First 36 'Salicornia' Wins Baltic 500

"Just a cool, modern boat!"

Arno Böhnert sits cross-legged, slightly sweaty, on the bare wood of the port saloon bench. It’s a hot, sunny afternoon when we meet him aboard his “Salicornia” in her home port.

“All the sails are still wet from last weekend,” he says. No small job to lay out no fewer than 14 different sails from his FIRST 36 on deck to dry.

Arno smiles. And he has every reason to: winner of the ORC 1 category of the prestigious Baltic 500 race – and then, just a few days later, also taking the Brassfahrt. Single-handed.

Photo credits: Arno Böhnert

"Sailing is always a family project for us."

At just 34, Arno has already seen a lot – both in the world and in yachting. A team member in Boris Herrmann’s Malizia team, boat captain and boat manager for various amateur racers, and a professional consultant for owners commissioning maxi-racers from well-known luxury shipyards. On the side?

"Sailing, of course!” he says, smiling. He bought “Salicornia” together with his uncle: “We’re very sporty – but we also sail as a family. The search for the right boat was shaped by both worlds,” he explains when we ask why he chose the FIRST 36 by BENETEAU.
"We were looking for a yacht that combines cruising and racing. There aren’t many choices in that category. For cruising, beyond the basic onboard comfort, fast sailing is important to us: covering long distances means safety, but also fun and the freedom to expand our cruising range."

Arno says they’ve already managed weekend trips with a 15-knot average speed.

"I’m more the racer between the two of us. My uncle is more of a cruiser,” explains Arno. “When you’re looking for a yacht that can do both, the selection narrows down to just a few brands. For the racing side, especially for use here in the Baltic Sea, the boat needs to have strong all-round capabilities. The polar diagram should show high potential on all wind angles."

Arno explains that on the Baltic, the wind direction changes every 6 hours, more or less. Boats with a strong emphasis on one sailing angle really struggle here. So, for example, the Pogo was quickly ruled out. On the other hand, you can't forget about the liveability. A certain yacht aesthetic has to be preserved, Arno insists. “The JPK is undoubtedly a great yacht that you can cruise with – but in the end, it was too sport-focused for us. Also in terms of looks. In the end, he says, the FIRST 36 scored in both worlds.

Photo credits – 1: Arno Böhnert; 2 & 3: Lars Reisberg

"It’s a stylish, modern interpretation of classic yacht lines, offers a lot of comfort, and has great sailing potential. That really appealed to both of us in the end. And last but not least, the price-performance ratio is simply unbeatable! I mean, in my job, I’ve sailed all kinds of yachts: from big production boats to small custom yards. That boats, as handmade products, always come with minor flaws – sure, that’s part of it! But I’ve also seen some really crazy stuff. With the FIRST 36, Arno says – looking around the saloon as if checking for issues – “everything’s fine. Structurally, it’s perfectly built, craftsmanship is top. Mine is probably the most heavily punished FIRST 36 in the fleet … and still: no breakages. Everything’s good."

Racing the FIRST 36 in the Baltic 500: What makes this regatta so attractive?

Arno is a passionate racer. As a member of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV), he’s no stranger to the scene. Participating in the Baltic 500 has one main reason for him:

"I want to win, of course! I go to the start line to achieve something. That’s just my mindset: I want to push until either the boat or I can’t go on.” Of course, he adds, the boat is by no means the limiting factor.

He says the Baltic 500 is by now the most respected and high-caliber regatta in the Baltic region. Apart from the European or World Championships, it’s the best-organized and most competitive double-handed event in Northern Europe. “The field is extremely strong. Very ambitious crews, top boats! And on top of that, the camaraderie is just amazing at the Baltic 500 – truly unique!” Arno continues for himself : "I personally rate this race much higher than, say, the German Championship."

Baltic 500 - at the start line ; Photo credits: Kassian Jürgens

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"They’ve also picked a brilliant date for it,” Arno says. “It’s a really cool time of year—right before the major holiday season”, but not yet the height of summer. It’s the kickoff for the double-handed season. Asked about the nature of the course, he says the impression of a simple up-and-down course is misleading: “The course is very demanding. You need to stay focused at every mark, on every leg. That makes the race, despite its length and duration, feel very dynamic—you always need to stay alert and keep pushing! One mistake can quickly have serious consequences, Arno says. “You can be in the lead and suddenly find yourself way at the back."

