The Figaro BENETEAU 3 is the first production foiling one-design monohull ever created. It is a distillation of technology and innovation, the result of a collaboration between a group of BENETEAU’s best experts and the Van Peteghem Lauriot-Prévost (VPLP) office, the architects of the two last boats to win the Vendée Globe.
The prototype has been tested and the production of the boat has been launched. It will enter the ISO/World Sailing design category A.
NAVAL ARCHITECT : Van Peteghem – Lauriot Prévost
The specifications define the FB3 monohull as being as reliable as its predecessor, the FB2. It is equipped with foils, a better-performing, ballast-free hull, a more slender and deeper keel, a setback mast and a more extensive and larger sail plan.
Contrary to Imoca 60 foils, the Figaro BENETEAU 3 foils has an inward-facing profile. The way they operate is different. They are versatile foils that create drift reduction and improve the boat’s righting moment, without increasing the movement, which improves the boat’s performance.
Deep, with a straight blade, it creates minimum drag. Supplementary drift reduction is provided by the foils.
Made of foam sandwich, fibreglass and polyester-infused resin, it corresponds to current designs and is ballast-free.
Similar to the Imoca 60s, the mast is set back, providing balance under sail. This allows the use of high performance sails and the addition of a bowsprit. Solo sailors will sail with a square-top mainsail, a genoa, and a jib, but also a masthead spinnaker (105 m² (=125 yd²) to gain speed in a light breeze) and a small gennaker.
Mainsail area: 39.5 m² (420 ft²)
Jib area: 30.5 m² (323 ft²)
Large spinnaker area: 105 m² (125 yd²)
