I normally think of the First series as being Beneteau''s racer-cruiser series but looking at the numbers between the First 33.7, First 32s5 and (Oceanis)311 the answer here is not all that obvious. All three boats are within 5" in length and within 7 inches on the waterline. The First 32s5 and 33.7 have substantially larger sail plans. Of the three the 311 at 7716 is the lightest, followed by the 32s5 at 9260lbs and the 33.7 is the heaviest at 10582lbs. I suspect that some of that weight is in ballast but since Beneteau does not publish its ballast weights that is not clear. The 32s5 has a wildly faster PHRF rating at 144 to the 311''s rating of 177. I could not find a rating for the 33.7 which says they are not being raced. I have heard of 32s5''s doing OK at the club level. I have not heard of 33.7''s or 311''s doing well but that may be because they are newer designs. I really don''t think that a 311 with in mast furling can be competitive under PHRF.

Jeff