Baltic 500 - at the start line ; Photo credits: Kassian Jürgens

"You can really see how hard people push right to the limit when you look at the finish line,” he explains. “I mean, the fact that within the last 1.5 miles before the finish—after 60 or 70 hours of tough racing—people are still hoisting spinnakers, gennakers or codes, says it all. You really don’t want to hoist another sail after 70 hours… The Baltic 500 pushes both sailor and boat like no other regatta. As a team, you need to work hand in hand, but also be able to do a lot solo. I slept a total of five hours… that pretty much says it all."

Photo credits: Arno Böhnert

How do you win a race like the Baltic 500?

Arno approaches sailing like a pro. On the nav table of the FIRST 36 sits a Toughbook connected to load sensors at various critical points of the yacht. Real-time weather updates are pulled from the web, weather routing and race software run continuously. Asked how to win a race like this, Arno says:

"We had a clear game plan, which we kept adjusting to match the latest wind and weather forecasts. At the start, it was clear there’d be a nasty patch of calm at the end—so the strategy was to get as far ahead as possible early on.”

The leg to Læsø and back was set. “Relatively streamlined and straight,” Arno says, “and with good wind.” The challenge came earlier, in the Great Belt. “Since there wasn’t much wind expected there, the key factor became the current. That was the turning point and the big question: Where’s the wind? But more importantly—where’s there less current?” So, the brave took the route closer to shore, where the current was weaker. Constantly watching the depth sounder, always on the edge of grounding: “It’s like a thriller! The sounder data always lags behind a bit, so sailing close to depth lines was seriously risky.

In the Belt, we must have done more than 25 or 30 jibes on one stretch—getting close to the depth line, then away. And that really pays off! Near shore, there was up to one knot less countercurrent. Over time, that adds up to serious gains.” And it’s exhausting.

At night, the stress level multiplies. “We were making good progress with our big kite (A2), but the wind kept building. At that point, risk management becomes crucial: How far do we want to push it, and what are the potential consequences for the rest of the race?” Arno explains. “If you lose your biggest kite during a stormy night and then face a dead calm at the end with no gennaker… game over. So, in the middle of the night, we switched to the A4 and kept blasting through the Danish island world."

This balance of long-term strategy and short-term tactics is what makes the Baltic 500 special, Arno says. “And it’s fun, too!”

Though there are some breathers. The “Salicornia” crew chose what Arno calls a moderate level of aggression. And the result proved them right.

"The landscapes are stunning. Sailing through Copenhagen is always a highlight. The shoreline and beautiful Danish countryside are particularly lovely at that time of year.” But then comes another push: like at the Belt Bridge. “Who dares go inside, who risks the outside route? Who sails close to shore where the current is weaker but clearance heights are tight? Those are the decisions we’re making…"

Photo credits: Arno Böhnert

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Strong competition for the FIRST 36—and still, the win.

Arno has no hesitation naming the toughest competitors. At the top is “Gaja,” a Jeanneau SunFast 30 OD. A pure racing machine: extremely light, stripped down, 100% built for performance. “Lightworks,” a finely optimized Arcona 385, was another major challenger to Arno’s FIRST 36, as were the ever-present JPK 10.80s, also tuned heavily for racing.

"We know the crews well. We’re good friends—which makes the racing all the more exciting. But that’s what makes the Baltic 500 and double-handed racing special—the camaraderie. Whether in the harbor or during the race, you support each other, lend a hand. You want to get better together. That’s almost like a shared motto."

Still—there’s plenty of hard fighting on the water.

Photo credits: Arno Böhnert

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The camaraderie and team spirit shine through when, even after such an exhausting race as the Baltic 500, crews don’t just collapse into their bunks at 3 a.m. after crossing the line. “Everyone shows up for the traditional chili con carne dinner! There’s real joy—for your own team, but also for the others.” That, Arno says, is the unique spirit of the Baltic 500. “It’s just a super cool scene.”

