Lenny, a new First 44 Performance, has warmed up for the year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race by following an impressive outing in the Transpac from California to Hawaii with a testing voyage to Australia.

Lenny, a new Beneteau First 44 Performance owned by Charles-Etienne Devanneaux, has arrived in Sydney following a successful journey from Hawaii, where the yacht had completed the biennial Transpacific Yacht Race (Transpac). Lenny’s upcoming schedule includes the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starting on December 26.

An experienced ocean racer, Devanneaux is the founder and CEO of Naos Yachts, the Beneteau dealership in California. Devanneaux and his crew led Lenny to second place in Division 7 – Boatswain Locker (ORR Transpac) in this year’s Transpac, a three-start 2,225nm race from San Pedro in California to Diamond Head in Hawaii that was held from late June to mid-July.

From Hawaii, Lenny and crew made stopovers in Fiji and New Caledonia, and faced challenging weather conditions including 40-knot-plus winds before reaching Sydney on October 20. With the crew encountering minimal technical issues throughout the voyage, Devanneaux was full of praise for the yacht, highlighting its safety features along with its well-designed deck and cockpit.

Currently docked at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), Lenny has been lined up for multiple events in the coming month including the Beneteau Cup Sydney at CYCA on October 27.

From December 15-16, the First 44 Performance model will participate with a First 27 and First 36 in the First Experience – Sydney at CYCA, hosted by Flagstaff Marine, Beneteau’s New South Wales dealer. Both the First 36 and First 44 sailing yachts debuted at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival.

Lenny’s racing calendar includes the Rolex Sydney Hobart, with Devanneaux skippering a strong team including his regular French crew and Yann Masselot, Chief Brands and Communication Officer for Groupe Beneteau’s Boat division.

The First 44 is a racer-cruiser available in a standard set up or a Performance version, with a different deck plan and options for keels and masts. The First 44’s Asia-Pacific premiere was hosted by First Marine at this year’s Yokohama Floating Yacht Show in Japan from September 29-October 1. 

In Hong Kong, Beneteau Asia-Pacific and Simpson Marine recently hosted the first leg of the First Experience at Hebe Haven Yacht Club, where a First 36 was available for viewings and sea trials. 

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