Beneteau First 30 E
Description
The Beneteau First 30E (E for "Evolution") is a classic 1980s cruiser-racer designed by French naval architect Jean Berret, known for his influence on the International Offshore Rule (IOR) era with sleek, performance-focused hulls. Launched in 1981 as an evolution of the original First 30 (by André Mauric), it was based on the 1981 International 1/2 Ton Cup winner King One (sailed by Paul Elvström). Beneteau built 443 units until 1984, emphasizing speed for club racing while offering cruiser comfort—ideal for coastal regattas or family weekends. It's CE-rated for offshore use and holds a cult following for its balanced handling and value on the used market. Unlike later Farr designs like the First 47.7 or First 40, the 30E reflects Berret's angular, low-aspect aesthetics from the IOR period: a fine entry for upwind pointing, moderate beam for agility, and a bulb keel for stability. Variants include standard deep-draft, shoal-draft, and the race-oriented "ES" (with lead keel and lighter displacement for ~200 kg savings).
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 37.70 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 11.30 ft |
| p | 32.50 ft |
| e | 11 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.70 ft | 11.30 ft | 32.50 ft | 11 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 32.5 ft - (9906 mm) |
| Foot | * 11 ft - (3353 mm) |
| Leech | * 33.71 ft - (10275 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 33.95 ft - (10348 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | * 184.83 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 31.49 ft - (9598 mm) |
| Foot | * 14.82 ft - (4517 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.62 ft - (8419 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.04 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13 ft - (3962 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.03 ° |
| Area | * 204.65 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 37.39 ft - (11396 mm) |
| Foot | * 18.12 ft - (5523 mm) |
| Leech | * 35.32 ft - (10766 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.95 ft - (5166 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.01 ° |
| Area | * 316.9 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 36.5 ft - (11125 mm) |
| Foot | 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Leech | 34.75 ft - (10592 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 149.73 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.92 ft - (5157 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.28 ° |
| Area | * 308.76 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 38 ft - (11582 mm) |
| Foot | 20 ft - (6096 mm) |
| Leech | 35.5 ft - (10820 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 570 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.