmetric spinnaker—while maintaining stability via a deep fin keel (7'10") or shoal draft option. The fractional rig, twin carbon wheels, and short-handed cockpit layout ensure responsive handling, while the cherry-finished interior offers three cabins, a spacious saloon, and full galley for 6–8 guests. Built with infusion-molded fiberglass and foam core, it’s stiff (38% ballast ratio), durable, and ocean-capable (Comfort Ratio 28–32). Though out of production, its blend of IRC/ORC racing pedigree and family-friendly amenities keeps it highly sought-after on the used market.
Construction Details
| Designer | Philippe Briand |
|---|---|
| Builder | Beneteau |
| Length | 45.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 51.83 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 15.25 ft |
| p | 54.79 ft |
| e | 18.70 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51.83 ft | 15.25 ft | 54.79 ft | 18.70 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Beneteau First 45 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 54.79 ft - (16700 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.7 ft - (5700 mm) |
| Leech | * 57 ft - (17374 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 57.27 ft - (17456 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 523.99 ft² |
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Beneteau First 45 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 43.22 ft - (13173 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 19.94 ft - (6078 mm) |
| Leech | * 38.02 ft - (11588 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.02 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.54 ft - (5346 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.01 ° |
| Area | * 379.01 ft² |
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Beneteau First 45 - GENOA
| Luff | * 51.33 ft - (15645 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 24.41 ft - (7440 mm) |
| Leech | * 48.55 ft - (14798 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150.03 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 22.88 ft - (6974 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | * 587.19 ft² |
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Beneteau First 45 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 51.33 ft - (15645 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 25.16 ft - (7669 mm) |
| Leech | * 47.22 ft - (14393 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 969 ft² |
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Beneteau First 45 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 51.33 ft - (15645 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 27.45 ft - (8367 mm) |
| Foot | * 27.45 ft - (8367 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1198 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.