Design and Construction
The Figaro 3's hull is a ballast-free foam sandwich of fiberglass and polyester infused resin, a better-performing hull form than its ballasted predecessor, the FB2, which the specifications declare the new boat matches for reliability. The 2.5-meter keel is cast iron with an iron-encased lead bulb and a straight blade that creates minimum drag anchor; Beneteau left it without a fiberglass shell for protection, reasoning that such a shell eventually leaks and forces repairs. The deck and hull use polyester infusion with a mixed CoreCell and balsa core, placing structure where loads concentrate. A full bow section forward prevents the boat from tripping over itself in a seaway, while the side foils—two unmistakable arcing carbon wings projecting from topside slots—were a major tooling investment and are no gimmick. Their inward-facing profile provides drift reduction and improves righting moment without adding motion, and the builder claims mold-to-mold weight discrepancy stays within 40 kilos, with carbon-fiber rig variance of just 50 grams across the first 20 boats and rudder variance under a kilogram.
Rig and Handling
A setback mast, similar in concept to IMOCA 60 practice, balances the boat under sail and permits high-performance sails plus a bowsprit. The carbon-fiber rig carries a wide shroud base and a larger, more extensive sail plan than before. Solo sailors race her with a square-top main, genoa, jib, and a 105-square-meter masthead spinnaker with a small gennaker for light-air speed. Test sailors found the rig the right size for the boat and praised a really positive upwind grip; the leeward foil's bite makes her unusually stiff upwind. The foils do not lift the hull clear of the water but straighten it upright, and in roughly 10 knots the active foil gives a sensation of lightening and righting moment. Twin rudders deliver powerful steering under the big sailplan, and the boat sails like something longer than her 35 feet thanks to volume in the ends. The side foils are fully deployed off the dock and adjusted independently through a block-and-aft purchase to the cockpit, with about five inches of fore-and-aft travel; in light air the adjustment sits neutral to forward.
Accommodations
There is zero intent of comfort below the low-slung deck. Sailing World describes a white, wet, and noisy fiberglass cavern whose bare essentials suit shorthanded distance racing rather than lounging. Two adjustable Class A-compliant piper berths will more likely serve as gear stowage than rest, and the interior is a place to crash in exhaustion rather than relax. The centralized deck layout keeps controls around the cockpit to minimize a shorthanded crew's exposure on deck.
Equipment
Beyond the foil controls, the Figaro 3 carries the Seanapps mobile application and onboard unit, letting an owner check battery charge and tank levels and plan or review routes by smartphone. The class sail inventory specified for Boat of the Year includes a 440-square-foot North Sails 3Di square-top main, J2 and J3 jibs, a furling code zero, and A5- and A2-sized Airex spinnakers. Foil-adjustment lines lead to winches, and tack lines and halyards run through banks of jammers; sets, douses, tacks, and jibes proved easy with four hands or two plus an autopilot.
The Verdict
The Figaro 3 is a serious shorthanded weapon that brought foiling to one-design production sailing without sacrificing the predictability of class racing. She is brutally ascetic below and demands a crew comfortable with carbon wings and centralized controls, but her stiffness, righting moment, and big-boat feel make her a landmark design.
Pros
- First production foiling one-design monohull, built to a guaranteed identical class standard
- Ballast-free hull with slender deep keel and minimum-drag straight blade
- Side foils add righting moment and leeway reduction without extra motion
- Setback carbon rig with wide shroud base and large, versatile sail plan
- Twin rudders and centralized cockpit controls suit solo and doublehanded racing
Cons
- No belowdecks comfort; interior is a wet, noisy cavern for gear and exhaustion
- Keel has no fiberglass shell, relying on bare metal for protection
- Foils adjustable only fore and aft, and not under load
