BENETEAU FIRST 34.7/10 R

Designer’s Notes

BENETEAU have enjoyed considerable success in the past providing sailing enthusiasts with boats that merge racing and cruising needs in one tidy economic package. Design 543 was conceived to provide that product in an updated and advanced form for a worldwide market place.

The continuing expansion of IRC for club level racing and its adoption by some of the more legendary offshore events has sparked strong interest in boats that fair well under this single number rating system. The design brief called for the boat to be competitive under IRC for club racing worldwide. BENETEAU and Farr Yacht Design undertook the challenges that this brief presented in terms of both design and production manufacturing.

While specific formulas used to determine the IRC ratings are not published, the style of boat favored by these formulas can be deduced by examining the published rule policy, reviewing race results in great detail including those of our existing designs that have done well under IRC, and applying to the rating office for trial certificates to study variations in ratings for different design choices against VPP results. Farr Yacht Design embarked on an investigation to find characteristics IRC favored at this size range and to determine a sensible balance between interior accommodation requirements and the desire to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. A lead bulb, T keel arrangement, carbon spar and careful weight control of other elements were combined to provide the best possible stability for the chosen displacement.

IRC permits the designer to create a wholesome set of hull lines without the distortions associated with the measurement methods of other rating systems. Overhang proportions both forward and aft are set to provide the longest effective sailing length while minimizing the IRC measured length. The result is a hull geometry with minimized drag from low wetted area and favorable displacement distribution for excellent performance versus handicap throughout the range of speed and heel.

Appendage development at Farr Yacht Design is a continuing program using tools developed in our America’s Cup and Volvo programs. Fin and bulb shapes and their intersecting geometry have been developed using these tools which represents a very effective way of increasing performance with no rating change.

Sail area is generous to provide exceptionally good performance in light and moderate airs that dominate club racing. Sprit or pole options can both be considered, and are dictated more by venue and race style than pure performance, for rating optimization.

Design 543 will provide the club racer with dazzling sailing manners, competitive performance in mixed fleets, great One Design fleet racing and cruising comfort at an aggressive price.