Performance cruiser: Beneteau presents the new First 36 for the first time

What the world's largest sports boat shipyard has just unveiled could change the market for fast cruising yachts, or at least enrich it. After a three-year lead time, Beneteau is presenting the First 36 for the first time. It is intended to build on the heyday of the model series, which was once an important pillar of the group, but then faded more and more until there were even fears that it would be discontinued.

With the takeover of Seascape in 2018 and the integration of compact sports boats from 14 to 27 feet into the Beneteau range, it was clear that this was not the end of the story. A year later, the First 53 made its debut, which has marked the top end of the range ever since. However, there was still a gap in the all-important centre.

That is over. The First 36 will fill the vacuum from next year. It will celebrate its world premiere at boot Düsseldorf in January. With a hull length of just under 11 metres, the performance cruiser is aimed at the part of the market that is most attractive to many owners - large enough for cruises with the whole family or even long ocean passages, but still compact enough for sailing with a small crew or single-handed.

Conceptually, the First 36 will also be a kind of bridge model. While the smaller Firsts are purist and very sporty, and the flagship First 53 is more luxurious, Beneteau has placed the new model right in the centre of the market.

She should be fully planing under gennaker even at 4 to 5 Beaufort, but without lacking comfort - if you like, a boat between the X-Yachts XP 38 and the JPK 10.80, between the Italia 10.98 and the Pogo 36, between the Dehler 38 and the J 111.

The First 36 also looks like this: modern, yet less radical than other designs in the segment and almost restrained in its lines. Instead of hard chines, it has softly rounded chine edges and straight, flowing shapes instead of crudely canted cabin superstructures. And if the first computer animation is not deceptive, she will remain very narrow in the waterline.

The team that was at work there gives hope for a she-wolf in sheep's clothing.

• The Naval Architect for the development was Seascape's house designerSam Manuardwho has designed some of the fastest Minis, Class 40 and, with "l'Occitane", one of the most radical Imoca 60. He is developing the new "Charal" for Jérémie Beyou.
• Stylistically hadLorenzo Argento creative head for Wally, Michael Schmidt's Y-Yachts, Brenta and now Beneteau's First range, among others.
• Structure and strength calculations adoptedGiovanni Belgranowhose office "Pure Design Engineering" is in demand pretty much everywhere from Nautor's ClubSwan 36 to Ineos' 75-foot America's Cup spoiler.
• For functionality and interiorGigoDesign an international design office that has already played a key role in the small Seascapes.

In this width and class, it is a unique offering for the development of a production yacht.

Beneteau has often engaged renowned designers in the history of the First, most recently in 2010 when Juan Kouyoumdjian, who was assisted by Vendée Globe double winner Michel Desjoyeaux, designed the First 30. However, the project failed because the ambitiously designed boat ended up being far too heavy and was therefore never able to realise its full potential.

We don't want that to happen again. And that is probably why the First 36 is not being built by Beneteau in France, but by Seascape in Slovenia, where they specialise in lightweight, rigid GRP structures. If the displacement can be kept well below 5 tonnes and the price below that of Pogo or J-Boats, the First would undoubtedly be a hit, in both senses of the word.

Giovanni Belgrano, whose team carried out the strength calculations and helped develop the laminate plan, sets the bar high: the First 36 will be "much livelier and lighter" than most of its competitors. Beneteau describes it as a "perfect club racer and capable cruising boat".

The sales team, to whom Beneteau presented the project at the beginning of July, is already excited around the globe. Several dealers confirmed this to YACHT. And this is despite the fact that no further data is yet available and no price list exists - both are to be published in September at the earliest, either at the Yachting Festival in Cannes or at the Grand Pavois boat show in La Rochelle. Only then will it be possible to place pre-orders, for which there is likely to be a scramble.

Perhaps this is the most important reason for the early enthusiasm: when asked which competitors the First 36 has to stand up to, Sam Manuard has to think for a long time. Then the modest, rational designer, who is never prone to exaggeration, says: "I really don't know who the competition for this boat could be."