First 456
Beneteau · German Frers · 1985
Updated
Measured under the previous VPP (2021–2024)
The First 456 is a 13.82 m heavy displacement racing yacht designed by German Frers and built by Beneteau, first launched in 1985. It races in Class B.
Length
13.82 m
45′ 4″
Beam
4.31 m
Draft
2.50 m
Displacement
12.5 t
Sail area
103 m²
On the podium
Where a First 456 finishes when she goes racing.
0
Wins
0
Seconds
0
Thirds
9
Starts
Not enough races yet for a percentage — these are the counts so far. We keep collecting results, so this will fill in.
Read from 9 starts by 1 boat between 2018 and 2024, counting races with six boats or more.
Recent regattas
The latest events where a First 456 was on the start line, named as the organisers publish them.
Aegean 6002024- Aegean Regatta2021
- Aegean Regatta2018
Raced one we are missing?
Report a regattaRound the buoys, or offshore
A short windward-leeward and a night at sea ask different things of a boat. Here is how this one does in each.
Round the buoys
—
Not enough data yet: 2 races of 10 NM or less carry a published distance.
Offshore & coastal
—
Not enough data yet: 7 races over 10 NM carry a published distance.
Who she races against
The designs a First 456 actually lines up with, most often first. The bar shows how those meetings ended.
Also met, too few times for a figure:
Hallberg Rassy 26 (4 meetings), Sun Odyssey 45.1 (4 meetings), Elan 31 (Design) (4 meetings), Bavaria 37 (4 meetings), First 41 (4 meetings), Elan 410 (4 meetings), Grand Surprise (4 meetings), Sun Shine 36 (4 meetings), Comet 41 (4 meetings), First 42 (Farr) (4 meetings), Grand Soleil 45 (Judel/Vrolijk) (4 meetings), Yca 29 (4 meetings), Oceanis 440 (4 meetings), First 44.7 (4 meetings), Sun Fizz 40 (4 meetings), Oceanis 390 (4 meetings), Attalia 32 (4 meetings), Bavaria Cruiser 46 (4 meetings), Mount Gay 30 (4 meetings), First 305 (4 meetings), IMX 38 (4 meetings), Sigma 33 (4 meetings), Sun Legende 41 (4 meetings), X-332 (4 meetings), Dufour 45 (4 meetings), First 40.7 (4 meetings), First 29 (4 meetings), Italia 11.98 (1 meeting), Elan E5 (1 meeting), X4.6 (1 meeting), Sun Fast 3300 (Andrieu) (2 meetings)
Some of the boats it races against
How the First 456 has fared against each of them, boat against boat on corrected time. Ordered by how often the two meet, not by who wins.
Speed at every angle
The shape of this design's speed, drawn from the measured fleet. Pick a wind and watch it stretch.
Speed in knots at 20 knots of true wind. Green marks the angles that pay: the closest useful beat and the deepest run worth sailing.
How fast is a First 456
Boat speed in knots, by true wind angle and wind strength.
| Angle | 6 kn | 10 kn | 14 kn | 20 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat VMG | 4.19 | 5.19 | 5.58 | — |
| 52° | 6.25 | 7.44 | 7.81 | — |
| 60° | 6.54 | 7.62 | 7.99 | — |
| 75° | 6.75 | 7.78 | 8.22 | — |
| 90° | 6.76 | 7.88 | 8.30 | — |
| 110° | 6.75 | 8.03 | 8.65 | — |
| 120° | 6.57 | 7.97 | 8.62 | — |
| 135° | 6.00 | 7.65 | 8.39 | — |
| 150° | 5.18 | 7.04 | 8.03 | — |
| Run VMG | 4.49 | 6.13 | 7.37 | — |
How they are set up
The range each sail spans across the fleet.
Nearly all carry a folding propeller. Crew weight is declared around 830 kg.
Rigging
First 456 rig and sail dimensions
A First 456 carries 15.61 m of mainsail hoist on a 5.00 m boom, a forestay 16.57 m above the deck. Typical figures across the 2 boats measured under the current VPP, with the range each one spans.
Rig
Sails
The spinnaker spreads widest of all — 110 to 139 m² depending on bowsprit and set-up. Before ordering a sail, read the figure on your own measurement record rather than the typical one for the design.