Design and Construction
Finot’s design is a fibreglass monohull with a lead fin keel, built in keeping with Bénéteau’s First philosophy. The boat measures 39.3 feet overall, with a 33.8-foot waterline and a 12.47-foot beam. Her 3.15 length-to-beam ratio describes a hull shaped more for pace than generous interior width.
Draft varies from about 6.89 to 7.19 feet, depending on load, which confines her to major marinas. The keel carries 4,674 pounds of lead, and the 44 percent ballast ratio provides the stiffness rewarded under the IOR rule.
Wetted surface is about 505 square feet. An immersion rate of 1,504 pounds per inch indicates how little the boat settles as crew and gear come aboard. This is a light, responsive platform rather than a heavy cruiser.
Rig and Handling
The First Class 12 carries a fractional sloop rig, and the sail plan is central to her character. She carries more rig than 100 percent of comparable sailboats, which the record describes as significantly overrigged.
The running rigging reflects that emphasis. The mainsail, jib/genoa, and spinnaker halyards are each 125.8 feet long and half an inch in diameter. The genoa sheets measure 39.3 feet, while the 0.55-inch mainsheet is 98.2 feet long. An 18.4-foot cunningham, a 36.7-foot kicking strap, and a 36.7-foot clew outhaul complete a control setup intended for frequent masthead adjustment.
As a displacement hull, her theoretical maximum speed is 7.9 knots, consistent with a 33.8-foot waterline driven by that sail area.
Accommodations
A 39-foot hull with a 3.15 beam ratio and a racer’s lead fin was not designed primarily for interior volume. The IOR monotype label places the First Class 12 among period racer-cruisers whose cabins served a racing campaign as much as a cruise.
The Verdict
The First Class 12 is a scarce Jean-Marie Finot design shaped by Bénéteau’s First ethos. She is overcanvased by design, stiffened by substantial lead ballast, and intended for the big-water sailor with access to major marinas—someone who values a rare, purposeful hull over the familiarity of a high-production boat.
Pros
- Powerful IOR monotype with a significantly overrigged fractional rig for her size
- Lead fin keel and 44 percent ballast ratio provide IOR-era stiffness
- Streamlined and safe period character
- Fewer than 100 hulls built, giving the boat genuine rarity
Cons
- 6.89–7.19-foot draft limits her to major marinas
- With fewer than 100 built, support and familiarity with comparable boats are limited
