Overview
The Beneteau First 47.7 is a Bruce Farr racer-cruiser built by Beneteau, built from 2000 according to sailboatdata.com. Its place in this catalog rests on its ocean racing record: 24 different boats of the design have finished ocean races in the official results (Newport Bermuda Race, Sydney Hobart).
Design and Construction
sailboatdata.com lists the underbody as fin with bulb and spade rudder, 47 ft overall on a 41.33 ft waterline, with 14.75 ft of beam and 7.58 ft of draft. Displacement is about 25,353 lb with 8,444 lb of ballast, and the fractional sloop carries about 1,033 sq ft. Practical Sailor’s reviewer says the First 47.7 came in a wide variety of keels, sail plans and interior layouts. The rig is a 9/10ths fractional with three spreaders and a keel-stepped mast, and mast height tops out at 69 ft, so the boat is not ICW-friendly. The First series moved to latticework moldings for the structural matrix in the hull, bonded and glassed in, and the laminate combines chopped strand mat and woven roving.
Ocean Racing Record
Chancellor (Edward Tooher (7) NSW) finished the Sydney Hobart (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019). Imagination (Robin Hawthorn) finished the Sydney Hobart (2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019). Ausreo (Ian Creak (1) NSW) finished the Sydney Hobart (2014, 2016, 2018). Kioni (Andrew Lygo (6) NSW) finished the Sydney Hobart (2005, 2011, 2012). Other finishers include Enigma, Sintara, Pretty Fly II, Antipodes, Elektra, Shere Khan.
On deck the reviewer found a single large wheel, with the mainsheet traveler in the cockpit where racers will like it and guests will not. The wheel obstructs movement to the aft end of the cockpit and use of the stern gate. Four Lewmar self-tailing winches sit on the coaming for the foresails, and two more on the coach roof handle halyards and mainsail adjustments. The teak decks and substantial teak toe rails add maintenance on boats now more than 20 years old.
Below, Practical Sailor liked the forward-facing nav station, whose table extends along the back of the settee, and handholds throughout the main cabin including both sides of the companionway. The pullman-style forward cabin trades the V-berth for a twin mattress to starboard, a settee to port and a roomy head, though the reviewer found that berth bouncy at anchor in a chop. A Yanmar 4J sits under the companionway steps. Three of these boats placed second, third and fourth in IRC Class 1 at the Hamble Series.
