Beneteau First 27

Built in Slovenia and, before undergoing a branding and systems revamping by Beneteau, this sharp, tidy “sport cruiser” was known as the Seascape 27. By any name, it delivers thrilling performance in a compact, well-reasoned package. While the First 27 was originally conceived as a major player in the ever-expanding world of doublehanded offshore racing, it also boasts the amenities necessary for weekend and coastal cruising: a serviceable head, galley and berths, and a Yanmar diesel. But the little things are what drove it to the winner’s

circle. “The fit-and-finish for the price point is at a different level,” judge Gerry Douglas said. “The equipment level was higher.”