2018 Beneteau America Figaro 3

The Figaro Beneteau 3 (or FB3) is the first production foiling one-design monohull ever to be designed. A distillation of technology and innovation, it results from a collaboration between group 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.

Contrary to Imoca 60 foils, the FB3 foils will have 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. 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 (to gain speed in a light breeze) and a small gennaker.