| Main features | First 265 Deep draft | First 265 Wing keel |
Model | First 265 | First 265 |
Version | Deep draft | Wing keel |
Hull type | Monohull | Monohull |
Category | Cruiser-racer sailboat | 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 |
Number of hulls built | 520 | 520 |
First built hull | 1990 | 1990 |
Last built hull | 1997 | 1997 |
Appendages | Keel : fin with bulb | Keel : wing keel |
Helm | Single tiller | Single tiller |
Rudder | Single spade rudder | Single spade rudder |
Unsinkable | No | No |
Trailerable | No | No |
Former French navigation category | 3 | 3 |
| Main dimensions | First 265 Deep draft | First 265 Wing keel |
Overall length | 26’ 5”8.05 m | 26’ 5”8.05 m |
Hull length | 26’7.93 m | 26’7.93 m |
Waterline length | 24’ 11”7.58 m | 24’ 11”7.58 m |
Beam (width) | 9’ 5”2.86 m | 9’ 5”2.86 m |
Draft | 4’ 11”1.5 m | 3’ 10”1.15 m |
Light displacement (MLC) | 4409 lb2000 kg | 4409 lb2000 kg |
Ballast weight | 1433 lb650 kg | 1433 lb650 kg |
Ballast type | Cast iron | Cast iron |
French customs tonnage | 6.66 Tx | 6.66 Tx |
| Rig and sails | First 265 Deep draft | First 265 Wing keel |
Upwind sail area | 414 ft²38.5 m² | 414 ft²38.5 m² |
Downwind sail area | 764 ft²71 m² | 764 ft²71 m² |
Mainsail area | 188 ft²17.5 m² | 188 ft²17.5 m² |
Genoa area | 226 ft²21 m² | 226 ft²21 m² |
Jib area | 129 ft²12 m² | 129 ft²12 m² |
Symmetric spinnaker area | 576 ft²53.5 m² | 576 ft²53.5 m² |
I iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment) | 31’ 4”9.55 m | 31’ 4”9.55 m |
J iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay) | 10’ 1”3.07 m | 10’ 1”3.07 m |
P iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head) | 30’ 6”9.3 m | 30’ 6”9.3 m |
E iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew) | 10’ 10”3.3 m | 10’ 10”3.3 m |
Rigging type | Sloop Marconi 9/10 | Sloop Marconi 9/10 |
Mast configuration | Deck stepped mast | Deck stepped mast |
Rotating spars | No | No |
Number of levels of spreaders | 1 | 1 |
Spreaders angle | Swept-back | Swept-back |
Spars construction | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars |
Standing rigging | 1x19 strand wire continuous | 1x19 strand wire continuous |
| Performances | First 265 Deep draft | First 265 Wing keel |
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. | 14.0 | 14.0 |
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. | 261 ft²/T24.25 m²/T | 261 ft²/T24.25 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. | 481 ft²/T44.73 m²/T | 481 ft²/T44.73 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. | 130 | 130 |
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. | 33 % | 33 % |
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. | 6.68 knots | 6.68 knots |
| Auxiliary engine | First 265 Deep draft | First 265 Wing keel |
Engine(s) | 1 inboard engine | 1 inboard engine |
Engine(s) power (min./max.) | 9 HP / 18 HP | 9 HP / 18 HP |
Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel |
Fuel tank capacity | 7.9 gal30 liters | 7.9 gal30 liters |
| Accommodations and layout | First 265 Deep draft | First 265 Wing keel |
Cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit |
Cabin(s) | 1 | 1 |
Berth(s) (min./max.) | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
Head(s) | 1 | 1 |
Freshwater tank capacity | 17.2 gal65 liters | 17.2 gal65 liters |
Fridge/ice-box capacity | 13.2 gal50 liters | 13.2 gal50 liters |
| Saloon | First 265 Deep draft | First 265 Wing keel |
Maximum headroom | 6’ 1”1.85 m | 6’ 1”1.85 m |
Berth length | 7’ 2”2.2 m | 7’ 2”2.2 m |
Berth width | 4’ 5”1.35 m | 4’ 5”1.35 m |
| Aft cabin | First 265 Deep draft | First 265 Wing keel |
Berth length | 6’ 7”2 m | 6’ 7”2 m |
Berth width | 4’ 7”1.4 m | 4’ 7”1.4 m |