European Yacht Of The Year: The First 30 is Performance Cruiser Monohull 2026
Michael Good
· 22.01.2026
With the new First 30, Beneteau has turned back the price spiral. It is the most favourable in its class and also unrivalled in other respects: light, smart, fast, chic. None won more hearts from the jury.
He won his first title in 2010, with his very first series boat, the Seascape 18. Since then, shipyard boss Andraz Mihelin, whose company is now part of the Beneteau Group, has collected three more victories. This one, the most recent, is also the most superior - despite outstandingly good competitors. Because the First 30 wins unanimously.
As with Mihelin's premiere success 16 years ago, the new design competed in IJmuiden in the Netherlands. And just like back then, the sand blew off the North Sea dykes. But the nine-metre boat designed by Sam Manuard, which starts planing at 3 to 4 Beaufort, also coped flawlessly with 5 to 6 force winds and a good two metres of swell.
Although the First 30 heels early due to its design, it then sails stiffly and is easy to control. On the wind, the lakes can be steered precisely thanks to the well-balanced twin rudders; under Code Zero, the compact performance cruiser convinces even the last doubters at a constant 12 knots, and up to 15 knots at top speeds. Great directional stability and high stability make this extra portion of sailing fun accessible even to less experienced crews. In addition, the cabin layout is perfectly suitable for cruising and the price is unrivalled. Rating: unrivalled!
What the jury says
"A boat that is able to inspire young sailors and retain them in the long term," praises Alberto Mariotti from the Italian magazine Superyacht24. Roland Regnemer from YachtRevue in Austria says: "She sails sensationally light, agile and remains unrivalled in terms of price".
Strengths
Cutting-edge hull lines
Low total weight
Very high performance potential
Good controllability
High-quality fittings
Fair overall price
Weaknesses
Tight berth dimensions aft
Technical data of the First 30
- Torso length: 9,35 m
- Width: 2,99 m
- Draught/old: 1,98/1,68 m
- Weight: 3,04 t
- Ballast/proportion: 1,07 t/35 %
- sail area: 54,7 m²/5,1
- Base price ex shipyard: 124.950 €
Status 2025, how the prices shown are defined, read here!
Also nominated in the "Performance Yacht" category
Dragonfly 36
Even with the standard rig, the Danish trimaran sets standards. Its sail carrying capacity of 5.9 is the highest of all nominees. If you want more, you can push the value to a hyper-sporty 6.4 with the two metre higher carbon rig. This makes the Dragonfly one of the fastest series yachts. But it has a wider range and also offers a pleasing interior below deck - and even heated helmsman's seats on request. Length 11.55 m; width 3.70 - 8.12 m; draught 0.67 - 2.00 m; weight 4.5 tonnes; sail area 93.50 m2; price 627,130 euros
JPK 1050
Jean-Pierre Kelbert describes the 1050, with which he won the Rolex Fastnet Race at his first attempt, as a "Mini-Class 40". That sums up its character well. To achieve this, he left the previous shipyard line, which favoured more moderate lines. This was good for its performance. Also a winner, with probably the most modern hull lines. As a racer, however, it was sparsely equipped and very expensive when ready to sail. Great potential for handicap. Length 10.43 m; width 3.54 m; draught 2.22 m; weight 3.5 tonnes; sail area 73.0 m²; price 267,550 euros
XR 41
ORC world champion yacht. Very high performance on all courses, which requires a knowledgeable crew. Now also available in an IRC version. The very cosy, partly modular design also guarantees dual use as a fast cruising boat and thus long-lasting value. Length 12.20 m; width 4.18 m; draught 2.40 m; weight 7.2 t; sail area 108.4 m²; price 570,720 euros.
