Test Bénéteau First 30 winner European Yacht of the Year 2026 | Performance Monohull

It's the cheapest of the 21 boats tested for this year's European Yacht of the Year between IJmuiden and Port Ginesta: €105.000 as a starting price, €144.865 for the version tested, both excluding VAT. What's more, it's also very fast and fun to sail. A production planing boat, therefore lightweight, without the use of exotic and therefore expensive materials (it would have been easier to make it out of carbon...) and at a manageable price. It wasn't easy to bring these elements together, and as is often the case with success, the secret is the team: two exceptional designers like Sam Manuard for naval architecture, Pure Design & Engineering for the structures, Lorenzo Argento for design, the Bénéteau Group with its "power," and Seascape with its expertise in handling composites. The boat, like the 36, is built entirely at the Slovenian shipyard. The boat offered for the award is number 20, and orders had already reached 105 at the time of testing, with Italy tied for third place with Germany for the most orders at 10. The shipyard provided interesting data regarding the equipment of the first 100 boats: 95% have a furling jib, meaning no serious racing is planned, just fun and easy handling; 60-70% of the owners have chosen cruising options such as a refrigerator, swim platform, cockpit shower, galley extension, and more. Finally, most of them are experienced sailors, as 85% have chosen the racing version of the mainsail system. The boat has a 14 hp Yanmar diesel engine or, as an option, a 5 kW Kräutler electric motor connected to the standard propeller shaft, which can sail for approximately 30 miles at 4,5 knots or 20 miles at 5 knots. Boat number 20 being tested has a standard 1,98-meter keel and weighs 1.070 kg, for a total displacement of 3.040 kg. The First 30 has a hull made of fiberglass sandwich, with a PVC foam core and infused with vinylester resin to prevent osmosis. The deck uses polyester resin, while the bulkheads are made of marine plywood glued to the hull and deck structure.

The First 30 therefore deservedly wins in the Performance category, which this year we were 'forced' to divide into the two sections: Monohull and Multihull, with the Dragonfly 36 taking the win. These are undoubtedly the two boats that have thrilled us the most, coincidentally both tested in Holland in fairly extreme weather conditions, especially for the small First, which instead demonstrated the seaworthiness of a full-size boat. We set out after two days of waiting with the wind at 50 knots and a fearsome sea. Now everything is more manageable, but the sea is still rough and the wind is around 15 knots with a tendency to increase to 20. The sail plan of the boat we tested consists of a Z Spars aluminum mast laid on deck with two sets of spreaders (a carbon version is also available for €18.700 + VAT), a racing bowsprit, a racing mainsail system, and optional North Sails Performance 3Di sails, including a gennaker.

We set off immediately with the Code 0, sailing between 9 and 11 knots, with a record speed of 13,9 knots. At 9 knots, the boat starts planing, the stern wave clears, and the real fun begins, thanks to a boat that's easy to steer and control even in these conditions, not the most suitable for a family outing. With the mainsail and jib under control, we can easily sail upwind at 6,5 to 7 knots, taking care to keep the mainsail under a lot of power to avoid heeling too much and stay in control. At times, this isn't enough, and I find myself practically steering standing up, but without any particular problems.

In the past, other boats have been nominated, perhaps small ones, but with no real innovations to match. This First, like its bigger brother, the 36, which won the 2023 edition (and sold 83 units at the time of the 30's trials), proves to be a boat with all the qualities to broaden the sailing community with winning performance and a winning price. Below deck, the layout is basic, and some construction details are exposed, but this was a necessary choice to keep both costs and weight low. In any case, it lacks nothing for sporty cruising, thanks also to a series of optional extras for increased comfort. Two cabins, a bathroom, and a galley make up a classic and functional layout. Finally, it's worth noting that the First 30 is not a racing boat, nor is the 36. For the more race-minded, there will be an SE version optimized for racing.

The jury's motivations

Axel Nissen-Lie | Seilmagasinet | NOR
The boat that pushes boundaries. The First 30 is a new product that the market needed. We tested it in challenging conditions in the Netherlands, and yes, it actually planed.
But why is this boat important? For most sailors, it represents a new phase in the evolution of yacht design. In recent years, many new developments have been designed for those with big budgets. We've seen new models in this length range, but rarely with enough innovation to ensure their success. The First 30, however, has that extra something that can convince a potential buyer to choose a new boat over a used one. Below deck, it's rational and well-designed, but it's under sail that it truly shines. It's fun to watch it plane on a reach, but equally impressive when sailing upwind.

