Beneteau First 44 PERFORMANCE for sale in Houston & New Orleans, Texas United States of America

RACER-CRUISER ROYALTY

“FIRST was born forty-five years ago with the launch of the legendary FIRST 30, and we doubly celebrate the occasion this year with the announcement of the FIRST 36 in January and the arrival of the FIRST 44 today, finalizing the renewal of a standard-bearing range now entirely redrawn and complete”, says Yann Masselot, BENETEAU's Brand Director. “ The boat pencils itself in among such great 40’ to 45’ BENETEAU yachts as the FIRST 40.7, the 45f5 or more recently the FIRST 40 and 45”.

NAVAL ARCHITECT: BISCONTINI YACHT DESIGN

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR DESIGN: LORENZO ARGENTO

Today, the FIRST 44 embodies a natural link between the FIRST 36 and FIRST 53, equally refining and redefining performance, elegance and comfort - a new Biscontini/Argento creation that truly denies itself nothing. She’s a lovely sailing yacht with a remarkable design, offering through her architecture and build quality an experience underway that is simply second to none.

A DUAL DESIGN

With the new FIRST 44, BENETEAU has delivered the noblest version of a “racer/cruiser”: an elegant and comfortable yacht that provides unequaled enjoyment under sail. With the same methodical approach honed on his work on America Cup racers, Roberto Biscontini went through several revisions and improvements to deliver a powerful and well-balanced hull, which is coupled with an ample sail plan to deliver lively sailing in any conditions.

The FIRST 44 was imagined with two deck layouts to satisfy a greater variety of wishes and needs. The FIRST 44 version distinguishes itself with an inviting and comfortable cockpit, where wide side decks converge towards a folding cockpit table. Four winches, a fixed centerline block for the mainsheet, and a mast that is set further aft all maximize the potential of her modern sail plan, defined by a slender mainsail and generously sized foresails.

In order to make the serious performance even more accessible, BENETEAU used experience from ballast systems and the Figaro 2 to deliver that same technology to FIRST 44 owners; twin 80-gallon ballast tanks, activated electronically from the helm stations, offer the possibility of reaching the boat’s full potential with a reduced crew.

On the FIRST 44 PERFORMANCE, deck ergonomics were studied and developed with fully crewed regattas in mind. Equipment and systems are geared towards racing, such as the foam non-skid surfaces that replace the teak on the cockpit sole, six well-placed winches, and a conventional mainsail traveler. The rigging and sail setup includes a 4 ½’ bowsprit, a hydraulic backstay, a powerful in-hauler system, and a performance keel/mast combo that will satisfy the most demanding captains and crews.

A SUPERIOR STANDARD OF ACCOMMODATIONS

The FIRST 44 is infused with Lorenzo Argento’s style, a distinctive blend of elegance and modernity. Her three-cabin, two-head layout is a combination of quality materials interwoven into a masterful finish. In the salon the six-seater table stands opposite the couch and nav station; its position in reference to the mast eases the movement between the galley and master stateroom, accentuating the spacious interior.

This arrangement is enhanced by superb craftsmanship, a refined combination of white lacquered surfaces, molded woods, touches of indirect lighting and a large selection of luxurious upholsteries.

EXPERTISE AS A CORNERSTONE

Assembled in a specially dedicated workshop, the FIRST 44 takes full benefit of BENETEAU’s expertise and the knowledge of the industry’s sharpest minds. Subjected by their owners to the rigors of offshore racing, FIRSTs are always the result of a rigorous development and perfection process. The engineering of the FIRST 44 was entrusted to the Mer Forte firm, well known for its work on high-end blue-water race boats, including the celebrated Figaro BENETEAU 3.

DUAL DESIGN

The FIRST 44 is presented in two main setups, FIRST 44 and FIRST 44 PERFORMANCE, each with different deck plans and options for keels and masts.

STREAMLINED INTERIOR

She offers a streamlined interior layout that is modern and well-lit, with a blend of white lacquered surfaces, molded woods, and tasteful upholsteries.

EXPERTISE

She is crafted and finished in a dedicated workshop that delivers the full scope of BENETEAU expertise.

