A sailboat resolutely oriented towards performance
Apart from the First Yacht 53, launched in 2019, the renewal of the First range has so far been summed up in adaptations of the small sailboats of the Slovenian shipyard Seascape (between 14 and 27 feet), acquired in 2018 by the Bénéteau Group. It is therefore an understatement to say that the release of a new mid-range boat, the First 36, is highly anticipated. On the occasion of the Grand Pavois 2021, Andraz Mihelin, in charge of the project, told us more about this yacht, which has been announced for the past three years and is scheduled for the end of 2021.
"The project took time because the merger of the teams with Bénéteau took a little longer than expected. We worked with a great team: Sam Manuard for the architecture (editor's note: architect of the Seascape) - Lorenzo Argento for the design - Pure Design for the structure and Gigo Design for the R&D. The goal was to find a balance between comfort-performance, utility-elegance, high-tech and low-cost. For example, we made 3 to 4 dummies for the cockpit" he explains.
Bénéteau has carried out a refined study of the competition to justify its positioning as an ultra-high-performance boat. The boat is not specifically designed for a regatta or ocean racing circuit. "It is an all round club racer. We want a boat that will last a long time, not a fashionable boat," summarizes Andraz Mihelin.
High-end boat construction
To reach its performance objectives, the Bénéteau shipyard had to synthesize its industrial method, its cost objectives and the construction process choices brought by Seascape. The Slovenian shipyard has regained some autonomy and is now directly responsible for sales to dealers of boats up to 40 feet. "All constructions are made of infused glass composite. No bulkheads are made of plywood. The interior is painted, with no veneer," explains the manufacturer. The weight target for this 11-meter sailboat is 4.8 tons, for 1.55 tons of ballast and 80 square meters of sail area. The announced price is 198 000euros HT.
Small series boats
The First 36 will not be a mass-produced yacht. Bénéteau has accepted this choice, with 25 boats announced for the first year, rising to three boats per month when cruising. "We don't want to have to wait two or three years like smaller shipyards like Pogo, but we do have a sort of exclusivity for the First, a bit like that of certain car brands. The lead time for a Porsche Cayenne is not the same as for a sports model. "concludes Yann Masselot, Bénéteau brand manager.
