The 30-foot 8-inch design combines a modern racing hull with the comfort of a fully equipped cruiser. It earned European Performance Cruiser of the Year 2026 honors.
Design and Construction
Manuard’s hull has a relatively narrow beam of under three meters and a low wetted surface. Seascape’s proven lightweight construction methods, including a fully cored and vacuum-infused hull and deck, keep the boat’s weight to just over three tonnes.
A glassfibre composite keel grid carries the loads from the cast iron T-keel and adds stiffness. A conventional hull liner, slotted for standard plywood bulkheads, keeps production quick and cost-effective. The boat is built in Slovenia and benefits from Beneteau’s industrial scaling.
The First 30 has a 35 percent ballast ratio and a maximum draft of 6 feet 6 inches. Stability and safety come from its modern hull shape, solid construction, and deep, aft-slung twin rudders. The boat carries ocean-grade Class A certification for open-ocean sailing.
Rig, Cockpit, and Handling
Owners can choose between two cockpit layouts. The cruising version uses a mainsail bridle and German sheet system, leaving the cockpit floor completely clear. The racing layout adds a mainsail traveller and a direct, fine-tuning mainsheet.
Test sailors found that the Z-spars mast bends nicely under the control of a well-purchased backstay, while the jib deploys quickly from its furler. Steering is by direct tiller, with sturdy moulded foot supports. As the boat heels, the twin rudders help the steering retain its grip.
The hull is designed to plane quickly and easily. Writing in SAIL Magazine, testers said the planing was, as advertised, smooth, fast, and exhilarating. They observed the wake separating at around 8.4 knots and recorded speeds of 8 to 13-plus knots under spinnaker. The builder claims the boat can plane in 13–14 knots of true wind.
Upwind, the First 30 heels a lot and can still feel a little tender. If feathered above a close-hauled course, it stalls and parks.
Accommodations
Below decks, the First 30 is a two-cabin cruising yacht with a puristic yet cosy interior and spacious accommodation for four. The generously sized forward cabin and saloon berths compare with those aboard its larger sister, the First 36.
The forward cabin has a good double berth with a large hatch overhead. In the saloon, the two-meter benches can sleep two and have folding outboard backrests. A sturdy table seats six.
A step up in the saloon and a step down into the galley provide 1.81 meters of standing headroom at the companionway. The practical galley includes a two-burner hob, a sink, a fold-down extension, and an optional fridge. The heads has a long rail over a deep well for hanging wet gear.
Foldable magnetic doors and removable textile lockers keep the fitout minimalist. Painted GRP and cork are used in the aft galley. The aft cabin is more constricted, with little inboard headroom beneath the cockpit.
Systems, Access, and Stowage
The First 30 monitors its systems through the Seanapps mobile app and onboard unit, which display battery, fuel, and water status.
Access to machinery is mixed. The companionway steps lift through 90 degrees, providing access to engine essentials such as the oil, impeller, and belt. However, there are no other access panels, so changing the gearbox oil and oil filter can be frustrating.
Access to the steering gear on each side is also restricted. It is reached only through small aft openings in the locker and the port quarter berth. Testers noted that the finish is minimal in some areas and that interior stowage is a little scant.
The generous cockpit locker houses a water separation filter, with room remaining for an inflatable and a sail.
Ownership
The cruising and racing cockpit options allow an owner to choose between a clean handling arrangement and a more finely tuned racing workspace. One hundred boats were sold before the US debut, underscoring early demand for Manuard’s planing cruiser.
The Verdict
The First 30 brings high-performance planing to an accessible, Category A-certified 30-footer with genuine cruising amenities and clever weight-saving construction. It’s a focused boat for active sailors who want technical, fast days afloat rather than a conventional coastal weekender.
Pros
- Planes easily, with twin-rudder grip and low wetted surface
- Two-cabin interior with clever magnetic doors and saloon berths that rival those of the First 36
- Ocean-grade Class A certification in a light, infusion-built hull
Cons
- Limited engine access beyond the companionway steps makes gearbox servicing frustrating
- Aft-cabin headroom and overall stowage are tight
- Tiller steering and a tender feel upwind suit experienced hands
