Every sailor starts the same way: with a vision of open water, wind in the sails, and that unforgettable feeling of freedom only a boat can give you. That is the spirit behind a recent episode of the SailFaster Podcast, hosted by Peter Boland out of Annapolis, Maryland, featuring two guests who have spent their careers chasing exactly that feeling.
Andraz Mihelin, the creative force behind the BENETEAU First range, joined Charles Etienne Devanneaux, owner of California's Naos Yachts and skipper of the BENETEAU First 36 Rahan, for a wide-ranging conversation about how sailing has changed, why doublehanded racing is booming, and what keeps people coming back to the water.
Photo credits: Pacific Cup
The conversation opened with a simple but pointed question: are we still racing boats as if it were 1985? Mihelin pointed out that while boat design has evolved dramatically, race formats have stayed locked into old conventions; the same flags, sequences, and windward-leeward courses used for decades. Devanneaux, who runs a BENETEAU dealership on the West Coast, agreed, noting that club membership is aging, and full crews are harder to find, which is pushing more sailors toward offshore and coastal formats that are simply easier to organize.
Much of the discussion centered on the philosophy behind the BENETEAU First range: effortless joy of planing for everyone. Mihelin explained that the First range set out to build boats that are simple, fun, and affordable rather than boats designed purely to win under a rating rule. Devanneaux echoed the idea, describing how he keeps his own sailing simple: one main, one furling jib, one gennaker, and one spinnaker, adding complexity only when chasing extra performance.
Devanneaux walked through how he and longtime co-skipper Fred Courouble transformed their BENETEAU 36 First Rahan into a serious offshore racer over several seasons. Upgrades ranged from a custom carbon mast to lightweight rigging, a modified keel and rudder, and several other optimizations. That same boat and crew went on to boast one of the standout results of the 2026 Pacific Cup fleet, including first boat to finish, first in the ORR Double Handed and a podium finish in Pac Cup ORR Overall, all while performing against a boat twice her size.
Mihelin noted that many of the ideas developed on Rahan have already made their way into the production BENETEAU First 36 SE, giving everyday sailors access to race-proven performance straight from the factory.
Photo credits: Pacific Cup
Both guests agreed that doublehanded racing has exploded, first in Europe and now increasingly in the United States. Devanneaux pointed to simple, practical reasons, saying that it is easier to find two sailors than a full crew, and it is far less expensive to send two people to Hawaii than eight. Mihelin added that sailors today have less free time overall, and a doublehanded challenge often delivers a more intense, rewarding experience in a shorter window.
Asked what they would change about the sport, Mihelin pointed to events like Denmark's Silver Rudder, a singlehanded race around an island with no rating system, just grouped by boat length, as proof that simplicity can bring sailors back in droves. Devanneaux agreed, adding that the goal should always be a boat and a race that are fun first, competitive second.
Whether you are envisioning your first doublehanded offshore race or simply want more joyful days on a bay, BENETEAU has a boat built for you.
Length Overall
4.3 m / 14’ 1’’
Beam overall
1.7 m / 5’ 7’’
Length Overall
5.55 m / 18’3’’
Beam overall
2.38 m / 7’ 10’’
Length Overall
7.29 m / 23’11’’
Beam overall
2.5 m / 8’2’’
Length Overall
7.99 m / 26’3’’
Beam overall
2.54 m / 8’4’’
Length Overall
11.98 m / 39’4’’
Beam overall
3.8 m / 12’6’’
Published on 20.07.2026