Beneteau First Class 7 Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · wing

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

21.5' · 6.55 m

Disp.

1,975 lbs · 896 kg

First year

1983

Designed by the prolific naval architecture duo of JeanMarie Finot and Jacques Fauroux, the Beneteau First Class 7 was introduced in 1983 as a highperformance onedesign intended to bridge the gap between dinghies and larger coastal racers. Following the meteoric success of its larger sibling, the First Class 8, the "7" was conceived as a more transportable and accessible platform specifically optimized for inland waterways and protected coastal racing. According to the Beneteau Group’s historical archive, the model was part of a prestigious monotype lineage that included the Class 10 and Class 12, all emphasizing speed, efficiency, and a "sailing 365 days a year" philosophy. With its light displacement and versatile lifting keel, the First Class 7 remains a distinctive example of the French "sportcruiser" movement of the 1980s.