OCEANIS SERIES: OCEANIS 30.1 - OCEANIS 34.1 - OCEANIS 37.1 - OCEANIS 38.1 - OCEANIS 40.1 - OCEANIS 46.1 - OCEANIS 51.

OCEANIS YACHT SERIES: OCEANIS YACHT 54 - OCEANIS YACHT 60

FIRST SERIES: FIRST 14 -  FIRST 14SE -  FIRST 18SE -  FIRST 24 -  FIRST 24SE -  FIRST 27 -  FIRST 27SE -  FIRST 36 -  FIRST 44 - FIRST 44 PERFORMANCE -  FIRST 53

EXTERIOR DESIGN

The FIRST 44 is presented in two main setups, FIRST 44 and FIRST 44 PERFORMANCE, with a different deck plan and options for keels and masts.

In the FIRST 44 version, the cockpit is very convivial with a lovely cockpit table as well as its fluidity with level access to the large clear gangways. Four winches, a fixed centerline block for the mainsheet, and a mast that is set further aft all maximize the potential of her modern sail plan, defined by a slender mainsail and generously sized foresails. 

Two 300-liter ballast tanks, which can be activated electrically from the helm consoles, make it possible to maintain the boat's full potential.

On the FIRST 44 PERFORMANCE, deck ergonomics were studied and developed with fully crewed regattas in mind. Equipment and systems are totally geared towards racing, among which should be mentioned the foam non-skid surfaces that replace the teak on the cockpit sole, six well-placed winches, and a conventional mainsail traveler.

INTERIOR DESIGN

The First 44 offers a streamlined interior layout that is modern and luminous, with a blend of white lacquered surfaces, molded woods, and tasteful upholsteries. 

With three cabins and two heads, the interior is designed with quality finishes and materials to create a refined atmosphere.

In the saloon, the transverse table seats up to six people and faces the sofa and navigation station; its position in relation to the mast facilitates circulation between the galley and the owner's cabin, enhancing the feeling of space.

FIRST 44 PERFORMANCE VERSION (compatible with standard mast, black lacquered aluminum 2 aft swept spreaders mast, and carbon mast, compatible with both keels)

• Carbon bowsprit, 1,50m / 4’11’’ (in lieu of standard)

• Mainsail Cunningham

• Mainsail traveler at bottom of cockpit (instead of single point of attachment)

• 2nd genoa halyard

• Harken Carbo racing dual-groove head foil instead of the flat deck furling system

• 8:1 barber hauler

• DOWNWIND Pack (2 Harken Black Magic blocks for spinnaker/ code 0 sheet, 1 Harken Black Magic block for spinnaker tack led back to the dedicated cleat in the cockpit, Dyneema halyard sheave with block for spinnaker or code 0, 1 Dyneema halyard for spinnaker, Barber hauler with blocks and chainplate on bulwark, Short sheet pad eye)

• 1 Wichard double chainplate on forward deck for removable forestay, 1 Dyneema halyard sheave with block for staysail

• Dual textile lifelines

• Cockpit sole, benches, platform with synthetic foam coating (light grey color)

• White gel-coat, Aluminum grey hull decoration, white decoration film layer on cabins hull porthole Winches - HARKEN Performa

• 2 H50.2 STP Harken Performa manual manoeuvre winches on the roof + 3 clutches on port and starboard roof

• 2 H60.2 STP Harken Performa manual genoa winches behind cockpit benches

• 2 H60.2 STP Harken Performa manual Spinnaker winches (For manoeuvring: main sail sheet, adjustment of Genoa sail carriage staysail sheet - downhaul - foot of main sail + reef 1&2 - and for spinnaker sheets - spinnaker tack - barber hauler)

• 4 Aluminum Speed Grip winch handles

• Winch handle storage in dedicated space in rope bags

Other specificities of the PERFORMANCE version

• No windlass

• No bow roller

• No helm consoles for better access to the mainsail traveler on

cockpit sole

• No side access gates

• No HiFi equipment (Fusion / Loudspeaker)

• No courtesy lighting on side decks

• Without cockpit table

• Fresh water tank limited to 200L / 53 US Gal and positioned aft to starboard for a better distribution of weight aboard (in lieu of 330L / 87 US Gal)

• 3 Lee cloth (Saloon & Aft cabins)

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.