The design team is coordinated by the experienced hand of Kristian Hajnšek, CTO of Seascape, who works closely with the team at BENETEAU to bring race-grade construction technologies into the segment of production racer-cruisers. On top of this hugely experienced team, we added an elite international group of designers; all of them are passionate sailors in their own right.
Due to the easily achievable performance potential of the new BENETEAU First 36, we expect her to be a serious weapon for club handicap racing. Therefore, during the design process, the team studied numerous possibilities in seeking a balance between an easily planing hull and upwind performance.
The First 36 is optimized for short-handed sailing, making her perfect for the ever-more-popular short- handed adventure distance races. Her very high sail area/displacement ratio and balanced nautical design make her a top performer as a club-racer, a safe and fun family cruiser, or simply a thrilling daysailer.
The positioning of the six winches, steering wheels, and other deck gear was thoroughly tested on several mock-ups and a full-scale testbed sailboat to enable the sailing experience promised on the previous page. Details like an offshore hatch on the foredeck or removable cockpit benches show the priority of sailing functionality over style used throughout the design process.
In the racing layout, the wide and modern cockpit allows for different helm and trim positions, either for short-handed or fully-crewed sailing. In this setup, the table and bench extensions are removed, opening the working area in the cockpit.
A higher than average steering wheel position leaves enough room for the helmsman to move forward towards the mainsail winch when sailing shorthanded. The cockpit winches' positioning allows one or two crew members to sail with legs in and work the mainsail or primary winches in full crew mode. It also allows cross-sheeting of all sheets to the windward side. Harken, Ronstan, Spinlock and Antal deck gear were combined for performance.
When you remove your racing gear and take your family cruising or daysailing, the cockpit benches with cushions increase the seating area and add storage space and line organization. The cockpit table is big enough to accomodate a crew of six. Additionally, the design team developed an ultralight bathing platform to give sailors easy access to the water without affecting the boat's performance.
Going against the trend, the 36 features a full-sized navigation table. While vital to navigation, it is also a suitable home office. Two portlights in every cabin allow air flow and natural light, while sectional indirect lighting with a red racing option illuminates the boat at night. Three cabins with easily accessible full-sized double berths and innovative heads round up the features of this bright and spacious interior.
The wide hull of the BENETEAU First 36 offers a spacious interior comparable to much larger predecessors. The new First 36 has about the same living volume as the legendary First 40.7.
Simple, comfortable and versatile, the First 36 interior was developed around three-cabin cruising functionality. Its most notable feature is the large central fridge (with a removable cutting board), making this sailboat's galley the largest of her class. A corridor created together with the foldable and removable table helps sailors move around the saloon safely and offers stacking possibilities.
The FIRST 44 embodies a natural link between the FIRST 36 and FIRST 53, equally refining and redefining performance, elegance and comfort - a new Biscontini/Argento creation that truly denies itself nothing. Drawing to the noblest sense of the term “racer/cruiser”, she’s a lovely sailing yacht with a remarkable design, offering through her architecture and build quality an experience underway that is simply second to none.
Flagship of the new FIRST line, the First 27 is unquestionably the fastest and safest cruiser in this size range. Her modern and state-of-the-art design delivers the magic of planing sailing to families, couples, and solo sailors alike, wherever the cruising ground and whatever the weather conditions. A true pocket yacht, she has an inboard Yanmar diesel, a working galley, a real head and plenty of storage, as well as room for up to six crew members for overnight adventures.
A smart pocket cruiser, a joyful day-sailor or a solid club racer – whichever way you choose to use your First 24, she'll be equally ready, with sleeping accommodations for up to four wrapped in an ultramodern performance hull. A completely retractable keel gives you unfettered access to the shallowest cruising grounds and the possibility of quickly launching and retrieving the boat from any ordinary ramp. Her light and stable hull, alu rig, classic backstay and dacron sails make her the ideal holiday cruiser, within operational reach of even the most beginners.
Building on the legacy of the legendary BENETEAU Wizz, the First 14 reproduces the exhilarating world of fast planing dinghies. Light, accessible, and easy to handle, the boat is perhaps best described as essentially fun, and the quality of her build simplifies maintenance and guarantees worry-free ownership.
Capitalizing on over 40 years of expertise, the First 53 is the latest member of the First range, launched by BENETEAU in 1977. With sights set on high-performance cruising and more, this “Luxury Performance” sailing yacht was designed for sailors who demand speed in absolute comfort. With a well-balanced hull and sensationally responsive helm, free-flowing deck plan, and a truly avant-garde interior, the First 53 embodies the renaissance of the legendary First name. EQUIPPED WITH SEANAPPS The easiest way to keep your boat safe and ready to cruise anytime The new SEANAPPS app is the ultimate solution to help you indulge your passion for boating. With the touch of your finger, you can easily connect, monitor and order services for your boat – from routine maintenance, to requesting a wash or fuel or having us complete a repair.
