5 December 2017

Bénéteau’s much awaited 9.75 metre Figaro 3 will be built in the former Jeanneau shipyard of Nantes Cheviré.

The first 50 boats, reserved for the members of the Figaro class will be priced at €155,000 (excluding tax) then the boat will be available to buy at  €175,000 (excluding tax).

26 September 2017

French yacht builder, Bénéteau has announced that mass production of the new Figaro 3 is expected to begin shortly.

It follows successful sea trials of the firm’s prototype at Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie on France’s Atlantic coast between July and mid September.

The 9.75-metre VPLP design is the first one-design production monohull to be equipped with foils.

“The feedback is very positive. The results are in line with what the naval architect envisaged: the foils provide both additional stability and a phenomenon of lift, which makes the boat very balanced,” explained the head of the Figaro 3 programme at Bénéteau, Eric Ingouf.

“The gentleness and precision of the helm took everyone by surprise and it’s a very important element with a view to not overloading the autopilots,” he noted.

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Following the sea trials, a second Figaro 3 is now being built.

Once tested, it will be used as the ‘yardstick’ for the production boat ahead of the start of mass production at Bénéteau’s Cheviré site.

“We’re beginning to produce hulls and decks from mid-September,” confirmed Ingouf.

“All the boats, which are manufactured between September 2017 and December 2018 will only be delivered to their owners at the end of 2018 in the name of sporting equity with a view to participation in La Solitaire-URGO Le Figaro,” he added.

The 50th edition of the famous La Solitaire-URGO Le Figaro singlehanded race in the summer of 2019 will be the first race to feature the Figaro Bénéteau 3.

2 August 2017

The protoype of the eagerly anticipated Figaro Bénéteau 3 is being put through its paces during sea trials off France’s Vendée region.

This is ahead of the start of production in October of the very first on-design foiling monohull.

The sea trials will be taking place over two months and will examine the position of the keel in relation to the mast, the position of hardware and the exact configuration of the keel housing.

15 June 2017

All eyes will be on France’s Vendée region in July – the location for the sea trials of the Figaro Bénéteau 3 prototype.

The very first one-design foiling monohull will be extensively tested for two months.

Bénéteau will be particularly looking at the position of the keel in relation to the mast, which will enable the hull structure to be confirmed.

The position of hardware will also require a long test phase, and the resulting decision will influence the positioning of the reinforcements to the deck foam.

Work on the Figaro Bénéteau 3. Credit: Bénéteau

The French boatbuilder also said the trials will decide the position of the keel and the exact configuration of the keel housing.

If all goes according to plan, the Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prévost designed Figaro Bénéteau 3 will go into production in early October.

Head of the Figaro Bénéteau 3 programme within Groupe Bénéteau, Marc Vaillier, said: “In terms of timing, we’re pretty much on track, give or take a couple of weeks. There are still some additional tweaks, which require a little more time, but we’re managing to stick to our schedule”.

Redner of the Figaro Bénéteau 3. Credit: Bénéteau

Assembly of the foiling monohull is already underway.

Having been infused, the hull has just had all its bulkheads fitted, the engine’s drive train is in place and the keel reinforcements are in position.

The deck, which is also infused, is complete, and the deck fittings will be installed over the coming week.

During this same time frame, Bénéteau will dry fit the deck so as to check all the elements conform and the secondary polyester mouldings, such as the engine housing and companionway, are useable. The mast will be stepped in the third week of July.

Bénéteau says the sails have been designed and “all that’s left is a discussion to outline the finishing touches between the North Sails sail loft and Yoann Richomme, winner of the 2016 Solitaire Bompard le Figaro and consultant skipper on the prototype as head of the Measurement and Safety Committee within the Figaro Class.”

“We have every intention of being in full working order to supply the production line from early October,” stressed Vaillier.

“We’re seeking to release one or two hulls in advance: manufacturing these large polyester composite parts takes time and we must be methodical, which is the key to the tempo if we want to release 1 one-design a week,” he added.

Figaro Bénéteau 3 taking shape. Credit: Bénéteau

It looks like that from early October, the Figaro Bénéteau 2 will be at the dawn of her final season of offshore racing before a much-deserved retirement.

Technical Specifications of the Figaro Bénéteau 3

LOA: 10.85 metres

Hull length: 9.75 metres

Max hull beam: 3.47 metres

Light displacement: 2900 kg

Certification: ISO Cat A/World sailing