My Boats

Sailing Boats

18 months ago I bought another sailing boat a Beneteau first 30 JK with plans to sell my NIC 32 Barada.

Sometimes in life things don’t always work to plan. In a strange way sometimes that can be a positive thing. Barada I’ve sailed mostly solo, with her in-mast mainsail and wind vane self steering I find her relatively easy to sail. Barada’s long keel makes her steady and comfortable on long sailing sea passages.

First 30 JK is a very different type of sailing boat and hull shape to the Nic32, in fact that’s what I wanted, a modern large open cockpit, flatish bottom, chined hull with a long narrow keel deep keel with long bulb torpedo shaped counter weight at bottom of the keel and twin offset rudders. This allows the boat to exceed hull speed and carry more sail area.

I also wanted a boat that could sail in light winds and resembled the sailing qualities of the mini transat 6.5m boats. I did look at various other similar design boats and went especially to Brittany to see and test sail the django 7.9m and pogo 30, but found them really out of my price range and little small and Spartan down below. Superb sailing boats as they both plan. I wanted a modern design with a little more accommodation and comfort down below.

The Beneteau First 30 JK I bought from a fantastic Beneteau dealer in south of France at La Seyne sur Mer near Toulon was circa 2012 and in my price range and the accommodation was definitely little more comfortable to either a Pogo or Django. I find first 30JK is very responsive and fast with large mainsail with no back stay.  Maybe not as fast as the Pogo or Django in performance but she’s fast enough for me.  When I was last in Sardinia at the harbour at Carloforte there was a Pogo 30 moored up and I was surprised how broad beamed she was very low and squat in water. The Pogo twin offset rudders are tucked under the stern transom. First 30 JK was compromised design having the rudders protruding out of the stern transom, which can be a problem with stern to Mediterranean mooring especially if the wind is blowing you onto the pontoon, that said it was to allow the space for a port stern bunk, due to First 30 JK wide beam it does create lots of space inside for such a small boat. For me it was an acceptable overall compromise and within my financial budget. Beneteau doesn’t manufacture the First 30 JK anymore. Overall I’m really happy with the boat and she’s a joy to sail. However, the sails need to be set correctly if not she turns up into wind. But once sails trimmed and set for the wind conditions she well balanced. But I’ve been used to sailing a long keel sedate boat, so with the new boat I’ve had to go back to basics. But she handles well in all types of sea conditions.

My plan is to keep the Beneteau in the Mediterranean and take the Nicholson down to NW Spain this summer via the Azores. Sailing in the Mediterranean in the spring and autumn in Black Swan and summer sailing in Barada to the Azores. Winter sailing the Spanish Ria.  Well that’s the plan unless in the meantime someone somewhere makes a serious offer for Barada. my Nic 32

https://www.youtu.be/6FVA05LET6Yhttps://www.youtu.be/hT8c6a5uQ70https://www.youtu.be/g6zsgWKJZy8