| Main features | First 51 Wing keel | First 51 S / Deep draft |
Model | First 51 | First 51 |
Version | Wing keel | S / Deep draft |
Hull type | Monohull | Monohull |
Category | Offshore cruiser-racer sailboat | Offshore cruiser-racer sailboat |
Sailboat builder | Bénéteau | Bénéteau |
Sailboat designer | ||
Sailboat range | ||
Country | France | France |
Construction | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester |
First built hull | 1986 | 1986 |
Last built hull | Discontinued | Discontinued |
Appendages | Keel : wing keel | Keel : fin without bulb |
Helm | Twin helm wheels | Twin helm wheels |
Rudder | Single spade rudder | Single spade rudder |
Unsinkable | No | No |
Trailerable | No | No |
Former French navigation category | 1 | 1 |
| Main dimensions | First 51 Wing keel | First 51 S / Deep draft |
Overall length | 51’ 4”15.63 m | 51’ 4”15.63 m |
Hull length | 50’15.23 m | 50’15.23 m |
Waterline length | 43’ 1”13.15 m | 43’ 1”13.15 m |
Beam (width) | 14’ 11”4.55 m | 14’ 11”4.55 m |
Waterline beam (width) | 12’ 1”3.7 m | 12’ 1”3.7 m |
Draft | 5’ 11”1.81 m | 9’ 2”2.8 m |
Mast height from DWL | 73’ 10”22.5 m | 77’ 10”23.7 m |
Light displacement (MLC) | 30865 lb14000 kg | 28660 lb13000 kg |
Ballast weight | 14220 lb6450 kg | 14220 lb6450 kg |
Ballast type | Cast iron | Lead |
| Rig and sails | First 51 Wing keel | First 51 S / Deep draft |
Upwind sail area | 1538 ft²142.84 m² | 1652 ft²153.52 m² |
Downwind sail area | 2719 ft²252.6 m² | 2933 ft²272.52 m² |
Mainsail area | 566 ft²52.6 m² | 630 ft²58.52 m² |
Genoa area | 971 ft²90.24 m² | 1023 ft²95 m² |
Symmetric spinnaker area | 2153 ft²200 m² | 2303 ft²214 m² |
I iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment) | 64’19.5 m | 68’20.73 m |
J iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay) | 20’6.1 m | 20’6.1 m |
P iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head) | 56’ 5”17.2 m | 60’ 4”18.39 m |
E iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew) | 18’ 5”5.6 m | 18’ 6”5.64 m |
Rigging type | Sloop Marconi masthead | Sloop Marconi masthead |
Mast configuration | Keel stepped mast | Keel stepped mast |
Rotating spars | No | No |
Number of levels of spreaders | 3 | 4 |
Spreaders angle | 0 ° | 0 ° |
Spars construction | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars |
Standing rigging | Single-strand (ROD) | Single-strand (ROD) |
| Performances | First 51 Wing keel | First 51 S / Deep draft |
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. | 28.0 | 30.5 |
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. | 265 ft²/T24.59 m²/T | 299 ft²/T27.77 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. | 468 ft²/T43.49 m²/T | 531 ft²/T49.29 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. | 174 | 162 |
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. | 46 % | 50 % |
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. | 8.80 knots | 8.80 knots |
| Auxiliary engine | First 51 Wing keel | First 51 S / Deep draft |
Engine(s) | 1 inboard engine | 1 inboard engine |
Engine(s) power | 80 HP | 80 HP |
Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel |
Fuel tank capacity | 184.9 gal700 liters | 184.9 gal700 liters |
| Accommodations and layout | First 51 Wing keel | First 51 S / Deep draft |
Cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit |
Cabin(s) (min./max.) | 3 / 4 | 3 / 4 |
Berth(s) (min./max.) | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
Freshwater tank capacity | 74 gal280 liters | 74 gal280 liters |
Boiler capacity | 11.1 gal42 liters | 11.1 gal42 liters |
Maximum headroom | 6’ 5”1.95 m | 6’ 5”1.95 m |