Alberto Mariotti | Superyacht24 | ITA
Accessible and fun. The First 30 wins the Performance category, but it would also be perfect for a hypothetical Young Yachting category. A compact boat, easy to handle, and with an excellent quality/price ratio. If you also consider the price/performance ratio, it's definitely on the top step of the podium. This is also because we tested it in less-than-ideal conditions: strong winds and rough seas in IJmuiden, Holland, where it demonstrated all its qualities, far from the blue Mediterranean where it was developed. While not a racing boat—an even sportier SE version is planned—it offers the sensation of planing in complete safety to those who want to push themselves a little further. A boat capable of attracting young people to sailing and keeping them engaged. For me, there's also the added pleasure of the Italian contribution to the concept, thanks to designer Lorenzo Argento, who oversaw the styling.

Pasi Nuutinen | Totalvene.fi | FIN
Smart and simple. Being able to offer a new 30-footer for just over €100.000 is already a remarkable achievement in itself. Unfortunately, boats available in this price range are increasingly rare. But this is just one of the First 30's compelling features. Performance under sail is key, and this is hard to beat. The team wanted to bring typical racing characteristics, particularly true planing speed, into the hands of average sailors. And they succeeded. After several fully controlled double-digit surf runs during trials in rough seas in the North Sea, we can truly congratulate the designers and builders. Plus, the interiors are smart and simple, perhaps a little basic, but you forget that as soon as the sails are hoisted.

Diego Yriarte | Nautica & Yates | EXP
A new take on performance cruising. The Beneteau First 30 is a modern all-rounder just over 10 meters in overall length that can do what many boats can't: take off in a continuous surf downwind in moderate conditions. The definition of "planing cruiser" combines fast hull lines, lightweight construction, and a powerful sail plan, while maintaining the characteristics of a family boat thanks to its ease of handling and surprising stability.

Roland Regnemer | YachtRevue | AUT
The best of both worlds. An often overused expression, but one that fits perfectly here, because the First 30 is a successful combination of industrial production and artisanal care. The new model in Beneteau's legendary First line, which began with a 30-footer in the late 70s, was eagerly awaited. And it didn't disappoint. It sails remarkably easily and nimbly and is now in a class of its own in terms of price, offering enormous sailing pleasure for a relatively modest investment.

Marinus van Sijdenborgh de Jong | Zeilen | NED
The perfect planing cruiserThe Bénéteau First 30 is fantastic. It sails incredibly smoothly and quickly, whether upwind against steep waves or downwind in strong winds. It handles and surfs like a dinghy, easily reaching double figures. Bénéteau and the Seascape shipyard undertook demanding product development and production to make a model with such excellent value for money available to a wide audience. The simple interior offers everything needed for a holiday cruise, although the forward berth is a bit short and the finish is rather basic. The construction is lightweight yet effective and solid. A planning cruiser for everyone. The votes for this Bénéteau First 30 built by Seascape were unanimous. A thoroughly deserved victory.

Morten Brandt-Rasmussen | Bådmagasinet | DEN
Designed to glide. Rather than exploiting nostalgia, Bénéteau has once again redefined the meaning of “First” according to its own vision. In 2025, the First 30 is defined by light displacement and dynamic sailing, with planing at the heart of the concept. This is not a marketing promise, but the direct consequence of a significantly lower displacement than its competitors. Light weight is the essential prerequisite for planing, and here Bénéteau achieves it convincingly. What makes the feat remarkable is that this level of lightness was achieved in series production, without resorting to exotic materials or prohibitive costs. By combining industrial efficiency and design clarity, Bénéteau has made planing performance accessible to a much wider audience. At the same time, the 30 remains affordable, reinforcing its role as a true performance cruiser rather than a niche experiment.

