Beneteau First 10 R Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 10 R introduces a strut-and-bulb T-keel to the First line, an amalgam of iron in the faired strut and lead in the streamlined bulb that reduces wetted surface and allows more weight to be put lower anchor. The keel placement shifts the longitudinal center of buoyancy well aft — around 56 percent versus the norm of 53 or so — helping the bow cut through waves without burying. A deep, high-aspect rudder completes the package. The hullform uses straight waterlines for easy acceleration and a firm bilge for sail-carrying power and the capacity to gain sailing length when heeled. Sailing World notes the 10 R is the first model built using Beneteau's proprietary "One Shot" infusion process, in which the hull and structure are molded at the same time, with the hull and deck balsa cored except below the waterline and under deck fittings where solid glass is used anchor. The single-shot hull molding impacts the bilge arrangement: rather than a central sump, the boat has four self-contained bins beneath the cabin sole, with no limber holes. The big wheel is linked directly to the quadrant, and the open transom with a 63-inch wheel housed in a well marks the 10 R as super-serious.

Rig and Handling

A carbon-fiber spar from Hall Spars sets the 10 R apart — Practical Sailor judged it the smallest boat to carry one. The rig uses a relatively large headsail to maximize performance and minimize rating, and one-design rules peg the chute at about 1,150 square feet with a furling jib at 145 percent overlap. The headsail's Harken furler sits belowdecks, and the Harken mainsheet traveler sits immediately forward of the wheel with fine and gross-trim backstay controls within the trimmer's reach on either tack. Twin Lewmar 46 winches handle headsail trim and Lewmar 40s the halyards. Test sailors found acceleration closer to a dinghy than a boat with bunks, with jumps of a knot or more whenever windspeed rose 10 to 20 percent. Owners report the boat was first to the weather mark in all seven races of the PHRF championships. The 10 R is, however, quite sensitive to mainsail trim, and requires creative sheeting inboard of the shrouds — barber hauling — for better headsail trim.

Accommodations

For a 33-footer built to race, the 10 R's interior is big and bright with ample volume and clever accommodations that make it a boat you can sleep aboard. Farr Yacht Design laid out a smart interior: the head sits on centerline in the forepeak, creating one of the best spinnaker-retrieval and launching spaces on any production boat, with a large half-moon hatch and a drain in the sole for wet spinnakers. The carbon spinnaker pole retracts into a fiberglass sheath sealed by rubber gaskets. A compact galley to port and mandatory nav station to starboard sit amidships; the saloon has a big dropleaf table and settee berths. Aft, a platform double to starboard and generous single to port form the double-cabin berthing. The head-forward layout keeps both aft berths further forward, holding weight out of the stern.

Known Issues

The driver has limited access to the mainsheet — testers could not figure how to trim it without reaching between the spokes. The cabin trunk extends far enough that the genoa and jib tracks are pushed outboard of ideal position, and the 10 R requires jib inhaulers to sheet the clew inboard around the shrouds. The high-aspect T-keel proved problematic for snagging lobster and crab traps and kelp. The bilge setup with four separate bins makes routine cleaning a pain; after a heavy rain, Practical Sailor's testers measured water several inches deep in three of those bins anchor. Early production boats had an uncomfortably high toerail that made hiking painful, though more recent builds have lower toerails. In 12 to 16 knots true, the boat rounded up into the breeze despite best efforts, underscoring its sensitivity.

Refits and Ownership

Robert Oberg's Annapolis-based 10 R won its 13-boat PHRF 3 class at Acura Key West Race Week and the inaugural PHRF National Championship. To fix a balance issue, Oberg moved the mast butt aft to bring the center of effort back over the keel, and changed to a double mainsheet system for higher purchase. He also trims jibs harder, Farr 40-style. U.S. dealers told Sailing World a kelp-cutter design for the T-keel is in the works. Like previous Beneteaus, the 10 R is built to be affordable, with the Marion, S.C., plant also building the model.

The Verdict

The First 10 R is a genuine club racer with one-design ambition and a surprisingly livable interior. Its Farr hull and T-keel deliver dinghy-like acceleration and wave-cutting poise, while the carbon spar and infused structure keep it light and serious. The trade-offs are real: fiddly bilge access, mainsheet reach issues, and a keel that collects traps demand an engaged owner.

Pros