The design brief aimed to combine the volume and finish of a modern cruiser with rewarding sailing in very light airs. The First 44 measures 14.15–14.65m (46ft 5in–48ft 1in) LOA and offers two distinct deck plans, both paired with the same three-cabin, two-head interior.
Design and Construction
Biscontini developed the hull through the methodical revision process he honed on America’s Cup racers. Rather than using the hard chines found on many high-volume cruisers to increase interior space, the First 44 has a narrow waterline beam with a more rounded canoe body. This reduces wetted surface and works with a fine bow and a stern pinched in at the waterline.
Yachting World notes that the proportionately narrower waterline also produces a slightly deeper canoe body with more rocker, helping the boat remain lively as the breeze fades. High topsides and a wide stern still give it the footprint of a current-generation cruiser, but the twin rudders and lack of chines keep the hull from becoming boxy.
Engineering was handled by Mer Forte, a firm known for high-end blue-water race boats. The yacht is assembled and finished in a dedicated Beneteau workshop rather than on the standard production line.
Rig, Deck Layouts and Handling
The First 44 carries a fractional nine-tenths, two-spreader aluminium rig, with a slender mainsail and generously sized foresails. Beneteau says this modern configuration delivers lively sailing in any conditions. The mast sits farther aft than on many cruisers, while a dual-cylinder Harken hydraulic backstay controls sail shape.
The two deck plans serve different styles of sailing. The cruising deck has four winches, arranged as two pairs on each side, and a fixed centerline mainsheet block, maximizing the sail plan’s potential. It is optimized for shorthanded sailing. The performance version has three pairs of winches around the cockpit, plus two additional pit winches with clutches and diverters for cross-winching. It also gets a longer carbon bowsprit.
The cruising version adds roughly 163 sq ft of canvas over the performance variant. An optional carbon mast stands 1.8m taller than the standard rig and adds 11m² of upwind sail area.
Auxiliary power comes from a 57hp Yanmar engine with saildrive and a three-bladed folding propeller.
Water Ballast and Stability
One of the First 44’s defining options is a pair of 80-gallon ballast tanks, a system derived from Beneteau’s experience with the Figaro 2. Electric pumps fill and empty each tank individually from the helm stations.
The system is simple to operate, but each cycle takes three to four minutes. That makes it better suited to a long beat or powered-up reach than to short tacking. Once filled, the tanks provide righting moment equivalent to several crew members on the rail, without requiring people to hike out.
On the performance version, a deep 2.6m keel combines an iron fin with a lead torpedo bulb. That version is roughly half a tonne lighter than the cruising hull, thanks to smaller tanks, lithium batteries and the absence of a windlass.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cruising cockpit is inviting, with wide side decks drawing inward toward a folding table.
Below, Argento followed a concept close to that of the First 53. The result is a streamlined, well-lit interior finished with white lacquered surfaces, molded woods, indirect lighting and refined upholstery.
The three-cabin, two-head layout places a six-seat saloon table opposite the settee and navigation station. A 1.9m settee to starboard can be fitted with an optional lee cloth. The forward cabin has a peninsula double berth, but stowage is limited—a trade-off created by cabinetry that follows the hull’s shape.
The First 44 carries CE certification for A12/B12/C14 offshore and coastal use.
The Verdict
The First 44 is a superbly competent boat with two distinct sides: it can serve as either a shorthanded cruiser or a lightly crewed performer. Its narrow-waterline hull makes it genuinely rewarding in the light airs that flatten lesser cruiser-racers.
The dedicated build workshop, Mer Forte engineering and Figaro-derived ballast system set it a serious step above a generic production deck. The main caveats are the forward cabin’s limited stowage and a water-ballast system that is poorly suited to tight windward work.
Pros
- Narrow waterline and rounded canoe body reduce wetted surface for better light-air performance
- Two deck layouts cover shorthanded cruising and crewed performance needs
- Electrically controlled water ballast provides the righting moment of crew on the rail without the crew weight
- Dedicated workshop assembly backed by race-boat engineering experience
Cons
- Forward cabin is short on stowage
- Water ballast takes three to four minutes to cycle, making it unsuitable for short tacking