The fact that Arno and the “Salicornia” are among the front runners is, he says, thanks in part to the inherently fast DNA of the yacht. “Thanks to its creators like Sam Manuard, the FIRST 36 is fundamentally very promising.” Many small tweaks, mods, and customizations have also been made to the boat over the past two years, it took many details, modifications, and tweaks to bring the boat to this level, Arno tells us.

"If you ask me about the unbeatable strength of this boat, for me it’s clearly the downwind performance. Anything from 80 degrees true wind angle and more… ideally with 15 to 16 knots of breeze or even more. That’s when she locks into the chine and just starts surfing. She becomes unstoppable. It’s pure joy!" Arno is especially impressed again and again by the boat’s handling: no pressure, just more and more speed. The FIRST 36 starts planing at around 8 knots. “Planing cruiser” isn’t just a marketing slogan — it’s reality!

Everyone’s always looking for the perfect all-rounder that does everything well — but that just doesn’t exist. Not even in yachts,” says Arno. Strict upwind performance and pinching to the wind isn’t necessarily the FIRST 36’s strong point: “Look at the wide stern — how could it be?"

However, Arno says, compared to many other modern designs, the FIRST 36 actually sails upwind pretty decently. He gestures behind him:

"You’ll see the Pogos starting to wildly tack back and forth. The FIRST 36 handles that quite a bit better!"

Can beginners take part in the Baltic 500?

Unlike other regattas — especially national championships — the Baltic 500 is more like the Silverrudder in that the only requirement is to get a spot on the start list. “It’s more about luck and signing up early,” says Arno. No qualification is necessary, which means amateurs and even beginners can take part — no problem: "You just need a decent boat."

But there’s something important to be aware of, he says with a smile: "The level, especially among the top half of the fleet, is extremely high. You have to ask yourself if you’re okay with that. Beginners can easily get left behind. If you’re truly ambitious, it might even hurt your ego a bit…” he laughs. “But seriously: Why not? The organization is top-notch, the event team very professional and always helpful. Even total beginners will get advice and tips. The double-handed scene in Germany is always happy to see a new face and a new boat. You can definitely expect open arms and support. My recommendation: just go for it! But be warned — it’s highly addictive."

Photo credits: Enno Thyen

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So, what are Arno’s top 3 highlights from this year’s Baltic 500?

#1

"Number one has to be our downwind blast past Læsø heading east! We had a steady 14 to 18 knots of boatspeed on the log. It was during the day. No pressure, no stress. Just pure speed and enjoyment. It was glorious — full main and the A4. No red zone. That’s sailing at its best."

#2

Second place? The reaching leg on the way to Læsø: "Beam reach — the FIRST 36 loves that too. We had excellent speed, again with very little pressure on the rudder. Very fast, very straight sailing. Just heavenly!” That’s what the BENETEAU was built for, Arno explains."

#3

And in third place? He has to think for a moment. He looks around the saloon, then fixates on one of the sail bags.
Yeah, I’d say it’s the finish line. Salicornia” crossed the line just two minutes ahead of the second-place boat. So, it wasn’t at all clear whether it would still be enough for the win after handicap correction. “Just like us, the others also got stuck in the light airs. Our once more-than-an-hour lead shrank to 30 minutes… then just 2 minutes. It was nerve-wracking! Then came the finish — and a somewhat restrained celebration. Only after what felt like an eternity, when the official results were posted, did the team get certainty: Victory in Group 1 of the ORC boats for “Salicornia!"

Photo credits: Arno Böhnert

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A thriller comes to an end — crowned once again by a fantastic win for a FIRST 36. Arno brings the yacht home, but there’s little time to rest. Just one weekend later, he’s back on the starting line again.

The still-young “Brassfahrt” regatta hosted by Lübeck Yacht Club has captured his interest: "It was my first time there racing single-handed. Originally just a test — out of curiosity,” he says. And he wins again. A victory that tastes all the sweeter because Arno is the only single-hander in his class to make it onto the podium. Those 100 nautical miles were once again defined by moderate to very light winds — not really her strong suit. In the end, I was more drifting across the finish than sailing", Arno says with a wink. “But she handled it. She’s a cool, modern boat — especially if you want to sail actively and fast!"

Regatta Brassfahrt - photo credits: Magdalena Hufnagel

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