The New FIRST YACHT 36 has been unveiled – here’s what we know…
Three years ago, BENETEAU and Seascape joined forces to co-develop the new generation of First. After launching the sport-cruiser part of the range: First 14, First 24 and First 27, we are excited to unveil the first model from the racer-cruiser range – the brand new First 36.
The Beneteau First 36 has a mission to bridge the gap between high-tech development in the world of racing and mainstream racer-cruisers. To be specific, even the standard version of First 36 will fully plane in a moderate breeze.
However, this by itself was not the main challenge for the design and production teams. For 40 years, the Firsts were successfully hitting the elusive sweet spot between comfort, performance, utility, elegance, high-tech construction, and reasonable price. The First 36 is no different – created by an elite team of international designers.
Structural engineering: Pure Design & Engineering (NZL), well known for TP52s, the Ineos AC75, IMOCA 60s.
Naval architect: Samuel Manuard (FRA) is currently the hottest name in the IMOCA 60 class after dominating class Mini and Class 40. He also designed all of the 7th generation First and First SE from 14-27ft.
Design: Lorenzo Argento (ITA); First 36 is following the same design language of her larger sister – First Yacht 53, building on the timeless aesthetic of his work on Wally and Brenta.
Gigodesign (SLO): Design research and innovation insights of this multi Red Dot awarded industrial design studio was essential in starting the project in the right direction.
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 modern construction technologies into the segment of accessible production racer-cruisers.
The main difference from most of the other boats labelled as cruiser-racer is this: In a First 36 you are no longer locked in displacement speed. The main reason for this is its significantly lower weight.
Going 9, 10 or 11 knots instead of 5, 6 or 7 knots makes sailing more fun. It also makes your cruising radius bigger. You will not only enjoy sailing more with this boat. You will also spend more time under sail.
The entire boat is a vacuum-infused, fully-cored GRP composite structure—including bulkheads and most interior parts. Almost all interior elements contribute to the structural strength of the boat.
Positioning 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.
Standard aluminium rig and cast iron keel were chosen to keep the boat accessible. Yet, Sam Manuard brought his experience and focused on perfecting the shape and design of these two key ingredients for a great sailing experience. The draft of 2,25 m was chosen as a compromise between performance and ease of use.
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 rope organisation. The cockpit table is big enough to seat 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.
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.
The First 36 features a traditional three-cabin layout. To maximize living space in the saloon, the bathroom footprint is minimized, using an innovative foldable sink. The extra space makes room for a navigation table/onboard office.
Another innovation standing out in the saloon is the standalone fridge island. A removable cutting board can significantly extend the working surface of the standard L-shape galley and make it the largest kitchen area in the class.
High-quality wooden details, in combination with minimalistic GRP, provide a modern, elegant living space below deck.
