DATA FIRST 53

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA 17.16m 56ft 4in • LWL 15.40m 50ft 6in

• Beam 5.00m 16ft 5in • Draught (standard) 2.50m 8ft 2in

• Displacement (light) 15,500kg 34,162lb • Ballast 4,500kg 9,918lb • Sail area (105% foretriangle, standard rig) 166m2 1,785ft2

• Berths 6 • Engine 80hp 134kw saildrive • Water 720lt 158gal • Fuel 400lt 88gal • Sail area/disp ratio 26.5 • DISP/LWL ratio 118

• Price ex VAT €482,800, test boat spec €850,000

• Design Roberto Biscontini and Lorenzo Argento www.beneteau.com

OUR VERDICT

I’d say the First 53 is the most elegant boat Beneteau has ever produced. Sleek, subtle and thoroughly modern in both style and specification, the execution of the detail is impressive, albeit with some questionable proportions forward of the helm stations. It looks like being a slippery boat too with impressive light airs performance and polars that suggest it’ll be a blast in a breeze.

But what impressed me in particular is something that Beneteau is especially good at – identifying its customers and building a boat for them at the same time as pressing at the boundaries of technology and style. It doesn’t always get it right but the world’s largest boatbuilder has to be admired for having the nerve to try. In this case, with 20 already sold within the first few months it’s on course to become a potential Beneteau benchmark.

RIVALS

Solaris 55

Italian fast cruising style and a direct competitor in both looks and price for the First.

Price ex VAT €690,000 solarisyachts.com

X49

With less internal volume, the X49 will still be a match when it comes to performance. Price ex VAT €551,700 x-yachts.com

Italia 15.98

Facelifted this year, this very elegant design is well built and set up for cruising.

Price ex VAT €720,000 italiayachts.com