Beneteau offered three versions—Standard, Race 1, and Race 2. The result reads as a thoroughbred that still provides real safety when sailed short-handed.
Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass, with a laminated structural liner that carries and distributes loads. The deck is a fiberglass sandwich with a balsa core and unidirectional weave. Every bulkhead is bonded 360 degrees to the hull and deck for structural strength, while the ends of all wooden floorboards and panels are sealed against moisture.
Farr Yacht Design gave the hull shape the same research and attention to detail for which the office is known. Compared with the 40.7, the 44.7 has a wide bow and an enclosed transom. Molded nonskid throughout provides good traction.
The keelbolts and the lowest part of the bilge are directly beneath a centerline settee bench, making them accessible. All fuel and water tanks are also on the centerline, concentrating weight where it steadies the boat rather than inducing pitch.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The three versions differ primarily in their rigs. The Standard carries a two-spreader aluminum rig with wire rigging. Race 1 has a tapered three-spreader rig with Dyform, while Race 2 uses a three-spreader carbon rig with rod rigging. Early cruising- and IRC-oriented units had a deep 2.65-meter keel and a two-spreader, Dyform-rigged mast.
The mainsheet runs grand-prix style along the decks and back to the trimmer. The traveler crosses the cockpit just forward of the wheel, with the sheet lead from the boom exactly perpendicular to it. A Navtec solid vang and its controls lead aft alongside the halyards and topping lift. The mainsail carries a large roach.
Test sailors found the First 44.7 sensitive at the helm and safe even when sailed short-handed. In eight knots of breeze, she made an easy 7.4 knots upwind with six crew and only two fingers on the wheel. Pound for pound, she is more powerful and stiffer than the 40.7. Her Chesapeake Bay PHRF rating is 44.
Deck and Cockpit
Farr developed a simple, efficient deck layout intended to suit racers and cruisers alike. The helm centers on a large-diameter Lewmar Y-spoke wheel sunk into the deck. Four fixed lockers beneath the cockpit seats hold racing or cruising gear, and the shaped helmsman’s seat covers dedicated liferaft stowage. Aluminum Lewmar winches ring the cockpit.
An empty forepeak was offered to trim bow weight for sail stowage. Beneteau also offered a toe rail 5/8 inch lower than the full-length rail, which drew a mild quibble from testers.
Interior and Accommodations
The standard interior has three cabins and two heads. Two staterooms lie to port and starboard beneath the cockpit. Immediately forward of the port stateroom is a head, with an L-shaped galley opposite. An ensuite toilet and shower forward addressed 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 forward-facing navigation station is properly positioned to port near the center of the boat. Light-colored Beachwood cabinetry makes the interior appear larger than it is.
Fixed hull ports, a mixture of fixed and opening roof ports, and deck hatches provide plenty of natural light and ventilation.
Engine and Systems
Two gas pistons lift the companionway stairs to provide engine access. A large shroud covers the belts and other moving parts. The water pump faces forward, allowing the impeller to be changed without removing the unit, and all filters are readily accessible.
The standard engine is a 40-horsepower Volvo 2040 on a sail drive. A 55-horsepower Volvo D255 was optional. Testers reported negligible engine noise below.
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 on the racecourse on any point of sailing and in any weather. Centerline tankage, fully bonded bulkheads, and accessible keelbolts point to a structure built for sustained use. The three-version rig range also lets buyers match their ambitions to their budgets.
Below, the light wood interior and ensuite forward head give the 44.7 real credibility as a fast cruiser rather than merely a weekend racer.
Pros
- Farr Yacht Design hull with documented gains in stiffness and power over the 40.7
- Simple, efficient deck layout with a grand-prix mainsheet path and perpendicular lead
- Excellent engine access, including a forward-facing water pump and lift-up companionway stairs
- Three-cabin, two-head layout with abundant natural light and 6 feet 9 inches of headroom in the aft head
- Short-handed safety and a sensitive helm
Cons
- The full-length toe rail drew a mild quibble from testers, though a lower option was available
- Race-oriented deck gear and deep-keel options may exceed the needs of casual cruisers
