2026 Beneteau First 36 

2026 Beneteau First 36

First 36
Designed for sailors

You can now experience the thrill of high-performance sailing – not only on the race course, but also on family holidays or day-sailing trips.
We have made this possible through a carefully placed high-tech and meticulously designed deck and interior ergonomics, which is bringing the most important features of grand prix racing boats into the hands of a club racer or active cruiser.
First 36 is the first mainstream racer/cruiser where onboard comfort doesn’t affect the experience of high performance sailing.

WHY FIRST 36 ?

SPEED MADE EASY
When you boat can do 14 knots on jib alone, fun and excitement will result in simply sailing more. 

THE DESIGN TEAM
Our designers are not only world-class names from the nautical industry but also passionate sailors and friends. In this project, they found a common goal of designing a true sailing boat for the coming age.

MORE THAN JUST 36 FEET
A modern hull design brings about an extensive interior volume. This allows for an interior with the size and comfort of a 40-footer from the previous generation.

INDUSTRIALIZED HIGH-TECH
The hull, deck, bulkheads and interior components are fully cored and vacuum infused. Everything contributes to structural strength. To date, this building technique has only been used in racing or expensive niche brands. The result is a very stiff boat, weighing only 4.800 kg.

VARIABLE COCKPIT
The cockpit is modular, as it needs to address a wide variety of setups. Removable bench extensions transform the cockpit area into a comfortable cruising lounge.
When extensions are removed, the cockpit has an ergonomic and efficient racing/shorthanded setup.

SAILING EXPERIENCE
A whole new sailing experience opens up when you can achieve double-digit boat speeds easily and in complete control.

The main components of making this possible are the light weight and the world-class nautical design of Sam Manuard. An ergonomic and extremely precise steering system is also vital. With race-grade rudder blades, the steering wheels remain light and direct even when planing downwind or at higher heeling angles.

To stay true to its 40 years of Beneteau heritage, a First needs to excel in fully-crewed club racing, relaxed family cruising as well as shorthanded sailing. Cockpit ergonomics was one of the main focuses in the design process. The higher wheel position gives the helmsman direct access to the mainsail winch, an important detail for shorthanded sailing.

LIVING ONBOARD
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.