Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass with a laminated structural liner carrying and distributing load, while the deck is a fiberglass sandwich with a balsa core and unidirectional weave. Every bulkhead is bonded 360 degrees to hull and deck for structural strength, and the ends of all wood floorboards and panels are sealed against moisture. Farr Yacht Design gave the hull shape the same research and attention to detail the office is known for, and the result is a wide bow with an enclosed transom—unlike the 40.7—plus molded nonskid throughout for good traction. The keelbolts and the lowest part of the bilge sit directly beneath a centerline settee bench, and all fuel and water tanks are on centerline, keeping weight concentrated where it steadies the boat rather than inducing pitch.
Rig and Handling
The Standard version carries a two-spreader aluminum rig with wire rigging, Race 1 a tapered three-spreader rig with Dyform, and Race 2 a three-spreader carbon rig with rod rigging; early cruising- and IRC-oriented units used a deep 2.65-meter keel with a two-spreader Dyform-rigged mast. The mainsheet is led grand-prix style along the decks back to the trimmer, with the traveler across the cockpit just forward of the wheel and the sheet lead from the boom exactly perpendicular to it. A Navtec solid vang and its controls lead aft alongside halyards and topping lift. The main carries a large roach. Test sailors found her sensitive at the helm and safe even short-handed safety, and in eight knots of breeze she sailed an easy 7.4 knots upwind with six crew and two fingers on the wheel. She is, pound-for-pound, more powerful and stiffer than the 40.7, with a Chesapeake Bay PHRF rating of 44.
Accommodations
The standard plan is three cabins and two heads, with two staterooms port and starboard under the cockpit, a head immediately forward of the port stateroom, and an L-shaped galley across from it. A front toilet and shower ensuite answers a request from earlier 36.7 and 40.7 owners. Headroom reaches 6 feet 9 inches in the aft head and 6 feet 8 inches in the main cabin. The nav station sits to port at the boat’s center, facing forward as it should, and light-colored Beachwood cabinetry throughout makes the interior seem larger than it is. Fixed hull ports, fixed and opening roof ports, and deck hatches supply plenty of natural light and ventilation.
Deck Layout and Equipment
Farr developed a simple, efficient, and easy deck layout suited to both racers and cruisers. The helm station centers on a large-diameter Lewmar Y-spoke wheel sunk into the deck, surrounded by four fixed lockers under the cockpit seats for race or cruise gear, with liferaft stowage under the shaped helmsman’s seat. Aluminum Lewmar winches ring the cockpit. Below, the engine is reached by two gas pistons lifting the companionway stairs; a large shroud covers belts and moving parts, the water pump faces forward so the impeller can be changed without pulling the unit, and access to all filters is excellent. The standard engine is a 40-horsepower Volvo 2040 on a sail drive, with a 55-horsepower Volvo D255 optional, and testers noted negligible engine noise below. An empty forepeak was offered to trim bow weight for sail stowage, and a 5/8-inch-lower toe rail was available against the full-length rail testers mildly quibbled with.
The Verdict
The First 44.7 distills Farr’s race-bred thinking into a 44-foot hull that is genuinely easy to handle yet stands out in racing on any point of sailing and in any weather. Her centerline tankage, bonded bulkheads, and accessible keelbolts speak to a structure built for sustained use, while the three-version rig ladder lets a buyer match ambition to budget. The light wood interior and ensuite forward head keep her credible as a fast cruiser, not just a weekend racer.
Pros
- Farr Yacht Design hull with documented stiffness and power over the 40.7
- Simple, efficient deck layout with grand-prix mainsheet path and perpendicular lead
- Excellent engine access with forward-facing water pump and lift-up stairs
- Three cabin / two head layout with strong natural light and 6'9" aft headroom
- Short-handed safety and sensitivity at the helm
Cons
- Full-length toe rail drew a tester quibble (lower option exists)
- Race-oriented deck gear and deep keel options may exceed casual cruiser needs
