Beneteau First 210

Beneteau First 210

Development
Designer	Groupe Finot
Location	France
Year	1992
Builder(s)	Beneteau
Role	Cruiser-Racer
Name	Beneteau First 210
Boat
Displacement	2,225 lb (1,009 kg)
Draft	5.83 ft (1.78 m) with keel extended
Hull
Type	monohull
Construction	fibreglass
LOA	20.34 ft (6.20 m)
LWL	19.68 ft (6.00 m)
Beam	8.14 ft (2.48 m)
Engine type	outboard motor
Hull appendages
Keel/board type	swing keel
Ballast	772 lb (350 kg)
Rudder(s)	transom-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig type	Bermuda rig
I foretriangle height	28.18 ft (8.59 m)
J foretriangle base	7.87 ft (2.40 m)
P mainsail luff	27.03 ft (8.24 m)
E mainsail foot	9.35 ft (2.85 m)
Sails
Sailplan	fractional rigged sloop
Mainsail area	126.37 sq ft (11.740 m2)
Jib/genoa area	110.89 sq ft (10.302 m2)
Total sail area	237.25 sq ft (22.041 m2)
Racing
PHRF	195
Beneteau First 20  →

The Beneteau First 210 is a French trailerable sailboat that was designed by Groupe Finot and first built in 1992 as a cruiser-racer. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The Beneteau First 210 is a member of the commercially successful family of Beneteau First 21 boats that includes the Beneteau First 210 Spirit, 211, 21.7 and the 21.7S. All the boats in the series share the same hull design. ^[1]

Production

The design was built by Beneteau in France, from 1992 to 1997, but it is now out of production. ^{[1] [3] [4]}

Design

The First 210 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass. It is equipped with positive flotation and is unsinkable. It has a fractional sloop rig, a plumb stem, a vertical transom, dual transom-hung rudders angled outwards at 15° and controlled by a tiller, and a lifting keel. It displaces 2,225 lb (1,009 kg) and carries 772 lb (350 kg) of ballast. ^{[1] [3]}

The boat has a draft of 5.83 ft (1.78 m) with the lifting keel extended and 2.33 ft (0.71 m) with it retracted, allowing ground transportation on a trailer. ^{[1] [3]}

The boat is normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp (2 to 4 kW) outboard motor for docking and manoeuvring. ^{[1] [3]}

The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settees in the main cabin. The galley is located on the starboard side just aft of the bow "V"-berth. The head is located opposite the galley on the port side. Cabin headroom is 54 in (140 cm). ^{[1] [3]}

For downwind sailing the design may be equipped with a spinnaker. ^[3]

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 195 and a hull speed of 5.9 kn (10.9 km/h). ^[3]

Operational history

The boat was Sailing World's 1993 Daysailer/Weekender Boat of the Year. Not all of the judges liked the design's aesthetics, however, and they questioned how well it might sell as a result. ^[3]

In a 1993 review in Cruising World, Herb McCormick described the boat as, "clean and racy", but went on to say, "Looks, however, are deceiving. The Beneteau folks insist this is a pocket cruiser through and through. The simple sail plan underscores that definition: Its wide spreader base precludes the use of an overlapping headsail. The standard 110-percent rollerfurling jib provides plenty of punch, but the boat would still be at a competitive disadvantage in light air without a 150-percent genoa. This alone is refreshing: the 210 is not attempting to be all boats to all sailors." ^[5]

Naval architect Bob Perry wrote a review, stating, "The 210 will make a great daysailer or a camp-style cruiser. While trailerable sailboats are seldom examples of refined design, the First 210 shows design innovation aimed at sparkling performance and eye appeal. This boat is also unsinkable." ^[6]

In a 2010 review Steve Henkel praised the design's cabin layout and its "sleek looks", noting, "thought that's a matter of individual taste". He also commented on the boat's low PHRF number, indicating that it is almost as fast as a J/24, a bigger boat that was a purpose-designed racer. ^[3]

See also

• List of sailing boat types

References

1. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "First 210 (Beneteau) sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
2. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot)". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
3. Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page 86. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN   978-0-07-163652-0
4. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Beneteau". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
5. McCormick, Herb (January 1993). "Boats Reviews - Beneteau First 210". Cruising World. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
6. Perry, Bob (18 June 2003). "Beneteau First 210: Bob Perry Review". Boats.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.