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First 35S5 Beneteau
Designer: Jean Berret/ Philippe Starck  ·  Builder: Beneteau  ·  First built: 1988
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About the First 35S5 Beneteau

Launched in 1988, this French-built performance cruiser emerged from an intriguing collaboration between naval architect Jean Berret and renowned industrial designer Philippe Starck. With 430 hulls produced during its six-year production run, the First 35S5 established itself as a popular choice among sailors seeking spirited sailing characteristics in a mid-sized package. The boat's fractional sloop rig and modern fin keel with bulb design deliver impressive sailing performance, evidenced by its substantial sail area of 556 square feet. The hull configuration, featuring a spade rudder setup, provides responsive handling that appeals to both weekend racers and performance-oriented cruisers. At 35.42 feet overall with a waterline length of 29.36 feet, the design maximizes sailing length while maintaining manageable size. Built with fiberglass construction and carrying 4,190 pounds of ballast in its 11,460-pound displacement, the First 35S5 strikes a favorable balance between stability and performance. The relatively low comfort ratio of 21.15 reflects its sporting nature, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and club racing rather than extended offshore passages. This Beneteau represents the builder's focus during the late 1980s and early 1990s on creating accessible performance boats that could satisfy sailors transitioning from pure racing machines to versatile cruiser-racers.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 35.42 ft / 10.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 29.36 ft / 8.95 m
Beam 11.83 ft / 3.61 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 11,460.00 lb / 5,198 kg
Ballast 4,190.00 lb / 1,901 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 556.00 ft² / 51.65 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Jean Berret/ Philippe Starck
Builder Beneteau
First Built 1988
Last Built 1994
Number Built 430
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 17.56
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 36.56
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 202.15
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 21.15
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.1
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.26 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.74
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,241.04 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 17.5
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 41.66 ft / 12.70 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.15 ft / 3.40 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.65 ft / 13.00 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.09 ft / 4.60 m
SA Fore 232.25 ft² / 21.58 m²
SA Main 321.79 ft² / 29.90 m²
SA Total (100%) 554.04 ft² / 51.47 m²
Est. Forestay Length 43.13 ft / 13.15 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model 2003
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 23 gals / 87 L
Water Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
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