Toby Hodges | Yachting World | GBR
Performances that come naturally. With the Dragonfly and First 30 launched in the same year, the performance segment is in full swing, with two deserving winners for very different reasons, but united by their ability to put fun back at the heart of sailing. The First offers fast, easy, and planing sailing pleasure, pure and simple—a quality much harder to achieve than it seems. But Bénéteau and Seascape have succeeded, offering true planing performance in a yacht that's easy to cruise, all within the €100.000 target.

Sébastien Mainguet | Voiles & Voiliers | BETWEEN
A real game-changer. It was billed as a "planing cruiser," and it truly is. Extremely fast in all conditions, cruising downwind at speeds over 10 knots will become almost normal. But the new First 30 designed by Manuard is also very balanced, even when singlehanded. Built by the Seascape team in Slovenia, it clearly benefits from the shipyard's extensive experience in vacuum-infused composite construction. And it also offers a more than decent interior for cruising.

Joakim Hermansson | Praktiskt Båtägande | SWE
The icing on the cake. I'm happy that there are still shipyards willing to develop and build relatively small and accessible boats, equip them with all the comforts a sporty family needs, and then add a lot of fun as the icing on the cake. Surfing the waves of IJmuiden in just below gale force winds aboard the First 30 was undoubtedly the most joyful and memorable experience of my sea trials. The sailing was so much fun, so fast, and so exciting, yet at the same time balanced and controlled. It's no wonder they've already sold hundreds.

Lori Schüpbach | Marina.ch | SUI
Pure sailing pleasure. When Bénéteau announced a new First 30 in the summer of 2024, it made a huge impression. And the boat was an immediate success: 85 orders had already been placed before the first trials. Seascape founder Andraz Mihelin explains the concept: "The first trials with foiling cruisers showed that it didn't work, so we decided to launch a planing cruiser. When a yacht starts to plane, it's an exhilarating experience, as much fun as sailing a dinghy." The result: in 10 knots of wind, the log instantly rises to 6,5 knots. The boat is well-balanced and offers the helmsman precise feedback. With the gennaker deployed, it unleashes its true potential: around 8 knots, the stern wave disappears and the First 30 begins to plane. When the pressure drops slightly, a brief bear away and a few winches on the gennaker sheet are enough to get her accelerating again.

Jochen Rieker | YACHT | GER
Small in size and price, a lioness at heart. The new First 30 deserves the European Yacht of the Year Award for more than one reason. It is, not least, by far the most affordable winner of the 2026 selection, with a base price of less than €120.000 including taxes. Bénéteau's bestseller is also a shining example of how to save weight and avoid complexity while offering more than just a basic layout. The dinette, with its raked backrests and good leg support, is better than those on many cruising yachts, even larger ones. But all this isn't the heart of a performance boat. So let's go sailing. Unfortunately, we encountered a typical November scenario in the North Sea off IJmuiden: gray, cold, and uninviting. But the First 30 easily handled 16-25 knots of wind and challenging waves: with a light displacement of less than 3,2 tons and a moderate amount of ballast, she proved reassuringly stiff at 20-25 degrees of heel. Upwind, the two rudders allow you to position it as you wish, even over-rigged with a full mainsail. And with an asymmetric spinnaker or Code Zero, the excitement grows along with the numbers on the log. It glides so naturally that the speed almost seems normal. And indeed it is, thanks to one of the most modern hulls on the market today. Designer Sam Manuard has brought all the experience he gained in the Mini and Class 40 to the First 30. You could almost call it a sister to the new Pogo RC: not as explosive, sure, but with a much more spacious and pleasant interior. And at half the price.

Data Sheet
Overall length 10,33 m
Hull length 9,35 m
Length at waterline 8,75 m
Width 2,99 m
Empty displacement 3.040 kg
Standard keel ballast kg 1.070
Draft std/opt m 1,98/1,68
Keel ballast opt ​​kg 1.320
Yanmar 14 hp engine
Fuel 40 lt
Water 100 liters
CE approval A/4-B/6
Sail area upwind 54,7 m2
Sail area 127,7 m2
Mainsail 28,2 m2
Bow 26,5 m2
Naval architecture Samuel Manuard
Design by Lorenzo Argento
Structural engineering Pure Design & Engineering
Interior design Website
Concept and R&D Bénéteau/Seascape

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