The Beneteau First 44 Debut

The new Beneteau First 44 is making its debut at the Miami International Boat Show, and it’s taking the racer-cruiser concept a couple of interesting steps forward. The First 44 version, geared more toward cruising, places the mast further aft, puts four winches within easy access of both helms, and most interestingly, employs push-button water ballast to allow shorthanded sailors to easily add stabilizing “crew weight” for enhanced sailing ability in a wider range of conditions. The deck layout for the First 44 Performance version, geared more toward racing, is notably different, featuring a nonskid foam cockpit sole, a traditional mainsheet traveler rather than a fixed centerline block, and additional winches.