Beneteau First 10 R Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 10 R introduced a strut-and-bulb T-keel to the First line. It combines iron in the faired strut with lead in the streamlined bulb, reducing wetted surface and putting more weight lower down. The keel placement shifts the longitudinal center of buoyancy well aft—around 56 percent, versus the norm of 53 or so—which helps the bow cut through waves without burying. A deep, high-aspect rudder completes the underwater package.

The hullform has straight waterlines for easy acceleration and a firm bilge for sail-carrying power. When the boat heels, it can also gain sailing length.

Sailing World notes that the 10 R was the first model built using Beneteau’s proprietary “One Shot” infusion process, in which the hull and structure are molded at the same time. The hull and deck are balsa-cored, except below the waterline and under deck fittings, where solid glass is used. The single-shot hull molding affects the bilge arrangement: instead of a central sump, the boat has four self-contained bins beneath the cabin sole, with no limber holes.

The large wheel is linked directly to the quadrant. An open transom and a 63-inch wheel housed in a well mark the 10 R as a serious racing boat.

Rig, Deck Layout, and Handling

A Hall Spars carbon-fiber spar sets the 10 R apart; Practical Sailor judged it the smallest production boat to carry one. The rig uses a relatively large headsail to maximize performance while minimizing its rating. One-design rules specify a chute of about 1,150 square feet and a furling jib with 145 percent overlap.

The headsail’s Harken furler sits belowdecks. The Harken mainsheet traveler is 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, while Lewmar 40s handle the halyards.

Test sailors found the acceleration closer to that of a dinghy than a boat with bunks: whenever windspeed increased by 10 to 20 percent, speed jumped by a knot or more. Owners reported that the boat was first to the weather mark in all seven races of the PHRF championships.

The 10 R is quite sensitive to mainsail trim, however. Better headsail trim also requires creative sheeting inboard of the shrouds with barber haulers.

Accommodations

For a 33-footer built to race, the 10 R has a large, bright interior with ample volume and clever accommodations that make sleeping aboard practical.

Farr Yacht Design placed the head on the centerline in the forepeak. This creates 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.

Amidships, there’s a compact galley to port and the mandatory nav station to starboard. The saloon has a large drop-leaf table and settee berths. Aft, a platform double to starboard and a generous single to port provide double-cabin berthing. Placing the head forward allows both aft berths to sit farther forward, keeping weight out of the stern.

Known Issues

The driver has limited access to the mainsheet. Testers couldn’t work out how to trim it without reaching between the wheel spokes.

The cabin trunk extends far enough aft that the genoa and jib tracks sit farther outboard than ideal. As a result, the 10 R needs jib inhaulers to bring the clew inboard around the shrouds.

The high-aspect T-keel has also proved prone to snagging lobster and crab traps, as well as kelp. U.S. dealers told Sailing World that a kelp-cutter design for the keel was in the works.

Below, the four separate bilge bins make routine cleaning a chore. After heavy rain, Practical Sailor’s testers measured water several inches deep in three of the bins.

Early production boats had an uncomfortably high toerail that made hiking painful, although more recent builds have lower toerails. In 12 to 16 knots of true wind, the boat rounded up into the breeze despite the crew’s best efforts, underscoring its sensitivity.

Racing Modifications and Ownership

Robert Oberg’s Annapolis-based 10 R won its 13-boat PHRF 3 class at Acura Key West Race Week, as well as the inaugural PHRF National Championship. To correct a balance issue, Oberg moved the mast butt aft, bringing the center of effort back over the keel. He also changed to a double mainsheet system for greater purchase and trims the jibs harder, Farr 40-style.

Like previous Beneteaus, the 10 R was built to be affordable. Beneteau’s Marion, S.C., plant also built the model.

The Verdict

The First 10 R is a genuine club racer with one-design ambitions and a surprisingly livable interior. Its Farr hull and T-keel provide dinghy-like acceleration and help the bow cut cleanly through waves, while the carbon spar and infused structure keep the package light and firmly focused on racing.

The trade-offs are real. The bilge arrangement is awkward to clean, the driver has trouble reaching the mainsheet, and the keel collects traps and kelp. This is a boat that asks for an engaged owner.

Pros