Design and Construction
Farr's brief demanded strong IRC performance, and the hull answers with a deliberate weight strategy: ballast low and concentrated, savings everywhere else. The T-bulb keel places the centre of gravity as low as possible while giving the fin its greatest effective span, and the design began with careful positioning of the centre of buoyancy to achieve a slippery yet seaworthy shape anchor. Reducing wetted surface was a stated priority. Beneteau built the boat as a durable production racer-cruiser to a price, using an Infujection process that fuses hull and internal floor structure in one operation through combined infusion and injection in inner and outer moulds; the builder claims this yields tighter resin-to-fibre accuracy and consistent weight anchor. The deck is injection-moulded for a clean interior finish with no liner, and chain plates tie to mini-bulkheads that carry load straight to the keel.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig gives fine control over sail trim and accepts overlapping headsails to 150 percent, while a carbon retractable bowsprit—a first for Beneteau—is standard. A carbon mast with rod rigging was a costly option, and nearly all of the first 60 boats built in 2006 carried it instead of the alloy standard. Downwind, the masthead asymmetric spinnaker packs 980 square feet, and testers described the boat as having the sprightly feel of a bowsprit-blaster, clocking 7 to 9 knots in 10–14 knots of true breeze. Upwind the deep 6.56-foot draft and 38.07 percent ballast ratio give pointing ability and stiffness for aggressive sailing, yet the small rudder—a deliberate IRC trade-off to cut drag—means she is prone to losing grip and rounding up if not kept on her feet, with little warning before the stall anchor. The helm itself feels solid and dependable, with lock-to-lock of just over half a turn.
Accommodations
Inside, the emphasis stays on weight savings without dropping essentials. The saloon has settee berths either side of a fixed table using the hull sides as seat backs, and the galley to port plus a small nav station opposite both carry generous stowage. Anchor, chain, and warp stow under the companionway floor, while two double cabins under the cockpit can be open-plan or with the starboard side enclosed as an owner's cabin. A beamy open transom and long cockpit give the crew room to work, and the cockpit is deep enough for occasional family cruising with decent lockers. The heads sit forward of the mast, keeping bow weight down and doubling as a wet area for spinnaker retrieval through the foredeck hatch.
Known Issues
Beyond the rudder's low-speed bite, period testing noted a control-line layout less refined than the X-Yachts X-35, with the fine-tune block and jammer better placed on the mainsheet car than the pedestal moulding. Cross-sheeting the spinnaker to the secondary winches chafes the sheet on the cockpit coamings, one stanchion complicates genoa skirting upwind, and the solid kicker blocks the 20/20 displays.
The Verdict
The First 34.7 is a focused IRC racer-cruiser that punches above its length in light air and downwind, yet asks for an attentive helm and offers only moderate comfort in a seaway.
Pros
- Farr-designed T-bulb hull with low wetted surface and strong upwind pointing
- Standard carbon bowsprit and large asymmetric spinnaker for lively downwind speed
- Integrated Infujection structure with clean, liner-free deck finish
Cons
- Small rudder trades low-speed control for downwind drag reduction
- Simple interior best suited to weekend and short coastal use, not heavy offshore
- Several minor deck-gear ergonomics need owner refinement
