Detailed sailboat specifications and datasheets since 2015
MetricSI (m)
Imperial & Metricboth
ImperialIMP (ft)

First 42 S / Deep draft

Sailboat specifications

The First 42 is a 41’11” (12.77m) cruiser-racer sailboat designed by Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering (Argentina). She was built between 1981 and 1985 by Bénéteau (France). The S / Deep draft version offers a deeper keel, longer mast, and larger sail area.

The First 42 has also been marketed as Bénéteau R/C 42 and she is as well listed, on Boat-Specs.com, in Shoal draft version (see all the versions compared).

First 42's main features

Model
First 42
Version
S / Deep draft
Hull type
Monohull
Category
Offshore cruiser-racer sailboat
Sailboat builder
Sailboat designer
Sailboat range
Country
France
Construction
GRP (glass reinforced polyester):
- Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester
- Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester
First built hull
1981
Last built hull
1985
Appendages
Keel : fin without bulb
Helm
Single helm wheel
Rudder
Single spade rudder
Unsinkable
No
Trailerable
No
Former French navigation category
1
Standard public price ex. VAT (indicative only)
N/A

First 42's main dimensions

Overall length
43’ 4”13.2 m
Hull length
41’ 11”12.77 m
Waterline length
36’ 2”11.04 m
Beam (width)
13’ 1”4 m
Waterline beam (width)
11’ 2”3.4 m
Draft
7’ 1”2.15 m
Mast height from DWL
57’ 4”17.45 m
Fore freeboard
4’ 1”1.25 m
Mid-ship freeboard
3’ 6”1.06 m
Light displacement (MLC)
20944 lb9500 kg
Maximum displacement (MLDC)
22377 lb10150 kg
Ballast weight
7937 lb3600 kg
Ballast type
Cast iron
French customs tonnage
16.14 Tx

First 42's rig and sails

Upwind sail area
1109 ft²103 m²
Downwind sail area
1970 ft²183 m²
Mainsail area
398 ft²37 m²
Genoa area
710 ft²66 m²
Solent area
484 ft²45 m²
Jib area
353 ft²32.8 m²
Stormjib area
154 ft²14.3 m²
Symmetric spinnaker area
1572 ft²146 m²
I
 iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment)
55’ 5”16.9 m
J
 iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay)
16’ 8”5.1 m
P
 iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head)
49’ 2”15 m
E
 iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew)
14’ 7”4.45 m
Rigging type
Sloop Marconi masthead
Mast configuration
Deck stepped mast
Rotating spars
No
Number of levels of spreaders
2
Spreaders angle
Swept-back
Running backstays
1 set(s)
Spars construction
Aluminum spars

First 42's performances

IOR rating
 iIOR, or International Offshore Rule, was a measurement rule system used internationally for ocean racing. It allows boats of different sizes and designs to race each other fairly. Therefore, by comparing these values, we can have an indication of the relative speed of 2 boats.
32.7
HN (French rating)
 iHN or "Handicap Nationale" is an empirical rating system used in France allowing various monohulls, of different sizes and designs, to race each other fairly. It is particularly suitable for cruiser and cruiser-racer. Therefore, by comparing these values, we can have an indication of the relative speed of 2 boats.
25.5
Upwind sail area to displacement
 iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.

The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size.

Upwind: under 18 the ratio indicates a cruise oriented sailboat with limited performances especially in light wind, while over 25 it indicates a fast sailboat.
247 ft²/T22.96 m²/T
Downwind sail area to displacement
 iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.

The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size.
439 ft²/T40.8 m²/T
Displacement-length ratio (DLR)
 iThe Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) is a figure that points out the boat's weight compared to its waterline length. The DLR is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement in tons by the cube of one one-hundredth of the waterline length (in feet).
The DLR can be used to compare the relative mass of different sailboats no matter what their length:

a DLR less than 180 is indicative of a really light sailboat (race boat made for planning), while a DLR greater than 300 is indicative of a heavy cruising sailboat.
200
Ballast ratio
 iThe Ballast ratio is an indicator of stability; it is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement by the mass of the ballast. Since the stability depends also of the hull shapes and the position of the center of gravity, only the boats with similar ballast arrangements and hull shapes should be compared.

The higher the ballast ratio is, the greater is the stability.
38 %
Wetted area
375 ft²34.8 m²
Maximum transverse section
21 ft²1.95 m²
Critical hull speed
 iAs a ship moves in the water, it creates standing waves that oppose its movement. This effect increases dramatically the resistance when the boat reaches a speed-length ratio (speed-length ratio is the ratio between the speed in knots and the square root of the waterline length in feet) of about 1.2 (corresponding to a Froude Number of 0.35) . This very sharp rise in resistance, between speed-length ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, is insurmountable for heavy sailboats and so becomes an apparent barrier. This leads to the concept of "hull speed".
The hull speed is obtained by multiplying the square root of the waterline length (in feet) by 1.34.
8.06 knots

First 42's auxiliary engine

Engine(s)
1 inboard engine
Engine(s) power
50 HP
Fuel type
Diesel
Fuel tank capacity
39.6 gal150 liters

First 42's accommodations and layout

Cockpit
Closed aft cockpit
Cabin(s) (min./max.)
2 / 3
Berth(s) (min./max.)
6 / 8
Head(s) (min./max.)
1 / 2
Freshwater tank capacity
105.7 gal400 liters
Boiler capacity
11.1 gal42 liters
Maximum headroom
6’ 4”1.92 m
Have you spotted incorrect data?  You can report it in the forum or contact the webmaster

Similar sailboats that may interest you:


Sailboats
First built hull
Hull length
First 41S5 Lead keel (Bénéteau)
1989
40’ 5”12.3 m
Grand Soleil 45 - Frers Standard (Cantiere Del Pardo)
1988
44’ 1”13.44 m
J/121 (J/Boats)
2017
40’12.2 m
Oyster SJ43 Fractional rigging (Oyster)
1981
43’ 5”13.22 m
First 42 Shoal draft (Bénéteau)
1981
41’ 11”12.77 m
Bénéteau R/C 42 S / Deep draft (Bénéteau)
1981
41’ 11”12.77 m
Dufour 42 (Dufour & Yachting France)
1985
41’ 1”12.52 m
First 435 Deep draft (Bénéteau)
1984
44’13.4 m
First 456 S / Deep draft (Bénéteau)
1982
45’ 10”13.95 m
Lacoste 42 (Dufour & Yachting France)
1985
41’ 1”12.52 m
Sun Fast 42 Lead keel (Jeanneau)
1996
40’ 10”12.45 m
First 38 S (Bénéteau)
1982
38’ 6”11.75 m
First 405 Deep draft (Bénéteau)
1985
39’ 4”11.99 m
Sun Fast 41 Standard (Jeanneau)
1990
40’ 2”12.25 m
Sun Légende 41 Fin keel (Jeanneau)
1985
40’ 2”12.25 m
Boat-Specs.com uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

Read more