Design Brief & Intent
The First IMS 40.7 was engineered strictly to exploit the nuances of the IMS handicap rule, aiming for maximum speed per rating foot. Compared to the mainstream cruising-oriented boats in Beneteau’s lineup, or even contemporary competitor models, the IMS 40.7 featured a sleeker, lower-profile cabin house, an entirely open transom, and tiller steering. Inside, the boat stood in stark contrast to the heavy, teak-laden cruisers of the era. To minimize weight, the interior joinery was executed with minimalist, lightweight marine plywood and composite panels. Bulkheads and structural components were kept to absolute minimum dimensions to keep the boat's ends light. While it retained basic accommodations—including a simple galley, a navigation station, and pipe berths or lightweight cabins—the fit-out was decidedly sparse, optimized for a racing crew rather than a luxury family cruise.
Variations & Configurations
Because of its highly restricted, five-unit run, the First IMS 40.7 was spared the array of layout compromises found in mass-market boats. It was delivered in a singular, high-performance configuration. It featured a deep-draft fin keel with a lead bulb drawing an uncompromising 8.33 feet, providing immense righting moment without the drag of a shoal draft option. The rig was a tall, fractional sloop configuration with swept-back triple spreaders, omitting the need for running backstays and allowing for fine-tuned mast bend. The open cockpit design was optimized for rapid crew maneuvers, with primary winches and the mainsheet traveler positioned for immediate, high-load adjustments.
Sailing Performance & Handling
On the water, the First IMS 40.7 is a highly responsive, high-adrenalin machine. Boasting an extraordinary sail area-to-displacement ratio of 31.93, the boat carries an enormous amount of sail plan relative to its weight, making it a formidable performer in light air where standard cruisers struggle. This immense power is managed by an aggressive ballast-to-displacement ratio of 48.78 percent, ensuring the boat remains stiff and stable under load despite its light build.
With a displacement-to-length ratio of 106.68, the hull is firmly in the ultra-light category, designed to plane and surf downwind with ease. However, these performance parameters require active helm management. The capsize screening ratio of 2.3 indicates a wider, lighter beam profile that places a premium on crew weight and active sail trim to maintain control in heavy air. Additionally, a comfort ratio of 15.41 warns of a highly active, motion-rich ride in a seaway. It will slice upwind cleanly but will transmit waves directly to the crew, demanding physical stamina during extended offshore passages.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Finding a First IMS 40.7 on the brokerage market is exceptionally rare due to the minute production run of only five hulls. When one does emerge, it is typically sold as a specialized club racer or a classic IMS/ORC fleet competitor rather than a family cruiser. It commands a highly subjective valuation that depends heavily on its racing pedigree, historical maintenance, and structural condition. Buyers should expect the purchase price to represent only a fraction of the immediate capital required; refitting an ultra-light carbon or high-tech fractional rig, upgrading aged deck hardware, and replacing specialized racing sails can easily match or exceed the initial acquisition cost of the vessel.
Known Issues & Triage
Given the boat's lightweight, high-load construction, prospective buyers must perform exhaustive structural inspections. The primary area of concern is the internal fiberglass structural grid. This grid, which absorbs the massive loads from the 8.33-foot keel and the chainplates, is susceptible to bonding failures or cracking if the boat has experienced a hard grounding. Triage requires checking the bilge areas and grid transitions for signs of fracturing, secondary laminate separation, or movement.
The high-tension fractional rig also subjects the deck around the mast step and chainplates to immense compression forces. The balsa-cored deck should be thoroughly tested with a moisture meter and sounding hammer to identify delamination around high-load deck fittings. Finally, the deep spade rudder and its corresponding bearings must be inspected for play or water ingress, as the high-aspect foil experiences massive twisting forces when sailing at high speeds.
Modernization & Upgrades
Owners who continue to campaign these rare machines today focus heavily on weight-saving and sail-handling modernizations. Replacing heavy lead-acid house batteries with modern lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry is a popular upgrade, allowing racers to shed precious pounds while maintaining ample power for electronics. Running rigging is almost exclusively upgraded to Dyneema to minimize stretch under the high fractional loads. Many owners have also updated the sail handling systems by retrofitting modern, low-friction mast tracks and high-efficiency mainsheet traveler systems to handle the powerful main, enabling short-handed or club-racing crews to manage the high sail-area-to-displacement potential safely.
The Verdict
The Beneteau First IMS 40.7 is a rare, historically significant racer that serves as a pure testament to the design prowess of Bruce Farr. It is not a boat for casual cruisers or those seeking a docile dockside home. Instead, it offers seasoned sailors an uncompromising, lightning-fast platform that continues to punch well above its weight class under modern handicap rules.
Pros:
- Extraordinary light-air speed and acceleration driven by a massive sail area-to-displacement ratio.
- Superb upwind pointing ability and high stability thanks to a near-50% ballast ratio and deep lead bulb keel.
- Clean, highly ergonomic cockpit layout optimized for fast, professional crew work.
- Bruce Farr design pedigree with a proven racing heritage.
Cons:
- Extreme rarity makes locating hulls, historical documentation, and specific spare parts a challenge.
- Sparse, lightweight interior layout lacking the comfort, warmth, and storage expected for cruising.
- Lively, motion-heavy ride in rough seas that can quickly fatigue an inexperienced crew.
- High structural loads demand meticulous, expensive ongoing maintenance of the rig and keel grid.
